Name: Anthony Alcoser
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Current Job/City: Assistant Director of Development Texas A&M University-San Antonio
CHCI Program/Year: 2002 Summer Intern
CHCI Placement: Office of Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez TX 23rd Congressional District
1. What have you been doing since you finished the CHCI program?
After leaving the CHCI summer program during my sophomore year of college, I went on to complete my bachelor’s degree from UTSA, and later my master’s in education leadership from Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
I have spent the majority of my adult life in public service. At age 24, I was the youngest person to ever be elected to the Harlandale School Board. I recently won re-election and I’m currently serving my third term. As a Harlandale school board member, I work diligently to ensure a quality education for every student. This past year Harlandale was named “#1 Large School District in Texas” and is the only school district to be ranked in the “Top 10 Workplaces in San Antonio.” Our motto is Every Child, Every Classroom, Every Day and we understand our greatest commodity is our children.
Most of all, my greatest accomplishment and joy in life is being father to my “corazon,” my seven year old daughter Giselle.
2. What impact did your CHCI experience have on your career and development as a leader?
CHCI made an everlasting impact on my career and development as a leader. Very few programs offer life lessons in the real world atmosphere. CHCI strengthened my commitment to public service and social responsibility and allowed me make a significant contribution to my community through my service as an elected official and advocate for higher education.
3. How have you stayed engaged in community service?
In addition to my six years of higher education advocacy on the Harlandale school board, I have also engaged in the development of several nonprofits. More recently, I have assisted in fundraising initiatives of JOVEN, a nonprofit aimed at assisting at-risk youth in the inner city who were recently at the receiving end of federal grant cuts. On a lighter note, I recently competed in a charity boxing event to raise funds for the South Texas Hispanic Fund, whose work strengthens the city’s growing Hispanic community by encouraging involvement through charitable giving. Later this month, I will also box in the San Antonio Golden Gloves Tournament to raise funds for The Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio.
4. What advice would you give current and future CHCI participants?
Don’t miss any opportunity available during your time at CHCI–you can sleep on the plane. The experiences and friends you will make during your time in the program will stay with you the rest of your life. Once you have completed your program at CHCI, it’s your responsibility to use the lessons and experiences you learned to make your community and, ultimately, the world a better place.
5. Where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years?
I hope to have completed my doctorate in education and positioned myself either politically or professionally in a position to greater serve those around me and provide increased access to higher education. Along the way I would also love to coach of my daughter’s soccer team!