This special event is part of the Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders’ Distinguished Lecture Series
Texas A&M University-San Antonio proudly welcomed Justice Sonia Sotomayor to campus on Jan. 29, 2025, as part of the 2025 Distinguished Lecture Series. The event was hosted by the University’s Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders, which serves as a transformative incubator for student leaders.
“Justice Sotomayor’s visit is a tremendous honor for A&M-San Antonio’s students, our campus community, and me personally,” said A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa. “As president of an institution that strives to provide a platform for students to achieve their educational and career goals, I can’t imagine a more inspirational and accomplished guest.”
As part of the event, Justice Sotomayor, the third woman and first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court, participated in a private lunch with students and University leaders, engaging with guests in an intimate setting.
Student participants represented key leadership groups, including the Cisneros Institute, First-Year Experience, Student Government Association, and leaders from various student organizations. During lunch, students had the opportunity to ask Justice Sotomayor questions and gain insights from her reflections on leadership, resilience, and the importance of civic engagement.
“Getting to meet Justice Sonia Sotomayor was a once in a lifetime opportunity I would never have gotten a chance to do on my own. It was inspiring to meet such an important figure in our country, who is so down-to-earth and encouraging for students to, as she said, dream bigger than you could ever imagine,” shared Crystal Ramos, a transfer student and senior in the communications program, who attended the lunch and lecture. Her child and husband are also enrolled at A&M-San Antonio.
Following lunch, Justice Sotomayor took part in a conversation moderated by Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, chief executive officer of the greater:SATX, about her personal and professional journey. Students and employees in the audience were able to submit questions they had for Justice Sotomayor. Several notable community leaders also attended the discussion, including Dr. Henry Cisneros.
“This is truly a one-of-kind opportunity for students to engage with an educational, legal and cultural pioneer who has broken countless barriers. It’s an amazing message and example for our students to experience, and one I’m sure they’ll never forget.” said Dr. Juan R. Guardia, Vice President for Student Affairs.
Born in the Bronx, New York City, Justice Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1976 and received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1979. She worked as an assistant district attorney in New York before entering private practice in 1984. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated her to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, and she served in that role from 1992–1998. In 1997, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit where she served from 1998–2009. President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 2009.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in 2018 approved the establishment of the Dr. Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders at A&M-San Antonio. The institute is named in honor of Cisneros and in recognition of his lead gift of $1 million.