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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark, professor emerita at The |
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University of Texas at San Antonio, continues to find new avenues to |
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elevate Mexican American traditions in the popular sphere; and |
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WHEREAS, Legendary for her scholarship in |
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bicultural-bilingual studies, Dr. Clark is the subject of a |
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documentary short recently nominated for a James Beard Media Award; |
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La Mera Mera Tamalera showcases her passion for Mexican heritage, |
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exemplified by the tradition of the tamalada, which turns the |
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laborious tamale-making process into a celebration of connection; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Clark earned her master's degree from UTSA and |
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her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from UT Austin; in |
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1978, she began serving UTSA as a Title VII coordinator, and over |
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more than four decades, she worked tirelessly to advance |
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bicultural-bilingual studies and Latino education; her research |
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has been published in numerous national and international journals |
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and received multimillion-dollar funding from the U.S. Department |
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of Education and the Rockefeller Foundation; and |
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WHEREAS, A mentor to countless people, Dr. Clark served as a |
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faculty advisor for student organizations and encouraged young |
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scholars to explore their own identities and their role in their |
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communities; she benefited UTSA in a host of leadership roles, |
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including as a member of the faculty review advisory committee and |
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faculty senate budget committee; moreover, she lent her expertise |
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to media productions, serving as content director for the |
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groundbreaking PBS KIDS series Maya & Miguel and producing a |
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documentary series on Latino and Latina artists; along the way, she |
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served as a strong voice for equity and social justice; and |
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WHEREAS, When she retired in 2012, the university named |
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Dr. Clark professor emerita, and in 2023, an endowed chair was |
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established in her honor; since her retirement, she has furthered |
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her cultural studies, particularly in the realm of cuisine; her |
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latest book, Pan Dulce, is set for September 2025 publication by |
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Trinity University Press; she has also built on her long record of |
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service to the wider community as a member of the San Antonio Arts |
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Commission and the Centro de Artes Committee; and |
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WHEREAS, An energetic, engaging culture-bearer and champion |
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of education, Ellen Riojas Clark has uplifted her community and |
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enriched the lives of innumerable people by sharing her deep |
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knowledge and longtime advocacy; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor University of Texas at San Antonio |
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professor emerita Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark for her contributions and |
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extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Clark as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Martinez Fischer |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1321 was adopted by the House on June |
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1, 2025, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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