Joaquín Ortega: Forging Pan-Americanism at the University of New Mexico (Contextos Series)

By: Russ Davidson

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: In this important work Russ Davidson presents the first biography of Joaquín Ortega, introducing readers to Ortega&’s life and work at the University of New Mexico as well as his close relationship with then UNM president James Zimmerman and other major figures. More than biography, Davidson&’s study closely examines the complex relationship UNM has had with Latin America as well as with the Hispanic community in New Mexico and that community&’s struggles to have equal representation of culture and education within an Anglo-dominated university and state in the first half of the twentieth century. Ortega&’s efforts played a significant role in UNM&’s evolution into a culturally diverse place of learning, and his story overlays the history of how ethnic groups began to work together to incorporate Latin American, Pan-American, New Mexican, and borderland studies into the educational fabric of the university at a pivotal time. This long-overdue volume is an illuminating look at the rich and complex history of the university and the communities it serves.