On Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, the University of Houston-Downtown will confer degrees for more than 1,600 Gators in two ceremonies at NRG Arena. Two dynamic guest commencement speakers, whose histories of public service and excellence are representative of the values held dear at UHD, will share their insights with graduates and their friends and families.
During the 1 p.m. ceremony, students from the Marilyn Davies College of Business and the College of Sciences and Technology will hear from Houston City Council Member Mario Castillo of District H. Council Member Joaquin Martinez of District I is the speaker for the 5:30 p.m. ceremony, during which graduates from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Public Service will be celebrated.
Born and raised in the heart of District H, Mario Castillo models giving back to the
community to generate sustainable
improvement. Applying lessons learned from his grandfather who immigrated to the
United States and established Castillo’s Realty, a small business that thrived for
47 years in Houston’s Near Northside neighborhood, Castillo employs his passion for
community service to improving public health and quality of life for all Houstonians.
He graduated from the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, evidencing his commitment to public service at an early age. He continued his academic pursuits at Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a master's degree in Public Health. He then embarked on his career in public service and has been making a positive difference in Houston’s communities, with an emphasis on public health and community safety. As Council Member for District H and Executive Director of the grassroots organization Your Houston, he is invested daily in improving the quality of life for all Houstonians.
Council Member Joaquin Martinez grew up in the East End as one of 12 kids. He has
vivid memories of community-based initiatives such as Navidad en el Barrio, local
school supply drives, and food distributions that lightened the burden for his large
family. His father’s investment in other children as a little league baseball coach
further instilled in him the 
importance of teamwork, leadership, and selfless service.
A proud UHD alum, Martinez has dedicated his career to public service, expanding his reach to directly impact the quality of life for all Houstonians. In addition to collaborating with nonprofit agencies such as BakerRipley, he has served on the boards of Arte Publico Press and the Tejano Center for Community Concerns, empowering residents through sustained networks of support and emphasizing the power of literacy and the arts. Through his work as Youth Development Manager for Neighborhood Centers, Inc., he led innovative solutions to address the nuanced needs of our city’s youth.
With hearts and minds made for service to others, UHD’s commencement guest speakers are sure to inspire this year’s grads as they prepare to move their tassels and enter the next phase of their lives as UHD alumni.