Biography

Dr. Diana Ida Sanchez Marinez, former Dean of the College of Science and Technology and now Professor of Biochemistry at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, was one of 10 women named for this year''s Y Women in Careers Awards. Her commitment to her heritage and to giving back to the people of South Texas is deeply rooted. Her ancestors include Don Tomas Sanchez, the founder of Laredo in 1755. She was born and raised in Laredo. During her eleven-year tenure as dean, enrollment from the College of Science and Technology has grown from the smallest to largest (897 in fall 1993 to 1,974 in fall 2000) of the University''s four colleges. Marinez earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Incarnate Word College in 1963. She earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Indiana University Medical Center in 1968. Prior to becoming dean of the College of Science and Technology at A&M-Corpus Christi in 1994, she was at Michigan State University for 25 years and was chair of the Department of Natural Science from1984 to 1989. While in Michigan, she was named Hispanic Educator of the Year in 1986 by the Michigan State Board of Education and received the Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching at MSU in 1981. Marinez'' published works reflect her passion for the inclusion of women and Hispanics in science. Her articles have appeared in "Eric Digest," "Annals of New York''s Academy of Sciences," "Agenda," "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" and "Journal of Dairy Science." Her partnership projects in South Texas have gained national visibility for their effectiveness in providing access to high quality mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education for all students at all levels, kindergarten to Ph.D. Marinez has played a major role in South Texas in the development and funding of more than $25 million in grants from the National Science Foundation to improve mathematics and science education at all grade levels. Marinez is also the co-principal investigator of the South Texas Advanced Technology Education Regional Project ($1.5 million with Del Mar College); co-principal investigator of the $10 million Texas Rural Systemic Initiative to improve K-12 mathematics and science education statewide; co-principal investigator of the $5 million Texas Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation; and co-principal investigator of the $5 million Texas Alliance for Minority Participation. Marinez'' educational leadership extends beyond Texas. She was an advisor for the National Kellogg Fellowship Program from 1993 to 1996 and has served on committees and panels for the National Academy of Science, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is a founding member of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science. She is also a board member for the South Texas Institute of the Arts. Marinez and her husband, Juan, have two daughters, Carola and Danielle.