CONTRIBUTOR:

Tatcho Mindiola

AFFILIATION:

TITLE:

Professor

DEPARTMENT:

Sociology

INSTITUTION:

University of Houston

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Tatcho Mindiola is the Director of the Center for Mexican American Studies and Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Houston. Dr. Mindiola has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Houston. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from Brown University. Professor Mindiola’s research, publications and teaching areas are in race relations with particular emphasis upon Mexican Americans. His research has dealt with the relationship between Mexican and African Americans, education and Mexican Americans and the portrayal of Mexican Americans in films. His current research deals with race talk in a Mexican American cantina. As the director of the Center for Mexican American Studies, Dr. Mindiola is credited for developing it into one of the premiere academic programs of its type in the country. Under his direction the center has developed a minor in Mexican American Studies, a Visiting Scholar’s program, graduate student fellowships, undergraduate student recruitment and retention and a publication series in Mexican American Studies. The center also sponsors research, conferences, lectures and student leadership retreats. Dr. Mindiola states that he is especially proud of the role that the Center for Mexican American Studies has played in increasing the number of Mexican American students and faculty on campus. Dr. Mindiola considers the development of Mexican American Studies his life’s work. Dr. Mindiola is a native Houstonian, married and the father of four children.