Jaguar Soccer Celebrates All-Conference Honors

Six A&M University-San Antonio men’s soccer team players earned All-RRAC accolades following a 7-5-3, 5-3-3 RRAC season and a fourth-place season finish in the regular season.

Freshman Efren Duarte (San Antonio, Texas) a forward and All-RRAC Second Team, also made the All-Freshman team following a strong rookie campaign. In seven conference matches, he scored seven goals and added two assists. He even tallied two game-winners to help the Jaguars advance to the RRAC Men’s Soccer Tournament for the first time in program history.

Freshman Julian Leon (Garland, Texas), a midfielder and All-RRAC Second Team, scored four conference goals and recorded a shooting percentage of .444. As a midfielder, he played a big role in making defensive stops and starting counter attacks.

Junior Antonio Juarez-Alvarez (San Antonio, Texas), a defender and All-RRAC Second Team, played all eight conference matches and anchored the backline. The team captain stopped numerous scoring chances and played a big role in three shutouts down the stretch to help the team qualify for the postseason tournament.

Sophomore Sebastian Palomino (Bogota, Colombia), a defender and All-RRAC Honorable Mention, scored one conference goal in the 5-1 win over Jarvis Christian. He also played a big role as a defender by making stops and creating chances for others. He assisted the Jaguars’ lone goal in the 1-1 draw against UHV and kept the other team’s attacking chances to a minimum .

Senior Victor Villarreal (San Antonio, Texas), a goalkeeper and All-RRAC Honorable Mention, won RRAC Defensive Player of the Week and made numerous saves in goal all season long. The senior keeper recorded 635 minutes in goals during conference play and posted a goalsagainst-average of 0.85 while only allowing six goals.

Freshman Giovani Garcia (San Antonio, Texas), a defender, made the All-Freshman team. He also tallied two goals in conference play and contributed to the tough defense that made it difficult for opponents to take good shots.

A&M-San Antonio women’s soccer finished the season in the first round of the RRAC Women’s Soccer Tournament. The Jaguars finished with a record of 9-4-3, 6-3-2 RRAC and locked up the sixth and final seed of the regular season standings to advance to the playoffs. Four players earned honors.

Freshman Ana Barragan (Brownsville, Texas), forward, a rookie and All-RRAC Honorable Mention, led the Jaguars’ offense in goals scored with seven and tied for first on the team in total points with 16. She tallied four goals in conference play and added two assists. During the Jaguars’ five-match winning streak, she scored three goals and recorded one assist to ultimately help A&M-San Antonio make the conference tournament.

Sophomore Brooke Theis (Spokane, Washington), a midfielder and All-RRAC

Honorable Mention, tallied one goal and three assists. Two of those assists came during conference play. As a midfielder, she played stout defense all season and created multiple counter-attacking opportunities for her teammates.

Sophomore Maram Abdeljaber (El Paso, Texas/ Franklin), a goalkeeper and All-RRAC Honorable Mention, saw the majority of the minutes in goal for the Jaguars with 12 appearances and 10 starts. During conference play, she recorded 29 saves and only allowed 10 goals. Her goals-allowed average was one of the best in the conference at 1.04.

Senior Keana Flores (Houston, Texas), a defender and All-RRAC Honorable Mention, anchored a backline that only allowed 10 goals in conference. She made it tough for forwards and midfielders to take quality shots in the box and did a great job defending against corner kicks.

These accomplishments mark the first time in program history that players from A&M-San Antonio’s women’s and men’s soccer team have earned RRAC All-Conference honors.

Robert Alonzo, criminology and criminal justice program senior lecturer, presented at the March 2023 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences at National Harbor, Maryland. The presentation is entitled “The 9/11 Attacks: 22 Years Later.” Alonzo worked the FBI’s 9/11 PENTBOM Case as an FBI analyst and investigator in 2001-2002. He also served as a roundtable panel participant/discussant for a financial crimes discussion.

Dr. Izzat Alsmadi, associate professor and chair of computing and cyber security, and Dr. Lo’ai Tawalbeh, associate professor of computing and cyber security, have been selected among the top 2% researchers worldwide. This is a yearly evaluation conducted by Elsevier and Stanford University to select the most distinguished researchers.

Dr. Dennis Elam associate professor of accounting, delivered continuing education lectures to the Texas Society of CPAs-San Antonio (TXCPA-SA) as well as San Antonio Forensic Accounting Society. He received the first-ever financial grant to a member of the Accounting Department from the Socionomics Foundation, a nonprofit private operating foundation dedicated to advancing socionomics. Future grants to other academics will bear Dr. Elam’s name.

Diego Aparicio, clinical assistant professor of communication, has been awarded an Educator of Color Fellowship to attend a Virtual Data Journalism Bootcamp for Educators, July 24-28. The fellowship is intended to support educators from diverse communities interested in developing data journalism lessons and teach future investigative journalists and reporters. The fellowship is provided by the Investigate Reporters and Editors, housed at the University of Missouri. Aparicio teaches broadcast and multimedia courses at A&M-SA. He is also the student media adviser of the regional and national award-winning experiential learning broadcast studio, Enlace Media Lab, where student broadcasters and content creators produce original video storytelling, podcasts, explainers, short documentaries, reputational video, internet radio and entertainment.

Dr. Elizabeth Borda, assistant professor of biology, was funded by the National Science Foundation Biological Oceanography Program in April 2022. In collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) as the lead institution, her project received $937,834 in funding, with $317,512 as a sub-award to A&M-SA. Over three years, an international research team will investigate the diversity, ecology and functional role of micro-invertebrates of the Yucatan Peninsula and Cozumel Island, Mexico. Dr. Borda was senior author on a collaborative article published in Scientific Reports in March 2022 on the phylogenetics and evolution of cave shrimp from the aquifer of Yucatan Peninsula. In November 2022, Dr. Borda and members of her research group presented on cave invertebrate diversity and ecology, and cave shrimp population genetics and transcriptomics at the 5th International Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems. In January 2023, members of her research group presented on cave invertebrates and insect diversity of the San Antonio River and cryptic species of globally distributed marine fireworms at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference.

Dr. Michael Boucher, associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, will present at the American Education Research Association (AERA) annual conference in April along with three of the master’s students from the first cohort of the master’s in curriculum and instruction-teaching in diverse communities. This new program is for teachers and other education professionals working to transform education in San Antonio and South Texas. He also received the Faculty Champion award from the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement for his work with the center and service to schools and communities in San Antonio.

Dr. Boyd is new to the A&M-SA faculty and Dr. Wandix-White is assistant professor of multicultural education at University of Houston–Clear Lake.

Dr. Salma Boyd, clinical assistant professor and faculty-in-residence at Gus Garcia University School in Edgewood ISD, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and former A&M-SA faculty member Dr. Diana Wandix-White will be presenting at the Texas National Association for Multicultural Education (TXNAME) Region 5 Conference. The 2023 conference will be held at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Dr. Wandix-White and Dr. Boyd will present “University-School Partnership: A Collaborative Effort to Cultivate Excellence.”

Dr. Brenya Twumasi Buchalski, adjunct faculty in psychology, received the U.S. Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Award for Globalization of Curriculum and Collaborative Online International Learning. Dr. Buchalski is teaching in collaboration with the University in Kiev, Ukraine.

Dr. Gary Coulton, associate professor of psychology, was selected by the Faculty Senate and Provost as the University’s first Faculty Ombudsperson. An ombudsperson “assists individuals and groups in the resolution of conflicts or concern,” according to the International Ombuds Association. Dr. Coullton was re-elected vice-president for membership of the Texas Association of Faculty Teachers (T.A.C.T.), an organization that has advocated for higher education in Texas for over 70 years. He also reviewed several book proposals and manuscripts for editors at the Cambridge University Press and is a reviewer for the journal Occupational Health Science.

Dr. Jennifer G. Correa, associate professor of sociology, and Dr. Joseph Simpson, associate professor of sociology, published a journal manuscript entitled, “Building Walls, Destroying Borderlands: Repertoires of Militarization on the U.S.–Mexico Border,” in the peer-reviewed international journal Nature and Culture.

Dr. Mariya Davis, assistant professor of special education, Educator and Leadership Preparation Department, wrote four research papers published in national and regional peer-reviewed journals. To share her research, she presented nine sessions at various international, national and state conferences. Dr. Davis is involved in the work of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Council for Learning Disabilities.

Dr. Berenice de la Cruz, assistant professor and coordinator of the Applied Behavior Analysis Program, collaborated with the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, a University alumnus and his mother, to disseminate information about Texas Driving with Disabilities, a state initiative. The program is designed to improve the interaction between law enforcement and drivers diagnosed with a communication challenge or a hearing impairment.

Dr. Walter Den, professor and director of the Institute for Water Resources, and fellow faculty have completed a humanitarian project in which they designed and built lined pit latrines in India for field trials. The goal of the project is to help people and the environment in slums, refugee camps or places where modern sanitation practices are not available. Another project is to help protect the local Edwards Aquifer from being contaminated during emergency response in sensitive areas where surface runoff can go directly into the underground aquifer. They are working with the San Antonio Fire Department and the Edwards Aquifer Authority.

Dr. Katherine Espinoza and Dr. Karen Kohler, assistant professors in curriculum and instruction, along with their colleague Justin Kover, senior lecturer of art, produced two community art events for students at Neil Armstrong Elementary and their families. As part of their work on the CULTIVAR grant awarded to the University, they designed and facilitated two convivios promoting community and identity evaluation through arts integration. Using a culturally sustaining focus, the event in October centered around Día de los Muertos and the one in January centered around the Lunar New Year.

Dr. Esther Garza, associate professor of bilingual education and chair of Educator and Leadership Preparation, College of Education and Human Development, participated in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) 2022 Emerging Leadership Program. AASCU’s Emerging Leaders Program allows participants to determine where they fit in the academy and envision what their career path might look like, including a concrete next step. Participants graduate with the skills, connections and support necessary to navigate the transition to administrative roles and gain a national network of motivated peers. Dr. Garza, Dr. Elizabeth Murakami, special assistant to the provost within the University’s o ce of Equity and Inclusive Excellence, and Carlos Maestas, producer for video production and marketing agency Key Ideas, presented on Texas Public Radio on the topic of redlining and the short documentary demonstrating the impacts of redlining and its connection to A&M-SA.

Dr. Francis X. Galán, associate professor of history, won a 2023 book award from the San Antonio Conservation Society Foundation for his work, Los Adaes: The First Capital of Spanish Texas (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2020), which also won the 2022 book award from the Texas Old Missions and Forts Restoration Association.

Dr. Theresa Garfield, professor of special education, was appointed by the Council for Exceptional Children Board of Directors to co-chair the Conference Program Advisory Committee for the 2024 and 2025 international conferences. The conference has an average attendance of more than 5,000 members and is the largest special education conference in the world. Originally awarded to Dr. Vijay Golla, vice provost for research and health science, Dr. Garfield was appointed as the interim project director of Proyecto Éxito, a $3 million U.S. Department of Education Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) grant, and to concurrently serve as the interim director of Graduate Studies. Dr. Garfield wants to increase Graduate Studies enrollment and retention and to help increase the diversity of graduate students at A&M-SA.

Jenny Moore, clinical professor and faculty fellow with the Center for Academic Innovation and Univision Media Lab Program, earned the 2022 Experiential Education Program of the Year Award from the Society for Experiential Education. The national award recognizes an outstanding K-12 or higher education institution that has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to experiential education in their classrooms or on their campuses. Moore served as principal investigator for Creating Campus Media Facilities to Support Experiential Learning & Job Attainment, a project funded by a City of San Antonio grant. This capital improvement project supports the expansion of media resources, including broadcast media and podcasting at A&M-SA.

George Gurrola, adjunct faculty first-year seminar, completed the inaugural Texas A&M-San Antonio ACUE Course in Effective Teaching Practices. Gurrola also served as the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Patriot Stole Ceremony guest speaker, recognizing veterans for completing their education. He is one of the few faculty who is an activeduty U.S. Army officer and currently serves as director of operations for the Defense Language Institute English Language Center.

Dr. Melissa Jozwiak, associate professor of early childhood, serves as principal investigator for a grant through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of PostSecondary Education, Campus CARES (Campus Childcare As Resource Enhancing Success). This project establishes free on-campus after-school childcare for Pell-eligible students. This inclusive program began in March offering afterschool care for children ages kindergarten to fifth grade. When the Educare building is complete, the program will offer daytime and evening care for children as young as six weeks old. Dr. Jozwiak serves as project lead for Educare San Antonio, funded by The Texas A&M University System, City of San Antonio, Bexar County and private donors.

Dr. Elisabeth Krimbill, assistant professor of education leadership, was elected as the vice president of the Education Law Association. This is the largest legal organization in the nation that focuses on the legal environment that impacts education and people connected to schools. Members include attorneys, professors, administrators, students, public officials, advocates, education writers, human resource departments and managers. She will serve as president-elect and president in the coming years.

Dr. Malin Lilley, assistant professor of psychology, co-authored three articles focusing on the behavioral development and courtship of beluga whales.

“Observations of Courtship in Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas)” and “Observations of Mating Practice by Non-sexually Mature Male Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas)” appeared in the journal Aquatic Mammals, and “Self-handicapping in Object Play: How Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) Make Play Difficult” was published by the International Journal of Play. Additionally, she was named the Mays Center Faculty Champion for September 2022.

Dr. Akhtar Lodgher, regents professor in computing and cyber security and Dr. Syed Harun, professor of finance, had a paper entitled, “Can a momentum strategy outperform the S&P 500 Index in a retirement plan?” published in The Journal of Retirement, Summer 2022. Drs. Lodgher and Harun also presented a paper on the topic at the Southwestern Finance Association 2022 annual conference in New Orleans. The association accepted their paper, “Momentum in Mutual Funds in the Long Run,” for presentation at its 2023 annual conference in Houston in March.

REMEMBERING DR. PATRICK E.

Dr. Patrick E. McDaniel , instructional assistant professor with the Department of Counseling, Health and Kinesiology, died Dec. 21, 2022. A professional track faculty member in the counseling program, Dr. McDaniel taught at A&M-San Antonio since January 2012. He served as the program coordinator for the Bachelor of Science degree in human services. His experience in higher education included more than 20 years teaching in both public and private institutions. He had a 24-year nonprofit career serving youth and families facing economic and educational barriers to success. During his 30-plus years in the counseling profession, Dr. McDaniel’s clinical focus was serving adolescents and the use of Experiential Therapy. While in the nonprofit sector, he served as the director of human resources for Communities In Schools-San Antonio, an organization connecting children and their families to basic and critical educational and community-based resources.

Dr. Matthew McCluskey, assistant professor of educational leadership, wrote “Turnover Contagion: Trust and the Compounding Impact of Turnover on Teachers” published in the Journal of School Choice.

Dr. Davida Smyth, associate professor of biology, was appointed to the Board of BioQUEST. She published five papers and a book review on aerosol transmission, wastewater epidemiology as well as science education in publications including the Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, Nature Communications and Environmental Science and Technology Letters. She gave more than 17 local, national and international presentations. She co-edited the Frontiers in Microbiology Community Series: Tools, Techniques, and Strategies for Teaching in a Real-World Context with Microbiology, Volume II. Dr. Smyth’s work with wastewater epidemiology was featured on the BBC World News Report, Petrie Dish on Texas Public Radio and on the Academic Minute. She coorganized the Intersections in Assessment Conference, funded by the National Science Foundation. She moderated and presented “Wastewater-based Epidemiology: SARS-CoV-2 and Other

Emerging Pathogens” at ASM Microbe 2022. In her role as deputy director of the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement, Dr. Smyth launched the SENCER Water Fellows in 2022 and she co-organized the “Critical Contexts and Critical Pedagogies for STEM Learning” SENCER Summer Institute.

Teresa Talerico, clinical assistant professor communication and faculty adviser as well at the external advisory board for the Holocaust Educational Foundation at Northwestern University in January. He participated in a panel that will be taped and aired on KLRN Jan. 26 for Holocaust Remembrance Week.

The Mesquite, was named the 2022 David L. Eshelman Outstanding Campus Adviser by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), a national organization committed to press freedom and ethical journalism. Talerico, co-adviser of A&MSan Antonio’s student chapter of SPJ, was recognized at the Student Summit & Awards Program at MediaFest22, SPJ’s annual convention in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 28. She was nominated by her student Armando Villarreal III, a 2022 communication graduate and former president of A&M-San Antonio’s student chapter.

Cate Wengelnik, instructional assistant professor of management, has received the Best Paper Award from the Academy of Business Research for her research on diversity, equity and inclusion in management. She has completed the Society for Human Resources Management specialty credential in diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and has designed and is teaching the first course in the College of Business history on Diversity Management in the Workplace.

Dr. Edward B. Westermann, regents professor of history, gave the prestigious 2022 Gerald R. Kleinfeld Lecture in German History, Culture and Politics on his new book, "Drunk on Genocide" at Wartburg College in November 2022. The Canadian journal, The Montréal Review, published his article “Celebrating the ‘Final Solution”? Alcohol and Mass Murder in Nazi Germany’ in December 2022. He was a featured speaker at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Education Conference sponsored by the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies in Toronto, Canada, in January He also was invited to join the editorial board at Cornell University Press

Dr. Hsiao-ping Wu, associate professor of bilingual education and ESL, was invited by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to serve on a committee of the Fulbright U.S student program for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Dr. Wu continues her research and service on international education and international students. One of Dr. Wu’s studies that investigated international students’ challenges and adjustment published by Educational Research International received 313,655 views.

Ben Zeller was sworn in for a third term as Victoria County Judge. Zeller is a 2009 MBA graduate of A&M-San Antonio and was the recipient of the University’s Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018.

Michael L. Tezel married Angela Joy Katz who also graduated from A&M-San Antonio.

Celestino Valentin ’10, ’11 is the program director of St. Philip’s College Business Management and Administration, Construction Business Management, Entrepreneurship and P-Tech.

Marie A. Valentin ’10, ’11 accepted a position with Jacksonville State University in Alabama. She has a Ph.D. from Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station in Human Resource Development.

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John A. Castillo Jr. retired as a Master Sergeant on December 20, 2022, from the U.S. Air Force after proudly serving 20 years. He has joined the private security sector as a tactic technician in California while attending the University of Southern California Bovard College to earn a Master of Science in Emergency Management.

Beverly Bragg ’11, ’15 had an abstract accepted to the KFLC: The Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Conference for its April 2023 conference at the University of Kentucky. She will be presenting a paper on Dark Tourism Trends in the Historical Community of Sumner County, Tennessee. Her article, “Camp Trousdale and the Writings of John Happy,” appeared in the January 2023 issue of Lake and Golf Lifestyle , a magazine serving the residents of Fairvue Plantation, Foxland Harbor and the members of Tennessee Grasslands.

Ramon Buruato returned back home to Uvalde as a special education teacher and head boys basketball coach.

Joey R. Gottinger resides in Sugar Land and works at Johnson Space Center. He is IT lead for the Gateway Program at NASA. Gateway is part of the larger ARTEMIS program, which aims to provide a persistent presence around the moon, and ultimately become a launch point for a future mission to Mars.

Frank Radis became a realtor. 20 13

Rosalino A. Garza is COO and co-founder of a local startup, New Life Hospice, which began in 2021.

Michael Persyn recently celebrated the 15th Anniversary of his Investiture into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, a Papal Order of Knighthood. He is a senior acreage title examiner with The Accurate Group. He also is serving a three-year term as a trustee on the board of directors for the Belgian-American Club of Texas.

Richard Delgado Jr. is the community investor for the Boeing Company, where he oversees dozens of investments locally, statewide and nationally. He spent 15 years creating the Military Embracing culture at A&MSan Antonio. Delgado recently completed President George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program and will be the Military Minister for the Rey Feo LXXIV court.

Jorge Garcia was recently promoted to director of guidance and counseling in the Edgewood Independent School District. He serves as a member of the A&M-San Antonio Counseling program advisory board. He also works closely with Dr. Alana Collins to provide practicum and internship opportunities to current A&M-San Antonio students.

Christopher Quiroga is a systems engineer with VIA Metropolitan Transit, where he has worked for five years. 20 12

Clotia M. Bowens is engaged and started the second semester of grad school. Clotia aims to continue advancing in the criminal justice field.

Sharon D. Wilson is a STEM teacher at Indian Creek Elementary for the Southwest Independent School District. Her oldest daughter is in her second semester at Texas A&M College Station. Her youngest daughter will be graduating in June from Medina Valley High School, and her son has his driver’s permit.

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Michael Martinez Jr. is the North America internal audit manager for ISS Facility Services where he oversees the Internal Audit program. He also coaches a 7U baseball team called the Black Mambas at the South Side favorite 5 Diamonds Little League. He is the mayor of Sandy Oaks where he manages a budget of more than $1M. He and wife Angela have been married for 12 years.

Dr. Shahrooz Mark Jahanbin ’13 graduated from Texas A&M in College Station with a master’s degree in engineering in 2009 and an MBA in 2013 from Texas A&M-San Antonio. He also received a doctorate in engineering and invented several novel engineering concepts. Shahrooz was born and raised in Iran and bult a significant career in aviation and space, including roles with Boeing and Leonardo Helicopters where he was responsible for investigating serious incidents and accidents of rotorcraft in Europe and The United States. He is now the chairperson of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators and adjunct faculty at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is also working as senior certification lead for SpaceX. He lives in California with fellow Aggie Sahar and their daughters, Sophie and Dennah.

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Jessica K. Ceeko completed her bachelor’ s degree in history in 2015 followed by a master’s degree from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2018. She was then accepted into Southern Methodist University’s Ph.D. program with full funding. She is working on her dissertation. Meanwhile, she returned to her roots to teach a semester of history at Texas A&M-San Antonio.

Victor A. Fernandez is in year two of his shooting business, How To Shoot LLC, and started a secondary laser engraving business, Watchdog Engraving. This year he is offering a 10% discount to all A&M-San Antonio students, faculty and alumni.

Vicky S. Rojo ’15, ’18 is the emergent bilingual liaison at Leal Middle School. She is a mother of two emergent bilinguals Gael and Genesis.

Kendra E. Wilkerson recently participated in the American Prize Opera Competition and her music can be streamed on iTunes. She is also working in the cosmetic beauty and tax industries.

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Erika Aranguiz is a dual language educator at Harlandale ISD. She was recognized with the Estrella de Tejas Award by the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (HWNT).

The Estrella de Tejas Awards celebrates remarkable women. She is serving on the HWNT board of directors as the 2023-24 San

Antonio Chapter chair. She is an alum of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Latina Leadership Institute (LLI) and is serving as an LLI Steering Committee member.

Hannah M. Dunn Eli was nominated as a local hero and featured in San Antonio ExpressNews for her performance in Ballet San Antonio’s “The Nutcracker” at the Tobin Center.

Edlyn Estevez is a mother to a 2-year-old and a 14-year-old. She has been working with University Health System for 14 years. She is pursuing a master’s in social work at Our Lady of the Lake University.

Sabrina San Miguel ’16, ’19 is back on campus as the University’s development officer for the Office of Advancement. She assisted with many fundraising events and joined a number of committees on campus. She is also writing her first book, which she began while studying at A&M-San Antonio. 20 17

Luis Bravo moved to Frisco and works at Charles Schwab’ s headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He is venturing further into program management, working with Charles Schwab’s data centers in Texas to ensure proper data resiliency and recovery.

Brandi D. Saunders has created the Women’ s Empowerment Legal Center, a nonprofit that provides free legal services to survivors of domestic violence. The center also provides financial literacy classes and yoga/self-defense.

Evonne Gonzales ’18, ’21 began an insurance broker venture in 2021 and expanded her contracts from not only selling Medicare and life insurance but also offering individual health plans. She also got married in November 2022 to her sweetheart and partner of many co-owned businesses.

Lee A. Hernandez welcomed a child, Noah Lee Hernandez, in November 2021. He also began a new career with Superior Health Plan as a business process improvement manager.

Juan A. Moreno Jr. began working in public education following graduation. He is now in his third year of elementary teaching and is a dad of a daughter who will turn 2 in May.

Kevin Castro is the social media coordinator for the Marketing and Communications Department at A&M-San Antonio, where he is furthering the mission of the University. Prior to that, he worked as a human resources generalist in the University’s HR department.

Aaron Leyva is pursuing a master’s in computer science and is currently employed by Becton Dickinson.

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Mario Flores credits his MBA for helping him land a role as a government defense contractor involving high-level accounting and business intelligence work.

Rebecca A. Avila is working for Indeed US out of the Austin headquarters. She is a senior account manager for million-dollar clients. She also works as a case manager for immigrant children, working with many nonprofit organizations.

Aleyna S. Brazzill is a firstyear teacher at McDermott Elementary in NISD. She received the New Teacher Grant and used it to buy students dry-erase boards, dry-erase markers, headphones and reading station supplies.

Norberto Salazar Jr. is the manager of recreational sports at LSC-CyFair, overseeing its Recreational Sports Department as well as basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, dance and baseball. 20 22

Adriana A. Benavides is in her third year as a professional school counselor in a Title I school in the Northside ISD. Adriana has earned a CREST Award for outstanding school counseling. She has also been nominated for Educator of The Year, having weathered both challenges and opportunities since her years at A&M-San Antonio.

Sarah G. Gold got married in December.

Eric L. Reynolds , following graduation, taught physical education and coached football, basketball and track for Lampasas ISD at Lampasas Middle School. Eric hopes to join South San Antonio ISD’s DAEP school. He aims to help just one student avoid making poor decisions in their adolescence. 20 21

Misael Jimmy Angeles has been working as a care coordinator (Qualified Mental Health Professional) through Camino Real Community Services working with mental health and serving rural communities. Misrael has been working with people in Frio County, teaching coping skills for depression and anxiety, working on physical health as well as teaching life skills. He is also looking forward to the arrival of a baby. Misrael’s next goal is to go back to school to become an LPC.

Avery E. Biache got married on January 13 to Brianna.

Evelyn J. Campos is an administrative associate II at A&M-San Antonio.

Cameron Gorbett is a driver/operator at Beaumont Fire-Rescue and began taking classes for a Master of Public Administration degree at UT Arlington.

Miranda M. Palacios is in a master’s program in medical laboratory sciences at UT Health in San Antonio.

Lori Prieto is a marketing specialist at HOLT CAT, supporting the machine sales division and SITECH-Tejas, while also managing the livestock show/rodeo sponsorships.

Brenda L. Reyes is a 2ndgrade teacher at San Antonio ISD.

Essie Richardson is a City Year Corp member and mentors and tutors middle school students in 8th-grade math.

Chasity K. Segovia is a clinical research accounts receivable manager for Start Cancer Care in the medical center area.

2023 presented by

Thursday Evening, October 19, 2023

Texas A&M University-San Antonio