Saint Mary's Hall Form 11 students set the stage for challenging and important conversations as students, faculty, and guest speakers gathered for our 33rd Annual Issues Day on Thursday, February 27, 2025. This annual tradition, hosted by our Form 11 Issues Day Committee, demonstrates our School’s commitment to fostering a dynamic learning community, openness to viewpoint diversity, and a desire to seek understanding about today’s most important issues.
This year's Essential Question, "What are the most effective and humane strategies for managing immigration at the southern US border while ensuring national security and upholding human rights?" sparked meaningful discussions and thoughtful reflections.
The day began with a moderated panel discussion led by moderator Dr. K. Jill Fleuriet, Vice Provost for Honors Education and Professor of Anthropology at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Fleuriet emphasized the importance of civil discourse and understanding different perspectives, and presented our community guidelines for discussion:
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Allow time for reflection on what previous speakers have said before responding.
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Listen with an open mind for content in the statements of others, even if you disagree.
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Ask clarifying questions to understand different perspectives.
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Differentiate between facts and opinions. Both are valid when expressed appropriately.
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Identify and call attention to areas of agreement and common ground.
After the panel discussion, students participated in breakout sessions focusing on different strands of inquiry: economics, security, legal/political, human rights, socio-cultural, and health. These sessions allowed for in-depth discussions and the opportunity to ask the delegates clarifying questions to understand different perspectives.
The day concluded with a plenary session where students were able to present their questions to the entire panel, leaving with new perspectives and a deeper appreciation for the complexities of this important issue.
We are grateful to the Issues Day student Committee (Myles Baumholtz ‘26, Sohan Bhakta ‘26, Luke Garcia ‘26, Jackson Hill ‘26, Jay Huang ‘26, and Harini Logan ’26), Middle and Upper School Librarian Gerri Walls, our distinguished moderator and speakers, and the other faculty and staff members who made this important day possible.
PANELISTS:
Moderator Dr. K. Jill Fleuriet - Professor, Department of Anthropology; Vice Provost for Honors Education, the University of Texas at San Antonio
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Bio: Dr. Fleuriet received her PhD from Stanford University. She researches health, placemaking, care, and gender in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Her book, Rhetoric and Reality on the U.S.-Mexico Border, challenges misunderstandings about our southern borderlands through an analysis of regional leadership.
Cynthia Maldonado, Attorney and Founder, Maldonado Legal
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Bio: Ms. Maldonado founded Maldonado Legal, a leading immigration law firm in Houston, to provide support and expert guidance to those navigating the daunting immigration system. She sees each case as a chance to make a difference in someone’s life, having grown up in the border town of Laredo and witnessing the complexity of cultures at the intersection of two nations.
Matthew Reichle – Retired, formerly U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard
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Bio: Mr. Reichle was Director of Marine Operations of the Office of Air and Marine, helping integrate data for over 2,000 miles of border with Mexico. He was a Border Patrol Supervisory Agent and Field Operations Supervisor, collecting and analyzing intelligence, identifying threats and illegal activity, and enforcing immigration laws.
Dr. Fernando Riosmena - Professor, Sociology & Demography; Director of the Institute on Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio
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Bio: Dr. Riosmena is a demography and sociology professor at UTSA. His research focuses on spatial mobility, migration between Mexico and the U.S., and the health status of Latin American immigrants. His current projects include examining the impact of climatic variability on migration and the health trajectories of the Mexican-origin population.
John Phillip Santos - Professor of Borderlands Humanities & Creative Non-Fiction, The University of Texas at San Antonio
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Bio: Prof. Santos is a writer, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. His memoirs and poetry explore the ancestral stories of his family. An Emmy-nominated producer, he has created over 40 documentaries and news programs. He was the first Latino Rhodes Scholar and has received the Texas Medal for the Arts in Literature.
Dr. Rene Zenteno - Professor, Sociology & Demography, The University of Texas at San Antonio
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Bio: Dr. Zenteno has a distinguished career in demography and sociology, with a focus on U.S.-Mexican migration and social inequality. He served as Under Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior in Mexico, where he helped enact significant immigration laws. He has published extensively on social and demographic change and immigrant incorporation.