Rodriguez receives international honor
Dr. Alberto Rodriguez was recently awarded The Captain Alonso de León Steel Medal for Historical Merit. The Medal, given by Nuevoleonesa Society of History, Geography and Statistics, recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of international history.
Rodriguez became one of the few internationally recognized individuals this year.
“It was a great honor to represent my department, my college and my university, showcasing my work,” he said.
Rodriguez is a first-generation student who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. He recently founded and currently directs the Mexican American Studies Institute (MASI) at TAMUK.
“Talking about the history and how its connected to Mexico and how our experiences as Mexicanos are rooted in Mexico it showcases how our university has always sort of been invested in the experience of the Mexican and Mexican-American student … so it feels great to sort of bring that home. Also as director of MASI, it feels like it’s being recognized for the long work that AMK has done featuring and having access for Latino students,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez is currently working on several digital archive projects including a Mexican American films archive and an archive recovering some of the voices of the Chicano movement.
“Texas A&M-Kingsville is incredibly fortunate to have a scholar of Dr. Rodriguez’s caliber on our faculty and leading our Mexican American Studies Institute. His work in the fields of Texas, Mexican-American and African-American history is stellar and he is most-deserving of this global recognition,” President Dr. Robert Vela Jr. said.
The MASI is located on the third floor of Rhode Hall and showcases Mexican American history in South Texas.
