Texas State Convention + Expo 2025!

Dr. Angela Valenzuela is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy at the University of Texas at Austin where she directs the Texas Center for Education Policy. She completed her Ph.D. in Sociology at Stanford University and is the author of the award-winning book, Subtractive Schooling: U.S.-Mexican Youth and the Politics of Caring (1999). She also founded a blog titled, Educational Equity, Politics, and Policy in Texas. Dr. Valenzuela serves Chair of the Texas LULAC Education Committee and co-chair to the National LULAC Higher Education Committee. She is a co-founder of Academic Cuauhtli, a partnership-based, community-anchored Saturday school serving elementary school children with district-wide Impacts in the Austin Independent School District. She also co-founded Black Brown Dialogues on Policy to encourage coalition building and solidarity across diverse alliances. She is a member of the National Academy of Education.

Dr. Maria Del Carmen Unda is a distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin's College of Liberal Arts, where she contributes to the Equity-Centered Principal Initiative (ECPI). With a focus on race and ethnic studies, educational policymaking, critical policy analysis, and organizational equity, her work spans K-12 and higher education. Dr. Unda's research highlights the pivotal role of community organizations in enhancing educational opportunities across district, state, and federal levels. She has authored significant works in journals such as Educational Policy, Race Ethnicity and Education, and the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership. Dr. Unda holds a B.A. in Chicano/a Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and advances her field expertise with an M.Ed. in Education Policy and Planning, followed by a Ph.D. in Education Leadership and Policy, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Her academic pursuits have been funded by her tenure as a Gates Millenium Scholar from 2012 to 2023.

Gloria Leal is an attorney practicing administrative law representing ‘licensed’ business clients and individuals subject to disciplinary matters before state agencies and the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). As a government affairs consultant , she advocates for business and consumer interests before the State Legislature. Gloria is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and has received numerous recognitions and awards as a “Pathfinder” and “Trailblazer” in the legal profession and for advocating on behalf of the Hispanic community. Gloria hails from the Rio Grande Valley and proudly embraces her fifth generation “Tejano “ heritage and farm worker migrant background. Two years ago, she was appointed General Counsel for the National League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) –becoming the first woman appointed in LULAC’s 95th history. She is the principal legal advisor to the LULAC National Board.

 Claudia Azua currently serves as a bilingual instructor at Mineral Wells ISD, where she specializes in bilingual education, intervention, and curriculum development. She is currently pursuing certification as a Bilingual Dyslexia Interventionist. Claudia is the founder of Claudia’s Consulting Services LLC, offering expertise in education, nonprofit development, and community engagement. She is also a certified Texas Public Notary and Professional Tax Preparer. Claudia holds a Bachelor’s in Education (Interdisciplinary Studies) from Tarleton State University and an Associate of Arts in Teaching from Weatherford College. She is a certified EC-6 Generalist with an ESL endorsement and is a Safe Environment Facilitator for the Diocese of Fort Worth. Her nonprofit leadership includes serving as Deputy State Director for Women for Texas LULAC and as President of the Palo Pinto County LULAC Council #22391, where she launched a scholarship program for local students. She also serves as Deputy District Director within LULAC District 21, Treasurer of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, Fort Worth Chapter, and Chamber Ambassador with the Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sandra is currently the Manager of Public Affairs with Burlington Northern Santa Fe

Railroad (BNSF) as well as the RailPAC Assistant Treasurer. She is the Past State Chair of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas. She is a board member with the Cuidado Casero Foundation, Texas Wesleyan University President’s Advisory Board, Tarrant County College Foundation Board, Latino Cultural Center de Fort Worth and a founding member of the City of Fort Worth’s Hispanic Leadership Organization. Sandra holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and a Master’s in Management from Texas Wesleyan University. She was selected as one of HWNT’s Estrellas de Tejas in 2018 and Shining Star in 2017.  In 2023, she was awarded a Heroes for Children Award from the Texas School Board of Education and in 2023, Sandra was selected as of the Top Latino Leaders by the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  In 2024, Sandra was awarded the Girls Scouts Woman of Distinction by the Texas Oklahoma Plains Girls Scouts Chapter. Sandra is one of the first undocumented students allowed to attend school at Fort Worth ISD.  She was born in Durango, Mexico and feels that ancestry makes her more determined to ensure other students facing the same situation have an opportunity at an education just like she did.

Erica Marie Lopez, born and raised in San Benito, is a client and marketing liaison for Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP in Austin. She attended St. Mary’s University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Erica obtained a Master of Arts degree in Legal Studies along with a Paralegal and Mediation certificate from Texas State University. Erica began her career as the

Executive Assistant to the first Latina elected to the Travis County District clerk.

Erica is currently serving as State Chair of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas

(HWNT), overseeing 10 chapters across Texas. She is a past recipient of the prestigious HWNT Estrella de Tejas

award and the HWNT Chair’s Award of Excellence. Most recently, Erica was

recognized as a Latina of Influence by Hispanic Lifestyle magazine and as a

Women of Distinction by TAMACC. In addition to serving on the HWNT board, Erica is also an active member of the Pan American Round Table of Austin, Executive

Women in Texas Government and her local parish St. Paul Catholic Church. Erica is a proud alumnus of the Hispanic Austin Leadership Program and the Texas Public Policy and Community Engagement Program.

Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes proudly represents District 2 on the Austin City Council. Since taking office in 2021, Vanessa has fought for improved health, affordability, childcare access, and creative arts. She has also taken a stand for health equity as Chair of the Public Health Committee by sponsoring legislation on displacement prevention, reproductive justice, community health workers, vaccine distribution, mental health services, and healthy food access.

She was born and raised in Central Texas to an immigrant mother from Mexico and military veteran father. Some of Vanessa’s accomplishments include championing the City’s largest-ever wage increase for City Employees, eliminating costly barriers to childcare development, increasing access to dual-language pre-K, expanding Austin’s most successful affordable housing incentive program - Affordability Unlocked, and spearheading Austin Public Library’s successful Enhanced Library Card Program. Vanessa also co-sponsored the implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan and is committed to environmental justice. Her efforts include connecting residents with affordable flood mitigation opportunities and securing funds to start the analysis of burying power lines in city-funded projects.

Dr. Cynthia E. Orozco, an award-winning professor of history and best-selling author, is a historian of LULAC. She is a UT Austin and UCLA graduate and taught at UTSA, University of New Mexico, and Eastern New Mexico University in Ruidoso. She is author of No Mexicans, Women or Dogs Allowed: The Rise of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement, a history of the origins of LULAC and Pioneer of Mexican American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales on the principal founder of LULAC. She is a member of Council 8.