Who is Dr. Emily Calderón Galdeano?
Dr. Emily Calderón Galdeano ’99 overcame culture shock at Southwestern through faculty mentorship, community-building, and a passion for inclusivity, transforming her time on campus into a lifelong commitment to educational equity.
When Dr. Emily Calderón Galdeano arrived at Southwestern University from the Rio Grande Valley, she experienced a culture shock that nearly sent her back home after her first year. Her father urged her to “give it one more year,” and it was then--finding her people, discovering her passions, and embracing the opportunities on campus--that Emily says Southwestern truly became “home.”
A Political Science and Spanish double major, Dr. Galdeano was actively engaged in campus life: she cheered all four years, volunteered with the City of Georgetown, and co-founded Latinos Unidos in the fall of 1996. A year later, she helped launch Amigas, a mentorship initiative matching incoming Latina students with upper-level mentors. “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” she says, explaining how important it was for Latina undergraduates and local K-12 students to see role models who reflected their own communities and aspirations. She recalls partnering frequently with Ebony, Southwestern’s Black student organization, now known as the Black Student Union, to create inclusive spaces and celebrate shared cultures.
Emily was initially recruited to Southwestern by Scott Sandoval, who has served on the Admissions staff since 1993. She credits his guidance as one of the key factors in her decision to enroll, noting how meaningful it was to see support from another Latine who understood and championed a diverse student body.
Two of Emily’s professors played a crucial role in igniting her passion for political science. Dr. Eric Selbin always called her “Dr. Calderón” in class, long before she had earned the title, instilling in her the confidence to pursue a doctorate degree. Dr. Tim O’Neill introduced her to real-world political work through internships at the Texas legislature and guided her senior Capstone research, encouraging her to think both “present and future” when examining public policy. “They saw something in me,” she reflects, and that made all the difference.
Today, Dr. Calderón Galdeano serves as Chief Impact and Strategy Officer at UP Partnership in San Antonio, working with K–12 schools, universities, government agencies, and community organizations to expand educational opportunities for young people. A nationally recognized expert on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI’s), that is, colleges and universities where at least 25% of the student body identifies as Hispanic, she emphasizes that Southwestern’s 2023 HSI designation is about far more than numbers. “Yes, it’s based on enrollment,” she says, “but the funding and capacity-building that come with an HSI designation benefit everyone on campus.” From lab expansions to library improvements to new support services, the entire student body gains from the institution’s expanded resources.
Yet, as a former Pell Grant recipient and one of the few Latinas in the U.S. to hold a doctorate, Emily knows firsthand that inclusivity takes intentional work. She highlights the importance of pedagogy that represents diverse voices, faculty and staff who reflect the student body, and robust support systems that address students’ financial and personal realities. “It’s not just about translating documents,” she notes. It’s about building a campus culture where everyone, regardless of their background, sees they can thrive here.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Calderón Galdeano remains energized by the “legacy work” she does. Being one of only about 112,000 Latinas in the U.S. with a doctorate, she shares that it’s a responsibility she carries for her family, community, and world. Being “Dr. Emily” is a title, but more importantly, she says it’s a call to help others. For current Southwestern students, she offers heartfelt advice: get involved, find your people, talk to your professors, and, if possible, study abroad.
Remembering Dr. Calderón Galdeano’s journey highlights the powerful ways that mentorship, inclusion, and community engagement can shape individual lives and entire institutions. Her experience at Southwestern continues to inspire current and future students to harness their unique backgrounds, persevere through challenges, and use their voices to champion equitable opportunities for all.
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