Metropolitan State University of Denver

Dr Ramon Del Castillo

Personal Biography Statement

I am a Full Professor and Chair of the Chicana/o Studies Department. My teaching career began in the Sociology Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver in 1984. I transfered into Chicana/o Studies in 1995. I am the past Chair of the Masters Program in Nonprofit Program at Regis University (1999-2005).

As the past Chair of the Masters Program of Nonprofit Management (MNM) at Regis University, I directed educational services for the department and taught classes in the history of the nonprofit sector, leadership, ethics managing diversity in organizations and the research oriented capstone project. I traveled in Mexico for 5 years, developing collaborative binational curricula between the nonprofit and civil society sectors through the “Making Connections in Mexico Program,” in collaboration with ITESO Jesuit University, located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Educational Biography

I possess a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in Sociology and Mexican American Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. My Master's Degrees are in Social Science and Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. My Ph.D. is from the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver. My doctoral dissertation, using the theory of innovation, examined Curanderismo, a traditional approach to holistic and spiritual healing and its institutionalization within a publicly funded mental health agency.

Personal

I am an activist scholar with professional experience in the fields of mental health, community/economic development and education. I have written and recited poetry for 4 decades at many venues locally, statewide and nationally. As a lifetime student, I am currently studying the congas and percussion instruments. Shooting pool is one of my hobbies.

Professional Affiliations

My professional history includes past mental health administrator for the Mental Health Corporation of Denver including Centro de las Familias, a specialty clinic that achieved national recognition for its culturally competent/responsive services and program. This included Curanderismo, an indigenous holistic approach to healing. While a Coordinator of curriculum at Rocky Mountain Denver SER Head Start, I facilitated the development of a culturally competent curriculum entitled, “El Espejo (The Mirror” that is currently being used. As a Head Start national consultant, I provided technical assistance in the areas of organizational development and cultural competency/responsiveness, conflict resolution, education reform and strategic planning.

I spent three years as columnist for the Rocky Mountain News years and am currently a columinst for El Semanario, writing thought provoking essays and public commentary on public policy issues regarding Chicanas/os in American society.

Awards include: Richard T. Castro Memorial Community Service Award for multi-cultural mental health program innovation (1996; Colorado State Division of Civil Right’s Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award (1998); “Spirit of Tlatelolco Award;” (2005) National recognition from the Latino and Latina Student Law Association (2005) for my contributions to humanitarianism; Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Committee’s Founders Award (2008); Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Civil Rights Award by the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA)(2009); Mauricio Sarabia Award for contributions to Chicana/o Literature and Poetry (2011; and the Cesar Chavez Award presented by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA, 2012); Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award at Metropoitan State University of Denver.

Selected Publications

My professional publications include: "Curanderismo as Decolonization Therapy: The Acceptance of Mestizaje as a Remedio" (2103 in process); "Institutionalizing Curanderismo in Colorado's Community Mental Health System," in "Enduring Legacies: Ethnic Histories and Cultures of Colorado" (2011); "Institutionalizing Curanderismo into a Mainstream Healing System: Boundary Spanners and Innovation in Action,” in Hispanics in the Southwest: Issues of Education, Immigration, Health, and Public Policy (2011; and "The Life History of Diana Velazquez: La Curandera Total," in La Gente: Hispano History and Life in Colorado (1998).

Poetry publications include the following: Tales from a Michoacano; Broken Concrete; From the Corazon of a Bato Loco; and When the Owl Can’t See at Night. Chile Colorado, a CD with three local poets and a storyteller has been used in the Chicana/o Studies Department curriculum at Metro State College. For the last 2 decades, my work has appeared in a variety of magazines and books including but not limited to: Cantos Al Sexto Sol: An Anthology of Aztlanahuac Writing; Cool Salsa edited by Lori M. Carlson and Encyclopedia Chicana; Yellow Medicine Review: A Journal of Indigenous Literature, Art and Thought. I am working on my next book "Quetzales are not Extinct."

Teaching Philosophy

Students are not empty vessals, walking into classrooms, ready to be filled with knowledge; they are human beings seeking approaches to become fully humanized. Students entering my educational domain are encouraged to share their experience with their peers; therefore, they possess knowledge by virtue of living life. Through the creation of gracious space in the classroom, students feel comfortable sharing as they become teachers and learners. I respect each student's knowledge base and provide an educational ambiance that promotes effective dialogue for anyone entering this sacred space. Students become active participants in creating knowledge in my classrooms. As a life-long learner who loves teaching and learning, I challenge students to engage in courageous conversations about the many issues in our society so that together we can create a better world. "Social Justice and Activism in the Chicana/o Community," is part of the Honor's Program.

Current Projects

I recently finished facilitating a process dealing with education reform in Northwest Denver, with 65 other citizens. The overall findings and recommendations were presented to the Denver Board of Education. A follow up monitoring process is being established. I was also selected to the Denver Public School's Mill Levy Committee, designed to make recommendations for the expenditure of 40 million taxpayer dollars.

As a diversity trainer, I am called upon on many occasions to provide diversity and cultural competency workshops to businesses, government and nonprofit organizations.

As one of the founders of the Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Committee, we recently celebrated our 12th Annual Event. There are opportunties for students to link in this project and other community projects that strive to make a better world.

I play music occasionally with groups in the Denver area.

Courses Taught

CHS-1000,CHS-3100,CHS-3600,CHS-4850,HON-1003,HON-3101,SWK-3110