Prof. Adalberto Guerrero

Professor Adalberto Guerrero has spent his life in service to the education of Latinos and to the Tucson community. He taught generations of Tucsonans and University of Arizona students as an instructor of Spanish at Pueblo High School, and as a Spanish faculty member and Administrator at the University. He was also an activist for national legislation that changed the education of language minority students throughout the country. It is for this reason he is considered a pioneer in efforts to guarantee equitable education to all students in the United States.

Guerrero received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Arizona in 1957. He began teaching Spanish at Pueblo High School in 1957 and moved on to become one of the founding members of Pima Community College, where he served as Curriculum Specialist from 1969 to 1970, planning the Bilingual Education Program. Professor Guerrero became a full-time instructor at the University of Arizona in 1969. While here, he developed the Spanish for Native Speakers program, now known as the Heritage Speakers program. This program is still a major component in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and remains a popular choice for Native Speakers pursuing a minor or major in Spanish. While at the UA Guerrero became the first Assistant Dean of Students of Mexican American Affairs, directed the New Start Summer Program, and was asked to form and chair the Mexican American Studies Committee to design and create the UA Department of Mexican American Studies.