Fresno State will lower the national and state flags to half staff on Saturday in memory of professor emeritus and community activist Dr. Theresa R. Perez, according to a university news release.

Perez died in her home from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on Jan. 13; she was 85, according to The Fresno Bee.

Perez was active in Fresno State’s La Raza program, which is now the the Department of Chicano and Latin American Studies. She was also involved in the development of the Chicano Youth Conference, the news release stated.

In 1975, Perez became the first Latina to run for Fresno County’s Board of Supervisors, according to the release.

A Mass and burial will take place at 10 a.m. on Jan. 26, at St. Alphonsus Church, 351 E. Kearney Blvd., followed by interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery, 264 N. Blythe Ave.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her name to be sent to the ALS Association Golden West Chapter. (P.O. Box 565, Agoura Hills, CA), according to the release.