The United States every March celebrates women’s history month and Noticiero Móvil wanted to put together a list of local ladies who we wanted to recognize for their outstanding contributions to the region.
This list is not complete! We just wanted to start it to help you discover the power and beauty of each of these unique and amazing women — and so you can help up highlight more.
Dr. Mariluz Garcia
Dr. Mariluz Garcia has served as executive director of the Dean’s Future Scholars program at the University of Nevada, Reno for over a decade. She is also the first Latina to hold this position.
She was very busy in 2022. Not only did she found the Nevada First-Gen Network to help middle and high school students become first-generation college students, and was elected to District 3 of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners.
Catherine Cortez Masto
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto made history in 2016 when she won her election and became the first woman from Nevada and the first Latina elected to the U.S. Senate. She was born and raised in Las Vegas to a Mexican father and Italian mother. Her grandfather emigrated from Mexico to Nevada.
Prior to becoming a senator, Cortez Masto served as state attorney general. Her senate platform includes fighting human- and child-trafficking, protecting the environment and reforming the immigration system. She was re-elected to her second term in November 2022.
Tia Flores
Tia Flores is a Latina, a native of Nevada. Flores is an arts educator and an internationally recognized artist specializing in pyrography. Her culturally themed pyrography has appeared in HGTV, That’s Clever!, Voices of America, PBS ArtEffects, Pygrography Magazine and the book Women Artists of the Great Basin by Mary Lee Fulkerson.
Flores is now the program director for the Sierra Arts Foundation, a regional arts organization in Nevada. She enjoys designing and facilitating professional development workshops for artists and educators. Flores sees the act of making art as a special place of connection, exploration, refuge and celebration.
Selena Torres
Selena Torres, who was a high school teacher in Clark County, is now a member of the state assembly representing District 3. Her connection to northern Nevada? She is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno.
Her values have remained the same since she was elected in November 2018. She has provided legislative services for causes such as child welfare and juvenile justice. She also assisted in the establishment of Cesar Chavez Day (March 31) in Las Vegas.
Editor’s note: This article is under development. If you know of other impressive Nevada women worthy of praise this month, be sure to let us know so we can include their profile as well.
This list was compiled with the editorial assistance of Mariya Dawson, Luke Merlino, Ashley Martinez and Alexandra Couraud.