Rosalinda Mendez has had over 20 years experience working with Research Project Administration. Ms. Méndez is a long-time leader in promoting innovation and change in higher education and research settings. She works tirelessly to enhance the effectiveness of programs that improve educational opportunities for under-represented groups, community well-being, and socio-economic conditions for all by developing initiatives that aid in teaching and skills development.
In response to her efforts, Ms. Méndez was nominated and graduated from the Center for Houston’s Future’s Leadership Forum in the fall of 2011. The Center’s principals were impressed with her work producing her group’s Hispanic Path Forward video (http://vimeo.com/31306545) and asked Ms. Méndez to be a member of the Center for Houston’s Future’s 2040 Scenarios committee.
Ms. Méndez served as the Associate Director for the Texas Learning and Computation Center at the University of Houston where she played a crucial role in creating and coordinating K-12 STEM based learning opportunities for underserved areas in the Greater Houston metropolitan area, including working with the Third Ward to create exhibit and training activities at Ryan Middle School. Regionally, Ms. Méndez also helped foster and develop a relationship with the Fennessey Ranch in Refugio, Texas regarding creation of a living and learning environment that aided students from rural areas as well as providing opportunities for graduate projects for UH students. To further the impact of the Fennessey Ranch collaboration, she facilitated communication with U.S. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa’s office allowing this initiative to aid his constituents more effectively.
Ms. Méndez also stepped up to serve as interim chair to the University’s Third Ward Partnership Initiative, an organization that developed community partnerships with University units. She worked very closely with Dr. James Anderson to create branding, a newsletter and mailing lists for his proposed UH Center for Outreach and Engagement. She attended meetings with Dr. Anderson at the Third Ward Community Cloth gatherings as well as Hispanic and African American Chamber events. Ms. Méndez was one of the initial contacts and supporters of the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Camp. The center she led provided the kickoff event every year since its inception at UH.
As Associate Director of TLC2 , she supervised a team that created an improved web presence for Arte Pùblico Press, the nation’s largest and most established publisher of contemporary and recovered literature by U.S. Hispanic authors. Additionally, she and her team provided guidance regarding strategies for Dr. Larry Hill’s Cougar PAWS initiative.
Most importantly, Ms. Méndez helped to develop a relationship with the Mexican Institute of Greater Houston to partner with the University for a technology training initiative for Hispanic adults which resulted in the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) award. This was the only sustainable adoption grant to a Texas-based institution, and one of only four awards allocated in Texas. The award in its second year has helped thousands of Hispanics gain basic computer literacy skills throughout Houston, Beaumont, San Antonio and Dallas. By appearing on Hola Houston and giving presentations to both business and civic groups on the effectiveness and economic development potential of this program she helped inform the public about this program, ensuring its success.
Prior to her service at the University of Houston, Ms. Méndez served as the Coordinator of Latin American Research for the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History. In this role, Ms. Méndez helped to promote Hispanic Culture and learning activities in and outside of the Washington DC area. She coordinated a very successful lecture series with the Mexican Embassy and also produced a website and tour for an Indigenous Theatrical group from Chiapas. The theater outreach spanned seven states, reaching school, community and migrant labor audiences in cultural centers, theaters and plantations.
Ms. Méndez was a scholar during the founding year of the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives. In this capacity, she worked on the opening of Edward James Olmos’ Americanos exhibit at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History. This exhibit helped to illuminate the diversity of Hispanic community throughout the Unites States. The exhibit toured the US for several years with outreach to K-16 groups. During this time, she also served as an instructor for the Fulbright Hayes training program. She spoke to the scholars about to embark on their travel regarding the role looting and cultural artifact trafficking as well as key concepts necessary to understanding local communities in Latin America. In 1999, she also served as a member of the World Monuments Fund Latin America location evaluation team working to preserve the world’s architectural heritage of significant monuments, buildings, and sites.
Prior to the Smithsonian, Ms. Méndez lived in New Orleans and worked for Earth Search, Inc. (ESI), a company which specialized in Historic Cultural Resource Management. During her tenure at ESI, she wrote Beyond the Great House, a resource on early Sugar Plantation production pre and post civil war. This book serves as a primer for school groups in K-12, explaining how archaeology helps augment written history. Ms. Méndez also wrote several articles on the history of early cottages in the French Quarter, and participated in yearly outreach to hundreds of K-12 students during Louisiana Archaeology week.
Ms. Méndez was born in Dallas, Texas and holds bachelor’s degrees in English and Anthropology from Vanderbilt University. She pursued Masters studies at the University of Texas at Austin in Latin American Studies, focusing on Anthropology and development communications for Latin American communities.
Ms. Méndez’s collaborative leadership style and proven ability to garner buy-in from stakeholders and staff make her a valuable asset to any initiative in which she is involved.