Our History

Alianza came about as a result of evolution on campus rather than of revolution. In the spring of 1998, five campus leaders: Dr. Alberto Broce, then professor of entomology; Anita Cortez, then director of the Pilots Program; Gabriela Diaz de Sabates, then academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Lori Navarrette, then Assistant Professor in the College of Education; and Rebeca Paz, then assistant director, Career and Employment Services, began an interest group to address several key areas on campus: campus climate, lack of inclusion and advancement, and concerns for equity and access to include the recruitment and retention of Latinx students, faculty and staff.

The 1990’s at K-State were a mixed bag for Latinos. Cesar Chavez, Chicano leader and civil rights activist, graced our campus with a visit in 1991, but this great man’s visit was overshadowed by discriminatory acts such as the Bushwhacker Incident aimed at Latinos in Aggieville. Blatant stereotyping by the campus newspaper and other incidents occurred even after the turn of the century. Latino faculty, staff, and students alike were recruited to K-State only to be gone a year or two later. We were not selected to serve on search committees; we were not supported and mentored toward tenure or promotion, and students had many hurdles to overcome to graduation. In short, Latinos had no voice.

The Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA) already existed, but they were fighting their own battles, not ready to take on other’s issues too. In this environment, in the fall of 2000, we became the Alliance for Hispanic Affairs and began to grow in membership. By 2002, we had formed an organization with a constitution, elected offices, and an executive board with the intention to address the recruitment and retention of Latinos which, by necessity, included campus climate, Latino inclusion, and concerns of equity. We became Alianza, which in Spanish means alliance, a voice for Latinos certainly, but also a strong proponent for collaboration and alliance-building to further an inclusive and progressive campus.

Alianza’s leadership, a link from the History page:

 

1998. Five founders: Dr. Alberto Broce, then professor of entomology; Anita Cortez, then director of the Pilots Program; Gabriela Diaz de Sabates, then academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Lori Navarrette, then Assistant Professor in the College of Education; and Rebeca Paz, then assistant director, Career and Employment Services; developed a constitution and held monthly meetings. This lad to the formal organization of our group and membership expansion.

Fall of 2000: Alliance for Hispanic Affairs (AHA) was officially formed and we existed as a group with no formal leadership.

Fall of 2002: Name is changed to Alianza

2002-2003: Marcelo Sabatés, President

Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences

2003-2004: Vincent Ortiz, President

Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

2004-2005: Socorro Herrera, President

CIMA Center, College of Education

2005-2006: Denis Medeiros, President

Human Nutrition, College of Human Ecology

2006-2007: Gabriela Diaz de Sabates, President

Women’s Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

2007-2008: Mirta Chávez, President

Multicultural Student Programs, Office of Diversity

2008-2009: Rebeca Paz, President

Pilots Program, Academic Assistance Center

2009-2010: Tanya González, President

English, College of Arts and Sciences

2010-2011: Ernesto Pérez, President

Information Technology Assistance Center

2011-2012: Madaí Rivera, President

College of Human Ecology Dean’s Office/Office of New Students

Services/Admissions

2012-2013: Sara Thurston-González, President

International Student and Scholar Services, Office of International Programs

2013-2014: Tonatiuh Melgarejo, President

Human Nutrition, College of Human Ecology

2014-2015: Anthony Ybarra, President

Career Services

2015-2016: Martha Smith Caldas, President

Biology, College of Arts & Sciences

2016-2017: Marta Alfonso-Durruty, President

Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

2017-2018: Isabel Millan, President

American Ethnic Studies, College of Arts & Sciences

2018-2019: Tanya Gonzalez, President

English, College of Arts & Sciences

2019-2020: Roberta Maldonado-Franzen, President

Leadership Studies

2020-2021: Pedro Espinoza, President

College of Education

2021-2022: Latania Marr, President

College of Education

2022-2023: Dr. Marcos Mendez, President

Lafene CAPS

2023-2024: Dr. Graciela Berumen, President

Office of Recruitment and Admissions