The following article was published in January of 2000.

"The Capitol is my second home," says Ramiro Canales '91. "I enjoy observing the interaction between law, politics and public policy." An aspiring attorney - in November, he learned he had passed the Texas State Bar Exam - Canales hopes to one day serve in the Texas Legislature. He's prepared for the challenges inherent in such a demanding, public job.

Canales served as chief of staff to State Representative Irma Rangel during the Legislature's 1995 regular session. Previously, he worked for Rangel during the 1989 and 1991 regular sessions and 1994 interim session. In addition, he was interim director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus in 1993.

He has worked with some legends of Texas and national politics, including the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby, while a student at UT's LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Canales also survived a media whirlwind in 1997, after UT-Austin law professor Lino Graglia told the Houston Chronicle that African American and Hispanic students "have a culture that seems not to encourage achievement. Academic failure is not looked upon with disgrace." At the time, Canales, a former migrant worker, was president of the Chicano/Hispanic Law Students' Association (CHLSA) at the law school. The media - including NBC's The Today Show, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and the Austin American-Statesman - sought him for rebuttal. "It was difficult going on The Today Show with Lino Graglia," Canales says. "There were about 168 million people watching me. I tried to answer the criticisms and paint UT law school in a positive light."

A firm believer in networking, Canales strives to share the knowledge and contacts he has gained. He enjoys helping students interested in public affairs and law school navigate the application process. And, he credits his aspirations to the foundation he established at SU. "At Southwestern, I learned so much about myself and what I could do. SU gave me the opportunity to move forward and explore opportunities that I thought were unexplorable."

Canales earned a B.A. in international studies with an area of emphasis in political science in 1991. He completed a master of public affairs at UT's LBJ School of Public Affairs in 1994. In 1998, he completed his J.D. at the UT School of Law, where he also was the first student to receive the Faculty Service Award in recognition of service to improve the quality of student and faculty life. Currently, he is a law clerk for the Texas State Teachers' Association. In the spring, he will complete his second semester as a lecturer at the UT Center for Mexican American Studies. Besides monitoring developments at the Capitol, Canales enjoys romantic music - especially Julio Iglesias, dancing, nature walks and tennis. Recently, he moved to Austin and says he just might buy his first car.