ALUM RETURNS TO TAMIU AS CHIEF OF POLICE When TAMIU Chief of Police Cordelia G. Pérez (’14) looks out across the sprawling 300acre TAMIU campus, she sees a new legacy for her impressive career in law enforcement. She’s quick to remind that it’s this campus that was home to her earning her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. That degree was a cornerstone in a groundbreaking Laredo Police Department career focused on leadership in community policing, and advocacy for, and outreach to victims of crimes. TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said this powerful combination has well prepared Pérez for a new legacy as the first female Hispanic Chief of Police at TAMIU. “She’s a role model and truly represents our ‘Go Beyond’ vision for our campus, its students and its graduates. We’re tremendously proud of her and her team,” Dr. Arenaz said. Pérez has now completed her first year of service as TAMIU’s Police Chief. “It’s definitely a full-circle moment for me. TAMIU empowered me to build a foundation that helped secure my future. It’s now doing the same for over 8,500 students here each semester. Nothing is more important to me than their safety,” Chief Pérez said. This year has maintained her focus on two core values: compassion and empathy. “We work best by listening, acknowledging our shared humanity, and working together to find a solution. TAMIU is an extended family and a home away from home for many. As a family, we’re committed to maintaining the safest and most welcoming environment for our University community and visitors,” Pérez observed. Pérez notes that she has a great team sharing that commitment. TAMIU ALUMNI TAMIU ALUM NAMED 2023 TEXAS MOTHER OF THE YEAR TAMIU alum Aisha Christa Atkinson (’20) was named the 2023 Texas Mother of the Year by American Mothers, Inc. (AMI). She is the 71st woman in Texas history to hold this honor. Atkinson and other honorees from across the United States were recognized during the AMI’s 88th National Convention. Atkinson earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from TAMIU. She is a member of the Texas Council for Teachers of English Language Arts 2022-24 Rising Leader Cohort and a committee chair for the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee in the Fort Bend Independent School District. She is also a contributing writer for Education Week, the George Lucas Educational Foundation’s Edutopia, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Teacher2Teacher and Principal Project. AMI is a national non-profit, nonpartisan organization that selects the National Mother of the Year from honorees representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since 1935, the organization has selected a Mother of the Year. Supporters of the organization have included Sarah Delano Roosevelt, and former First Ladies Mamie Eisenhower, Hillary Rodham Clinton and more. 33
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