F. Chris Garcia, born on April 15, 1940, is a distinguished figure in the realm of education, scholarship, research, literature, public opinion polling, and higher education administration. Throughout his illustrious journey, he has assumed several prestigious roles at the University of New Mexico, culminating in his presidency from 2002 to 2003. As the first native New Mexican Hispanic to attain positions such as college dean, academic vice president, and university president at the University of New Mexico, Garcia has left an indelible imprint on academia and the Hispanic community.
F. Chris Garcia hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he spent his formative years. He was the eldest of six siblings, born to Flaviano Perea Garcia and Crucita A. Garcia. His roots in New Mexico stretch back to Juan Lopez Holguin, an early settler in the Santa Fe area, in 1598. Garcia's educational journey began at St. Francis Catholic Xavier School, where he spent the initial seven years of his schooling. In 1947, his family relocated to the north valley of Albuquerque, and he completed his high school education at Valley High School in 1957.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Garcia joined the New Mexico Air National Guard, dedicating six years to service while pursuing higher education at the University of New Mexico. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Citizenship in 1961. Inspired by his passion for education and teaching, Garcia continued his academic pursuits at UNM, obtaining a master's degree in Government and Education with a Secondary Education certificate. Encouraged by his mentors, he furthered his studies in preparation for a career in college-level teaching.
Garcia's academic path led him to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1964, where he commenced his studies in political science. He later transferred to the University of California, Davis (UCD), where he completed his doctoral program in political science, achieving a Ph.D. in 1972.
In 1967, Garcia entered into matrimony with Sandra Dorine Galloway, an Albuquerque native and fellow graduate of Valley High School and the University of New Mexico. Their union marked the start of a gratifying personal life alongside Garcia's burgeoning career. In 1970, Garcia and his wife returned to Albuquerque, where he secured a faculty position in the Political Science department at the University of New Mexico.
Garcia embarked on his academic career while simultaneously working on his doctoral dissertation, which delved into the political orientations of Mexican-American children in California. Initially joining as an Assistant Professor of Political Science, he taught courses on American Politics, Public Opinion, Political Socialization, and New Mexico Government. As the years passed, Garcia's interests expanded to encompass education and ethnic group politics, leading to the development and instruction of courses on Politics and Education, The Politics of Ethnic Groups, and Chicano Politics.
As his scholarly contributions burgeoned, Garcia earned tenure, being promoted to Associate Professor in 1974 and later to Full Professor in 1978. Acknowledged as a leading authority in Hispanic/Latino politics, campaigns, elections, and New Mexico politics, Garcia emerged as a sought-after commentator and analyst for local, national, and international media. In recognition of his accomplishments as an educator, researcher, and scholar, he was honoured with the title of Distinguished Professor of Political Science.
Garcia's commitment to the field of political science extended beyond the classroom. He actively engaged in professional organizations such as the American Political Science Association, the Western Political Science Association, the Western Social Science Association, the Southwestern Social Science Association, and the American Association for Public Opinion Research. Within these organizations, Garcia served on executive councils and committees, and his expertise was widely acknowledged, ultimately leading to his election as Vice-President of the American Political Science Association and President of the Western Political Science Association.
Throughout his career, Garcia authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited over sixty books, monographs, chapters, articles, and reviews. Notable among these publications are works such as "The Political Socialization of Chicano Children" (1973), "The Chicano Political Experience" (1977), "Latinos and the Political System" (1988), "Latino Voices: Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban Perspectives on American Politics" (1992), "Pursuing Power: Latinos and the Political System" (1997), "Hispanics and the US Political System: Moving into the Mainstream" (2008), and multiple editions of "New Mexico Government" (1976, 1981, 1994, 2006).
One of Garcia's most notable research endeavours was his role as the Co-Principal Investigator in the Latino National Political Survey, the first nationally representative study focused on the political attitudes and behaviors of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans. Conducted from 1987 to 1993, this multi-year project entailed extensive research and garnered substantial grant support. It involved in-person interviews with over 2,800 Latinos and 598 non-Latinos nationwide.
Though Garcia hadn't initially planned for a career in higher education administration, circumstances led him to venture into this field. In 1975, he assumed the position of Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New Mexico. His unwavering dedication and leadership abilities soon propelled him to the role of Associate Dean, followed by his appointment as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1980. During his tenure as dean, Garcia oversaw the academic departments, institutes, centres, and museums within the college, taking on the roles of CEO and CFO. Notably, he became the first Hispanic American to occupy the position of Dean at the university.
After a nationwide search, Garcia was selected as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1987, a position he held until 1990. Following his term as AVP, Garcia returned to the political science faculty but was twice called back to serve as interim Provost, first from January to July 1993 and later from August 1998 to January 2000. In 2002, Garcia's esteemed colleagues nominated him for the position of President of the University of New Mexico. Though initially hesitant to return to administration, he accepted the role as a demonstration of collegial support, holding the presidency from 2002 to 2003 and becoming the first Hispanic American to hold this prestigious position at UNM.
Garcia's extensive research contributions have solidified his reputation as a distinguished scholar. His publications span a wide range of topics within political science, encompassing Hispanic/Latino politics, campaigns, elections, and the New Mexico government. Throughout his career, Garcia has presented numerous papers, served as a discussant at professional conferences and conventions, and offered his expertise as a consultant to various civic, political, and educational organizations.
The remarkable achievements of F. Chris Garcia have been duly acknowledged with numerous awards and honours. Some of the most notable distinctions include the Silver Horizons Albuquerque Hall of Fame (2009), the Distinguished Service Award from the North Central Association Higher Learning Commission (2007), the Bernard S. Rodey Award for Educational Leadership from the UNM Alumni Association (2004), the Governor's Distinguished Public Service.
