Lydia Mendoza Fellowship - University of Houston
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Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies

Fellowships/Scholarships

Lydia Mendoza Fellowship

Overview

A native of Houston, Lydia Mendoza earned many honors in her long singing career, during which she became known as "La Alondra de la Frontera" (the meadowlark of the border) and "La Cancionera de los Pobres" (the songstress of the poor).

In 1971, she performed at the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife in Montreal, Canada; in 1975, she performed for President Jimmy Carter at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington. She was inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame in 1991.

The Center for Mexican American and Latino Studies (CMALS) at the University of Houston was established in 1972 as an interdisciplinary academic program encompassing the liberal arts, education and social science focusing on the Mexican American and broader Latino experience in the U.S. Its mission is to advance knowledge, promote critical thinking and foster the value designing a broad spectrum of public and scholarly programs. Located within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Science, CMALS has evolved into an academic unit with several major components: teaching, research and publications, recruitment and retention, leadership training, academic advising, and community service.

Each fellowship will include a stipend of $16,500 for up to two years. Each fellow will be assigned a mentor and s/he will receive opportunities for collective mentoring and networking. All fields of study are eligible to apply.

This Fellowship is sponsored by CFE International LLC.

Eligibility Requirements:

Students complying with the following criteria are considered when being selected for the Lydia Mendoza Fellowship:
  • Have or will graduate from college during or before the 2024-2025 academic year.
  • Intend to enroll as a full-time student in a graduate program within the University of Houston.
  • Must demonstrate financial need.
  • A minimum GPA of 3.00.
  • Willingness to share experiences and accomplishments to inspire other students.
  • Demonstrated interest in Mexican and Latino studies.
  • You do not need to be a first-year graduate student to apply ( you can be 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year graduate student)
  • Willingness to attend mandatory workshops and events (3 per semester).
  • Commitment to participate in mentoring. Fellows will be matched with a faculty mentor.

For more information contact:
Dr. Diana Pino
Director, Lydia Mendoza Graduate Fellowship Program
dpino@central.uh.edu