Ricardo Romo
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Romo became the fifth president of The University of Texas at San Antonio
in May 1999. As president, he leads one of the fastest growing institutions of higher education
in Texas
.
Under Romo's leadership, “The UTSA Plan: A Roadmap to Excellence,” was presented. The plan is a strategic effort to enhance both access to education and excellence in scholarship and service at UTSA. As a result, UTSA plans to more than double the current number of tenured and tenure-track faculty by 2012 and develop additional doctoral programs and research institutes. To accommodate future growth, UTSA plans to add nearly $750 million in new facilities, which includes an $84 million science and engineering building completed in 2005.
During President Romo’s tenure, UTSA’s enrollment has increased more than 50 percent and the university has added numerous programs and facilities to enhance student life including a nearly $46 million renovation to the Recreation and Wellness Center, a 1,000-bed Olympic village-style housing complex and several new student support programs designed to help students succeed at earning a university degree. The number of advisers has tripled, and UTSA is recognized as a leader in “Closing the Gaps,” a statewide initiative by the Legislature to enroll more Texans in higher education.
A native of San Antonio’s West Side, Romo graduated from Fox Tech High School
and attended the University of Texas at Austin
on a track scholarship. He holds a master’s degree in history from Loyola Marymount University
and a Ph.D.
in history from UCLA. Romo is an urban historian
and the author of “East Los Angeles
: History of a Barrio,” which is now in its ninth printing (one in Spanish).
In 1980, President Romo returned to UT Austin to teach history before becoming a vice provost for undergraduate education. From 1987 to 1993, Romo directed the Texas office of the Tomas Rivera Center, housed at Trinity University
, where he evaluated the impact of governmental policies on Latinos. In 2002, President Bush
appointed him to the President’s Board of Advisers on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 2004, former Secretary of State Colin Powell
appointed Romo as a U.S. representative to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
and in 2005 Romo was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
, San Antonio branch.
Romo has received many honors during his academic career. In November 2007, he was recognized with the Isabel la Catolica award, the highest award given to non-Spanish subjects, bestowed by King Juan Carlos of Spain. In October 2008, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Texas Exes Alumni Association.
Romo is married to Harriett Romo, UTSA professor of sociology. She also serves as director of the UTSA Mexico Center and the Bank of America Child and Adolescent Policy Research Institute (CAPRI). Both first-generation college graduates, the Romos have a son, Carlos, who graduated from Stanford University
and the University of Texas School of Law
. Their daughter, Anadelia, received a doctoral degree from Harvard University
and teaches at Texas State University in San Marcos.
The Romos are avid art collectors. Their private art collection is particularly strong in works on paper by Chicana/o and U.S. Latino artists with a regional focus on Texas and the Southwest. The collection includes works by Luis Jimenez, Carmen Lomas Garza, Cesar Martinez and Vincent Valdez, as well as print suites from Self Help Graphics and Coronado Studio.
An avid photographer, Romo’s works have been included in several regional art exhibits including “Havana,” a collection of his prints taken in Cuba
. His photos were featured in China's most respected photography magazine, Popular Photography, and his "Small Towns Texas" exhibit was displayed at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures.
University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
in May 1999. As president, he leads one of the fastest growing institutions of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Under Romo's leadership, “The UTSA Plan: A Roadmap to Excellence,” was presented. The plan is a strategic effort to enhance both access to education and excellence in scholarship and service at UTSA. As a result, UTSA plans to more than double the current number of tenured and tenure-track faculty by 2012 and develop additional doctoral programs and research institutes. To accommodate future growth, UTSA plans to add nearly $750 million in new facilities, which includes an $84 million science and engineering building completed in 2005.
During President Romo’s tenure, UTSA’s enrollment has increased more than 50 percent and the university has added numerous programs and facilities to enhance student life including a nearly $46 million renovation to the Recreation and Wellness Center, a 1,000-bed Olympic village-style housing complex and several new student support programs designed to help students succeed at earning a university degree. The number of advisers has tripled, and UTSA is recognized as a leader in “Closing the Gaps,” a statewide initiative by the Legislature to enroll more Texans in higher education.
A native of San Antonio’s West Side, Romo graduated from Fox Tech High School
San Antonio Independent School District
San Antonio Independent School District is a school district based in Downtown San Antonio, Texas .San Antonio ISD is one of 15 school districts serving San Antonio. San Antonio ISD serves the downtown and inner city areas of San Antonio. San Antonio ISD also serves a small portion of the city of...
and attended the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
on a track scholarship. He holds a master’s degree in history from Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in history from UCLA. Romo is an urban historian
Urban History
Urban history is a field of history that examines the historical nature of cities and towns, and the process of urbanization. The approach tends to be multidisciplinary, crossing boundaries into fields like social history, architectural history, urban sociology, urban geography and archaeology.At...
and the author of “East Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
: History of a Barrio,” which is now in its ninth printing (one in Spanish).
In 1980, President Romo returned to UT Austin to teach history before becoming a vice provost for undergraduate education. From 1987 to 1993, Romo directed the Texas office of the Tomas Rivera Center, housed at Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
, where he evaluated the impact of governmental policies on Latinos. In 2002, President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
appointed him to the President’s Board of Advisers on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 2004, former Secretary of State Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
appointed Romo as a U.S. representative to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and in 2005 Romo was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas covers the Eleventh Federal Reserve District, which includes Texas, northern Louisiana and southern New Mexico....
, San Antonio branch.
Romo has received many honors during his academic career. In November 2007, he was recognized with the Isabel la Catolica award, the highest award given to non-Spanish subjects, bestowed by King Juan Carlos of Spain. In October 2008, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Texas Exes Alumni Association.
Romo is married to Harriett Romo, UTSA professor of sociology. She also serves as director of the UTSA Mexico Center and the Bank of America Child and Adolescent Policy Research Institute (CAPRI). Both first-generation college graduates, the Romos have a son, Carlos, who graduated from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
. Their daughter, Anadelia, received a doctoral degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and teaches at Texas State University in San Marcos.
The Romos are avid art collectors. Their private art collection is particularly strong in works on paper by Chicana/o and U.S. Latino artists with a regional focus on Texas and the Southwest. The collection includes works by Luis Jimenez, Carmen Lomas Garza, Cesar Martinez and Vincent Valdez, as well as print suites from Self Help Graphics and Coronado Studio.
An avid photographer, Romo’s works have been included in several regional art exhibits including “Havana,” a collection of his prints taken in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. His photos were featured in China's most respected photography magazine, Popular Photography, and his "Small Towns Texas" exhibit was displayed at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures.