Saber Es Poder
An estimated 33.7 million Hispanics of Mexican-origin reside in the United States, including 11.4 million who were born in Mexico, and 22.3 million born in the U.S. who can trace their heritage to Mexico. As these populations grow, important research on their contributions and the issues they face also grow, so much so that Mexican American, Latinx or Chicanx Studies are now common in universities across the nation. This event acknowledges and honors this history and this important development.
Honoring the seminal and lifelong study of Chicanxs, Mexican Americans or Latinx with a national recognition elevates the work of model scholars. Therefore, each year, the Saber es Poder Academic Excellence Award in Mexican American Studies celebrates an outstanding scholar whose work has demonstrated long-term commitment to advancing the field.
This award event stems from a collaboration between the University of Arizona’s Department of Mexican American Studies and Fundación México, a Tucson non-profit. Our collective vision is to sustain this annual award in perpetuity through philanthropy, recognize and honor Mexican American Studies Scholars, and award research scholarships to Mexican American Studies graduate students.
Location: Tucson Marriott University Park
2020 Saber es Poder Award Recipient: Dr. Rogelio Sáenz
Awarded on April 04, 2020
Rogelio Sáenz is a sociologist and demographer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he is professor in the Department of Demography. He was born and raised in Mercedes, located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Sáenz has written extensively in the areas of demography, Latina/os, race and ethnicity, inequality, immigration, aging, public policy, and social justice. He is co-author of Latinos in the United States: Diversity and Change.
2020 Honoree: Marty Cortez
Awarded on April 04, 2020
Education and service to Arizona communities has been at the core of Marty Cortez’ work. She earned an undergraduate and Master's degrees in elementary education from the UofA and went on to teach in the TUSD school district and Nogales, earning the Nogales Teacher of the Year in 1969. She served as a school principal in the Nogales, Amphitheater, and Sunnyside School Districts. She is a past National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow.