Texas Border Business
By Cinthia Monsivais
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter will be the next speaker for UTRGV’s Distinguished Speaker Series.
Her work in the film “Black Panther” led to her historic win as the first African American to receive the “Best Costume Design” Academy Award.
She will speak at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the Student Union on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus, in the PlainsCapital Bank Theater,
Carter has been in the costume design industry for more than three decades and has more than 40 films credit to her name. Known for the research and dedication she puts into her costume designs, she is known specifically for her work on highly praised films like Lee Daniels’ “The Butler,” Ava Duvernay’s “Selma,” and “Marshall,” directed by Reginald Hudlin.
The DSS committee selected Carter as this semester’s speaker due to her accolades as a costume designer and the leadership she has shown in her field of work.
“The committee hopes that through her story she will be able to motivate students to pursue their dreams,” said Cindy Mata-Vasquez, director of UTRGV Student Activities, which sponsors the Distinguished Speakers Series.
The series is free and open to the community. Doors open at 7 p.m. for UTRGV students, faculty and staff with a valid university ID, and at 7:15 p.m. for the general public.
The event also will be streamed at Salón Cassia on the Brownsville Campus for students in Brownsville who will not be able to attend the live presentation.
About DSS
The Distinguished Speaker Series is a signature program under the leadership of Student Activities that carried over to UTRGV from legacy institution UT-Pan American. UTRGV kicked off the 2019-2020 series with Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, businessman and entrepreneur Emmitt Smith. Previous speakers have included former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary and former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro; actress and author Diane Guerrero; and actor, producer and activist Wilmer Valderrama.
A third guest speaker – actor, voice-actor, stand-up comedian, producer, playwright, and screenwriter John Leguizamo – joins the 2019-2020 speaker lineup in April.
For more information, contact UTRGV Student Activities at 956-665-7364 or email studentactivities@utrgv.edu.
