Dr. Jesús F. “Frank” de la Teja to retire as CSSW Director

It is with warm wishes that we announce the retirement of CSSW director, Frank de la Teja. Dr. de la Teja was named Jerome H. and Catherine E. Supple Professor of Southwestern Studies in 2012.  His retirement is effective August 31, 2017.  Although leaving us after five years to spend more time with his growing family, he will undoubtedly continue publishing and speaking on his favorite subjects.

Frank de la Teja was hired by the Department of History at Texas State University in 1991. In 2005, he was appointed department chair and spent six years in that position before joining the Center for the Study of the Southwest as director.  He has published extensively in Spanish, Mexican, and Republic-era Texas, most recently Faces of Béxar: Early San Antonio and Texas (Texas A&M University Press, 2016) and Lone Star Unionism, Dissent, and Resistance: The Other Civil War Texas (University of Oklahoma Press, 2016).  Formerly the book review editor for the Southwestern Historical Quarterly (1997-2014), he served as the inaugural Texas State Historian (2007-2009), and as president of the Texas State Historical Association (2007-2008).  Currently he serves on the board of directors of Humanities Texas and on the advisory board of the San Jacinto Museum of History. He is recipient of the Americanism Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution, a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association and the Texas Catholic Historical Society, and a member of the Philosophical Society of Texas and the Texas Institute of Letters.

While CSSW director, Dr. de la Teja continued to build the center’s legacy by establishing an editorial fellowship and creating artist-in-residence programs. He also initiated the transformation of the center’s lobby into an exhibit space where the CSSW now hosts new exhibits each semester. In addition to bringing well-known and intriguing scholars for readings, lectures, and symposia, Dr. de la Teja also encouraged the center’s staff in their efforts to generate new programs and bring new voices to Texas State.  His guidance, support, and kindness to students, staff, and colleagues have been invaluable.  Although it is a bittersweet farewell, we wish Dr. de la Teja years of continued happiness and success in his retirement. ¡Bendiciones y felicidades! Gracias por todo, Dr. de la Teja.