Brownsville native and longtime educator Dr. Juliet Garcia will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor today in Washington D.C.
President Joe Biden will award The Presidential Medal of Freedom to the former longtime president of the University of Texas at Brownsville at the White House. For Garcia, it is the culmination of both a life in education and as a local, regional and national leader in the field of higher education. Among her many life distinctions is being the first Mexican-American woman to serve as a U.S. college or university president.
Garcia gained that honor in 1986. Five years later, she became president of the new UT-Brownsville while also retaining the presidency of the community college. At the time, it was a unique partnership and merger of the UT System and a local community college. It was likewise the first of its kind in the state. She would stay in that capacity for another 20 years, building the UT campus in Brownsville from scratch, adding academic programs. Bachelor’s degrees became readily available in the community to go along with longstanding community college programs and associate degrees.
Garcia was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2000. She was chosen one of the top ten college presidents by Time in 2009. In 2014, Fortune magazine named Garcia one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.
“I’ve always believed that educating the next generation of citizens was our primary mission because once educated, they would help nurture, defend, and sustain the democracy of the United States,” Garcia said after being notified of the Medal of Freedom honor. “I believe that now more than ever.”
Inspiring New Leaders
Garcia is currently a senior adviser to the UT System chancellor on matters of community, national and global engagement. UTRGV President Guy Bailey praised Garcia for her contributions to higher education and being a national leader in the field.
“Her contributions to higher education in South Texas and beyond are long lasting and have created pathways of success among a new generation of Latino leaders,” Bailey said. “Juliet has enriched the lives of many Rio Grande Valley students, from elementary to college.”
The Medal of Freedom honors individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values and security of the United States. It is specifically regarded as the nation’s highest civilian award. Another Valley native and civil rights activist, Raul Yzaguirre of San Juan, will also receive the honor today. Other honorees include actor Denzel Washington, and John McCain and Steve Jobs, who will both receive honors posthumously.