Thomas Ray Garcia

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Thomas Ray Garcia
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BornSeptember 9, 1993
McAllen, Texas
OccupationAuthor • Professor
EducationPrinceton University • UCLA • UTRGV
GenreFiction • Non-Fiction
Notable worksThe River Runs: Stories (2023)
Notable awardsInternational Latino Book Awards (Bronze)
Website
www.thomasraygarcia.com

Thomas Ray Garcia is a Latino author, professor, and entrepreneur from McAllen, Texas. He resides in the Rio Grande Valley along the U.S.-Mexico border, the region of focus throughout his writing.[1] His literary debut, The River Runs: Stories (2023), was awarded the Bronze Award by the International Latino Book Awards for Best Collection of Short Stories - English.[2][3] The book was followed by a co-authored work, El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor, about the South Texas Chicano Movement.[4][5]

In 2013, Garcia founded the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program, a youth-led college access program that he developed into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[6] He is currently an English professor at South Texas College.[7]

Early Life and Education

Garcia was born on September 9, 1993 in McAllen, Texas. He grew up in a single-parent household in Pharr, Texas. Garcia graduated from PSJA North Early College High School as class valedictorian.[8][9] According to Garcia, Princeton University's financial aid program motivated him to apply and matriculate to the Ivy League University.[10][11]

He pursued an English degree and participated in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program.[12] While at Princeton, Garcia wrote blogs for prospective students through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.[13] He also co-founded the Princeton Hidden Minority Council, a student organization that advocated for first-generation and low-income minority students.[14]

After graduating from Princeton, Garcia taught high school students at PSJA ISD before pursuing a doctoral degree in English at UCLA.[15] He left the doctoral program with a terminal master's degree in 2022. He later pursued a second master's degree in Higher Education Administration at UTRGV in 2023.[16]

Career

Garcia founded the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program at age 19.[17] From 2013 to 2017, the college access program consisted of youth-led workshops, courses on college admissions, and near-peer mentorship initiatives.[18]

The program evolved into Garcia's high school course at PSJA ISD. In 2019, Garcia incorporated the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[19][20] He served as executive director from 2019 to 2023 before transitioning to chairing the board of directors.

At UCLA, Garcia began teaching English at the collegiate level.[21] As a graduate student, he taught undergraduate courses on critical reading and writing, creative writing, and American Literature.[22]

In 2024, he joined the English faculty at South Texas College, where he currently teaches courses on rhetoric, composition, and literary genre.

Garcia is the co-founder of Beyond Borders Books, an independent press based in Pharr, Texas.[23]

Politics and Activism

In 2017, Garcia submitted an application to the Texas State Historical Commission to erect a historical marker commemorating the 1971 Pharr Riot.[24] The historical marker was erected in Pharr in 2021.[25]

In 2022, Garcia ran for the Texas State Board of Education as a Democrat.[26] His platform focused on expanding mental health resources; updating the state's learning standards on digital literacy, computer science, and ethnic studies; and advocating against statewide book bans. He placed 3rd in a 5-person primary election.[27]

Garcia has written opinion pieces on school vouchers,[28] school-to-industry partnerships,[29] near-peer mentorship in college admissions,[30] and the Texas State Board of Education.[31]

Bibliography

Garcia has published two books, The River Runs: Stories and El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor, in 2023.[32][33] He has also self-published a children's picture book, Speechless, with communication strategist Matt Eventoff.[34][35][36]

Fiction

  • The River Runs: Stories. Sante Fe, New Mexico: Prickly Pear Publishing, 2023. ISBN 9781889568218.

Non-Fiction

  • El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press, 2023.

Children's Books

  • Speechless (with illustrations by Nai N'yan Saechao). Self-Published, 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "The River Runs: Stories of life along the Texas-Mexico border". KVEO-TV. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  2. ↑ Montoya, Luis (2024-09-16). "Valley author Garcia earns accolade from International Latino Book Awards". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  3. ↑ TBB (2023-06-20). "Pharr Native Publishes Award-Winning Book of Short Stories". Texas Border Business. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  4. ↑ "El Curso de la Raza". Texas A&M University Press. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  5. ↑ "El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor - Aurelio Manuel Montemayor & Thomas Ray Garcia". LATINO BOOK REVIEW. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  6. ↑ "About CSLAP". College Scholarship Leadership Access Program. 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  7. ↑ "English". South Texas College. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  8. ↑ "CSLAP | Thomas Ray Garcia | Rio Grande Valley". CSLAP. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  9. ↑ PSJAISD (2015-10-02). PSJA ISD University Outreach Program-Thomas Ray Garcia. Retrieved 2024-11-23 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "Thomas Ray Garcia '16 builds relationships and a nonprofit to help Latino students | Princeton Alumni". alumni.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  11. ↑ "First in the Family | Princeton Alumni Weekly". paw.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  12. ↑ "Thomas Garcia". Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  13. ↑ "Thomas Ray Garcia | Princeton Admission". admission.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  14. ↑ Aronson, Emily; Office of Communications, Princeton. "King Day Journey Award recognizes Princeton Hidden Minority Council". Princeton University. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  15. ↑ "The transformative power of travel". UCLA College. 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  16. ↑ "UTRGV Fall 2023 Commencement" (PDF).
  17. ↑ Muñoz, Mario (2022-02-07). "Podcast: The story behind the start of CSLAP". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  18. ↑ Taylor, Steve (2015-08-18). "PSJA alumni mentor students on going to university". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  19. ↑ Muñoz, Mario (2022-02-07). "Podcast: The story behind the start of CSLAP". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  20. ↑ "IDRA, Partners Provide South Texas Families Tech Support for Distance Learning During COVID-19 Crisis for Virtual Classroom". IDRA. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  21. ↑ "Coursicle – Chat with classmates". www.coursicle.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  22. ↑ "UCLA English 4WS Service Learning Projects". UCLA English 4WS Service Learning Projects. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  23. ↑ "Beyond Borders Books". Beyond Borders Books. 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  24. ↑ Vela, Abigail (2023-02-07). "Op-Ed: The Pharr Riot and the Need for Mexican-American Studies". Trucha RGV. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  25. ↑ Karami, Iris (February 11, 2021). "Pharr Riot receives historical marker 50 years later". Valley Central. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  26. ↑ Reagan, Mark (2021-12-07). "Pharr native launches Democratic bid for State Board of Education". MyRGV.com. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  27. ↑ "Thomas Garcia (Texas)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  28. ↑ Garcia, Thomas Ray (2023-02-12). "Garcia: The SBOE Chooses Passivity Over Principle on Vouchers". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  29. ↑ Garcia, Thomas Ray (2021-06-08). "Garcia: Enhancing the Internship Experience Through Partnerships". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  30. ↑ Garcia, Thomas Ray (2020-09-28). "Garcia: Near-Peer Mentorship During COVID-19". Rio Grande Guardian. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  31. ↑ Vela, Abigail (2022-05-13). "COMMENTARY: IN SCHOOL BOARD BATTLES BIG MONEY WINS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT". Trucha RGV. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  32. ↑ "Lone Star Indie Review: THE RIVER RUNS: STORIES". Lone Star Literary Life. 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  33. ↑ "Lone Star Indie Review: El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor". Lone Star Literary Life. 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  34. ↑ "Picture Books | Speak With Style Books". Speak With Style. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  35. ↑ Staff, T. B. B. (2021-02-23). "PSJA Alum Authors Children's Book "Speechless" to help Students with Public Speaking". Texas Border Business. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  36. ↑ Johnstone, Chelsey (2021-01-28). ""Speak Up, Speak Out:" Assemblyman Verelli Encourages - TrentonDaily". www.trentondaily.com. Retrieved 2024-11-23.

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