Community Forum On Sociocultural Issues Set for Sept. 22

Dr. Mario A. Benitez, Baylor University's 1997 Robert Foster Cherry Chair for Distinguished Teaching, will speak on "Sociocultural Issues in Student Achievement" at a community forum at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in Room 100 in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building.
His lecture is free and open to the public.
Benitez, a distinguished teaching professor in curriculum and instruction at the University of Texas at Austin, is a nationally recognized teacher and scholar in the field of multicultural and bilingual education.
Much of Benitez' teaching focuses on sociocultural issues as they relate to school achievement. His courses provide students with opportunities to understand the multisocial and multicultural nature of our society; assess the impact of these factors on school performance; know the needs of children in various cultural and social groups; identify special issues relevant to diverse populations; and communicate more effectively with these students.
Benitez graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of philosophy and magna cum laude with his Licenciate in philosophy from the Universidad de Comillas in Spain. Benitez also holds a master's of arts degree in Spanish and linguistics from Texas Christian University, a Doctor en Filosofia y Letras degree in Humanities and Sociology from Universidad de la Habana, a master's of education degree from Texas Wesleyan College and a doctor of philosophy degree in philosophy and education from Claremont Graduate School.
He was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Professorship by UT in 1995. His list of teaching awards includes the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award and the Texas Teaching Excellence Award. He was named as a top 12 distinguished professor at Texas and is a founding member of the Distinguished Teaching Academy at the university. Additionally, Benitez has written four books and numerous articles and papers.
For more information, contact the Cherry Awards office at 710-2923.