Mr. Tortolero is President and founder of the National Museum of Mexican Art, the largest Latino arts institution in the nation and the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. 

Recently serving on the U of I Board of Trustees, Carlos Tortolero sat down for an interview with the IllinoisLLAA.

Carlos Tortolero Interview

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IllinoisLLAA: Carlos, during our college days we often have many experiences that play a vital role in shaping us into the people we are today? Is there any special college memory that you recall made a large impact on you?  

Carlos: When I was a freshman at UIC, I was 17 years old. Many of the men in one of my classes were vets. It was very surreal for me to be just out of high school and to have new classmates, who had been to Vietnam, were married and had children. It gave me a special perspective of how all of a sudden; I wasn’t a high school kid anymore. 

IllinoisLLAA: You are a recipient of quite a few recognitions and awards. Which one in particular has special meaning to you? 

Carlos: I was the 2008 recipient of the Illinois Humanities Council Public Humanities Award. The award in itself is very nice, but I also was able to address a very important audience about how ridiculous the U.S. policy is toward immigration. Instead of being called criminals, the immigrants should be seen as heroes.  All awards are nice, but my favorite “awards” are just the comments made by people who say great things about the National Museum of Mexican Art. 

IllinoisLLAA: What are your thoughts on Latino enrollment at the University of Illinois? What are the largest obstacles in expanding Latino enrollment? 

Carlos: The biggest obstacle is that too many Latinos attend schools that do a poor job of preparing their students for higher education. 

IlliniosLLAA: What role do you think Latino Alumni need to play in advocating for more Latinos at the University of Illinois?  

Carlos: I believe that one of the biggest problems facing the U.S. is that too many people are still clueless about diversity. Our society sees diversity as a problem to be solved instead of viewing diversity as a very valuable asset to be embraced and cherished.  Latino alumni should be active in their local elementary and high schools to ensure that these schools become more effective.  fI also believe that it is essential at all universities that Latinos hold top positions that adequately reflect their numbers. Latino alumni must be strong advocates that the leadership of the University of Illinois include Latinos.  

IllinoisLLAA: What are your thoughts on U of I having the second highest tuition rate in the Big Ten. How do you feel that affects Latinos? 

Carlos: I believe that our society has forgotten to a large extent that the most important investment that we can make is to provide for the education of our children from pre-k to college. Obviously, the increase in tuition is an unfortunate reality. But, we have to understand that if the state contribution to the University of Illinois has gone from 50% to 17%, over the past decade, where are the funds going to come from to operate the university?

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