Campos honored with University of Houston doctorate: ‘I was a daughter, a wife, a mother and a student’

The University of Houston recently recognized the significant contributions of 90-year-old educator Maria Esther Campos by granting her an honorary doctorate, the third degree she has received from the university during her life-long pursuit of education.

Campos previously received a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Spanish after enrolling at the university in 1959, according to coverage by The Daily Houston News. State Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston), who said Campos was a mentor to her early in her political career, took to social media to share her sentiments.

"Congrats to my long-time friend Esther Campos for receiving her honorary doctorate today from University of Houston at 90 years old," Alvarado said in a post to her official Facebook page. “Esther showed me the ropes when I became a Harris County Democratic Party precinct chair.”

Campos had previously pursued her PhD, but she was unable to achieve that goal due to a family tragedy, according to a profile by the university. Yet, she did continue to serve in education during a 30-year career with the Houston Independent School District.

“I was a daughter, a wife, a mother and a student. When it came to making decisions, my family was the most important, and school was always a work out. I’ve been at work for 55 years,” Campos was quoted as saying by The Daily Houston News. 

Campos did not leave education behind after serving as teacher, counselor and assistant principal, according to the university profile of her. She went on to become a Houston Independent School District trustee in 1993, and continued to campaign for policies that sought to make students of all backgrounds and identities feel included into the 2010s.

“In Houston, Esther Campos was there when people organized for the betterment of the Latino community,” U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) was quoted by The Daily Houston News as saying about Campos.