The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education members Tuesday voted to name Central Region Middle School No. 7 the Dr. Julian Nava Learning Academy in honor of the first Latino to be elected to the school board.

Nava is a recognized Latino leader who dedicated his life to creating academic opportunities to improve the quality of life for students, building a strong school district, a greater city and representing the United States as an ambassador.

“I’m deeply honored and pleased to have a school named after me,” Nava said. “After 12 years of service on the school board, I feel part of the school district family. The new middle school is unique and demonstrates the courage LAUSD has in meeting the needs of all students during these troubled times.”

Nava was elected to the school board in 1967 when board members were elected districtwide. He served on the board during the East Los Angeles Chicano student walkouts of 1968 and fought to promote bilingual education and school integration in the district.

He grew up on the Eastside, attending Breed Elementary School, Hollenbeck Middle School and graduating from Roosevelt High School.

After graduating from Roosevelt in 1945, he served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps. After being discharged from the service, he attended East Los Angeles College before transferring to Pomona College where he earned a degree in history.

He then began a graduate school program at Harvard University, receiving his doctorate degree in Latin American history in 1955.

He was a history professor at Cal State Northridge for many years.

After losing a seat on the school board in 1979, Nava was appointed the U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1980, the first Mexican-American to ever hold that post.

“I want to express my gratitude on behalf of the children and families of LAUSD, to Dr. Julian Nava, for his leadership, advocacy, storytelling, and risk taking to transform our educational system,” school board President Mónica García said Tuesday. “We want our children to believe that their hard work and dreams can come true and [he is] an example of what LAUSD can produce.”

“Dr. Julian Nava is as enthusiastic today as he was when I met him 30 years ago, making sure every student is served educationally,” Superintendent Emeritus Ramón C. Cortines added.

“I cannot think of a better tribute to Dr. Julian Nava than the naming of Central Region Middle School No. 7 in his honor,” said Local District 5 Superintendent Roberto Martinez. “I cannot think of a better name for this gleaming new campus than the Dr. Julian Nava Learning Academy.”

“His history of support for public education and international diplomacy is an excellent example of how our own students can make tremendous changes in our local community and in the world in which they live,” said Tommy Welch, principal of the school that will bear Nava’s name. “The naming of our school after a man who believed so strongly in education will inspire others to pursue higher education in preparation for their future careers.”

The Dr. Julian Learning Academy is located on East Adams Boulevard and serves the South Los Angeles community. A ribbon cutting fevent for the school is scheduled Nov. 30 at 9 a.m.