When it came to the United States-Mexico border, Assistant Professor of Economics Steve Nivin, Ph.D., and his team found that things weren't all doom and gloom. After studying the area under the auspices of the SABÉR Research Institute, Nivin was cited in The Economist magazine's story titled "Trade With Mexico: Signs of Life." The publication shared good news about trade growth between the two countries, pointing to the professor's study of NAFTA's economic impact on South Texas.

SABÉR-a joint effort between St. Mary's and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce-is to thank for insight like this into regional economies across the nation.

Diane Gonzales Bertrand is not only a bilingual author, but a prolific one at that. Or should we say "prolí fico?" Her latest book, The Party for Papá Luis/La fiesta para Papá Luis, (2010 Arte Público Press) helps young readers learn the Spanish and English languages at the same time. The story of Papá Luis, which follows a family preparing for their patriarch's birthday party, was a finalist for the 2010-2011 Tejas Star Book Award.

Using lively language and repetition to keep readers engaged, the Writer-in-Residence for St. Mary's English and Communication Studies Department has penned numerous works in poetry, non-fiction and fiction for children and teens.

The 2006 testimony that Graduate School Dean Henry Flores, Ph.D., gave in LULAC v. Perry, the U.S. Supreme Court case that resulted in five Texas Congressional districts being redrawn, almost got him fired.

"A former U.S. Congressman from Texas called St. Mary's President Charles Cotrell to get me fired for the testimony I gave," says Flores. "Cotrell called me and asked,'What did you say?' I said, 'Just the same stuff I've been saying for 20 years.'"

Most recently, the political science professor was quoted in Time magazine's story, "Texas Governor's Race: Arizona Law a Wild Card," explaining how Arizona's controversial immigration law could affect Gov. Rick Perry's hold on the Hispanic vote.