Today's Program
Past President Lari Young introduced today's speaker, Dr. Gilda E. Ramirez. Dr. Ramirez is the Director of the Antonio E. Garcia Arts and Education Center on Agnes Street. She worked for over 24 years at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in many capacities serving students and faculty most recently as Director of College of Educational Development & Research Operations. Dr. Ramirez graduated from Corpus Christi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with highest honors in 1992. She earned a Master in Public Administration in 1993, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2002, both from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Dr. Ramirez has more than 20 years of higher education experience in fiscal management, grant writing, program administration, student services, and P-20 student success initiatives. She has taught since 1999 at the undergraduate and graduate level, working with students from culturally diverse backgrounds. She is a Leadership Corpus Christi Class 39 graduate, President and Education Co-Chair for the Westside Business Association, Educaiton Chair for the State and the Corpus Christi Chapter of Hispanic Women's Network of Texas and is involved in leadership positions in numerous other community service organizations. She is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and in June 2012 was awarded a Levy Foundation scholarship by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2013, Gilda received the Woman Warrior Award from the Coastal Bend Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Ramirez stated that she has 1 year of experience at the Antonio E. Garcia Arts and Education Center. The Center is 20 years old and resides in a city building. University students can go to the Center for counseling and service learning. They have a program that allows students the opportunity to visit with community leaders. Students from past years are invited to bring their parents with them to discuss their progress. The Center has an art studio and gallery with many exhibits, a dance group, a children's library, a garden, and a computer lab.
In 2012, over 19,000 people visited the Center. Currnently, there have been over 16,000 visitors for 2013. According to Dr. Ramirez, the Center is planning to have an open house in October of this year.
Dr. Ramirez was presented with a "tax shelter" for sharing her time with our club.