Dr. Luis Ponjuán | Ernesto Mejia | SaulPaul | Dr. Patrick Valdez
Dr. Luis Ponjuán is the co-founder of Project MALES and leads the Texas A&M research component. Dr. Ponjuán received his Ph.D. in Higher Education from University of Michigan in 2005. He joined the Educational Administration and Human Resources Development Department at Texas A&M University as an Associate Professor in 2012. He is the Research Director of the IDEAL (Investing in Diversity, Equity, Access, and Learning) research project. He teaches undergraduate courses in Human Resources Development and graduate courses in Higher Education. He has also graduated 12 doctoral students and over 50 masters students. His social justice research agenda focuses on Latino male students, Faculty members of color, and STEM learning outcomes. He has received over $1.6 million in external and internal research funding from the TG Foundation, Greater Texas Foundation, and the National Science Foundation. He has met President Obama and Vice President Biden and spoken at the White House for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence. He serves on the editorial board for the ASHE Higher Education Report Series. He has published peer-reviewed journal articles, an edited book, and national policy briefs. He has received the 2016 CEHD Climate award, 2014 CEHD Outstanding New Faculty Award, the 2014 CEHD Aggies Commit to Transforming Lives Administrative Fellowship, and the 2010 SAGE Publications most downloaded journal article award. Return to Top
Ernesto Mejia, the proud son of Mexican immigrants, is a true example of the American dream. Diagnosed with the rare disease of Guillain-Barré Syndrome at the age of 16 that left him temporarily paralyzed, he was not supposed to be a successful student, much less a College Dean of Students.
Through his hardships, Ernesto learned to never give up on life, he now speaks to students, parents, and teachers about overcoming obstacles and never giving up on the American dream: education. Return to Top
SaulPaul is a GRAMMY Award – nominated artist who has garnered an international reputation as a musician with a message. Part rapper/part singer-songwriter, SaulPaul is an entertaining artist who blends his voice, his guitar, and his loop pedal to create a live show that is nothing less than an experience. SaulPaul shares his art with his heart and has been inspiring audiences through his music. From performing at two TEDx Talks, five Super Bowls, America’s Got Talent, SXSW, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Austin City Limits, SaulPaul has performed nationally and internationally in theaters, concert venues and festivals across the country. Return to Top
Dr. Patrick Valdez is an accomplished higher education leader with 25 years of experience in developing and executing academic and student success programs. Dr. Valdez is former Chancellor and Professor of Education at the University of New Mexico – Taos. He has held senior-level positions at the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York City, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the Association of Public and Land – grant Universities (APLU) and CUNY – Lehman College – developing and executing academic and student success programs. He is a graduate of St. Edward’s University with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies, a master’s degree in student personnel administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a doctorate in higher education administration from The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Valdez has conducted research and practice on the challenges and obstacles facing first-generation college students, given presentations on executive leadership, African American faculty experience at a tier-one university, increasing the number of underrepresented students in STEM, and bridging the gap between higher education and the community. His primary research focuses on the policy formation of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) legislation and the role that HSI’s will play in educating the nation’s fastest-growing student population. Return to Top
