Cecilia’s commitment to service to the community began at an early age thanks to her parents and aunts who taught her to use her talents to help others. Her education with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and later with the Sisters of Divine Providence imbued a charism of servant leadership which gave her the impetus to travel the world in service to her country. Inspired by her husband and family members she continues today to commit herself to service to her beloved community. She joined the Foreign Service in 1987. From Guadalajara, Mexico, to Melbourne, Australia, and from Washington D.C. to Rome, Italy, Cecilia has served with a commitment to make life better for those she encountered. She has traveled throughout Russia, North Africa, and the Arabian Gulf. While stationed in Washington as Assistant Chief of Protocol for the Department of State and the White House, Cecilia was asked to establish the Office of Protocol at the U. S. Embassy in Baghdad. She has also served as Consul General in Matamoros, Mexico and as Management Counselor at the U. S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. Cecilia retired after twenty-five years in the Foreign Service and became President and CEO of The Cisneros Center for New Americans, a non-profit, non- political corporation designed to assist and empower immigrants by fortifying a culture of learning and educational attainment in the Latino community and establishing a corps of future Latino leaders. She continued her commitment to creating future leaders by serving as the Chair of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber Alex Brisenio Leadership Development Program and on the Steering Committee for the Chamber’s Latina Leadership Program. She has also worked with the University of the Incarnate Word as The Global Service Coordinator at the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership. In this capacity, Cecilia assisted in the planning of service-learning trips abroad for the University’s undergraduate and professional school students. She is currently a member of the International and Texas Women’s Forum. She has served as President of the San Antonio-Mexico Friendship Council, President of the Old Spanish Missions Advisory Board, a member of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Board, The Good Samaritan Board, the World Affairs Council of San Antonio Board, and the Our Lady of the Lake University Board of Trustees. She serves on the San Antonio Museum of Art Board and is a member of the Equestrian Order of Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Cecilia was originally appointed as Chair of the National Advisory Council of the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. It is the first Institute of its kind in the United States. She also currently serves on the Board of the CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital Foundation.