A&M-San Antonio is proud to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with news, stories and events that recognize Hispanic American contributions to San Antonio and beyond.
When Henry Cisneros was asked to create an institute to provide leadership opportunities for students in his hometown, he did not hesitate. In 2018, he gave a $1 million gift to The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents for the establishment of the Dr. Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders.
Cisnero said it was Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, then president of A&M-San Antonio, who approached him with the idea. “I was honored to be asked. I know the need exists, and we could do some good,” said Cisneros, who is chair of A&M-San Antonio’s Advisory Board and recently served as the master of ceremonies at President Salvador Hector Ochoa’s investiture.
The Cisneros Institute houses programs and organizations that foster the development of student leaders and help them improve their leadership skills. Through the Institute, Cisneros, a 1968 graduate of Texas A&M in College Station, said he wants to provide students with the same leadership opportunities he received in college.
“I recall my days at A&M,” Cisneros said, “where I learned as much outside the classroom in student activities as I did in the classroom that have served me well my entire life, and much of that confidence and knowledge of how to proceed came from those student activities. I’m very certain that has been a major contributor to my path, and I hope it is for the students.”
Part of Cisneros’ path has been to serve as a champion for Latino causes. Born in San Antonio, he was elected to three two-year terms on the city council, on which he served from 1975 to 1981. He next served four terms as the city’s mayor, from 1981 to 1989, marking the city’s first Latino mayor since 1842. He next served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1993 to 1997, during which time he helped revitalize many public housing developments and boosted the nation’s home ownership.
In 1991 he founded the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, which today leads the advocacy behind civil rights and policy issues impacting the 58 million Latinos living in the United States. Cisneros is also co-founder of the New American Alliance, a national organization committed to building on American Latino success, helping increase capital access for women and minority-owned firms, and accelerating diverse leadership in entrepreneurship.
After public office, Cisneros embarked on multiple business ventures. He served as president for the Spanish-language network Univision from 1997 to 2000 and later as chairman for real estate investment management and development firm CityView. His other ventures include serving as vice chairman of Siebert Williams Shank, an investment banking and financial services company, as well as founder and senior advisor at investment firm American Triple I Partners.
Looking back at his successful political and business careers, Cisneros said he hopes the Institute he helped launch at A&M-San Antonio inspires future leaders who will help make positive change in San Antonio and beyond. He added that it is essential that the Institute continue to expand its programs and opportunities to develop leadership skills for those students who will be leaders of tomorrow.
“Everything we want for the future, every good thing we want to achieve for the future and society requires leaders,” he said. “Students and young people who today are in school, in the next 10, 20, 30, and 40 years will be the decision-makers and the leaders. Everything we want to accomplish is enhanced and within reach if we create good leaders.”