This digital archive honors the life and legacy of Dr. Maria Teresa Vélez—an educator, mentor, and leader whose life’s work was dedicated to opening doors, making pathways visible, and “making it happen” for students across generations.
A Life of Purpose, Leadership, and Service
Dr. Maria Teresa Vélez was born in La Havana, Cuba, and arrived in the United States as a refugee at age fourteen through Operation Peter Pan. Despite learning English as a second language, she graduated high school as valedictorian at sixteen and went on to earn degrees in Latin American Studies and Psychology.
Dr. Vélez served the University of Arizona for more than three decades as an educator, administrator, and advocate for higher education and equity. As Associate Dean of the Graduate College, she played a central role in elevating the university’s national leadership in graduating Native American and Latino doctoral students and in expanding access to graduate education for women and students from historically underrepresented communities.
Her professional journey included service as a Presidential Intern, leadership in refugee resettlement, and later, transformative work at the University of Arizona—where she founded programs such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) and the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership that prepared students for graduate study and research careers. Her advocacy grew to support international initiatives focused on providing undergraduate research experiences and graduate pathways to students from Latin America, including signing agreements with federal agencies to sponsor students from those countries to come to the University of Arizona.
Beyond titles and programs, Dr. Vélez was, above all, a mentor. She was known for her deep belief in students’ potential, her encouragement of storytelling as a path to success, her ability to connect people to resources, and her unwavering commitment to helping others imagine—and achieve—futures they may not yet have seen for themselves. She also had the capacity to support early-career faculty and community organizations such as Las Adelitas, giving broader impact to her leadership vision—grounded in her authentic belief in education and humanity.
A Legacy of Making It Happen
Dr. Vélez believed that talent exists everywhere—but opportunity does not. Her legacy lives on in the thousands of students she mentored, the programs she built, and the communities she strengthened by ensuring that students had not only encouragement, but concrete access to resources, networks, and support. This spirit of “making it happen” continues through scholarships, mentoring, and the many alumni and colleagues who carry her values forward in their own work and lives.
Remembrance Event
An in-person remembrance reception for alumni, colleagues, Dr. Vélez scholarship and award recipients, mentees, students, and community members whose lives have been touched by Dr. Maria Teresa Vélez.
Date: March 31, 2026
Time: 4:00–6:00 PM
For questions, please contact Donna R. Treloar, Director, Graduate Center Initiatives.
Submit a Tribute
We invite alumni, colleagues, students, and friends to share a brief tribute honoring how Dr. Vélez influenced your life, growth, or path.
Submission options:
- Photo + written reflection (max 150 words)
- 1-minute video tribute
- Written tribute only (max 150 words)
Tributes will be featured on this page as part of a permanent digital archive.
Support Dr. Vélez's Legacy Through Scholarships and Awards
The university community honors Dr. Vélez’s legacy through scholarships and awards that support graduate students committed to leadership, service, and advancing higher education.
Your gift helps ensure that her life’s work—opening doors and expanding opportunity—continues for future generations of students.