15
February
2023
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00:46 AM
Europe/Amsterdam

DMC Recognizing Distinguished Service of Retired Political Science Professor Elizabeth Flores with Board of Regents Approving Status of “Professor Emeritus”

Seasoned retired faculty member is a DMC alumna, began teaching at the College in 1976

Article by: Rosa Linda Reynoso

Del Mar College’s Board of Regents unanimously approved the designation of “Professor Emeritus” to retired Professor of Political Science Elizabeth N. Flores during their Feb. 14 regular meeting. Professor Flores began her exceptional career at the College as an Adjunct Instructor of Political Science in 1976 and retired in January 2022 with 46 years of service and commitment to the institution and its students.

Hired for a tenure-track faculty position in the Department of Social Sciences in 1979, Flores’ ties to Del Mar actually date back to 1953 when her father earned his Associate in Arts degree from DMC, which is the same year that she was born.  

She enrolled at Del Mar College after graduating from Incarnate Word Academy in 1972; and after several semesters, Flores enrolled at St. Mary’s University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1975. She earned her master’s degree in Political Science from The University of Michigan the following year.

During her exemplary career at DMC, Flores served as Chair of the Political Science Department from 1983 to 1985 and also as Interim Chair of the Center for Ethnic Studies and Cultural Development from 1985 to 1986. However, her most notable accomplishment while with the College is her role in the campaign and development of the Mexican American Studies (MAS) associate’s degree that the College now offers.

Initially, Flores advocated for the creation of a Mexican American Politics course and eventually provided leadership among her colleagues to develop in 2007 the MAS Program. The College officially launched the MAS degree plan in Fall 2011, and Flores served as the MAS Program Coordinator from 2012 to 2018 as well as Interim Coordinator during Fall 2020.

As the main advisor for MAS Program majors, Flores was instrumental in the creation of the Mexican American Studies Center and the principal planner for many of the Mexican American Studies Summer Seminars that the College offers to the community.

Among her other accomplishments, Flores contributed and chaired multiple program review committees in the Political Science Program in the College’s Social Sciences Department, served as a Cultural Programs Committee member and participated on Search Committees for the Provost and Vice President of Instruction position and at least two Presidential searches. Prior to retirement, Flores helped reshape DMC’s image by serving on the Rebranding Advisory Group. She also served on the Mike Anzaldúa Plaza Dedication and Commemoration Task Force, which was charged with recommending quotes that would be displayed throughout Anzaldúa Plaza at the General Academic and Music Building Phase II (GAMBII).

Flores is noted for demonstrated standards of excellence in teaching, and awards she has received acknowledge her ability to connect with students, including receiving the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 1 Educator of the Year Award in 2014 and Del Mar College’s Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013, an honor that DMC faculty covet as recognition as a “master teacher.”

Outside the classroom, Flores was a contributing author to Texas politics textbooks, a commentator or moderator on panels at the Texas State Historical Association, the South Texas Civil Rights Movement Symposium, the Southwestern Political Sciences Association and the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Transcultural Program. In 2008, she presented at the annual meeting of the Texas State Historical Association in Corpus Christi. 

 

About Del Mar College

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.