Julie Hempel, Director
Justin Banks, College Archivist and Assistant Director
Johanna Sandlin, Secretary
The Austin College Center for Southwestern and Mexican Studies promotes collaborative learning between students of the college and faculty members, with special emphasis on the historical, cultural, social, economic, and political issues facing Texas and Mexico.
The Center seeks to prepare its students, and the College community at large, to meet challenges and opportunities focusing on the relationship between Mexico and the southwestern United States. In so doing, it fosters campus outreach and the communication of the Austin College community with the greater Southwest and Mexico in a variety of ways including public programs, seminars, and conferences. It also works with elementary and secondary teachers through the Austin Teacher Programs in order to encourage greater understanding while it sponsors a series of internships, foreign study programs, and specialized research opportunities for all Austin College students who have an interest in Mexico and the Southwestern United States.
A minor in Southwestern and Mexican Studies consists of a minimum of five approved course credit units with each course having a significant southwestern and/or Mexican content. Students must take at least one course in each of the two regional focus areas (southwestern United States and Mexico), with at least one course of the five numbered 300 or above. Language competency in Spanish through the 202 level also is required in addition to the five approved courses.
Disciplinary courses approved for Southwestern and Mexican Studies are listed collectively in the course schedule each term.
