El Centro Chicano

Throughout the 1970’s, as the Chicano and Latino student population at Stanford University grew, so did the activities and organizations of this community. The need for a cultural center became apparent, and in May of 1977, the Chicano Cultural Center Committee, composed of faculty, staff, and students, proposed that the University “provide MEChA and its offspring organizations with a facility that would accommodate a Cultural and Activities Center.” The University accepted the proposal and allocated funds to renovate the basement of the Nitery, which already housed the Chicano Fellows Program. The center was named “El Centro Chicano de Estanford” at a community meeting and opened its doors to students in late 1978.

During the early years, part-time student staff provided the administrative support to the center. This was followed by the hiring of half-time Assistant Deans of Students/Directors. In December of 1989, after a decade of student effort to convince the University of the need for full-time professional staff, Dr. Frances Morales started her position as El Centro’s first full-time Director and Assistant Dean of Students. Frances received her Ph.D. in Education from Stanford in 1981.

In the spring of 1993, Chris González-Clarke was hired as the first Assistant Director of El Centro Chicano. Chris received his Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in 1985. In 2005, Chris returned to Stanford to pursue a Master’s degree in Education, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. That year, Mónica Itzel Henestroza became the first Interim Assistant Director, followed by Vida Mia García a year after. In September of 2007, Agustín Cervantes became the new Interim Assistant Director.

Since its establishment, El Centro Chicano has been an integral part of countless students' Stanford experience. Stanford's Chicano/Latino community reflects the diversity of a population that is rapidly becoming the second largest in the United States. As a center of activity for this community, El Centro Chicano provides a Home Away from home that fosters student personal success.

For more information, please visit Cronicas.






		Throughout the 1970’s, as the Chicano and Latino student population at Stanford University grew, so did the activities and organizations of this community. The need for a cultural center became apparent, and in May of 1977, the Chicano Cultural Center Committee, composed of faculty, staff, and students, proposed that the University “provide MEChA and its offspring organizations with a facility that would accommodate a Cultural and Activities Center.” The University accepted the proposal and allocated funds to renovate the basement of the Nitery, which already housed the Chicano Fellows Program. The center was named “El Centro Chicano de Estanford” at a community meeting and opened its doors to students in late 1978. During the early years, part-time student staff provided the administrative support to the center. This was followed by the hiring of half-time Assistant Deans of Students/Directors. In December of 1989, after a decade of student effort to convince the University of the need for full-time professional staff, Dr. Frances Morales started her position as El Centro’s first full-time Director and Assistant Dean of Students. Frances received her Ph.D. in Education from Stanford in 1981. In the spring of 1993, Chris González-Clarke was hired as the first Assistant Director of El Centro Chicano. Chris received his Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in 1985. In 2005, Chris returned to Stanford to pursue a Master’s degree in Education, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. That year, Mónica Itzel Henestroza became the first Interim Assistant Director, followed by Vida Mia García a year after. In September of 2007, Agustín Cervantes became the new Interim Assistant Director. Since its establishment, El Centro Chicano has been an integral part of countless students' Stanford experience. Stanford's Chicano/Latino community reflects the diversity of a population that is rapidly becoming the second largest in the United States. As a center of activity for this community, El Centro Chicano provides a Home Away from home that fosters student personal success. For more information, please visit Cronicas.

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