SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 168
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  recognize Dr. Blandina C
  á
  rdenas, who is retiring from her
  position as president of The University of Texas--Pan American on
  January 30, 2009; and
 
         WHEREAS, A well-known educator and civil rights advocate,
  Dr. Blandina "Bambi" C
  á
  rdenas began her career as a teacher of
  migrant preschool children in Del Rio in 1968; she later served
  as director of Development of Innovative Programs at the Edgewood
  Independent School District, where she designed an array of
  programs that became national models and advanced the cause of
  educational equity and excellence; and
 
         WHEREAS, In 1977, she accepted a presidential appointment
  as Commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth and
  Families in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare,
  where she led a number of national programs, including the Head
  Start Program, the Child Welfare Program, and the Child
  Development Research Program; she served on the governing body of
  the Inter-American Children's Institute of the Organization of
  American States, and she has worked extensively with Mexican
  universities and organizations, for which she earned induction
  into the Orden del Aguila Azteca, the highest honor bestowed by
  the government of Mexico on a noncitizen; and
 
         WHEREAS, Dr. C
  á
  rdenas has an impressive history of
  educational leadership and community service; she has served as
  chairperson of the board of trustees of the Educational Testing
  Service, as a founding member of the board of the Fundacion
  Solidaridad Mexicana Americana, and as a member of the board of
  the American Association of Higher Education; before her arrival
  at The University of Texas--Pan American, she served as dean of
  the College of Education and professor of educational leadership
  at The University of Texas at San Antonio; and
 
         WHEREAS, She was named president of The University of
  Texas--Pan American in 2004 after a 10-month, nationwide search;
  during her tenure, she has been responsible for a number of
  initiatives that have distinguished the university and enhanced
  student success, and she has guided the institution to a new era
  in research in such fields as economics, border life, medicine,
  and engineering; and
 
         WHEREAS, For more than 30 years, Dr. C
  á
  rdenas has been a
  strong, creative voice for expanded educational opportunity, and
  she has earned numerous awards for her efforts to increase the
  participation of underrepresented groups in higher education; in
  2008, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for her
  distinguished work in higher education at the 12th Annual Ford
  Salute to Education; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
  Legislature, hereby commend Dr. Blandina C
  á
  rdenas on her
  outstanding service to her state and nation in the field of
  education and extend to her best wishes for the future; and, be it
  further
 
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  her as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
 
  Hinojosa
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on February 10, 2009.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate