In today’s episode of Historias del Centro, we dive into the unique experiences of first-gen students at the University of Houston Downtown.

We hear heartfelt stories from students who’ve navigated challenges—like dealing with family expectations and finding their voice in academia. These stories not only highlight their triumphs but also help us understand the broader impact of first-gen experiences on our communities.

It’s about more than just education; it’s about preserving history and making sure every voice is heard. So grab a seat and listen in on these inspiring journeys!

In this episode, we learn about the National Association of Chicana/Chicano Studies upcoming regional conference Tejas Foco 2026. Dr. DeJesus-Rivera discusses the conference with Drs. Carlos Cantu of the University of Houston-Downtown and Dr. Jesus Esparza of Texas Southern University.

Within this episode, Dr. Vida Robertson of the Center for Social Inquiry and Transformation has a conversation with Arthur Lee Hardy Adams. The conversation is a deep and powerful conversation about Ms. Lee Hardy Adams, who discusses her educational journey, including being a part of the first class of what is now known as the University of Louisiana.

In this episode, Dr. DeJesus-Rivera talks with the Director of the UHD Bilingual e-Library, Dr. Maria Bhattacharjee.

En este episodio, la Dra. DeJesus-Rivera conversa con la directora de la biblioteca electrónica bilingüe de la UHD, la Dra. Maria Bhattacharjee.

In this episode of Historias del Centro, we have a conversation with UHD Alumni, Dr. Jesus A. Campos. We discuss his work with the Harris County Department of Education, the various obstacles he faced while being an undocumented student, and the importance of education.

In this episode of Historias del Centro, we learn the origins of Hispanic Heritage Month from Dr. Fernell Jimenez-Pabon.

Dr. Albert De Jesus, Dr. Anthony Ramirez, and Jasmin Rojas reflect on the year and semester they have had working with the Center for Latino Studies.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Arthur Soto-Vasquez, who is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Texas A&M International. Dr. Soto-Vasquez talks about his professional trajectory and his new book, Migrant World Making.

In this episode, we talk with UHD student organization Latinas Achieve.

For more on Latinas Achieve check out, https://www.instagram.com/uhdlatinasachieve/

Within this episode, Dr. Albert DeJesus interviews UHD Associate Professor of History, Dr. Peter Soland. In this interview, we spotlight the various projects Dr. Soland has done including his book Mexican Icarus.