Bilingual Education Student Organization

The purpose of B.E.S.O. (Bilingual Education Student Organization) is to promote the content, the procedure, and the philosophy of bilingual/bicultural education at the University of Texas at Austin and in the Latino community in Austin. Our organization supports professional development, community service, and continuing education for both colleagues and the community. The BESO program offers students the opportunity to learn, teach, and innovate strategies and activities. Our philosophy lends itself towards the principles of education in the native language for the benefit of the child. We are a community of learners and represent the bilingual education community at UT Austin.

BESO Bridges is the newly implemented mentorship program, which we will use to promote the growth of each member and building a safe community for one another. This program allows members to connect with other BESO members for guidance and companionship, help members build relationships and strengthen their connection with BESO, especially in the Bilingual Education field. Not only will this build connections within BESO but it will also promote networking for their careers in the education field in the future.

In search of a sense of belonging coming from diverse backgrounds, BESO strives to provide a community in which there is immense support and the ability to grow both professionally and socially. Our philosophy is geared towards the principles of education in the native language for the benefit of any child in need. We learn from one another and want to foster an inclusive learning environment from each other, to carry on to our future careers.
"BESO is more than an organization - it's a movement." -Marcy Peña, BESO President, TABE Representative (2024-2026)

Marcy has been a part of BESO since Fall 2022, and since then has held the President position for the past 2 years. She has grown tremendously with our organization in a professional standpoint, but also in the friendships formed.

"BESO has given me a support system like no other. Through the mentorship program previously implemented, I gained a friendship with my mentor, which also encouraged me to come out of my shell and grow socially, emotionally, and professionally. Getting to go to conferences and meet such courageous people in the field, who have overcome obstacles I could never even imagine, always inspires me to strive for greatness and continue in the profession. Bilingual education is my passion and BESO supports that in every way possible." -Marisol Morales, BESO Treasurer (2023-2025)

Marisol has also been a part of BESO since Fall 2022, and since has followed in the footsteps of her mentor to take over the treasurer position for the past 2 years.