Kids at Hope is excited and quite privileged to announce that Dr. Erika Camacho, Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics at Arizona State University and former student of famed and legendary math teacher Jaime Escalante has been chosen as the honorary Dean of the 2018 National Youth Development Master’s Institute scheduled for Mary 6-11, 2018 in Phoenix, AZ.
Dr. Camacho will be recognized at the Institute’s annual Dean’s Recognition Luncheon on Monday, May 7 at noon.
‘What makes this selection so powerful,” states Rick Miller, founder of Kids at Hope, “is the fact that Dr. Camacho represents the very spirit of believing that all young people are capable of success, No Exceptions. “
Erika and her family immigrated from Mexico to the US with little or no resources. Her goal in life was to become a cashier. It was a respectable pursuit until she met, was taught, and tutored by Jamie Escalante whose commitment to his students was uncompromising and whose work was memorialized in the film, Stand and Deliver.
Today, Professor Camacho is a leading voice, role model, and selfless mentor. She is committed to helping students, mainly from marginalized communities, reach for the stars. Dr. Camacho believes and practices the belief that all kids are capable of success, No Exception.
Dr. Camacho’s many research interests include the interface of mathematical applications to biology and sociology. She is currently working on a cure for blindness.
Dr. Camacho has served on the Youth Development Institute’s faculty in the past and hosted a special screening of the film, Stand and Deliver followed by a question and answer session.
Previous honorary deans have included: Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; humanitarian, author, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Gerda Weissmann Klein; screenwriter and poet, Antwone Fisher (whose life inspired the film “Antwone Fisher”); Teacher and author, Erin Gruwell, (whose life inspired the movie, “Freedom Writers”); Ambassador Raul Yzaguirre who lead the National Hispanic organization LaRaza for many years; Arizona State University, Executive Vice President and Provost, Mark Searle; author and international leader in sales and customer service training and development, Ron Willingham and others.