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The U.S. Census Bureau announced today the establishment of the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations and has named Jacinto P. Juarez as a member of the committee.

The National Advisory Committee will advise the Census Bureau on a wide range of variables that affect the cost, accuracy and implementation of the Census Bureau's programs and surveys, including the once-a-decade census. The committee, which is comprised of 32 members from multiple disciplines, will advise the Census Bureau on topics such as housing, children, youth, poverty, privacy, race and ethnicity, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other populations.

“We expect that the expertise of this committee will help us meet emerging challenges the Census Bureau faces in producing statistics about our diverse nation,” said Thomas Mesenbourg, the Census Bureau's acting director. “By helping us better understand a variety of issues that affect statistical measurement, this committee will help ensure that the Census Bureau continues to provide relevant and timely statistics used by federal, state and local governments as well as business and industry in an increasingly technologically oriented society.”

The National Advisory Committee members, who serve at the discretion of the Census Bureau director, are chosen to serve based on expertise and knowledge of the cultural patterns, issues and/or statistical needs of hard-to-count populations.

Jacinto P. Juarez is a computer science professor and dean emeritus at Laredo Community College in Texas. He serves on theTexas Institute for Health Care Quality and Efficiency Board of Directors, on the City of Laredo Civil Service Commission and on the Webb County Agrilife Extension Service Leadership Advisory Board. Juarez is chair of the Family and Consumer Sciences for the Webb County Agrilife Extension Service. Juarez is a past city council member, former mayor pro-tem and former member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Laredo. He previously served on the Texas Department of State Health Services Board, Texas Health Care Information Council, Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council and on the Texas Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee. He has served as vice-chairman of the Census Bureau's Race and Ethnic Advisory Committee on the Hispanic population. Juarez previously served on the Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans under President George W. Bush. He has served as vice-president and board member of the Rio Grande International Study Center. Juarez has also served as a member of the South Texas Workforce Development Board, South Texas Private Industry Council, South Texas Development Council, the Laredo Development Foundation, Laredo Chamber of Commerce and the South Texas Sub-Area Health Council. Juarez is also former chair and board member of Junior Achievement of South Texas. Juarez earned his bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University, his master's degree at Texas A&M-Kingsville and his doctorate from Texas A&M-Commerce.