BROWNSVILLE, Texas – President-elect Barack Obama has looked to South Texas where he selected University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College President Juliet V. Garcia to join his transition team, officials said.

Garcia, the first Mexican-American to head a four-year U.S. university, will serve as one of the president-elect's advisers.

"I consider public service to be our highest calling; so I am greatly honored to have been invited to take part in the historic transition of our young democracy," Garcia said in a written statement to The Brownsville Herald, the newspaper reported Wednesday in an online story.

UTB-TSC's Jose Bocanegra, who lectures on American political institutions and economic and public policy, said that Garcia, "will be an advocate for the area."

Obama and Garcia have met. Obama visited UTB-TSC in February during his campaign. Also that day, he surprised revelers at the annual Sombrero Festival.

Brownsville native Federico F. Pena, former U.S. secretary of transportation and energy and former Denver mayor, was national co-chair of Obama's campaign.

"They see Texas as a real, real important factor," Cameron County Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said.

Garcia's husband, Oscar Garcia, said the invitation to join Obama's transition team was a surprise.

"Someone called from Washington and she said she would have to ask her boss and they said it would be a wonderful opportunity," Oscar Garcia, said of the UT system board of regents.

"I think it is wonderful, just wonderful. I feel very proud of her, very, very proud," Oscar Garcia said.

Juliet Garcia is expected to travel to Washington D.C. soon, but no date was announced.