Mr. Joe R. and Dr. Teresa Lozano Long
Tarleton State University is proud to name the Joe R. and Dr. Teresa Lozano Long Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and International Programs in honor of the committed philanthropists and trailblazers in educational advocacy.
The Longs received honorary doctorates of humane letters at the 2012 commencement in recognition of their transformative improvements to the lives of so many Tarleton Texans. In 2021 they continued this impact, donating $2 million to support underrepresented student communities through the office that now bears their name.
Dr. Teresa Lozano Long was born in Premont, Texas, where she was valedictorian of her high school class in 1945. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in education at the University of Texas at Austin, becoming the first Hispanic person to receive a doctorate in health and physical education at the university. After graduation, Dr. Long had a broad impact on her communities, including presidential appointments to the National Endowment of the Arts and the National Council on the Arts.
Mr. Joe R. Long was born in San Antonio, Texas. A Tarleton alumnus, he later graduated from UT Austin with a BA in government and attended the University of Texas School of Law, graduating in 1958. After law school, Mr. Long worked in public service, including on the State Securities Board and in the Attorney General’s Office.
Joe and Teresa married in 1958 and from the outset professed a keen interest in Latin America and Latin American Affairs, as demonstrated by their philanthropic efforts, such as endowing the UT Institute of Latin American Studies. They were passionate in their support of the arts and in 1999 created the Long Foundation to support cultural investments in fine art. The foundation later broadened its focus to include education and removing barriers to educational access.
After Dr. Long’s passing, Mr. Long has continued her legacy by strengthening educational and cultural resources. Their contributions have shaped education in the state and left a legacy that forever will be remembered.