Meet the Students of Change
In 1968 and 1969, the first sizeable groups of Latino students enrolled in the University of Washington. Meet a few of the students and see where their lives have taken them.
Bertha Ortega
Bertha received her Masters of Education from Fort Wright College in Spokane. In 1981, Bertha became a founding member of Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington. The school is dedicated to increasing access to higher learning in Central Washington, regardless of economics, culture or geography. She has served as Dean of Students, Assistant Vice President for Community Relations and, currently, Vice President for External and Academic Affairs.
Jesus Sanchez
After graduating, Jesús went on to public administration. He was the youngest Assistant Director of Washington State’s Department of Vehicles and Licensing. He was the first Latino in the nation to manage facility for two major league teams, the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Seahawks and the first Latino appointed in King County as head of Executive Administration for King County. He is currently the Public Works Operations Manager for the City of Shoreline.
Rogelio Riojas
After graduating, Rogelio earned a Masters degree in Health Administration and became the Executive Director of Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a position he has now held for 28 years. Sea Mar's mission – “to serve low-income, underserved, and uninsured communities in western Washington, with a specialization in services to the Latino population"-- has evolved into a multi-million dollar organization that manages over ten medical clinics and ten dental clinics across Washington State, serving over 83,000 people in 2004 alone.
Erasmo Gamboa
Erasmo was instrumental in the establishment of the University of Washington’s Chicano Studies program, earning his PhD in History in 1984. He is currently Associate Professor of Chicano Studies and Adjunct Associate Professor of History and Latin American Studies at the UW. Professor Gamboa is the leading authority on the history of Latinos in the Northwest.
Anita Morales
Anita has been in the Seattle School District for the past 20 years. She has been a classroom teacher at Meany Middle School and T.T. Minor Elementary School, and currently serves as an Instructional Services School Coach for Seattle School District. She remains passionate in her intent to unlock the potential of young learners.
