Brad Ashford: “As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I rise today to honor a woman who has left an indelible mark on the State of…”

“As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I rise today to honor a woman who has left an indelible mark on the State of Nebraska and the Second Congressional District. Dr. Lourdes Gouveia is professor emeritus of sociology and the founding director of the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. For over 25 years, with her leadership and knowledge, she has worked to provide educational institutions, government agencies, and the private sector with relevant, culturally competent, and socially responsible research and analysis of Nebraska's vibrant Latino population. She has directed work that details the economic, social, and political opportunities and challenges facing both the urban and rural sectors of the State. Dr. Gouveia has done this with a particular focus on the impact of migration, immigrant integration, and social justice. All this has now come full circle as her former students and others she has mentored fill a variety of highly meaningful roles in Nebraska and across the country. This ensures that her legacy, symbolized by the programs she has created and nurtured over the past quarter century, will continue to serve Nebraska and its citizens long into the future. ____________________”