Alicia Re Cruz: Mayan culture 'taught me about life'

Alicia Re Cruz, associate professor of anthropology, loves her profession because she can do so much with it.

As an anthropologist and educator, Re Cruz teaches students about ethnic relationships, the importance of culture and how to understand people from different cultural backgrounds.

At UNT, Re Cruz teaches anthropology courses at all levels, but since 1995 she has spent her summers reinforcing classroom lessons with firsthand experiences in a Mexican field school.

"By going to Mexico, my students learn Hispanic traditions and how people of the culture think," Re Cruz says. "Seeing the cultural, social and economic conditions helps them understand the globalization and immigration issues that we talk about in class."

When Re Cruz is not teaching students about other cultures, she volunteers to teach people of other cultures about the American way of life.

"Regularly, I spend a few hours working with refugees who come here from places all over the world, such as Ethiopia, Bosnia and Pakistan," Re Cruz says. "I explain the American culture to them and help them adjust."

Last year, 7-Eleven Inc. of Dallas recognized Re Cruz's efforts by naming her the 1999 Hispanic Role Model for her contributions to cultural awareness.

Re Cruz says she learned her most valuable life lessons during a two-year study of the Mayan culture.

"Living in the Mayan community taught me about life," Re Cruz says. "It taught me how to be a good human. It taught me about connecting with God, about raising a family and about nature."

Her respect for nature was one reason she decided in 1992 to teach at UNT.

"In Denton, there is a closeness with nature and at the same time, a good workplace," Re Cruz says. "The trees and ranches here give it a rural flavor, yet it has an urban appeal since it is close to Dallas."

Although Re Cruz devotes a lot of time to anthropology, her biggest joy comes from playing with her sons, Samuel, 4, and Gabriel, 6 months.

Her husband, Jose Calderon, is a lab supervisor in UNT's chemistry department. He says that working together at the university has been wonderful for the family.

"Working for the same institution allows us to be more productive in our jobs and to better nurture our family," he says. "Right now, we're going through the happiest phase of our lives."

BY JENNY McCORMACK paiswri2@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• Policy manual is now online
• City of Dallas helps UNT secure funding
• English language program receives national accreditation
• Preparing football stadium for season is no easy task
• UNT stages summer opera
• Eubank to fill interim post in graduate school
• Ferring named chair of geography department
• Housing department wins national diversity award
• Uswachoke grants distributed to faculty
• New director of UNT Press named
• Researchers study teams, leadership
• Outreach program teaches sewing skills
• Wells serves as naval school superintendent for summer

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