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UA-PTC sets Hispanic Heritage Month panel discussion, “Unity in Community and Culture”

University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College will host a panel discussion titled Unity in Community and Culture in observation of Hispanic Heritage Month on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. The event will be held at UA-PTC CHARTS Theater on the college's Main Campus in North Little Rock. The program is open to the public and free of charge.

The panel will feature three prominent Latino leaders in Arkansas: Dr. Terry Richard, Ms. Connie Saenz, and Mr. Robert Tellez. The discussion will be moderated by Mayo Johnson, Teaching Professor of Computer Science at UA – Pulaski Tech.

Panelist Spotlights:

• Dr. Terry Richard is a Professor Emeritus in Sociology, with a 35-year career at the UA Little Rock's Department of Sociology and Anthropology. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology with a minor in Anthropology from North Texas University and holds an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Richard is known for his published works on thanatology, race relations, and third-world development trends. He remains active in the community, serving on various race relations boards and with the League of United Latin American Citizens.
• Robert E. Tellez, Esq., is the founding partner of Tellez Law Firm PLLC, a criminal defense firm in North Little Rock. He graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law after earning his B.A. in Economics from Duke University. Mr. Tellez has held key leadership roles, including Deputy for Arkansas of the Hispanic National Bar Association and appointments to the Governor's Census Complete Count Committee. He is currently on the Executive Committee of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and serves on the board of the Judge Henry Woods American Inn of Court.
• Connie Saenz, MSW, is the Clinic Manager and Patient Navigator at Harmony Health Clinic, a facility dedicated to providing care for uninsured and underserved communities in Central Arkansas. She holds a master's degree in social work and is a bilingual, first-generation college graduate. A compassionate force in healthcare and social services, she brings a strong sense of commitment and perseverance to her work as a patient-centered care advocate. She is also a dedicated community leader, serving as a board member for the Family Services Agency and El Zócalo Immigrant Resource Center.

Professor Mayo Johnson, the moderator, is UA-PTC Teaching Professor of Computer Science. He has extensive experience moderating discussions on race, equity, and social justice.

This panel discussion is a valuable opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Latinos in Arkansas and explore the various ways they are leading change in their communities and careers.

Panelists pictured, from left: Connie Saenz, Terry Richard, and Robert Tellez