Santa Cruz Sentinel: White House Honors Santa Cruz Educator

This article oringinally appreared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on December 15, 2011.

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White House honors Santa Cruz educator: Judit Camacho named 'Champion of Change' for math, science effort

By J.M. BROWN
Posted: 12/15/2011 01:30:57 AM PST

Photo credit: Dan Coyro/SentinelSANTA CRUZ -- Judit Camacho, the daughter of agricultural workers in the Santa Maria Valley, was pursuing a math degree at UC Santa Cruz 17 years ago when she nearly gave it up.

Uncertain how a college education -- let alone a math degree -- would help her reach underserved communities, she became involved with a little-known group at UCSC that connects Latino students to math and science fields.

Camacho had just returned from tutoring in the Mexican state of Oxaca when she got the chance to attend the annual conference of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science. She had found where she belonged, and eventually became executive director.

"How could this be in Santa Cruz that there would be this organization that spoke to me on so many different levels, including the Chicano experience and the indigenous connection?" Camacho reflected.

Camacho, who next year will step down after 12 years at the helm, returned last week from Washington, where she was honored by the White House as a "Champion of Change," an award honoring community contributions.

Camacho was nominated by Julie Rodriguez, the associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and the granddaughter of Cesar Chavez. Camacho and other women who recruit women for careers in science, technology, engineering and math met with Valerie Jarrett, an aide to President Obama who chairs the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Camacho, 40, was quick to say the honor represented "a collective effort" by her staff.

Southern California natives Rene Moreno and Asis Lopez went to work for the group after graduating from UCSC.

"One thing minority students face in college is the lack of community and support," said Moreno, 23, who has a degree in molecular and cellular biology. "There are so few of us that being able to go to conferences is a way for them to feel connected, that they have a place of belonging."

Lopez, 25, who earned a degree in biomedical engineering, tells undergraduates how he rose up from the lowest math courses to presenting research at the society conference.

"I didn't know I would be here," he said. "Telling them that inspires them."

Although the society, now housed on Mission Street, also has an office in Washington, Camacho said the group is looking to partner more frequently with local people and organizations. It receives about 60 percent of its funding from federal grants and the rest from conference related revenue.

After helping grow the society to 70 chapters and increase conference attendance to 3,600 last year, Camacho plans to move with husband David Gonzalez, a community coordinator at Gault Elementary, and their two children to her native Mexico. She said she wants her children, 7 and 9, to be closer to their roots, but the family plans to spend summers in Santa Cruz.

View the original Santa Cruz Sentinel article here: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_19551595