¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana/Latine! Happy Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month!

Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month, celebrated Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is a time when we highlight and celebrate Hispanic/Latine Americans (those with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, or South America) and their legacies, contributions, and influence on the culture, history, and achievements of the United States and our University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community.  

During Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month at UMB, we affirm our commitment and support for our Hispanic/Latine colleagues and friends, celebrate their achievements, and continue to collaborate to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse community. Hispanic/Latine Marylanders are active contributors to our economy, community, and social life with about 730,000 living in the state in 2020.

 As we celebrate, we also acknowledge the struggles related to education, immigration, economics, and health that disproportionately impact our Hispanic/Latine family members, co-workers, and friends. Our nation and the world are greatly impacted by the dedication and innovations of Hispanic people.

For example, Hector Hugo Gonzalez, PhD, MSN, RN, became the nation’s first Mexican American registered nurse to obtain a doctorate in 1974. Throughout his career, Gonzalez continued to break new ground as the first Hispanic district president within the Texas Nursing Association. As chairman of the Department of Nursing Education at San Antonio College, he designed flexible curriculum options for students from underrepresented communities to become licensed registered nurses.

Sonia Sotomayor, JD, sworn in Aug. 8, 2009, as the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the Supreme Court, is known for fighting for affirmative action protections. This was evident in her 58-page dissent in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, which held that prohibitions to state universities from considering race in admission decisions was constitutional.

Carlos Finlay, MD, found that biting insects transmit diseases. In fact, his work provided the definitive proof that yellow fever was spread from infected humans to healthy humans by mosquitoes. A graduate of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Finlay took his results to Washington, D.C., in 1881. Still, it wasn’t until his work with the U.S. Army Yellow Fever Commission that his discovery was finally accepted, and yellow fever was eradicated in Cuba and Panama.

Ana Sol Gutiérrez, MS, made history as the first Latina ever elected to the Maryland General Assembly. A chemist and computer systems engineer by profession, Sol Gutiérrez was appointed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton as deputy administrator for research and special programs at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). She also worked for over 30 years in computers with major information technology firms at NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, USDOT, and the Departments of Education and State, and she is a recognized leader and role model for women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

During Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month, we affirm our commitment to support and promote excellence by celebrating our Hispanic/Latine community as we continue to collaborate to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse UMB. 

En solidaridad (In solidarity),

Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, MA
Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer and Vice President
Professor, School of Graduate Studies