By Davila                                        H.R. No. 280

      75R6559 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The recent appointment of Dr. Ruth Burgos-Sasscer as

 1-2     chancellor of the Houston Community College System represents the

 1-3     beginning of a dynamic new era in the history of that institution;

 1-4     and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Dr. Burgos-Sasscer's acceptance of this post stands

 1-6     as yet another challenging opportunity for this ardent proponent of

 1-7     higher education; her previous tenure as president of San Antonio

 1-8     College, where she was the first woman to serve in that capacity,

 1-9     was notable for her implementation of innovative multicultural

1-10     programs, and under her direction, the school saw a significant

1-11     increase in both revenue and enrollment; and

1-12           WHEREAS, With a resume that includes a bachelor's degree from

1-13     Tennessee's Maryville College, a master's degree from Columbia

1-14     University, and a doctoral degree from Florida State University,

1-15     Dr.  Burgos-Sasscer is eminently qualified to take on this latest

1-16     endeavor, and as the first female and first Hispanic chancellor in

1-17     the history of this five-college system, she is once again breaking

1-18     new ground; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Dr. Burgos-Sasscer has done much to further the

1-20     cause of education for women and minorities, having served on the

1-21     boards of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges

1-22     and the National Community College Hispanic Council; at the Fourth

1-23     World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, she represented

1-24     the American Council on Education, and her efforts helped to

 2-1     promote the role of women in the field of education and other

 2-2     critical professions; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Her role as an activist took shape in Puerto Rico,

 2-4     where she and her husband, Donald Sasscer, lived for 22 years while

 2-5     rearing their four children; during that period, she joined the

 2-6     League of Women Voters and was later appointed president of the

 2-7     Commission of Women's Affairs for Puerto Rico, which she

 2-8     represented at United Nations women's conferences in Mexico City

 2-9     and Copenhagen; and

2-10           WHEREAS, Faculty, administrators, and students of the Houston

2-11     Community College System have been impressed by the can-do attitude

2-12     and commitment to excellence that have become the trademarks of Dr.

2-13     Burgos-Sasscer, and the active support of these individuals will

2-14     undoubtedly help her succeed in leading the Houston Community

2-15     College System into the 21st century; now, therefore, be it

2-16           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-17     Legislature hereby honor Dr. Ruth Burgos-Sasscer on her appointment

2-18     as chancellor of the Houston Community College System and extend to

2-19     her sincere best wishes for continued success in the years to come;

2-20     and, be it further

2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-22     prepared for Dr.  Burgos-Sasscer as an expression of high regard by

2-23     the Texas House of Representatives.