From notable civil rights champions like Cesar Chavez to glass ceiling breakers like Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina astronaut who traveled aboard the space shuttle Discovery, to the Broadway award-winning playwright and actor Lin Manuel Miranda, the Latine community has always played a dynamic and meaningful role in shaping the culture and history of the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, there were approximately 62.5 million Latine-identifying people living in the US in 2021, accounting for about 19 percent of the population. This nuanced and innovative community has a wide variety of dialects, histories, traditions, artwork, music, foods, and more. 

Latine Heritage Month spans from September 15 to October 15 and serves as an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the rich traditions, achievements, and cultures of the Latine community. Many Central American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, celebrate their Independence Days within this time frame. 

While Latine representation for students, alumni, and the UOAA board of directors has increased, there is still work left to be done at the UO. The university offers a variety of Latine-focused groups like the Patos Alumni Network, which celebrates "our common experiences at the university, and promotes, educates, and celebrates the diversity of our heritage,” and provides support to the UO in terms of recruitment and retaining students of Latine communities. Additional UO Latine resources include the Latinx studies academic program, Latinx Strategy Group, and Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence, which offer inclusive resources that work diligently to encourage Latine student success. 

The UO will continue listening, engaging, and learning about the Latine community. To celebrate Latine Heritage Month, the UOAA encourages friends near and far to learn from the undeniable positive impact the Latine community has and continues to make around the globe.

Six Latine Ducks who inspire

The stories below honor the contributions of six Latine alums. These notable Ducks come from all walks of life, majored in different studies, graduated college in different years, and have excelled in various industries. What they have in common is that they are all proud alumni motivated by education and advancing the Latine community.
 

José Simón Villa, BS ’72 (curriculum and instruction), MS ’74 (counseling)

Retired CEO at East Coast Migrant Head Start Project and UOAA board member

José Simón Villa’s journey is equal parts determination and inspiration. He was raised in the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, where he worked as an agriculture laborer with his family. José’s family traveled across various states following agricultural migrant work, establishing roots in Oregon in 1968. 

As the first member of his family to attend college, Villa earned a bachelor’s in curriculum and instruction in 1972 and then a master’s in counseling in 1974. At the UO, he was a placement counselor and tutor for students of underrepresented backgrounds. 

Villa also held various roles at the Ohio State University, including coordinator for student programming and recruitment, director of the College Assistance Migrant program, principal investigator for the Upward Bound program, and assistant vice provost. While at Ohio State, he earned his doctoral degree in educational administration. Later, Villa worked with the Ohio Department of Education as a program consultant, where he oversaw federal programs; he also served as the State Director of the State Migrant Education program and was a coordinator of the Homeless Children and Youth state program. He retired as the chief executive officer of the East Coast Migrant Head Start program. 

A transformational leader to his core, Villa offers this advice to other Latino Ducks: “Be persistent, stay focused. Assist others to obtain the opportunity and guidance that was provided to you. Play the role of mentor and leader.” 

Lorena Galvan, BS ’13 (women and gender studies)

Head of Program Success at Springboard for Business

Except for Lorena Galvan’s mother, who attended college as an adult, much of Lorena’s Mexican American family did not have the luxury of attending a university. Consequently, Galvan always saw higher education as a privilege. When touring colleges, she fell in love with the UO. The promise of being immersed in nature, late-night access to charming libraries, and a palpable sense of community with other Ducks was alluring. 

While at the UO, Galvan pursued a degree in women and gender studies and minored in planning, public policy, and management, focus areas that have allowed her to make career pivots. A core UO memory was working with peers to plan and execute a Take Back the Night March, a long-standing international event protesting sexual and domestic violence. Galvan recalls feeling empowered when marching with a large and energized crowd from campus to downtown Eugene. 

Helping individuals increase their potential has always captivated Galvan, and that interest has taken shape in many forms of professional experience from healthcare to university career centers, entrepreneurship, and most recently, EdTech. As the current head of program success at Springboard for Business, she builds programs, products, and teams for Springboard’s B2B portfolio which partners with companies to ensure employees can learn new tech skills. 

When asked how she celebrates being Latina, she says that as a mom with two kids, she shows pride by speaking Spanish, filling the house with music and dancing, and picking books and toys that thoughtfully represent her culture. 
 

Juan Flores, BA ’16 (business administration)

Data Analyst for the Oregon Employment Department and Soccer Coach for Oregon Premier FC

Juan Flores grew up in Gervais, Oregon. Growing up, he maintained an unwavering commitment to both academics and athletics, so when he began touring college campuses, his collegiate future was clear. Flores knew becoming a Duck was the best decision for him. 

Flores graduated from the UO with a degree in business administration and a minor in Spanish. Today, he serves as a data analyst for the Oregon Employment Department and is also a competitive soccer coach for Oregon Premier FC, a team based in Lake Oswego. Flores proactively seeks out opportunities to mentor young Latinos in his professional industry and community, providing guidance to help others achieve goals and overcome hurdles. 

When asked what counsel he would impart to Latino Oregon Ducks, Flores remarked, “Remember that your identity is a strength.” He explained that embracing one’s Latino culture and life experiences not only enriches their educational journey, but can also help others learn. Flores highlighted that by becoming more familiar with one’s heritage, individuals can create meaningful connections, empower other students from similar backgrounds, and ultimately cultivate an even more inclusive environment at the UO. 
 

Mara Ventura, BA ’11 (sociology)

Senior Organizer at Jobs With Justice and Patos Alumni Network Steering Committee member

Mariela “Mara” Ventura is a transnational adoptee from Colombia, and her heritage has always been of great importance to her. Prior to graduating from her Los Angeles high school, she began researching universities and noticed that the UO has an Office of Multicultural Affairs (now known as the CMAE), a Multicultural Center, and numerous student groups like MEChA. It was important to Ventura to find a community and a chosen family that shared her Latina pride. 

“When I began classes at the UO, I learned the rich history of Latinos, the movements we led to create positive change in this country, and the complexities of current issues we face as a community,” she says. “For the first time, and thanks to the UO, I learned a better way of describing my experiences and feelings as a Latina.” 

An additional gift the UO instilled was teaching Ventura how to mobilize people and enact change. Upon graduating from the UO, she was hired as an organizer for the Oregon Student Association, a nonprofit that was started by UO students and now engages with students from across the state. According to Ventura, it felt incredible to hold a full-time position in which she could improve the lives of others. Throughout her impressive career, she has held a variety of titles, including organizer, organizing director, and executive director. Today, Ventura is a senior organizer for Jobs With Justice, a national labor rights organization. 
 

Mario Garza, BA ’97 (English)

Director of Equity and Inclusion and School Counselor at La Salle Catholic College Preparatory and Patos Alumni Network Steering Committee member

Raised in Hubbard, Oregon, Mario Garza dreamt of becoming a Duck as a child. Later accepted at the UO, several core undergraduate memories include his involvement with MEChA, football road trips to the 1995 Rose Bowl, and being present for “The Pick” in 1994. 

As a proud Chicano and first-generation college student whose parents did not have the opportunity to graduate from high school, being accepted into the UO and then paying for college was no easy feat. Throughout his studies, Garza maintained a support system that encouraged him, and he graduated from the UO in 1997 with his bachelor’s in English. 

Today, he serves as director of equity and inclusion and school counselor at La Salle Catholic College Prep in Milwaukie, Oregon. Garza was previously a school counselor for Woodburn High, and before that was involved in higher education student affairs. Throughout his career, he has gravitated towards professional roles and environments that enable him to nurture the educational journeys of first-generation students and those from other historically underrepresented communities. 

When asked what quote has continuously uplifted him, Garza replied, “Made popular by the United Farm Workers, it is still 'Si Se Puede!', which translates to 'Yes, it can be done'.” He explains that no two people are equipped with the same toolbox to help them achieve their goals, so it is essential for individuals to find unique solutions to challenges, maintain a support network, and keep a “Si Se Puede!” mindset. 
 

Melissa Ibarra, BEd ’08 (education studies), MEd ’09 (teaching and learning)

Director of Elementary Education at Eugene 4J School District and founder of the Spanish immersion program in Springfield School District

Melissa Ibarra was raised by Mexican immigrant parents. She spent her early years living in Chicago and Southern California before her family settled in Eugene when she was four years old. Ibarra’s parents purposefully spent their family vacations in México surrounded by extended family to stay rooted in their culture. It was imperative to them that despite living further north, they continued to stay connected to nuestra familia. After completing high school, Ibarra pursued higher education at the UO and became a proud Duck. 

After graduating with her bachelors, she began her career as an elementary Spanish immersion teacher. Ibarra later returned to the UO and obtained her administrative licensure, aspiring to become a school leader. From 2016 to 2021, she served as an elementary school principal, and today, she is a director of elementary education in Eugene School District 4J, a role in which she hopes to inspire future leaders. 

Earlier this year, Ibarra and her husband welcomed their first child. When asked how she honors her Latina heritage, Ibarra shares, “I have participated in various community events, supported Latino businesses in Lane County, and proudly use my language assets.” Now, more than ever, she wants to be a role model for her daughter, ensuring that her daughter understands, “where she comes from to help shape her into a proud Spanish-speaking Latina leader in our community.”