[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF DR. JULIET V. GARCIIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FILEMON VELA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 2014

  Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Juliet V. 
Garciia president of the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB). Dr. 
Garciia was recently named by CNN Money/Fortune as one of the World's 
50 Greatest Leaders--a list which includes Pope Francis, German 
Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bono, and the Dalai Lama. Her leadership 
skills are an asset to Brownsville and South Texas.
   Dr. Garciia began her tenure as president of UTB in January 1992. 
Previously, she served as president of Texas Southmost College and was 
the first Mexican-American woman to become president of a college or 
university in the United States.
   During Dr. Garciia's tenure, she has relentlessly advocated for 
increasing access to higher education in South Texas, which is 
reflected in UTB's enrollment statistics. The UTB student body is 91% 
Hispanic and 71% are first-generation college students.
   UTB has experienced tremendous growth under Dr. Garciia's 
leadership. The school's budget has increased from $31.4 million to 
$145 million, classroom space has quadrupled and many new buildings 
have been constructed including: a library, a life and health sciences 
building, a student union, an education and business building, an early 
childhood learning center, a recreation center, a performing arts 
center, and two biomedical research buildings.
   Currently, Dr. Garciia is guiding UTB through a merger with the 
University of Texas-Pan American to create the University of Texas-Rio 
Grande Valley. Importantly, the new university, which will include a 
medical school, will have access to state oil and gas royalties through 
the permanent university fund.
   Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to honor Dr. Juliet V. 
Garciia., and I appreciate you joining me in recognizing her commitment 
to higher education.

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