Tejano Voices

Gloria DeLeón

(98 KB, 31 pg)

Biography:
Ms. De León was born December 16, 1952, in McAllen, Texas. She is Executive Vice-President for Programs at the National Hispanic Institute (NHI). She holds an undergraduate degree in social work from the University of Texas-Pan American and an honorary Ph.D. in human letters from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. Ms. De León also holds numerous awards including the Human Relations Award from the National Association of College Admissions Counselors and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from UT Pan American.

Interview Summary:
Mr. Nieto and Ms. De León discuss their roles in defining the mission and goals of the National Hispanic Institute. They describe the NHI focus, which is the training of Latino youth to become leaders in Latino communities. They talk about about the importance of providing opportunities for Mexican American students in education and practical socio-political involvement so as to instill in them a sense of pride and accomplishment and enable them to assume leadership roles in the Latino community. Both interviewees detail and describe the purposes of the different programs offered by the NHI. They each elaborate upon their definition of leadership and their belief that the mission of the NHI fulfils that image. They express their opinion that the biggest threat to Mexican Americans is losing their cultural identity while living in and absorbing Anglo social and political values. They conclude the interview with their respective family histories and genealogies.

Locations of residence or activity: Austin/McAllen
Interview date: 2/2/1998


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