An address by a U.S. Department of Education official will highlight the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at Western Michigan University Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. The national observance is intended to recognize Hispanic culture and contributions to American society.
All events are free and open to the public.
Thursday, Oct. 9, in the Kirsch Auditorium of the Fetzer Center. She is expected to discuss the importance of a college education, family tradition, the cultural contributions by Latinos to American society and Latino growth in higher education. Cantu is a graduate of Pan American University and holds her law degree from Harvard University. Before being nominated by President Clinton to her current position in 1993, she was the regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund based in San Antonio, Texas. She also served as national director of that fund's Education Litigation and Advocacy Project, acting as lead counsel in a number of education-related lawsuits.