TTUHSC to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

• By Suzanna Cisneros
• September 8, 2022
• Campus Life

Since 1968, Americans have come together to celebrate the history, culture and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) this year will observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 with events, webinars and celebrations. 

“TTUHSC is committed to enriching the lives of others by educating students to become collaborative health care professionals,” said TTUHSC President Lori Rice-Spearman. “This work includes promoting health equity, eliminating health disparities, and celebrating the diversity of our students, team members, community partners and the people that we serve each and every day. Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to intentionally recognize the contributions of Hispanic people who have made such profound impact on our communities, state and nation.”
 
Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988. This year’s theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” 

TTUHSC Vice President Jody Randall said, “Being part of the TTUHSC team means being part of a supportive community that empowers each individual and embraces individuals of all social and intrinsic backgrounds.”

“This year’s events include four virtual health-related presentations addressing mental health and the Hispanic student, cultural responsiveness in curriculum design, research and cultural health practices. We also will collaborate with TTU in this year’s El Grito and a keynote address, ‘Defining Servingness in Practice at Hispanic Serving Institutions,’ with Dr. Gina Garcia,” Randall said. 

Opportunities for virtual engagement include: ¡Investigación! Understanding Research in the Hispanic Community; Mental Health y Tú; Cultural Responsiveness in Curriculum Design; La Voz Hispana: A Conversation with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Hispanic Community

Individual campus celebracions with opportunities for in-person engagement include: “No Más Bebés,” a film screening by the Office of Global Health; Cocinado: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Through Cooking; and Bailando: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Through Dance.

“The month will be filled with numerous opportunities both virtual and in-person to participate in learning more about and celebrating Hispanic culture,” Randall said. “We invite the TTUHSC community to join us.”

The U.S. Department of Education recognized TTUHSC as a Hispanic-Serving Institution on Feb. 24, 2022. Randall said the status enables the university to strengthen its ongoing-efforts to recruit and support underrepresented students, grow a more diversified faculty and better serve its communities as a comprehensive health care institution. 

“By strengthening all cultures, we create an all-inclusive foundation and better support all students, faculty and staff,” Randall said. “Hispanic Heritage Month efforts are one way we can show our support for diversity and celebrate the rich Hispanic culture.”