(From left) Interim UHD President Michael A. Olivas, College of Public Service interim dean Leigh Van Horn, IDRA President & CEO María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, IDRA board member Othon Medina, Urban Education chair Ronald Beebe, Dr. Max Castillo.

In recognition of University of Houston-Downtown President Emeritus Max Castillo’s service on the IDRA board of directors and to higher education, IDRA has established the IDRA Scholarship Endowment in Urban Education at UHD in his honor. Dr. Castillo served on the IDRA board for almost 30 years and had a 17-year tenure with UHD.

“IDRA is grateful to work for the day when we can assure educational opportunity for every child – regardless of their educational, cultural or economic background,” said María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, IDRA President & CEO.

Dr. Castillo told Skyline News: “The focus of the award should be on the important work that IDRA accomplishes every day to empower public school leadership and teachers to provide opportunities for every student to be successful and attain their highest educational goal. I am honored that this endowment is established in my honor, but I am focused on the important work of IDRA as it continues to work toward this objective.”

After his retirement eight years ago, Dr. Castillo’s work continues to bring recognition to the university and positively impacts the public and higher education communities.

[©2016, IDRA. This article originally appeared in the April 2017 IDRA Newsletter by the Intercultural Development Research Association. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]

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