May 6, 2009

Dr. Maria Ferrier

Executive Director

Texas A&M University

 System Center-San Antonio

Diploma Plus Scholarship Presentation Day

Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier serves as Executive Director for Texas A&M University-Kingsville System Center San Antonio.  In this position, Dr. Ferrier serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the System Center and is the leading force behind the University’s recent growth and development to become designated as a self-standing University. As Executive Director, Dr. Ferrier provides dynamic and energetic executive leadership, on site coordination of academic, administrative, and student services; vision and guidance in strategic planning, collaboration with external constituencies (including the local community, business, and state leaders); and compliance with organizational policies and procedures.   

Dr. Ferrier is a leader who does not separate her faith from her work. She was the founding Chair of the Council on Faith in Action (CONFIA) – a non-profit dedicated to educating Hispanics to our nations Christian-Judeo founding principles.

Prior to coming to the Texas A&M University – System Center San Antonio, Dr. Ferrier held many prestigious positions, including her appointment in 2002 by President George W. Bush as Director for the Office of English Language Acquisition for Limited English Proficient Students in the United States Department of Education.  During her tenure at the Department of Education, she was promoted twice, first to Deputy Under Secretary, and then to Assistant Deputy Secretary.  Other national presidential appointments include the Commission on National and Community Service by President George H. Bush and, in 1992, Secretary of Education, Lamar Alexander, appointed her to serve in the position of Director of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs.

Upon her return from our nation’s capitol, Dr. Ferrier served as Executive Director for External Funding of the Southwest Independent School District and the Executive Director for the Southwest Independent School District’s Education Foundation.   From 1995 to 2002, Maria served as founding Executive Director of City Year, a national service organization that became the model for the now federally funded program known as AmeriCorps.

Maria is a native San Antonian and has served in San Antonio public schools for 20 years.  She has received numerous awards for her work with underserved student populations including the Hispanic Heritage Award, US Department of Labor; Women of Action Award, La Prensa; National Hispanic Corporate Achievers Award, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Life of Idealism Award, City Year and has been inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.

Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech, a Masters of Education  in Guidance and Counseling from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University.   

Family of Rotary News

Our condolences to Carla Riedl on the recent death of her father.  Our thoughts go out to Carla and Sandee Marion, who is Carla’s aunt. The visitation is Saturday at 6:00 pm at Porter Loring.

Our condolences are also sent to Richard Batz on the sudden death of his beloved wife, Louise.  Condolences are also extended to Louise’s brothers John and Charlie Holshouser. The service was April 30 at Mission Burial Park South with a memorial service at Christ Episcopal Church.

 Join us at SFBR

Join us for a special social arranged by the Young Members Board.  We’ll have a reception tour of the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research.  Space is limited so sign up today.

When:  Thursday, May 14 at 6:00 pm

Where: Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research

(7620 NW Loop 410 (at the intersections of Loop 410 and Military Drive, take Hwy 90 to Hwy 151

and take the Loop 410 exit.  SFBR in on the right on the access road.)

About SFBR...

Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR) was founded in 1941 by Thomas B. Slick, Jr. as a philanthropic endeavor and today is one of our nation’s leading independent research institutions.  It is sustained by government and corporate grants and contracts, and donations from the public. SFBR is located on a 332 acre campus on the northwest side of San Antonio where its 75 doctoral level biomedical scientists, including 28 principal investigators, conduct more than 200 research projects.

The Southwest National Regional Primate Research Center, a part of SFBR, is a national resource that provides specialized facilities and expertise in research with nonhuman primates to investigators from around the US and other countries.  It maintains 4,000 nonhuman primates.

SFBR maintains the only privately owned biosafety level 4 laboratory in the US to develop bioterrorism defenses and novel strategies against incurable infectious diseases.

SFBR’s AT&T Genomics Computing Center, the world’s largest computing cluster dedicated to human genetic analysis, helps scientists find genes that influence susceptibility to diseases at record speed

Last Chance to Sign up for the May 15 Luncheon 

Just a reminder the usual Wednesday meeting on May 13 is cancelled.  Instead, the meeting will be held on Friday, May 15 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.  This special meeting will honor Bill Greehey with a Service Above Self award for his work with Haven for Hope. 

The luncheon is also a fundraiser for the District-wide initiative to build the Rotary Job Placement Center at Haven for Hope.  Help us reach out goal!

Red McCombs is the guest speaker.  Donald Braswell from "America's Got Talent" will sing the National Anthem.  DGE Reggie Williams will present an overview of Haven for Hope and the Job Placement Center.  Rick Cavender will also perform.

You don't want to miss this special meeting!  Sign up today by calling 222-8242, x101, emailing to assistant@rotarysa.org or downloading a sponsorship/registration form.

Event information:

Haven Can’t Wait

Friday, May 15

11:45 - 1:15

Grand Hyatt Hotel

$50 for Rotarians

$75 for non-Rotarians

$5 parking at the Hyatt (pay when entering the parking lot)

Thank you to our supporters!

We wish to thank the sponsors of the Haven for Hope luncheon.   Thank you for your generous support of this important community project.

Angel Sponsors

NuStar Energy/Greehey Family Foundation

Valero Energy

Table Host Sponsors

CPS Energy

Guaranty Bank

Jackson Walker LLP

San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind

St. Mary’s University

Williams Crow Falls, LLP

Sign up for the District SuperConference:

May 15-17

District Governor Jim Montgomery invites you join him and Rotarians from across the District in celebrating the end of another successful Rotary year.  The host hotel is Hyatt Hill Country Resort but there will be activities all around the District so it will be easy for you to participate. 

Attend the All-Clubs luncheon on May 15 hosted by our club, join our youth program participants (EarlyAct, Interact, Rotaract, Youth Exchange) at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort on Friday night, volunteer for a service project on Saturday morning or the President’s Ball on Saturday night featuring the Rick Cavender Band. 

See Rotary at work at this SuperConference!  For more details or to sign up: Conference

Visit www.rotary5840.org for more info.

Just announced!  The District-wide service project will be held at the San Antonio Food Bank, Saturday, May 16.  DG Jim is hoping for a large number of Rotarians to turn out for this “Service Above Self” opportunity. 

Can you make it?  Call the Rotary office at 222-8242, x101 or email to assistant@rotarysa.org.