UT Professor Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez Honored for Championing Latino Voices

Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, a professor in the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Texas at Austin and the founder of the Voces Oral History Center, has received recognition as one of this year’s Texas 10 honorees by Texas Exes. The prestigious annual award honors 10 professors from the university, celebrating those whose teaching profoundly influences their students' lives.

A UT alumna and former staff member for The Daily Texan, Rivas-Rodriguez expressed that receiving the honor felt like a “full circle” moment after dedicating 27 years to teaching at her alma mater. “Having the opportunity to teach at the institution where I earned my bachelor’s degree and to share my greatest passion—journalism—holds significant value for me,” she expressed, noting that receiving public recognition for her efforts at this point in her career is particularly impactful.

Rivas-Rodriguez dedicated years to her career as a journalist before making the shift to academia, allowing her to prioritize family time. Her celebrated project, Voces, captures the Latino experiences in the U.S. through compelling oral histories. She highlighted the profound link between journalism and oral history, pointing out that both storytelling methods depend on adept interviewing to convey facts and emotions.

In discussing UT’s significance as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Rivas-Rodriguez emphasized the impact of Voces in fostering a more inclusive atmosphere for Latino students. “Voces shows that the viewpoint of the Latino community is appreciated and acknowledged,” she stated.

With her commitment to highlighting Latino narratives and mentoring aspiring journalists, Rivas-Rodriguez has left a lasting impact on UT and the wider community.