skip the i-GuideIllinois State UniversityAdmissions at ISUAcademics at ISUEvents at ISUMap of ISUISU A to Z ListingISU AccessibilityISU 150th Anniversary
College of Arts and Sciences News
Article Details
Alum to Lead Civil Rights Office
Ricardo Meza
Ricardo Meza, a 1986 alum of political science and a member of the College’s Attorneys Advisory Council, has been named Midwest Regional Counsel for MALDEF, the nation’s premier Latino civil rights organization. Based in Chicago, Meza is responsible for MALDEF litigation and public policy matters in 10 Midwestern states, focusing on education, employment, immigrants’ rights, and political access/voting rights issues for Latinos. Meza has over a dozen years of litigation experience in state and federal courts, primarily as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago and El Paso. In the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and General Crimes Section, he prosecuted large-scale narcotics trafficking, money laundering,health care fraud, and other white collar fraud. “Ricardo Meza brings strong leadership and litigation skills to MALDEF,” said John Trasviña, MALDEF Senior Vice President for Law and Policy. “His legal advocacy is especially needed now as the Latino population grows throughout the Midwest.”

After receiving his B.A. in political science at Illinois State, Meza earned his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1990, where he was President of the Hispanic Law Students Association. He is a board member of the Chicago Health Connection and Omni Youth Services. He has received numerous awards, including the 2003 Merit Award from the Hispanic Illinois State Law Enforcement association and the 2002 Distinguished Graduate Award for Community Service from Palatine High School.

Founded in 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, the Mexican Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is the leading nonprofit Latino litigation, advocacy, and educational outreach institution in the United States. MALDEF’s mission is to foster sound public policies, laws and programs to safeguard the civil rights of the 40 million Latinos living in the United States.
Return