After 49 years of service, Maria Quintero is retiring from University of St. Thomas. Beginning her journey as a student in 1976, Maria has exemplified the Basilian values of Goodness, Discipline, Knowledge and Community and while serving a wide variety of roles across the University. MAX Studios Darnell Miller, sat down with Maria to find out what Maria has learned in her time at St. Thomas, see how the University has grown and changed in her time here, and what her hopes for the future are for UST.
Darnell Miller: Congratulations on more than 40 years working with the University of St. Thomas!
Maria Quintero: Thank you!
DM: Now, being at the end of it, how does it feel looking back at your time here?
MQ: It just went too fast. I would never have thought at this point that I would still be here at St. Thomas. I mean there's just so many memories! I remember picnics, and we would have Dr. Tinnerman cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. Thanksgiving parties that we would have there in Murphy Hall; we would prepare an area and invite the whole campus to come and enjoy. You know that type of feeling, those are good memories.
DM: How did you first hear about University of St. Thomas and what brought you here?
MQ: I was looking for a college here in Houston. My friends were going to UH and I didn't want to go to a school where you get lost. I ended up at St. Thomas and applied, got accepted and it seemed to be a better fit for me. I just fell in love with it and I’m still here.
DM: And when you started at UST, what did you study, what were your goals, and what was your experience like?
MQ: I don't know if I had goals at that time, but I wanted to study music so I was a music major. I achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Music, but you know, I really didn't have a real goal that I was searching for. As I was studying, I started working as a student worker first and then later as a secretary there in the Music Department. And so that started me on my career as a staff member at St. Thomas.
DM: What were some of the key positions that you've had during your time here, and how did your career change and grow?
MQ: Oh, it changed every so often. Like I said, first it was a secretarial position in the Music Department doing programs and scheduling students. Then I worked in the School of Education with the Title 7 program, which is the bilingual program. And so that was a totally different kind of secretarial position, more reporting, keeping track of what the students were up to, that sort of thing. I wanted to learn accounting and so I started taking accounting classes. I was very much interested in accounting, so I started working in the Business Office, first as an accounts payable clerk and then moving on to doing budgets. From there I moved on to University Advancement, still doing budgets and reporting but also more stewardship type things.
DM: You've seen the University through so many different seasons. In what ways have you seen the university change and grow?
MQ: It's a totally different campus now! When I first started, Welder was a cafeteria. The Chapel went from being there at the little Art Gallery to, you know, to the big Chapel. I mean, it's been so many changes. The Music Department when I started was a house across from Jones Hall. And during my time here Cullen was built. After Cullen and I saw Jerabeck being built and when I was in the Business Office, the science building, CSHP, was built. That one was a noisy construction; my office was right across the street from it. [laughs] So much has changed on campus, but it still has the same family feel to it, the caring for one another. And I think that's what's kept me here all this time.
DM: As a student and then throughout your career here, who have been some of the people you have come to respect and who you've seen shape the University over time?
MQ: The professors that really made an impression on me were Edgar Martin in the Music Department. He had a class that my sister and I both took at the same time, and I'm glad we did. It was on music appreciation, and it was one of those classes that gave you a mountain of homework and you hated it at the time, but afterwards you loved every minute of it.
In the Music Department, I was under Tom Boiling and he was incredible. He was in charge of the Jazz ensemble and every Monday and Wednesday afternoon they would practice in the hall, I was privileged to hear them playing.
In the School of Education, I think of Dr. Ellen Decanter with the Title 7 program. She was able to write grants and get them funded. She knew what Washington wanted and was able to get funding for all these bilingual students. I was glad to be a part of that. In the Business Office, it was James Booth who was my boss, and he was great. When he came in, the University had issues and so he came and cleaned up the Business Office and had it working.
And then in University Advancement, Diane Thornton. She's the one who brought me over to University Advancement. She was so knowledgeable of the donors and the relationships because that's the one thing there that you need to know; how each person relates to the university. And finally, Dawn, who's in charge of University Advancement now. She's been great, a great leader and a cheerleader who has kept us focused.
DM: And as the University continues to grow and serve students in the Houston area and beyond. What do you hope for the future?
MQ: I hope that it can continue its character and continue the Basilian way of educating the whole person. I think if we can hold on to that going forward, no matter what direction we go, it will anchor people.
DM: Now that your time at UST has come to an end and you are retiring, what’s next?
MQ: Well, I wanted to continue doing volunteer work at my church, Holy Name. I have been a catechist at my parish, and I currently play at the 5:00 Vigil Mass on Saturdays, so that will continue. I have a gentleman who's already asked me to teach him how to play guitar, so I can do that. And I also teach piano so that will continue. So I have things that'll keep me busy!