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Draft:Thomas Ray Garcia

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Thomas Ray Garcia
Thomas Ray Garcia, July 2024
Thomas Ray Garcia, July 2024
BornSeptember 9, 1993
McAllen, Texas
OccupationAuthor • Professor
EducationPrinceton University • UCLA • UTRGV
GenreFiction • Non-Fiction
Notable worksThe River Runs: Stories (2023)
Notable awardsInternational Latino Book Awards (Bronze)
Website
www.thomasraygarcia.com

Thomas Ray Garcia is a Latino author, professor, and entrepreneur from McAllen, Texas. He resides in the Rio Grande Valley along the U.S.-Mexico border, the region of focus throughout his writing. His literary debut, The River Runs: Stories (2023), was awarded the Bronze Award by the International Latino Book Awards for Best Collection of Short Stories - English.[1][2] The book was followed by a co-authored work, El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor, about the South Texas Chicano Movement.[3]

In 2013, Garcia founded the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program, a youth-led college access program that he developed into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[4] He is currently an English professor at South Texas College.[5]

Early Life and Education

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Garcia was born on September 9, 1993 in McAllen, Texas. He grew up in a single-parent household in Pharr, Texas. Garcia graduated from PSJA North Early College High School as class valedictorian.[6] According to Garcia, Princeton University's financial aid program motivated him to apply and matriculate to the Ivy League University.[7][8]

He pursued an English degree and participated in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program.[9] While at Princeton, Garcia wrote blogs for prospective students through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.[10] He also co-founded the Princeton Hidden Minority Council, a student organization that advocated for first-generation and low-income minority students.[11]

After graduating from Princeton, Garcia taught high school students at PSJA ISD before pursuing a doctoral degree in English at UCLA.[12] He left the doctoral program with a terminal master's degree in 2022. He later pursued a second master's degree in Higher Education Administration at UTRGV in 2023.[13]

Career

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Thomas Ray Garcia speaking with a student at the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program
Garcia at the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program

Garcia founded the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program at age 19.[14] From 2013 to 2017, the college access program consisted of youth-led workshops and courses on college admissions. According to Garcia, his summer breaks at Princeton were dedicated to directing the program and developing near-peer mentorship initiatives.[15]

The program evolved into Garcia's high school course at PSJA ISD. In 2019, Garcia incorporated the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[16] He served as executive director from 2019 to 2023 before transitioning to chairing the board of directors.

At UCLA, Garcia began teaching English at the collegiate level.[17] As a graduate student, he taught undergraduate courses on critical reading and writing, creative writing, and American Literature.[18]

In 2024, he joined the English faculty at South Texas College, where he currently teaches courses on rhetoric, composition, and literary genre.

Garcia is the co-founder of Beyond Borders Books, an independent press based in Pharr, Texas.[19]

Politics and Activism

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In 2017, Garcia submitted an application to the Texas State Historical Commission to erect a historical marker commemorating the 1971 Pharr Riot.[20] The historical marker was erected in Pharr in 2021.[21]

In 2022, Garcia ran for the Texas State Board of Education as a Democrat. His platform focused on expanding mental health resources; updating the state's learning standards on digital literacy, computer science, and ethnic studies; and advocating against statewide book bans. He placed 3rd in a 5-person primary election.[22]

Garcia has written opinion pieces on school vouchers,[23] school-to-industry partnerships,[24] near-peer mentorship in college admissions,[25] and the Texas State Board of Education.[26]

Bibliography

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Garcia has published two books, The River Runs: Stories and El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor, in 2023. He has also self-published a children's picture book, Speechless, with communication strategist Matt Eventoff.[27]

Fiction

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  • The River Runs: Stories. Sante Fe, New Mexico: Prickly Pear Publishing, 2023. ISBN 9781889568218.

Non-Fiction

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Children's Books

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  • Speechless (with illustrations by Nai N'yan Saechao). Self-Published, 2020.

References

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  1. ^ Montoya, Luis (2024-09-16). "Valley author Garcia earns accolade from International Latino Book Awards". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  2. ^ TBB (2023-06-20). "Pharr Native Publishes Award-Winning Book of Short Stories". Texas Border Business. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  3. ^ "El Curso de la Raza". Texas A&M University Press. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  4. ^ "About CSLAP". College Scholarship Leadership Access Program. 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  5. ^ "English". South Texas College. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  6. ^ "CSLAP | Thomas Ray Garcia | Rio Grande Valley". CSLAP. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  7. ^ "Thomas Ray Garcia '16 builds relationships and a nonprofit to help Latino students | Princeton Alumni". alumni.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  8. ^ "First in the Family | Princeton Alumni Weekly". paw.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  9. ^ "Thomas Garcia". Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  10. ^ "Thomas Ray Garcia | Princeton Admission". admission.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  11. ^ Aronson, Emily; Office of Communications, Princeton. "King Day Journey Award recognizes Princeton Hidden Minority Council". Princeton University. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  12. ^ "The transformative power of travel". UCLA College. 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  13. ^ "UTRGV Fall 2023 Commencement" (PDF).
  14. ^ Muñoz, Mario (2022-02-07). "Podcast: The story behind the start of CSLAP". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  15. ^ Taylor, Steve (2015-08-18). "PSJA alumni mentor students on going to university". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  16. ^ Muñoz, Mario (2022-02-07). "Podcast: The story behind the start of CSLAP". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  17. ^ "Coursicle – Chat with classmates". www.coursicle.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  18. ^ "UCLA English 4WS Service Learning Projects". UCLA English 4WS Service Learning Projects. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  19. ^ "Beyond Borders Books". Beyond Borders Books. 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  20. ^ Vela, Abigail (2023-02-07). "Op-Ed: The Pharr Riot and the Need for Mexican-American Studies". Trucha RGV. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  21. ^ Karami, Iris (February 11, 2021). "Pharr Riot receives historical marker 50 years later". Valley Central. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  22. ^ "Thomas Garcia (Texas)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  23. ^ Garcia, Thomas Ray (2023-02-12). "Garcia: The SBOE Chooses Passivity Over Principle on Vouchers". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  24. ^ Garcia, Thomas Ray (2021-06-08). "Garcia: Enhancing the Internship Experience Through Partnerships". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  25. ^ Garcia, Thomas Ray (2020-09-28). "Garcia: Near-Peer Mentorship During COVID-19". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  26. ^ Vela, Abigail (2022-05-13). "COMMENTARY: IN SCHOOL BOARD BATTLES BIG MONEY WINS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT". Trucha RGV. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  27. ^ "Picture Books | Speak With Style Books". Speak With Style. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
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