TITLE: Honoring UTSA professor emerita Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark for her contributions.

SUMMARY: Honoring UTSA professor emerita Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark for her contributions.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark, professor emerita at The University of Texas at San Antonio, continues to find new avenues to elevate Mexican American traditions in the popular sphere; and WHEREAS, Legendary for her scholarship in bicultural-bilingual studies, Dr. Clark is the subject of a documentary short recently nominated for a James Beard Media Award; La Mera Mera Tamalera showcases her passion for Mexican heritage, exemplified by the tradition of the tamalada, which turns the laborious tamale-making process into a celebration of connection; and WHEREAS, Dr. Clark earned her master's degree from UTSA and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from UT Austin; in 1978, she began serving UTSA as a Title VII coordinator, and over more than four decades, she worked tirelessly to advance bicultural-bilingual studies and Latino education; her research has been published in numerous national and international journals and received multimillion-dollar funding from the U.S. Department of Education and the Rockefeller Foundation; and WHEREAS, A mentor to countless people, Dr. Clark served as a faculty advisor for student organizations and encouraged young scholars to explore their own identities and their role in their communities; she benefited UTSA in a host of leadership roles, including as a member of the faculty review advisory committee and faculty senate budget committee; moreover, she lent her expertise to media productions, serving as content director for the groundbreaking PBS KIDS series Maya & Miguel and producing a documentary series on Latino and Latina artists; along the way, she served as a strong voice for equity and social justice; and WHEREAS, When she retired in 2012, the university named Dr. Clark professor emerita, and in 2023, an endowed chair was established in her honor; since her retirement, she has furthered her cultural studies, particularly in the realm of cuisine; her latest book, Pan Dulce,is set for September 2025 publication by Trinity University Press; she has also built on her long record of service to the wider community as a member of the San Antonio Arts Commission and the Centro de Artes Committee; and WHEREAS, An energetic, engaging culture-bearer and champion of education, Ellen Riojas Clark has uplifted her community and enriched the lives of innumerable people by sharing her deep knowledge and longtime advocacy; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby honor University of Texas at San Antonio professor emerita Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark for her contributions and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Clark as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Martinez Fischer Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1321 was adopted by the House on June 1, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House