LULAC NAMES DR. CYNTHIA E. OROZCO AS NATIONAL HISTORIAN

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization, proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Cynthia E. Orozco as its National Historian. Widely recognized as the foremost authority on LULAC's founding, growth, and influence, Dr. Orozco brings an unparalleled depth of scholarship and devotion to documenting the struggles and triumphs of Latinos in the United States.

"Dr. Orozco's appointment as National Historian ensures that our nearly 100-year legacy will not only be preserved but elevated to the place it deserves in American history," says Roman Palomares, LULAC national president and chairman of the board. "Her body of work reflects the passion, rigor, and vision we need to inspire future generations of Latinos and all Americans," he added.

Dr. Orozco, Professor Emeritus of History and Humanities at Eastern New Mexico University–Ruidoso, is a nationally respected scholar, author, and lecturer whose works have reshaped the understanding of Mexican American, Chicano, and Latino history. Her landmark publications include No Mexicans, Women, or Dogs Allowed: The Rise of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement (UT Press), one of the press's best-selling academic books of the past decade, and Agent of Change: Adela Sloss-Vento, Mexican American Civil Rights Activist and Texas Feminist, which earned the Texas State Historical Association's Best Book in Texas Women's History Award in 2020.

Her latest book, Pioneer of Mexican American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales, profiles the principal founder of LULAC. Her co-edited volume, Mexican Americans in Texas History, further solidifies her role as the preeminent chronicler of Latino contributions to American society.

"This appointment confirms what I have known since 1978, and that is that I would do my part to empower our community through history," says Orozco. "The LULAC story is full of struggles and achievements, yet our history is unknown. Our history is our strength," she stated.

Among her numerous honors are the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies Scholar (2023), the National LULAC Education Raymond Telles Award (2023), and her elections to the Executive Board of the Organization of American Historians and the Alliance for Texas History. She is also a Ford Foundation Postdoctoral and Dissertation Fellow and a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association.

Through her lifelong commitment to research and teaching, Dr. Orozco has given voice to the milestones, sacrifices, and victories that shaped Latino civil rights in the United States and Puerto Rico. In her new role, she will continue to illuminate the movement's history, safeguarding its lessons and values for millions who may not yet know their lineage or the events that paved the way to today's progress.

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.LULAC.org.