Newsletter May 2026
From the Resolute Keyboard
A lot has happened since I wrote our first editorial last month, and that is a very good sign.
Our Tex Mex Fiesta was a success, and beyond the food, music, and family-friendly energy, it opened the door to a more ambitious partnership with Pinche Gringo. That matters because September is getting closer, and we already have more than 12 watch parties scheduled at their venue once Longhorn football season begins. The goal is simple: make game day in Mexico City feel like a real home for Texas Exes.
Meanwhile, with the World Cup approaching, we are not slowing down our gatherings. Quite the opposite. We are using these complicated summer months to put some of our most interesting programming on the calendar. In June, our breakfast will focus on artificial intelligence, and for the first time we plan to livestream it. Our speaker, Ben Ullrich, is a full stack automation and AI engineer, founder of AI/IA CDMX, and someone focused on practical AI applications, automation, analytics, and machine learning in real-world settings. This should be one of our most interesting breakfasts so far. AI/IA CDMX also publicly describes itself as a Mexico City community focused on practical AI applications, tools, techniques, and connecting people interested in the field.
In July, this presidency and board will complete our first year of service. We will share a report on what has been done, and an outlook for the second year as we keep building a stronger chapter.
We have also recovered our Instagram account, nothing there yet but expect a broader digital footprint, especially as we reinforce Project Worldwide and Bring’em Back before football season.
Two things make me especially proud. First, our Literature Special Interest Group (SIG) is finishing tomorrow the first module of a lecture series that has already become a success, with a next edition expanding into more Latin American women storytellers. Second, Project Worldwide keeps moving: we delivered much-needed fans to AFEECI, with more to come, and the board has decided to donate the equivalent of five tickets to Hogar Dulce Hogar’s Friday Concert & Art Exhibition.
Now we hope the community joins in.
As always, it is a pleasure and an honor to write to you. I remain available for any comment, question, or contribution.
Hook’em!
José Antonio “Toño” Pedraza
President | Texas Exes Mexico City Chapter
Texas Exes | Life Member
Breakfast Brief
By the Editorial Staff.
Our May breakfast brought us face to face with the heart of Project Worldwide.
We were joined by Isabelle “Izzy” Director Maris, an educator and youth advocate who has spent more than ten years supporting immigrant, refugee, and vulnerable youth in schools, residential care, and nonprofit settings. Before coming to Mexico City, Izzy worked with the Beaverton School District in Oregon, supporting multilingual students and migrant families, and also worked with unaccompanied immigrant youth through a residential program focused on care, education, legal support, and family reunification.
Nine months ago, she took a personal leave to come to Mexico City and volunteer full time at Fundación Hogar Dulce Hogar, where she now supports the education of 31 children living in a group foster care home. Her work includes English curriculum, homework support, confidence-building, and helping the children begin to imagine pathways toward their future.
Her presentation was deeply moving. Izzy spoke about the children, the caregivers, the daily work of the home, and the reality that many of the children arrive through DIF because of abuse, neglect, or the death of a parent. Hogar Dulce Hogar gives them food, medical care, counseling, academic support, structure, and something just as important: parent-like love from the Tías who care for them day and night.
One of the most emotional moments came when Izzy showed us the children’s own work: drawings, ideas, and dreams for the future. She also shared AI-generated images that helped them imagine themselves in the professions they hope to pursue someday. It was sweet, creative, and very powerful.
Now the next step is this Friday’s Spring Concert & Art Show. The children have prepared art, music, and performances, and the ticket sales will help fund academic support for the coming school year. Izzy is truly excited about this event, and so are we.
The ask is simple: please show up, buy a ticket, or support even if you cannot attend. DIF may send children to be cared for, but Hogar Dulce Hogar still needs the community to help make that care possible. This Friday, that community should include us.
Don’t Miss It
- May 20 | Narradoras Fantásticas Latinoamericanas - final session
Last of the three-session Zoom microcourse with Dr. Claudia de la Piedra exploring Latin American women writers of the fantastic, the strange, and the unsettling. It is open to the general public and designed for curious readers, with no previous literary background required. - May 21 | EMBA Class of 2006, 20th Anniversary
A special reunion for the EMBA Class of 2006 at Polanco to celebrate 20 years since graduation. A relaxed evening to reconnect, catch up, share stories, and raise a glass with old classmate. - May 22 | Spring Concert & Art Show, Hogar Dulce Hogar
A meaningful evening prepared by the children of Fundación Hogar Dulce Hogar, featuring their artwork, music, and theater performances. After the program, guests will share tamales, atole, and pan dulce, while all proceeds support the children’s 2026 to 2027 school year. - May 27 | Greasy Dumpling Networking by Fight Club 🤫
A casual networking night built around dumplings, good conversation, and a very relaxed atmosphere. No forced pitching, no stiff format, just an easy way to meet interesting people over food. - May 30 | Hiking Networking Event by Fight Club 🤫
A hiking and networking outing outside the city for people who want to connect through movement, fresh air, and real conversation. It is a more active and memorable way to meet new people while stepping out of the usual event setting. - Jun 9 | Breakfast June 9: AI
Our June breakfast will feature Ben Ullrich for a practical conversation on artificial intelligence, automation, and real-world business use cases. It should be one of our most useful breakfasts so far, and we plan for it to be the first one livestreamed by the chapter.
Hook’em
By the Carlos Díaz.
The Texas Longhorns have enjoyed a historic start to 2026, defined by national titles and deep postseason runs.
🏆 Aquatic Mastery
Texas Men’s Swimming and Diving captured the 2026 NCAA Championship, marking the program’s 17th title and second consecutive win. Hubert Kós was the star performer, winning back-to-back titles in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke. He shattered NCAA, U.S. Open, and program records in the 200 backstroke.
This victory also marked Head Coach Bob Bowman’s third consecutive NCAA title.
The women’s program also excelled, finishing 3rd nationally at the NCAA Championships. Individual national titles were claimed by Jillian Cox in the 1,650 freestyle and Campbell Stoll in the 200 butterfly.
🏀 Court & Field Excellence
Texas Women’s Basketball reached the NCAA Final Four following a dominant tournament run, including a 77–41 blowout of Michigan in the Elite Eight. While they fell to UCLA in the National Semifinals, they secured the SEC Tournament Championship by defeating South Carolina.
On the track, Kendrick Smallwood set a program record in the 60m hurdles with a time of $7.46s$ at the SEC Indoor Championships. Teammate Kelsey Daniel added to the trophy case by taking gold in the men’s long jump.
With dominance spanning the pool, the court, and the track, 2026 is officially the year of the Longhorn.
Horns & Hobbies: The Literature SIG opens a door to the fantastic
By the Editorial Staff & Valerie Cárdenas.
This month, Horns & Hobbies turns to one of the most promising cultural efforts inside the chapter: the Literature Special Interest Group (SIG) and its first lecture series, "Narradoras Fantásticas Latinoamericanas".
The course is led by Dr. Claudia Gil de la Piedra, whose background makes her especially well suited for this journey into the strange, unsettling, and fascinating corners of Latin American literature. Claudia holds a degree in French Literature with a specialization in translation from UNAM’s Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, a master’s degree in Contemporary Mexican Literature from UAM-Azcapotzalco, and a PhD in Latin American Studies from UNAM. She is a professor at UAM-Azcapotzalco, and her research focuses on gothic and fantastic literature, francophone Caribbean literature, and translations of Caribbean texts between French and Spanish.
The current three-session course explores authors such as Ana de Gómez Mayorga, Guadalupe Dueñas, Amparo Dávila, Silvina Ocampo, Mariana Enriquez, and Cecilia Eudave, in a format designed for a general audience. No previous literary background is required, just curiosity and a willingness to enter stories where daily life suddenly becomes strange.
For the chapter, this matters because it shows what a SIG can become: a place to gather around shared interests, learn something new, and build community through conversation.
To understand why this initiative began, we asked Valerie Cárdenas, founder of the Literature SIG and participant in the course.
“Reading is a bridge for connection,”
Valerie told us.
“You are always surprised by what people read, and sharing a book you loved is a subtle way of sharing part of yourself. Stories bring people together.”
For Valerie, literature gives the alumni community a different kind of meeting point.
It creates “a space to exchange, to learn from others, and to discover other worlds.”
A recommendation, she added, is really
"an invitation to an adventure.”
What attracted her to this course was the chance to discover women writers with a guide and to go deeper than the back cover of a book. She especially highlights Claudia’s ability to bring the texts alive through context, with details that give each author more depth and help readers look at the stories with fresh eyes.
And this is just the beginning. The next module will expand the map to more Latin American voices, including Julia Lopes Almeida from Brazil, Carlota Carballo from Peru, Armonía Somers from Uruguay, Inés Arredondo from Mexico, María Elena Llana from Cuba, and Silvina Ocampo from Argentina.
That continuity matters. It points to a Literature SIG that can become a steady cultural space inside the chapter, one where alumni, friends of UT, and curious readers can keep discovering literature together.
Valerie’s invitation is simple: “Come in, see, contribute, share, and then decide.”
That sounds like a pretty good way to begin.
Know Your Longhorn: Gabriel Quadri
By the Editorial Staff.
This month, Know Your Longhorn features Gabriel Quadri de la Torre, one of those members whose résumé is almost impossible to summarize in one clean sentence.
Gabriel is a civil engineer from Universidad Iberoamericana, holds a master’s degree in Economics, and pursued doctoral studies in Economics at The University of Texas at Austin. Over the years, he has built a career at the intersection of economics, public policy, environmental regulation, energy, carbon markets, sustainability, and public debate.
His professional path has taken him through institutions that helped shape Mexico’s environmental conversation. He worked at Banco de México, served in ecological planning roles in Mexico City, participated in the formation of environmental civil society organizations, and later became president of the Instituto Nacional de Ecología. He also led the private sector’s sustainable development center at the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, worked in carbon markets with EcoSecurities, and has advised on environmental management and renewable energy projects.
Gabriel has also been a visible public figure. He was a candidate for President of Mexico in 2012, served as a federal deputy from 2021 to 2024, and has worked on climate change, sustainability, and environmental policy from the legislative and political arena. He describes himself as an environmentalist with center-right ideas, which probably explains part of what makes him such an active and sometimes provocative voice in public conversation.
But beyond the public résumé, Gabriel also shared directly with us a few details that are not part of the public profile. He plays badminton, enjoys reading, appreciates a good white or rosé wine, and has a taste for cigars from San Andrés Tuxtla. In other words, policy, books, sport, wine, and Veracruz tobacco help us see the fellow Longhorn behind the public figure.
Inside the chapter, Gabriel is also a very present Longhorn voice. If you are in the WhatsApp group, you may have noticed one of his most consistent habits: no matter what topic is being discussed, there is always a decent chance Gabriel will find the right moment to share his latest El Economista column. We say that with affection, because it is part of what makes him easy to recognize: engaged, opinionated, curious, and always ready to put ideas on the table.
We are glad to have Gabriel as part of Texas Exes Mexico City. Hook’em!
Project Worldwide
By the Editorial Staff.
Project Worldwide is becoming one of the clearest ways our chapter can turn Longhorn spirit into local impact.
First, a quick update on AFEECI. Earlier this season, several members of our Board helped respond to a very practical and urgent need: the heat inside their facilities. Thanks to chapter support, the first pedestal fans were delivered, and the next step is to continue helping with additional fans for the smaller, hotter spaces where their team provides attention and psychological support. We want to thank Carlos Díaz for his private contribution to this call.
But this week, our biggest focus is Fundación Hogar Dulce Hogar.
Hogar Dulce Hogar is an I.A.P. founded a 1985 that provides protection, care, education, health support, psychological support, legal support, nutrition, and recreation for children in vulnerable situations in Mexico City. Their mission is beautifully simple and deeply important: to be a home of protection, safety, and care for children at risk, helping restore their rights in a warm and respectful environment.
This Friday, May 22, the children of Hogar Dulce Hogar will present their Spring Concert & Art Show. They have been preparing artwork, music, and theater, and after the program there will be tamales, atole, and pan dulce with the community behind this beautiful project. All proceeds go directly toward funding the 2026 to 2027 school year for the children living at the home.
Here is the number that should stay with us: each of the 31 children needs less than USD 650 to be fed, educated, cared for, and supported for a full year. Hogar Dulce Hogar makes that possible, but they still need to raise those funds.
There are three ways to help:
1. Buy a ticket through Luma
This is the easiest way to support the event. The chapter will cover the credit card processing fees, so the full value of your support goes to Hogar Dulce Hogar.
2. Support the GoFundMe campaign
If you cannot attend but still want to contribute, the GoFundMe campaign is another simple way to help fund the children’s upcoming school year.
3. Contact the board for a direct transfer to the I.A.P.
If you would prefer to make a direct transfer to Hogar Dulce Hogar for tax purposes, please contact the chapter board and we will help coordinate the proper information.
So this is the ask: please support Hogar Dulce Hogar this week. Come on Friday if you can. Bring someone if possible. And if your schedule makes it impossible to attend, please buy a ticket or donate anyway. That support still matters.
This is the most important item on our Project Worldwide agenda right now. Let’s lend them a hand.
Meanwhile in Austin
By the Editorial Staff.
This is one of those Austin stories that feels big even by Texas standards.
Michael and Susan Dell have become UT Austin’s first-ever billion-dollar supporters, after announcing a new $750 million commitment that pushes their lifetime giving to the University beyond $1 billion. UT says the new investment will help establish the UT Dell Campus for Advanced Research and the UT Dell Medical Center, while also expanding support for undergraduate scholarships, student housing and the Texas Advanced Computing Center.
The most ambitious piece is the new medical center, expected to open in 2030 as part of a research campus of more than 300 acres in Northwest Austin. Reporting from The Texas Tribune notes that the medical center is expected to include around 300 to 500 beds, with construction planned to begin later this year. It will be separate from Dell Seton Medical Center downtown and will focus on specialized care.
What makes the project especially forward-looking is its design around medicine, science, computing and artificial intelligence from the beginning. AP described it as what UT leaders are calling the country’s first “AI-native” hospital, with the goal of using advanced computing to improve early detection, personalized treatment and patient outcomes. UT MD Anderson cancer care services are also expected to be integrated into the new medical center, which could reduce the need for Central Texas patients to travel to Houston for complex care and clinical trials.
For Longhorns, there is also a very UT story behind all this. Michael Dell founded Dell Technologies while he was a UT student, building computers from his freshman dorm room. Decades later, this gift ties together technology, medicine, education and Austin’s growth in a way that feels deeply connected to the idea that what starts here can genuinely change the world.
Meanwhile in Mexico
By the Editorial Staff.
The new Viva Travel Grant is exactly the kind of Mexico-related UT news we should be paying attention to.
Announced by Texas Global on April 23, 2026, the grant comes from a new partnership between Texas Global and Viva, offering up to 100 complimentary round-trip flights for eligible UT Austin faculty and students traveling to Mexico for academic purposes. Texas Global explains that the initiative is guided by the Mexico Global Gateway, UT’s framework for expanding partnerships, research collaboration, and experiential learning throughout the country.
The program is meant to support work such as research, study abroad, fieldwork, conferences, academic exchanges, and collaboration with Mexican partners. According to the grant page, eligible travelers include UT faculty, postdoctoral researchers, permanent researchers with PI status, and degree-seeking students, with priority for certain academic and programmatic purposes. Requests must be submitted at least 30 business days before departure, and awards will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
What makes this especially interesting for us in Mexico City is the practical effect: travel becomes a little easier, and therefore collaboration becomes a little more likely. Viva’s public route information already shows Austin connections into several Mexican destinations, including Monterrey, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Querétaro, Toluca, Oaxaca, and others, which helps explain why this kind of travel support can open more than one door.
For the Texas Exes Mexico City Chapter, this is also a quiet invitation. If more students, professors, and researchers from UT are coming to Mexico, our chapter can become part of the welcome mat. We can help connect people, point them toward local context, invite them to chapter events, and make sure that when Longhorns arrive here, they feel the network is already alive.
That is good for UT. It is good for Mexico. And it is very good for the chapter.
Bring’em Back
Our chapter gets stronger every time a Longhorn finds their way back in. If you know a UT friend who has gone a little off the radar, bring them back.
The easiest way is to use the “Invite a Friend” option after registering for any Luma event.
And yes, we are keeping score:
- 1 point for every new person you bring back through the "Invite a Friend" option
- 💸 1 point = 20% off any chapter event
- 🎁 3 points = one free breakfast
- 🤘 More points = official Co-op merch straight from Austin
When someone joins through your Luma invite link, we can see who brought them in, so every successful comeback counts. You can also send them straight to our official chapter registry at https://bit.ly/texasexescdmx
Let’s #BringEmBack together, one Longhorn at a time.
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Questions, comments, or feedback? Email us at mexicocitychapter@texasexes.org
Previous issues: April 2026