Early Bird

Welcome to Latinx Heritage Month and Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week

Watch for articles celebrating MSU Denver’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, starting with a 2021 Richard T. and Virginia M. Castro Distinguished Visiting Professorship recap.

By Lindsey Coulter

September 20, 2021

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week

Welcome to the first day of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, which recognizes the nation’s 569 HSIs for their work and critical role in educating and empowering Hispanic/Latina/o/x students. This week, Metropolitan State University of Denver will highlight events, programs and staff that contribute to our mission of remaining a model Hispanic-Serving Institution.

The Richard T. and Virginia M. Castro Visiting Professorship is a signature event initiated in 1997 by the Department of Chicana/o Studies to foster multiculturalism, diversity and academic excellence. This professorship brings renowned Latinx scholars, artists and leaders of distinction to MSU Denver to conduct classes, seminars, performances and lectures for students, faculty, staff and the larger community. 

This year, MSU Denver was honored to welcome Maria Hinojosa, an award-winning multimedia journalist who explores and gives a critical voice to the diverse American experience. Hinojosa spoke to the theme “RePRESSente: Broadcasting Nuestras Historias” through a moderated conversation and a community panel with fellow journalists Kristen Aguirre, Sonia Gutierrez and Lori Lizarraga. Conversations centered on the importance of representation of stories and experiences of Latina/o/x people and other marginalized communities.

Thank you to all Roadrunners who attended these events and amplified this important conversation. To learn more about Hinojosa and the Castro Visiting Professorship, please visit the program website.

Latinx Heritage Month

Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month and the rich historical and cultural legacies of Hispanic and Latinx Americans with the Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion and MSU Denver’s partners. Latinx Heritage Month kicked off Sept. 15 and will run through Oct. 15. One of the goals of this month is for all Roadrunners and community members to gain new knowledge and connections to the campus by sharing information and building community with one another. Use the QR code below to view all the events and join in.