Adelante Winter 2022

¡ADELANTE!

LATINO LEGACIES

THE MAGAZINE OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY–SAN ANTONIO

One University Way San Antonio, Texas 78224 (210) 784-1000 www.tamusa.edu

¡ADELANTE! magazine is published by the Division of University Relations and Advancement on behalf of Texas A&M University-San Antonio for the members of its community, donors and other friends of the University. All materials contained in this magazine (including text, content, photographs, video and audio) are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, broadcast or modified in any way without the prior written consent from the Division of University Relations and Advancement. All inquiries and comments may be made to Editor, ¡ADELANTE!, Division of University Relations and Advancement, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, One University Way, Ste. 435, San Antonio, Texas 78224. Please provide updates to your address by email at adelanteeditor@ tamusa.edu or by mail at University Relations and Advancement, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, One University Way, Ste. 435, San Antonio, Texas 78224.

Dear Texas A&M-San Antonio Community,

Welcome to the inaugural issue of ¡ADELANTE!, the official magazine of Texas A&M University-San Antonio. The word “adelante” conveys the idea of forward motion. We are intentional in all we do as a university to move the institution forward into the future and to elevate the student experience. The naming of the magazine is reflective of this charge.

A&M-San Antonio is dedicated to being forward-thinking and strategic about how we transform the lives of students who pass through our archways onto graduation and in pursuit of their career aspirations. As outlined in our strategic plan, Transforming Tomorrow Together, helping to tell the story of the University through the magazine is one of many ways to capture how we are meaningfully impacting the student experience, advancing our community and region, and boosting the reputation and visibility of Texas A&M-San Antonio.

In each issue of the magazine, you will read about key highlights around campus and the University; faculty accomplishments, accolades and research; alumni updates; athletics news; feature stories spotlighting students, alumni, faculty, staff and our community; and much more. In this issue, we share the story of a family legacy that has purposefully and positively impacted the lives of Latino students at A&M-San Antonio.

This year marks our fifth year of being designated as an Hispanic-Serving Institution and our oneyear anniversary as a Seal of Excelencia-certified institution. These distinctions recognize us as a university with intentionality and success in serving Latinx students. In fact, in September and October, we celebrated Latinx Heritage Month with events, activities and discussions to foster and promote the Latinx culture, with a theme this year of ¡Unidos con Fuerza! or Stronger Together!

In January, I will transition to a new role as president of San José State University in San José, California. I am extraordinarily proud of all the A&M-San Antonio students, faculty, staff and alumni, and of the amazing accomplishments and successes featured on the pages of this inaugural magazine. The A&M-San Antonio community will forever be close to my heart and is indeed stronger together. ¡ADELANTE! is one of many examples of how we share the story of this exceptional University — a story of moving forward and advancing together as a community in strength. We hope you enjoy this first issue of ¡ADELANTE!.

warm regards,

With

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson President

We are intentional in all we do as a university to move the institution forward into the future and to elevate the student experience.”

– DR. CYNTHIA TENIENTE-MATSON

Students at Texas A&M University-San Antonio experience a transformative education. Anyone who has ever set foot on campus, met its faculty or talked with the students themselves knows that.

Recognition of this fact can be seen by the accolades of experts and investments from the community you can read about in this premier edition of ¡ADELANTE!

The importance of this success cannot be understated.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s mission to serve all students — particularly those from South San Antonio’s underserved population — with access to a high-quality, affordable education is key to Texas’ continued success.

Texas was built on the wealth of its natural resources: cattle, cotton, oil and gas. But the future of Texas will be built on the strength of our human resources. That is why the success of each student on campus is critical, and why everyone here is so focused on our mission.

South Texas is the future of Texas, and Texas A&M UniversitySan Antonio is doing its part to make sure that the future shines bright.

Visit sharparoundtexas.com to view episodes of Around Texas with Chancellor John Sharp.

John Sharp Chancellor Texas A&M University System

Texas A&M-San Antonio is doing its part to make sure that the future shines bright.”

– JOHN SHARP

“

Family Carries Education Legacy Forward

by Tricia Schwennesen

Supporting First-generation Hispanic Students

for me.

“it’s a – yahaira zuniga

opportunity really big someone i wanted to be in this lifE.”

Eighteen-year-old Yahaira Zuniga knew she wanted to attend college, but no one in her family had ever chosen that path. She worked hard in high school, but it hadn’t been without its challenges.

“High school wasn’t as hard as I expected it to be, but it was a roller coaster for me,” she said. “There were moments when I thought: ‘I’m not going to do it; I’m not going to graduate high school.’”

But she did make it and graduated from San Antonio’s McCollum High School in June 2022. She applied and was accepted to Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She started attending classes in the fall, but the question remained: how would she pay for college?

Zuniga worked in restaurants and then began buying and selling cars with help from her brothers. One used BMW, a white convertible, earned her an $8,000 profit. She asked herself if she could really maintain her business to earn enough to cover her education and complete her studies at the same time. That’s when she received a phone call that changed her life.

John Sanchez, executive director of advancement at A&M-San Antonio, called to say that she had been randomly selected to receive a scholarship. Zuniga would join 14 other firstgeneration Latino students in the inaugural group of López Scholars to receive support for up to five years at the University through a grant from the Hector and Gloria López Foundation.

“I was just shocked,” Zuniga said. “I’m a Christian. Actually, the night before I was praying: ‘Lord, if this is your plan, please help me out.’ I didn’t want to depend on anybody else. ‘Please give me a sign that it will be all right.’”

Championing prosperity

The Austin-based Hector and Gloria López Foundation was founded in 2021 with a mission of “championing Latino prosperity through advanced education” and in July announced a $2.1 million gift to the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation, the second largest gift in the University’s history, and only the second gift that the Foundation had awarded.

Foundation founders Hector and Gloria López both lived lives that were significantly changed and bettered through education, said Sergio Rodríguez, president and CEO of the Foundation and the couple’s nephew. They had deep ties to South Texas ranching and oil, building the successful GALO Cattle Company over the lifetime of their 60-year marriage.

“They thought long and hard about what they wanted to do with their ranching estate,” Rodríguez said. Education, they decided, was the key to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty and they really wanted to address that, he said.

Rodríguez shared that he and his aunt discussed how the Foundation could change lives and that discussion helped structure the scholarship program. The Foundation’s goal is to “reduce the financial and systemic barriers that students face on their journey to obtain a college or university degree.”

Through the López Scholars program, the Foundation supports first-generation Latino students from five regions, including San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

“Let’s go to the parts of Texas where there’s a high percentage of Latino students but not as many resources to help them,” Rodríguez said.

Grants cover remaining tuition and fees after Federal Pell grants and other financial support for each López Scholar. The Foundation provides other support services, such as mentoring, tutoring, paid internships and leadership development.

Grant money is also available to help with legal services, transportation, housing, food and even childcare, targeting the expenses that can challenge first-generation students and prevent them from graduating.

“We try to remove all these obstacles,” Rodríguez explained. “This Foundation connects the Spanish land grants of the 1800s to Texas’ present and future, thanks to the profound generosity and visionary hard work of Gloria and Hector López and their nephew, Sergio Rodríguez, who has worked tirelessly to lead by example in Latino philanthropy,” said Texas A&M-San Antonio President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson.

Students were randomly selected by the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation. There is no application, no minimum GPA and no SAT/ACT score requirements — all measures taken to level the playing field, Rodríguez said.

“Often these students have worked jobs in high school and couldn’t spend the time studying for the SAT or have the highest GPA,” Rodríguez explained. “We feel that every student should be equally eligible to be a López Scholar.”

“Not having to worry about obstacles such as income, food or housing changes the outcomes,” Rodríguez said. “It truly is transformational.”

Five-year Effort

A&M-San Antonio President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson met Rodríguez and cultivated the relationship with the López Foundation.

“I met Sergio five years ago, and it has been amazing to watch the development of this selfless dream that his aunt and uncle spent a lifetime building,” said Dr. Teniente-Matson. The University submitted an extensive application for the grant that included detailed data about the student population and programming.

A&M-San Antonio, an Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and the López Scholars program are a good match because of the University’s more than 7,000 students, 77 percent are Hispanic and approximately 60 percent are first generation.

The University already offers other types of support to firstgeneration students, including special programming during Hispanic Heritage month and HSI week, Sanchez said.

The state, as set out in its 60x30TX Strategic Plan, has a goal that at least 60% of Texans ages 25-34 will have earned a postsecondary degree or certificate as a way to promote economic opportunity, according to the Foundation.

To meet the goal and close the gaps of disparities, about 285,000 Latino students need to complete a degree or certificate in 2030. However, in 2021, only 131,915 had done so. The López Scholars program can help address this issue.

“When financially under-resourced students have access to colleges and universities with strong mobility outcomes, helping students move into upper income quintiles after graduation, they are on the path to lifelong economic opportunity,” according to the Foundation.

“It’s really eye-opening to see what kind of barriers can be broken at the university level,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez explained he personally called each of the 15 López Scholars. They were all surprised; they were speechless and some cried, he said. “I even had parents call me back,” Sanchez said, “to make sure it wasn’t fake.”

Zuniga said her parents are proud and her mom thanks God “a million times a day” for her daughter’s good fortune. “It’s a really big opportunity for me,” she said. “I wanted to be someone in this life. I wanted to be better than my mom, better than my dad. I wanted to reach more than they accomplished.”

She said getting her education doesn’t just help her, but her entire family. She’s decided to major in criminal justice and plans to be a police officer. She aspires to work SWAT or as a K-9 handler. She said being a López Scholar brings her dreams closer to reality.

“I feel really happy,” Zuniga said. “It makes school easier for me because I don’t have to worry about the financial challenges and can focus on pursuing my degree. It’s just such an incredible opportunity.”

Seen with the López Scholars are Nikki Graham, López Foundation philanthropic director (far right), Dr. Mari Fuentes-Martin, vice president for student success and engagement (second from right); Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, A&M-San Antonio president (third from right); and Adrianna Cuéllar Rojas, López Foundation regional philanthropy officer (far left).

1830

Las Animas

A family legacy

The original land grant is made by the state of Tamaulipas, México. Historically Indigenous peoples lived on the land later claimed by Spanish colonial expansion. Labeled as Coahuiltecan for their common language, many were displaced by Lipan Apaches and Comanches, as well as by Mexican and European settlers.

the ranch

dr. jose G. García

Great grandson of Jose Matias García, Dr. García, Gloria’s father, was born in Camargo, educated at Colegio Civil de Monterrey, and graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Medicina de México in 1900. After medical school, Dr. García settled in San Diego, Texas, and served as the town doctor and civic leader while adding to his portfolio of real estate.

1951

Hector and Gloria López

The ranch, Las Animas, officially granted to brothers Nicolas García y Garza, Jose Matias García y Garza, and Jose Bruno García y Garza was later certified by the new State of Texas, in Jim Hogg County. This is the oldest of the 14 family ranches.

1853 1874

1927 1925

Gloria martinez de garcía

Raised in San Diego, Texas, by Dr. Jose G. García and Tomasa Martinez, Gloria was homeschooled by her father and went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in French from The University of Texas in 1947, returning to San Diego to become a teacher.

2021

Hector and Gloria married and settled in Alice, Texas, where Hector opened his law practice. He became a legal expert on real estate and oil and gas leases while Gloria focused on the financials and accounting for the family business.

the foundation

Hector and Gloria López, now deceased, left their accumulated land and financial assets to the Foundation in 2021 with a mission to support postsecondary education for Latino students who are the first in their families to graduate from a college or university and have demonstrated financial need.

hector S. López

Hector was raised in Oilton, Texas, by Francisco López and Emilia Guerra. At the age of 16, Hector attended The University of Texas in Austin. He was drafted into service in World War II and after the military returned to Baylor Law School where he received his LL.B. in law in 1949.

sergio Rodríguez

Sergio Rodríguez, the nephew of Hector and Gloria, now leads the Foundation, managing its assets and philanthropic work.

EDUCATOR Destined

A First Member of Honors Program Knows Her Path

When Yulissa Carrillo was a little girl, she knew exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up. Becoming an educator was always in her plans.

“I would always play pretend school with my little cousins,” Carrillo, 18, said. “I would make them sit down, and I would teach them and read books to them.”

Today, Carrillo, who graduated valedictorian from Southwest Legacy High School in 2022, is a freshman at Texas A&M University-San Antonio where she is starting her college career to earn a bachelor’s degree in education.

She’s also among the first 33 students accepted into the University Honors Program. The program “offers an enhanced and supportive learning environment for students who aspire to impactful, lasting academic work and service.”

“Yulissa is a good example of the type of student application that motivated me to want to become the director of the Honors Program,” said Dr. William S. Bush, a history professor. “All these students in the program are super strivers. The amount of work they were doing in high school and what they were able to achieve was incredible.”

By Kiko Martinez

Carrillo’s dreams to become a teacher were reinforced during her middle school years when her mother, Lilia, enrolled at A&M-San Antonio and earned her degree in education. With her mother teaching in a classroom, Carrillo got the opportunity to watch her on occasion. The inspiration she instilled in her daughter over the years has been immeasurable.

“It was kind of like I was in her shoes,” she said. “It gave me a good insight in what it’s going to be like to become an educator. I learned how it would be to help different types of students and build relationships with them inside and outside of the classroom. When I saw my mom doing that, I knew this is what I wanted to do. My mom always motivated me to keep going.”

A HIGH SCHOOL OVERACHIEVER

To describe Carrillo as an overachiever in high school is an understatement. At Southwest Legacy, she focused on her academics and was a part of organizations that she knew would help her in her plans moving forward, like Civic Council; National Honor Society; Texas Association of Future Educators, and Family; Career and Community Leaders of America.

“It was a lot of work, and I struggled at the beginning,” Carrillo said. “But towards my junior and senior year, I realized that what I was doing was right, and that I needed to keep going because I wanted to make my parents proud.”

Early in high school, Carrillo joined an educator training program where she had the opportunity to study topics like the principles of education, human growth and development and instructional practices, among other areas. Carrillo said the program provided her with a strong foundation and gave her an idea of the kinds of issues she would be studying when she started college.

During her junior year, she also took on the responsibilities of an internship at Sky Harbour Elementary on the city’s Southwest Side, the same school where her mother now works as an academic coach. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carrillo’s internship was remote. During online sessions, she worked on math with first graders.

“I also had some fun, little lessons where I would read a book and would have them draw and give a summary about what the book was about,” she explained. “Some of my other lessons were about patterns of movement and science.”

Carrillo considered Donna Bixby, a former career and technical education teacher at Southwest Legacy, to be her mentor during her senior year. Bixby recalled when Carrillo learned she was in the running to be valedictorian. That lit a spark under Carrillo that continued throughout the year until she reached that goal, Bixby said.

“Nothing was going to get in Yulissa’s way of achieving that,” Bixby shared. “One hundred percent was not enough for her. She was always motivated to do more. She is the epitome of what any teacher wants to see from a student. She wanted to strive to be the best she can be. She never stopped pushing herself.”

STARTING FROM THE TOP

Carrillo didn’t want to earn the title of valedictorian just to earn it. During her four years at Southwest Legacy, she learned how important it was for her to feel driven to reach a goal. There were a handful of fellow classmates who wanted the designation, too. For Carrillo, it was like they were motivating each other.

“I didn’t want to get to the top just so I could show off to everybody,” she said. “At the end, it wasn't about winning. It was about being able to achieve something by helping others and motivating them to keep going. At the end of the day, we're all equal, and we should support each other to get better.”

Now at A&M-San Antonio, Carrillo said she is looking forward to meeting new people and wants to see how much more difficult college coursework is than that of high school. She also wants to join different organizations and stay as active as she was at Southwest Legacy. One of those organizations, of course, is the Honors Program. She applied for it before the end of her senior year at Southwest Legacy because she was interested in building her leadership skills.

Yulissa with her mom, Lilia

Yulissa with her mentor, Donna Bixby

“I really feel this program is for me,” she said. “Building my leadership skills is something I’m invested in. I’ve always been interested in finding organizations that can help me enhance those skills.”

In addition to the training she will receive, the Honors Program will include a social aspect where members can host things like guest speaker events. “I'm really excited and am thinking of maybe getting a leadership position in the organization,” she said. “I know that building these skills is something I’m going to need in the future.”

LOOKING AHEAD

With a teacher shortage nationwide, Carrillo understands the field is under pressure. She admits that the news makes her “a little nervous,” especially because she always reads on social media about teachers quitting the profession because they are “burned out” or don’t feel like they have the motivation to teach anymore.

“I feel like with the right heart and the right passion, I will be okay,” she said. “This is something that I've always wanted to do, so I’m not going to just give up if things get tough. I know that I can do it. I know not to give up or get discouraged.”

As much as becoming a teacher is an ambition for Carrillo, it is not her end goal. After teaching, she would like to work as a high school counselor. That means going back to school, hopefully at A&M-San Antonio, to earn her master’s degree. It helps that Carrillo was close to her school counselor, who helped her throughout high school.

“I've always had a counselor who supported me, especially in high school,” she said. “My counselor was very patient with me. She motivated me. If I had an issue, she would help me resolve it.”

As a freshman at A&M-San Antonio, Carrillo is exactly where she wants to be — and she’s not second-guessing herself. “At first my mom was like, ‘Are you sure?’ but once she knew I was serious, she got on board right away,” she said. “I can’t wait to dedicate myself to teaching.”

“This is something that I've always wanted to do, so I’m not going to just give up if things get tough. I know that I can do it. I know not to give up or get discouraged.”

- YULISSA CARRILLO

Punching

By Edmond Ortiz

Above his Weight

Alumnus Tony Adeniran Mixes Boxing and Business

You could say the career trajectory of Tony Adeniran ’10 B.B.A., a Texas A&M University-San Antonio graduate, was a bit of a bob and weave.

He started in insurance, but that did not work out, so he ducked and began down a second path that eventually led him to own a local boxing gym and create a product that took him to the hit television show Shark Tank.

“I’m not a desk guy and so moving on from insurance was the best thing that could have ever happened to me,” Adeniran said. Now his days are spent working at his gym, Black Stallion Boxing Plus, and developing his product, the Aqua Boxing Glove.

“Life moves so fast sometimes that you don’t even take a moment to look back and suddenly you realize that your whole life could have easily taken some other form or turn based on one decision,” he said.

“

It is fun giving ba ck to Texas A&M-San Antonio. They gave to me so much. It’s an honor just to have the access to professors and students, and to have them invite me to be a part of their work.”

A Houston native, Adeniran moved to San Antonio in 2006 to study at The University of Texas at San Antonio, with initial plans to return to Houston post-graduation. But he transferred to A&M-San Antonio after seeking out a smaller campus setting. “Professors there knew my name; they kind of knew my story,” he said. “They could not know every detail of my experience, but their understanding helped me to learn better and that went a long way.”

While completing his studies at the University, Adeniran continued to develop his skills as a boxer. He tallied a 3-0 lifetime record, including one knockout, as a professional boxer.

Around 2011, Adeniran’s love of boxing and fitness, and a former insurance colleague, led him to work for local boxing legend and two-time world champion Jesse James Leija at ChampionFit Boxing, which Leija ran for more than 17 years.

Adeniran trained clients at ChampionFit for several years. He then reached a crossroads of continuing either his own boxing career or training others. “I knew where the money was coming from, but

being a boxer is a little rocky. You never know what could happen — you could be undefeated; you could get knocked out once and that is the end of your career,” Adeniran thought at the time.

Adeniran decided to launch Black Stallion Boxing Plus in 2017. According to Adeniran, his time at A&M-San Antonio, and his experiences as a fitness trainer and amateur boxer, provided him with the knowledge and talent to develop clientele and grow a business.

“We started with maybe 10 clients, and now we have had hundreds of people come in. This place has a 95 percent retention rate,” Adeniran said. Adeniran emphasizes the importance of substantive, oneon-one boxing training with clients, and not focusing on whether enough customers are coming into the gym regularly.

“People talk about volume — ‘let’s get as many people in here as possible’ — but I focus on quality over quantity,” he explained. “First thing I do is ask you your goals. If I don’t know where you want to go, how can I help you get there? It’s not cookie cutter here. We build you from the bottom up, one on one,” he said.

When COVID-19 caused businesses like Black Stallion to temporarily shut their doors, Adeniran refused to sit around. He took safety precautions while meeting and training clients during the height of the pandemic.

“There is a silver lining in everything, if you pay attention,” he said. “I thought to myself, ‘I have got to do something to take my business beyond the usual hourly business model,’” he said.

While going house-to-house with training equipment, Adeniran had a lightbulb moment. An effective, portable boxing training tool could help a wide range of clients most anyplace, he thought.

Adeniran invented the Aqua Boxing Glove, an affordable, no-impact, travel-friendly form of resistance boxing workout. Each Aqua Boxing Glove weighs 16 ounces empty, but filled with water, the glove can weigh five pounds. Adeniran tested the glove on athletes of all levels but designed it for fitness enthusiasts and seasoned fighters on the go.

“I took the old-school method of shadowboxing in a pool and holding dumbbells and put them into one thing, in the natural form and shape of a boxing glove,” Adeniran explained.

Adeniran said the user can roll up and take the Aqua Boxing Glove to a gym, their workplace or traveling for recreation. “And for anybody who has hand or shoulder issues, it has no impact,” he said.

Adeniran is working with a local orthopedics specialist to see if the glove can help patients with Parkinson’s Disease improve their strength and coordination. “It’s about to become a product that has a lot more range than fitness. We’re in the early phase of production, but we’re moving along steadily,” Adeniran shared.

Adeniran keeps going. He is developing plans to open a second Black Stallion location and expects to finish construction on the second site by late 2023. “You just have to survive, and after you survive, you have to start living, take risks and make things happen. You realize you’re driven by that,” Adeniran said.

Adeniran also appreciates being able to give back to the University, co-lecturing to business students and participating in activities such as an etiquette dinner where he and fellow business owners and alumni each hosted a table of students and aspiring entrepreneurs.

“It is fun giving back to Texas A&M-San Antonio,” he said. “They gave to me so much. It’s an honor just to have the access to professors and students, and to have them invite me to be a part of their work.”

Swimming in the Tank

In the middle of the pandemic, Adeniran sought an avenue to better promote his glove as a viable idea worthy of mass development and distribution. He applied to one of his favorite TV programs, Shark Tank, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch a product or service to a panel of renowned business leaders.

He waited months for a reply. Eventually, show producers responded and asked Adeniran to appear on the show during the 2021-2022 season, surviving cut after cut and advancing to the season finale.

In an episode that aired on ABC in spring 2022, Adeniran proposed an investment of $100,000 to mass produce the Aqua Boxing Glove, but he got no deal from the Shark Tank panel that included guest “Shark” actor/comedian Kevin Hart.

But Adeniran said he learned much during his Shark Tank experience, adding that he is determined more than ever to mass produce and distribute the Aqua Boxing Glove. He is using Kickstarter to raise funds for his creation. Approximately 151 backers had pledged more than $40,706 by early September to support Adeniran’s aim to release the glove at the end of 2022 or early 2023.

Smith Seeks to Fit Assessment to the Individual

BY AMANDA CERRETO

Finding a Better Way

John Smith, Ph.D., Texas A&M University-San Antonio professor and associate chair, Department of Counseling, Health and Kinesiology, focuses his research on the use of monitors to assess the activity and fitness levels of a growing but often forgotten population: people who have lower-limb loss.

“The population of individuals with lower-limb amputation is growing,” he said. “We don’t want to overlook measurements like body composition and things like that because they don’t have intact limbs.”

The genesis of much lower-limb loss can be traced to an inactive lifestyle and poor eating habits, according to Smith. This lifestyle often leads to obesity, which is linked to type 2 diabetes. “Type 2 diabetes can result in circulation problems of the lower limbs and amputations often begin with a toe, then multiple toes and eventually the lower leg(s),” Smith said. “The incidence and prevalence of diabetes is alarming not just in San Antonio, especially in the lower-income areas, but throughout the nation.”

Trauma, particularly in the combat military population, also contributes to the growth in lower-limb amputation. Medical advances allow more wounded service members to survive on the battlefield and to be fitted with a prosthesis in hopes of resuming an active lifestyle.

For Smith, it makes sense to establish normative data for individuals with lower-limb loss, particularly so that clinicians can better address their unique needs.

“We want doctors to safely measure body fat percentage and other indicators to address potential health problems,” Smith explained. “We have seen many clinicians having problems getting their clients to wear prosthetic limbs. Constant wheelchair use is less activity than walking, which can lead to poorer health outcomes.”

Smith and his teams study fitness monitors to determine their usefulness in tracking the activity of individuals with lower-limb loss. With the trackers, doctors may be able to see whether they are using their legs, screenshots of activity logs, and more.

Over the years, many of Smith’s students have assisted with various papers and parts of this research. They attend conferences, present data and get experience in labs.

“I love to bring students into these projects where they can get involved and get hands-on experience,” Smith explained. “It enhances their marketability, if they’re applying to graduate school or another type of profession.”

A Passion for Teaching

In addition to being devoted to his research, Smith loves teaching. One of his favorite courses is Measurement and Evaluation. In this class, students learn ways to measure a person, from assessing strength and aerobic conditioning, to flexibility.

“A lot of students come into this class with some preconceived notions about strength measurement from social media or friends,” Smith said. “But when we talk through it and discuss how the measurements were developed — on what populations they’re using these measurements on, for example — they have that light bulb moment.”

Abraham Segundo ’23, a student in Measurement and Evaluation, has had several of those light bulb moments himself. “Dr. Smith is a role model, and he has left such a huge positive impact on me,” he said. “He is passionate about the material he teaches and demands the best from his students to excel.”

Smith ensures that his students leave the class with skills they can use in their future professions. “I want them to be able to look at a situation such as a director of a clinic using a certain test for patients,” he explained. “I want them to evaluate if it’s an appropriate test, to know how to assess the reliability or validity of something they may encounter.”

A prime example of his concern can be seen in San Antonio. “The South Side of San Antonio is predominantly Hispanic,” Smith said. “If you’re working down here and using tests with norms that were developed in an area with predominantly Caucasian people, it’s not appropriate.”

The biggest takeaway Smith hopes his students get from the course is that it is okay to revisit an oft-used approach, and to develop a new angle that might be more applicable to what they will be doing in their chosen professions.

Another favorite class for Smith is Testing and Prescription. In this course, students dive deeper into the physiology — how to measure calories burned from various activities, how to measure rotation of the knee or flexibility of the hip and more.

“In all these courses, we address the five components of fitness,” Smith said. “One thing that I really cherish about this job is that I'm able to do that with the labs that we have. One day we meet in class, we talk about concepts, and the next day we meet in a lab and I give them those practical skills.”

Smith emphasizes the importance of skill-building in the classroom to produce confident, knowledgeable practitioners. “I’m teaching them how to operate metabolic cards, they’re operating body composition analyzers, and all kinds of different stuff,” he said. “In the best classes, they’re not worried about making a mistake. They’re laughing, having a good time and being comfortable in learning.”

That comfort in learning is crucial to success. Notes Kayla Valenzuela ’23, “Dr. Smith has made a major impact not only on my

education but also on how to pursue my future career path. Every class he comes in positive, encouraging and informative.”

There is much more to kinesiology than classrooms, labs and research, Smith said. He urges any student interested in the subject to get involved. “Beyond going to class and getting good grades, you need to get to know your peers and people outside your program,” he said. “Join our Kinesiology Club and see what other students are working on, come to conferences with us, and make sure you go outside the classroom to get educated.”

Dr. Smith was my professor and then my mentor. It wasn’t until I became a DPT student that I realized he was the first musculoskeletal scientist I worked with and I am ever so grateful for the wisdom and knowledge I acquired from working alongside him. Dr. Smith is a collaborator. He collaborates with students and professors and to be able to work with him as a student was a prestigious honor.”

– BRANDY DURDEN-GONZALEZ ’24

A&M-San Antonio Earns HEED Award

Texas A&M University-San Antonio received the 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — A&M-San Antonio was featured, along with 102 other recipients, in the November 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected A&M-San Antonio for the award because the University is purposeful in serving Hispanic/Latinx students by being intentional about their success and impacting the area in which the University serves. In fact, 77 percent of the student body is Hispanic/Latinx. A&M-San Antonio was established in large part to serve a historically underserved area of South San Antonio and the outlying areas and region, addressing longstanding and deep educational and economic disparities. The University achieved the Hispanic-Serving

Institution (HSI) designation in 2017 due to the significant number of Hispanic/ Latinx students and in 2021 received the Seal of Excelencia, which recognizes institutions for purposefully supporting the success of Hispanic/Latinx students. The JAG Seal program is a prime example of the University’s commitment to serving Hispanic/Latinx students. The goal of JAG Seal is to train and engage employees in shared leadership towards skills that support students, including students of color; faculty training to improve the delivery of courses; customized programs to elevate the experiences of both instructors and students; and a robust extracurricular program to invite the participation of the community in the area to envision new directions for the future path of a continuum from childhood to adulthood.

Texas A&M-San Antonio celebrated a significant addition to the substantial collection of art across campus. On October 20, A&M-SA hosted the Heller Family Foundation Art Reception: Honoring the Heller Family and Lionel Sosa. The exhibit includes various Lionel Sosa paintings that the Heller Family Foundation has loaned to the University, which are on display in the Science and Technology Building. The collection, Rostros de Mi Gente or Faces of My People, comprises oil-painted portraits of “everyday” people.

Sosa Paintings

to A&M-SA’s Robust Art Collection

Among the paintings featured in the collection, included are portraits of:

• a grandfather, abuelo, who is one of dozens of male and female vaqueros of all ages in a setting at their ranches in the northern Mexico state of Sinaloa;

• a young woman Sosa refers to as “Vaquero,” from the Cruz del Diablo ranch, who can ride and rope as well as her male counterparts; and

• a woman, who is a leader in her tribe in New Mexico.

The art reception on October 20 preceded A&M-San Antonio’s Dream Maker Scholarship and Award Ceremony, honoring Judge Nelson W. Wolff.

Dream Maker Honors Judge Wolff and Raises Record Amount

On October 20, A&M-San Antonio held its annual Dream Maker Scholarship and Award Ceremony. Dream Maker is an annual initiative to support scholarships. The event also provides an opportunity to recognize an individual who has made an indelible impact on the education of students at the University by making gifts in support of scholarships to help make their educational goals a reality.

For 2022, A&M-San Antonio recognized and celebrated the incredible support of Judge Nelson W. Wolff and his dedication to helping all individuals earn a college education. President Dr. Cynthia TenienteMatson, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System John Sharp, Judge Wolff, and Head of Strategic Relations and Partnerships at San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Dr. Sandi Wolff, who serves as vice chair of the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation and chair of the Dream Maker Committee, spoke during the event. President and CEO of Conceptual MindWorks Inc. and Texas A&M University System Regent Elaine Mendoza also was in attendance.

Due to the tremendous support of sponsors and donors, the event raised more than $240,000 in scholarships, making this the most successful Dream Maker to date.

20 Jaguars Receive Bowl Scholarships

A record number of students from Texas A&M University-San Antonio were awarded funds from the Valero Alamo Bowl Community Partners Scholarships. The college juniors and seniors — 97 total — will split $610,000 in scholarship awards funded by the Bowl and matching programs at all six of San Antonio’s four-year universities (University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary’s University, Texas A&M-San Antonio, Trinity University and The University of Texas at San Antonio). A&M-San Antonio was awarded $100,000 of the total scholarship money.

Baptist Health Foundation Provides Scholarships

In August, Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio (BHFSA) and Texas A&M University-San Antonio celebrated a win for higher education in the Alamo City. During BHFSA’s Scholarship Partner Celebration, Foundation trustees and representatives presented a check to the University for $100,000. The funds will be offered as scholarships to nearly 100 graduate students enrolled in three master’s-level areas of education and training in the counseling program. The students receiving the scholarship are currently studying for their graduate degree in school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and marriage, couple and family counseling.

A&M-San Antonio Launches 11-Month MBA

Texas A&M University-San Antonio launched its new 11-month Master of Business Administration (MBA) program this semester. The MBA program brings an unparalleled education with innovative content that culminates in a trip abroad with several competitive paid internships available to offset tuition. In addition to the core and elective courses, the program offers preparation courses in accounting and economics at no cost. It provides professional development modules in team building, career development, business etiquette and international cultural immersion. To prepare the students for employment with worldwide businesses where they will be interacting with colleagues and customers from a wide variety of cultures, the program offers a two-week travel abroad, International Business and Cultural Experience. This gives the students an opportunity to travel to two countries to visit businesses and experience cultural events. Currently, 37 students are enrolled with numbers projected to increase as the program progresses.

Enrollment Reaches Record High

Texas A&M University-San Antonio continues to increase in enrollment and elevate the student experience through its expanded degree offerings. Overall enrollment at A&M-San Antonio has grown annually and reached an all-time high for fall 2022. With 37 undergraduate and 19 graduate degree options available, A&M-San Antonio continues to offer a competitive and versatile high-quality education for students.

For the first time in University history, A&M-San Antonio surpassed 7,000 for fall 2022. This marks a nearly 5 percent increase over fall 2021. In addition, graduate enrollment is up more than 40 percent for fall 2022.

The University now offers an 11-month Master of Business Administration as well as a Master of Science in criminology/ criminal justice and Master of Science in applied behavior analysis. In terms of undergraduate degrees, the University has added a Bachelor of Science in human services, a Bachelor of Science in applied behavior analysis, and a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in chemistry. In addition, A&M-San Antonio welcomed the inaugural class of approximately 40 students this fall to the University Honors Program.

On average, students are taking more credit hours as well. Semester credit hours have increased annually since 2015; this allows students to advance toward graduation more quickly.

Vets Laud University

Texas A&M University-San Antonio was awarded the Gold 2022 Veterans Education Excellence Recognition Award (VEERA). VEERA recognizes universities and colleges that provide excellence in education and related services that significantly contribute to the academic success of student veterans and military-connected students. A&M-San Antonio’s Office of Military Affairs provides academic, life and career skills support for student veterans, military personnel and their families enrolled at the University. Military Affairs assists with VA federal benefits, Hazelwood Act State of Texas benefits and tuition assistance, among other services. One in six students are military connected, approximately 350 veterans attend the University and more than 500 students are dependents of military families.

First Air Force ROTC Cadet Graduates

Tyler Doty ’22 B.B.A., who graduated in general business, is the first graduate as part of Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s Air Force Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program. In January 2020, A&M-San Antonio signed an agreement with The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to offer the AFROTC General Military Course and/or Professional Officer Course for qualified students who desire to earn appointments as commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force.

DID YOU KNOW?

Spring 2022: 107 military-affiliated students graduated with an average GPA of 3.38

Summer 2022: 33 military-affiliated students graduated with an average GPA of 3.12

Doty, who also holds certifications in cyber security and investing, took all of his academic classes at A&M-San Antonio, but attended military-specific courses at UTSA twice a week. As an underclassman, students attend aerospace studies, where they learn about the history of the Air Force, customs and courtesies, how to properly wear the uniform, and case studies.

TOTAL: 140 military-affiliated students graduated with an average GPA of 3.25

Upon graduating from A&M-San Antonio, Doty was commissioned as a second lieutenant and began his first assignment and training at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. He hopes to become a pilot of remotely piloted aircraft.

Family Orientation Breaks Attendance Record

On July 16, Family Orientation reached a record high overall attendance of 150 family members. In 2021, A&M-San Antonio hit a record high of 130 family members attending. The information families receive during the orientation is significant, especially considering the demographic at A&M-San Antonio is high in first-generation college students. Family orientations are intentionally constructed to inform family members about the University and its resources, provide clarity regarding processes, begin to develop a familial sense of belonging within the University setting and, in some ways, replicate parts of the student experience for families.

Orientation took place primarily in the auditorium beginning with registration in the STEM Lobby. Participating families enjoyed a family photo selfie station, and they received a welcome bag including a college-ready book, activity agenda, family resource guide and t-shirt. This year included a networking bingo activity with a chance to win a custom foldout chair for sports activities.

Spring Commencement

More than 800 A&M-San Antonio students graduated for spring and summer 2022. Over 600 graduates participated in two ceremonies held on May 21 at the Freeman Coliseum. Overall diplomas awarded for spring were 615, including 545 undergraduate degrees, and 70 graduate and professional degrees. Seniors of Distinction were Alandrya Lynn Fuller, who graduated with a B.B.A. in management, and Cheyenne Zavala, who earned her B.A. in English. Both were first-generation transfer students and model the mission and values of the University. Graduates also included the first cadet to graduate as part of the A&M-SA Air Force ROTC program and the first cohort of graduates as part of A&M-San Antonio’s TU CASA program.

Executive Director of the Institute for Autism Named

In July, A&M-San Antonio officially welcomed Sarah Minner as the inaugural executive director of the Institute for Autism and Related Disorders in the College of Education and Human Development. Minner will oversee the institute’s multi-phased plan to create a lifespan approach for people with autism that includes early identification of children with autism, primary and secondary education, family- and selfadvocacy, and therapeutic interventions to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their caretakers.

Minner has 17 years of experience as a public educator, serving students from Pre-K to young adults in South San Antonio. She has served as a special education teacher, autism itinerant, program specialist and 18+ transition coordinator, preparing young adults for entry into the workforce, post-secondary access and to live independently in the community.

The institute has been approved by The Texas A&M System, and A&MSan Antonio has begun efforts to house several programs with the support of community partners: the Charles Butt Foundation and the Kronkosky Foundation.

In 2021, the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, Autism Lifeline Links and Texas A&M-San Antonio entered into an agreement to transition Autism Lifeline Links (ALL) to the College of Education and Human Development at the University. The institute will continue the work of the Kronkosky Foundation with ALL, which provides resources to families and individuals with autism, but also supports professionals by bringing together 14 partner agencies that service the autism community in and around Bexar County. Through the generous support of the Kronkosky Foundation and U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, who helped secure federal funding for community projects, the institute will operate the Autism Mobile Assessment Bus and Learning Environment (AMABLE). The unit will travel into the community where resources are needed and allow for assessments and therapies, while offering parent, family and school training.

Future Jaguar Day Largest Yet

Future Jaguar Day is A&M-San Antonio’s premier open house that invites prospective students and their families to the University to experience what it means to be a Jaguar. Visitors learn about the admissions and financial aid process, visit with student services, tour campus and more. On February 19, the University held its largest Future Jaguar Day to date with a total attendance of 754 people.

Strong Growth in Giving

2021-2022 marked a record year of giving for A&M-San Antonio, indicative of the thriving support from key partners in the San Antonio community and regionally. With a sum of $4,806,320 in gifts to the University, more than $2.3 million was given specifically for student scholarships. A total of 618 gifts were given to the University. Giving increased 65 percent in fiscal year 2022 over 2021. The top gifts totaled more than $3 million and comprised donations from esteemed community partners including the Hector and Gloria López Foundation and USAA. In July, the López Foundation announced a $2.1 million grant to the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation to assist 15 Latino students, who are known as López Scholars, with tuition and fees as well as wraparound support services. A $1 million grant from USAA in February helped launch a multi-year program, the La Familia project, to assist firstgeneration college students and their families in navigating the admission process at A&M-San Antonio.

Additional donors for fiscal year 2022 included the Kronkosky Foundation, Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, San Antonio Bowl Association, Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust, Charles Butt Foundation and P16Plus.

Additional fundraising accomplishments from fiscal year 2022:

• ALUMNI GIVING participation increased 233 percent

• FOUR NEW ENDOWMENTS were created: Marmon Mok Endowed Scholarship; William & Patricia Gordon Scholarship; TX APWA Scholarship; and Greg Garcia Scholarship.

• THE 2021 DREAM MAKER virtual luncheon grossed $215,000 , a seven percent increase from 2019.

• A&M-SA had its FIRST ALUM LEAVE A PLANNED GIFT to the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation.

• NEARLY $6,000 was raised for the GENERAL’S STORE , providing hundreds of pounds of food for students, their families and the community by FUNDING 40,500 MEALS

Celebrating Five Years as an Hispanic-Serving Institution

A&M-San Antonio celebrated five years as an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). In 2017, the U.S. Department of Education designated A&M-San Antonio as an HSI. An HSI is defined as an institution of higher education that has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic/Latinx students. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) announced National HispanicServing Institutions Week would be observed September 12-18. The observance took place during National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated September 15-October 15. A&M-San Antonio held an

HSI week of events and discussions to foster and promote inclusive conversations about the Hispanic culture and the benefits of being an HSI. In addition, the University celebrated Latinx Heritage Month with a month-long line up of events. Latinx Heritage Month recognizes contributions Latinx Americans have made to American society and culture as well as honors five Central American neighbors (ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America) who celebrate their Independence Days in September. A&M-San Antonio’s theme this year was ¡Unidos con Fuerza! Stronger Together!

One Year of Seal of Excelencia Recognition

October 2022 marked the one-year anniversary of A&M-San Antonio being designated as a Seal of Excelencia institution. In 2021, the University received high honors — becoming one of only 24 higher education institutions in the nation to earn the Seal of Excelencia certification at the time. Combined, these 24 enrolled 10 percent of all Latino college students and graduated 12 percent of all Latinos in the United States. The Seal of Excelencia recognizes institutions with success in serving Latino students as measured by data, practice and leadership benchmarks.

Mays Center Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary and Ready to Work Partnership

The Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement celebrated five years on October 13 with a special event. President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson along with Associate Vice President and Executive Director of the Mays Center Dr. Adriana Contreras and other special guests, including CEO of Workforce Solutions Adrian Lopez and Executive Director of Workforce Development for the City of San Antonio Mike Ramsey, spoke on the impact of the Mays Center. In 2017, a gift from the Mays Family Foundation made the Mays Center possible. It provides enhanced opportunities for community service, internships and job-shadowing, as well as access to community-based, work-study programs with local employers and career-focused resources for students and alumni.

The Center also announced their new partnership with San Antonio Ready to Work and Workforce Solutions Alamo with an official signing of the agreement. The $6.7 million contract will go towards assessment and wraparound support services and emergency needs. Ready to Work supports last-dollar tuition and fees for qualified training programs, credentials and degree completion. Ready to Work is an educational and job placement program aiming to help the community by improving San Antonians’ quality of life. Unemployed, underemployed or underserved residents can access and complete training and education that will prepare them to secure employment in high-demand and well-paid careers. No other city in the nation supports its residents with $200 million in sales tax revenue, including $110 million in tuition assistance.

MAYS CENTER FIVE-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

• 4,777 requests for career advising appointments since the Center was founded

• 800 academic internships completed

• 67 grants given to students completing unpaid or underpaid academic internships

• Three new community-based, work-study programs creating opportunities for 19 students to use federal work-study funds to gain professional skills with community partners, earning a combined $41,566

• 950 events hosted with more than 200 events co-hosted with other University departments, student organizations and community partners

• 4,104 students, faculty, staff and Jaguar families participated in volunteer engagements

• More than 1,900 volunteers have logged over 20,000 verified hours

• More than 60 courses formally recognized as servicelearning or experiential learning

Mays Leader Named

In May, A&M-San Antonio named Dr. Adriana Contreras as the new associate vice president and executive director of the Mays Center. With more than 30 years of administrative experience, Contreras has served as director of administrative services within the Division of Business Affairs at A&M-San Antonio; was director and then eventually interim vice president of marketing and communications for the University; and is a member of the steering committee for A&M-San Antonio’s Women at Work, a forum open to all employees that is focused on advancing the potential of women by generating resources, disseminating research, sharing networking opportunities and fostering the development of women in their careers.

Festival de Cascarones Brings Community Together for Fiesta Finale

The San Antonio community came together for one final celebration of Fiesta 2022. A record number of more than 8,000 attendees came to A&M-San Antonio for the annual Festival de Cascarones on April 10, closing out Fiesta 2022 as the official finale. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year marked the first in-person, on-campus Festival de Cascarones since 2019.

The evening included the announcement of two Golden Egg Competition student winners, who each received a tuition waiver for the summer 2022 or fall 2022 semester. Onehundred golden eggs were hidden on campus for attendees to find and later exchange for custom-made Festival de Cascarones merchandise, including tumblers, t-shirts and the A&M-San Antonio Fiesta medal, all on display and also available for purchase. The community enjoyed more than 50 vendors with half being student organizations; musical performances by the Jaguarettes Dance Team, A&M-San Antonio mariachi, and Havana NRG, among others; and activities such as face painting, a Kid Zone, and pet rock adoption. Capping off the festival was the event’s musical headliner, Texas country artist Kevin Fowler.

Join us for next year’s Festival de Cascarones on April 30, 2023. ¡VIVA FIESTA!

TU CASA Graduates Make History

A&M-San Antonio’s TU CASA program celebrated its first cohort of graduates at a Graduating Class of 2022 Celebration in Patriots’ Casa. The TU CASA model is designed to allow students with intellectual disabilities to receive a university experience while gaining the skills and knowledge needed to transition to independent adult lives. TU CASA is based on pre-established partnerships between A&M-San Antonio, Burleson School for Innovation and Education, and South Bexar County Partnership to Impact Regional Equity (ASPIRE) districts (East Central, Edgewood, Harlandale, Somerset, South San Antonio, Southside and Southwest) to address educational and service needs and focus on decreasing the gaps in services for individuals with intellectual disabilities across South Bexar County and South San Antonio. Five students completed the program: Gabriella Eady, Yxaiah Gomez, Nicolas Lopez, Alezandro Mauricio and Dylan Salazar. With family and friends in attendance, these remarkable students received their University and Career Experience Certificates.

Coach Spotlight

In January 2022, Texas A&M University-San Antonio announced the hiring of Fredy Sanguinetti (above left) as head coach of women’s soccer. Sanguinetti came to A&M-San Antonio after a long and storied career as a Texas high school soccer coach. Prior to A&MSan Antonio, he was the head coach for girls’ soccer at Cinco Ranch High School in Katy ISD.

Also in January, Texas A&M University-San Antonio announced the hiring of Robert Jaramillo (above middle) as head coach for men’s soccer. Jaramillo is no stranger to the South Side of San Antonio as he came to A&M-San Antonio by way of Southwest High School in Southwest ISD, where he coached girls’ soccer before being given the reigns to the boys’ soccer program.

In April 2022, Texas A&M University-San Antonio announced Aaron Jaggers (above right) as head Esports coach. Jaggers joined the University after coaching at Shaker Heights City Schools in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Aaron holds more than a decade of Esports experience. He was a top-tier Terran player in Starcraft II competing on the Major League Gaming circuit; earned a top 500 ranking in League of Legends, playing alongside Team SoloMid and Counter Logic Gaming’s top players; and played at the collegiate level for James Madison University and at the amateur level for Sloth E-Sports.

Student Athlete Named RRAC’s Freshman of the Year

Texas A&M University-San Antonio claimed a first for its Athletics Department as men’s golfer Jacob Peña was named the Red River Athletic Conference’s (RRAC) Freshman of the Year. With the honor, Peña became the first varsity student-athlete in A&M-San Antonio history to win a sport’s superlative award from the RRAC.

Peña secured his award at the postseason RRAC Tournament in April. He shot a 16-over-par 232 for the three-round event, finishing eighth on the individual leaderboard. A Victoria, Texas, resident playing in his hometown, his 72 in the second round of the first day was the second-lowest round recorded by any individual at the tournament.

He was the Jaguars’ top performer as the season wound down. Peña began the month of April as the team’s top finisher at the Blinn Spring Invitational, the Jaguars’ last regular-season competition before the RRAC Tournament.

Peña also gave early indication to his outstanding first year as a collegian in February. Playing at one of the most challenging courses on the A&M-San Antonio schedule — the TPC San Antonio — Peña finished in 16th place after carding back-to-back rounds of 76.

The eighth-place finish by Peña at the conference tournament helped the Jaguars to a fourth-place team finish, their best performance in their young history.

First Student-Athletes in A&M-San Antonio History Earn Degrees

Softball has Memorable Season and Earn Honors

Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s softball team enjoyed a memorable 2022 season that saw the Jaguars achieve many program firsts. The Jaguars (23-30) more than doubled their previous season’s win total in year two as they qualified for the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) in the first year they were eligible. A&M-San Antonio finished sixth overall out of 11 teams in the conference. The Jaguars also placed three players — Vanessa Garces, Andrea Ortiz and Peyton Vasquez — on the All-RRAC teams, while Julia Pinzon was named to the All-RRAC Tournament team at the conclusion of the postseason event.

The 2022 graduating class of Texas A&M University-San Antonio made school history last May as it included the first students who came to the University to play varsity athletics. Softball player Vanessa Garces (Edinburg, Texas/Coastal Bend College) and men’s golfer Javy Jazo (Freeport, Illinois/Highland Community College) became the first varsity student-athletes in University history to earn their degrees.

In all, the Athletics Department celebrated four seniors. In addition to Garces and Jazo, student athletic trainers Helen Mora and Jaci Mora also received their degrees.

Grants from Frost Bank to Support Athletics

Frost Bank has directed two grants totaling $100,000 to support the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation. The funds will go toward the “Building Champions” capital campaign to support a recreation center for A&M-San Antonio Athletics. The first is a grant from the Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust, Frost Bank, Trustee. The second grant is from the Frost Bank Charitable Foundation. Both grants will support the construction and equipping of the recreation center.

An official check presentation was held on May 2. Speakers included Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of A&M-San Antonio; Candace Wolfshohl, group executive vice president of culture and people development at Frost Bank and a graduate of Texas A&M University; Darnell Smith, A&M–San Antonio athletics director; and current A&M-San Antonio student-athletes. Dan Geddes, Frost’s San Antonio regional president, also attended.

University Receives $10 Million from Bexar County Toward Athletics Facilities/Fields

Bexar County is investing to expand equitable access to facilities. Its focus is supporting the community and leveraging investments and competitive collegiate play by Texas A&M-San Antonio and the students in the region. In March, county commissioners approved a request from Texas A&M University-San Antonio to fund the design and construction of athletics facilities/fields on campus. The $10 million commitment from Bexar County for phase two of A&M–San Antonio athletic fields will help the University build a multipurpose field and competition track for soccer and other athletic activities, and a new softball stadium.

The multipurpose field and track will serve as a practice and competition facility for men’s and women’s sports. The field and track will also provide the South Side community a facility for youth and parent-supervised play and fitness activities, such as pick-up soccer, flag football, rugby, lacrosse and track events. Preliminary plans include artificial turf integrated with a tournament track-and-field facility to include ample seating, team-side benches and a press box.

The softball stadium will serve as a tool for recruitment and provide one of the best training and competition venues in the country. The multipurpose facilities will be available to the community when not in use by the University. The University’s new facilities will also meet the needs of the surrounding community. This investment in venues that increase access to physical activities will positively impact the social determinants of health on the South Side. Improving the physical and social frameworks within these neighborhoods will help to improve the overall mental and physical health of South Side residents.

Robert Alonzo, criminology and criminal justice program senior lecturer, Department of Social Sciences, is a part of Project Absentis, whose mission is to assist families of missing persons by serving as a liaison between the families, law enforcement, media and the public. The service is performed at little or no cost to the family. The team is composed of former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel and others with skill sets applicable to their mission. Alonzo retired from the FBI in 2010 as a supervisor in the foreign language unit within the Field Intelligence Group. A former certified public accountant and financial analyst, Alonzo served on the FBI’s Evidence Response Team, White Collar Crime Squad, CounterIntelligence Squad and Joint Terrorism Task Force. He is also a certified fraud examiner and a Texas private investigator.

collaborations with other researchers and institutions. Dr. Alsmadi was also part of the IDSTA/BCCA 2022, first IEEE international conferences, hosted by A&M-San Antonio, September 5-7. The two conferences attract researchers from national and international institutions and focus on data science, cyber security and blockchain research. Research papers will be published through IEEE research repositories.

Dr. Izzat Alsmadi, associate professor and chair of computing and cyber security, College of Business, is part of establishing A&M-San Antonio’s first computing cluster. The research computing cluster is funded from a Counselor Research Initiative Grant of $750,000. Faculty and students from all departments can use these resources to conduct experiments that require capable computing resources. The cluster will also help in acquiring future external grants and

Dr. Stephanie Black, associate professor of management, received the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Science’s 2022 Fritz Roethlisberger Memorial Award, Best Paper, and the University Distinguished Service Award, Texas A&M University. She coauthored the following publications: “Native Nations’ Social Enterprise: A Tribal Critical Race Theory Model,” Black, S., & Verbos, A. (2022); “Indigenous Business and Public Administration,” 1(1), 1–13, Miller, L., Zia Mian, M., Daniels, R., & Black, S. (2022); and “One Size Does NOT Fit All: Understanding Differences in Perceived Organizational Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Business and Society Review, 1-30.

Dr. Zechun Cao, assistant professor of computing and cyber security, received the following national research grants: Collaborative Research: CISE-MSI: DP: SCH: Privacy Preserving Tutoring System for Health Education of Low Literacy Hispanic Populations; and Investigating NLP and ML Techniques for Developing a Secure and Privacy-preserving Healthcentric ITS. The first is a multi-institutional collaborative research grant received from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The total amount for the project is $600,000 for three years. The second is a research grant from ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education) to prepare students for the NSF grant.

Dr. Dolph Briscoe IV, lecturer of history, was elected to the board of directors of the Texas State Historical Association, the oldest learned society in the state.

Dr. Gary Coulton, associate professor of psychology, presented “Fun with EKG Calipers: A Classroom Demonstration of a Just-noticeable-difference Experiment” at the Southwestern Psychological Association 2021 Convention, San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Coulton was also part of a small group project for undergraduate social psychology students: “Demonstrating the Identifiable Victim Effect,” Psychology Teaching Review, 28(1), 31-35.

ROBERT ALONZO

DR. IZZAT ALSMADI

DR. STEPHANIE BLACK

DR. DOLPH BRISCOE IV

DR. ZECHUN CAO DR. GARY COULTON

Dr. Ruby Daniels, instructional assistant professor, Department of Management and Marketing, earned the Fritz Roethlisberger Memorial Award from the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society, along with Dr. Stephanie Black, associate professor; Dr. Sandra DeGrassi, associate professor; and Dr. Kenneth Sweet, assistant professor. The award is granted annually to authors judged to have contributed the best paper on teaching of organizational behavior and management published in the preceding year in the Journal of Management Education. Dr. Daniels also had a publication in the leading

quantitative literacy journal, Numeracy. The publication features pedagogical best practices for creating an inclusive asynchronous online course, “Let All Voices Be Heard: Creating an Engaging and Inclusive Asynchronous Online Classroom,” by Dr. Daniels and Dr. Kathryn Appenzeller Knowles (interim director of the Center for Academic Innovation and Director of Quantitative Reasoning). As part of the President’s Commission on Equity (PCOE2), Dr. Daniels and Dr. Knowles, along with Amber Graham, assistant director of recreational sports, conducted Wellness and Quantitative Reasoning Focus Group research on improving food access on campus. Six focus groups with 37 students were held to encourage conversations about health-related challenges encountered by minority populations. As a result, the University implemented policy changes to improve food access for resident students at A&M-San Antonio, an example of how PCOE2-supported research addresses equity issues on campus.

Dr. Mariya Davis, assistant professor of special education, Department of Educator and Leadership Preparation, was appointed by the president of the Council for Exceptional Children to serve on the Yes I Can Committee, which awards children and youth with disabilities across the nation for exceptional achievements. Dr. Davis was also selected by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities to serve on their Grant Review Committee.

MOHAMED ABDELRAHMAN

Following a national search, Texas A&M University-San Antonio named Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. He began his new role on July 18. Dr. Abdelrahman came to A&M-San Antonio from Colorado State University Pueblo, an Hispanic-Serving Institution in Southern Colorado, where he served as provost and executive vice president of academic affairs.

Prior to his service at CSU Pueblo, he was vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University; associate vice president for research and dean of graduate studies at Texas A&M University-Kingsville; and a tenured full professor at Tennessee Technological University. He also served as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Qatar. Dr. Abdelrahman holds a Ph.D. in nuclear science and engineering and a M.S. in measurements and controls engineering from Idaho State University, and a M.S. in engineering physics and B.S. in electronics and telecommunications engineering from Cairo University.

With a career spanning 25 years, he has been a leader in integrating research and education, experiential learning and curricular innovations across multiple disciplines.

Dr. Abdelrahman’s research agenda has included funding for industrial applications of sensing and control, pedagogical research in using handson experiences to improve student learning and engaging K-12 teachers in authentic research experiences. In addition to receiving numerous awards for excellence in research and innovative teaching, he has more than 100 publications and technical reports, three patents and numerous co-authored works with disciplinary collaborators, undergraduate and graduate students and K-12 teachers.

DR.

DR. RUBY DANIELS DR. MARIYA DAVIS

DR. AKHTAR LODGHER

The Department of Defense announced a $55 million grant to five consortium awardees under the National Defense Education Program. Texas A&M UniversitySan Antonio is part of The Military City USA (MCUSA) Consortium awardees led by the Alamo College system. Dr. Akhtar Lodgher, regents professor and director of the Center of Information Technology and Cyber Security at A&M-San Antonio, worked collaboratively with the Alamo College District to achieve the grant and serves as the principal investigator for A&M-San Antonio. The grant will strengthen the existing pipeline of students pursuing studies in cyber security by scaffolding the transition from community college to university programs, attaining the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security cyber defense education certification, and ramping up to cyber security careers through internships. It will increase the confidence and motivation, especially of veterans, in launching them into these high-demand cyber security careers as well as STEM careers. The grant will disperse among The MCUSA Consortium, which includes the Alamo Colleges, A&M-San Antonio, The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM, supporting six Hispanic and one historically black college and university to strengthen a diverse STEM ecosystem. This grant will also help A&M-San Antonio strengthen the 2+2 program designed to accept students who have earned their associate degree in computer science and help them complete their bachelor’s degree in four additional semesters. The MCUSA Consortium will receive up to $11 million over six years to serve more than 1,200 students in underserved communities and populations.

Dr. Dennis Elam, associate professor of accounting, delivered an address at the San Antonio Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA) Member Appreciation Day on August 26. The topic was “Is Greed Really Good, The Archegos Financial Collapse Handout.”

Dr. Elam also earned the San Antonio TXCPA Award for Distinguished Service in Continuing Education 2020-2021 and the TXCPA Statewide Outstanding Educator 2021 among small universities (less than 7,500 enrollment). He gave a presentation at the Behavioral Finance Conference, September 21-24, 2022, Los Angeles: “Will Investment Bankers Ever Remember the Last Crisis, A Socioeconomic Perspective.”

He also presented with Dr. Leonard Love, associate professor, and Dr. Douglas Carter, assistant instructional professor, at the Southwest Academy of Management, New Orleans, in spring 2022.

Under the mentorship, instruction and guidance of Jenny Moore , director of student media; Donna Pazdera , lecturer; Teresa Talerico , clinical assistant professor of communication; and Diego Aparicio , clinical assistant professor; student media earned several awards for 2021-2022. Jaguar Student Media earned a total of 40 awards granted by the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA), the most recognized and competitive collegiate journalism association in Texas. The student magazine, El Espejo, won two first-place and one third-place award in the Associated Collegiate Press spring Clips and Clicks contest and student media earned Mark of Excellence awards from Region 8 of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) for work in 2021, among others.

Dr. Xingyuan Fei, assistant profession of accounting, was published in the Journal of Corporate Finance and Journal of Corporate Accounting and Finance in 2022. She also received her license as a certified public accountant in the State of California in 2021.

DR. DENNIS ELAM

DR. XINGYUAN FEI

Dr. Syed Harun, professor of finance, published the following: “Can a Momentum Strategy Outperform the S&P 500 Index in a Retirement Plan?” Journal of Retirement, summer 2022, Vol. 10, Lodgher, Akhtar, and Syed M. Harun (2022); and “Social Media Sentiment and the Stock Market,” Journal of Economics and Finance, Vol. 46, Issue 2, April 2022, Fekrazad, Amir, Syed M. Harun and Naafey Sardar (2022). Dr. Harun also presented at the Southwestern Finance Association, 2022 Annual Conference, New Orleans, March 2-5 and the Southwestern Society of Economists 2022 conference, New Orleans, March 2-5.

Hispanic students. This shift from being in the minority to being in the majority may have important consequences, yet, no research has examined the potential effects. The current project plans to conduct studies to understand how students compare themselves to others in this new context and tests a strategy to help students compare themselves to others in more productive ways. This project has important implications for society. Knowledge gained through these studies can help colleges and universities better serve their students and improve long-term outcomes. Additionally, the project will train 25 undergraduate researchers and results from the study will be made publicly available through conference presentations and publications. Ultimately, this research program will improve STEM education and create a more diverse workforce.

Dr. Eunhye Kwon, assistant professor in the Department of Counseling, Health and Kinesiology, was awarded the 2022 GACE Best Research Award, Research in Dance and Physical Education, Sangmyung University, Seoul, South Korea. She had the following published: “The Association Between Maternal Folate Status and Childhood Obesity-systematic Review and Meta-analysis,” Journal of Exercise Science, 31(2), Kim, J., Yoon, B., Park, J., Kwon, E., Lee, S. (2022); “Investigating the Impact of an Adapted Physical Education Service-learning Project on Pre-service Teachers’ Attitude Toward Individuals with Disabilities,” Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 18(1); and “Adapted Physical Education: The Perspective of Asian Parents,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 91 Kwon, E., Park. J., & Kim, T. (2022).

Dr. Ho Huynh, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Malin Lilley, assistant professor of psychology, received a threeyear grant of $464,392 from the National Science Foundation’s Build and Broaden 3.0 for the following: “Investigating Social Comparison Processes Among Undergraduates at an Hispanic Serving Institution.” For Hispanic undergraduate students, the people around them are typically white students; however, for Hispanic students who attend HispanicServing Institutions, the majority of people around them tend to be other

DR. SYED HARUN

DR. HO HUYNH

DR. EUNHYE KWON

Dr. Lawrence Scott , assistant professor, Department of Educator and Leadership Preparation, was awarded the 2022 Chancellor's Medallion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the Chancellor's Summit on DEI. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated high levels of meaningful engagement in activities that promote a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion at their respective university within The Texas A&M University System and the broader higher education community.

DR. LAWRENCE SCOTT

Dr. Amy C. Lewis, professor of management, has a forthcoming academic book to be published by Routledge, “Entrepreneurial Cosplay: Building Identity, Brand and Business Acumen,” co-edited with Elizabeth Gackstetter Nichols (Drury University) and David Tomczyk (Quinnipiac University). This book includes two chapters by A&M-San Antonio College of Business faculty. Matthew Mangum, clinical assistant professor of business law, has a chapter titled Nerds and Copyright: The Delicate Balance Between Intellectual Property Rights and Fandom. Dr. Ruby Daniels, instructional assistant professor of marketing, has a chapter titled Marketing, Personal Branding, and Positioning: Cosplay on Steroids.

Dr. Malin Lilley, assistant professor of psychology, co-authored the following: “Investigation of Lateralization of Sociosexual Behavior in Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas),” Behavioural Processes, Lilley, M. K., Ham, J. R., Miller, M. R., Kolodziej, K., Hill, H. M. (2022); “The Emergence and Early Development of Socio-sexual Behavior in Beluga Calves (Delphinapterus leucas),” Behavioural Processes, Ham, J. R., Lilley, M. K., Lelkach, J., Miller, M. R., Robeck, T. R., Pellis, S. M., & Manitzas Hill, H. M. (2022); and “Keep Calm and Be Humble: Can Intellectual Humility Predict Test Anxiety?” Psychological Reports, Huynh, H., Sramek, K., Sifuentes, K., Lilley, M. K., & Bautista, E. M. (2022).

Dr. Carl Sheperis, professor, Mental Health Counseling, Department of Counseling, Health and Kinesiology, received the 2022 Carl D. Perkins Government Relations Award from the American Counseling Association (ACA). Among the national population of professional counselors, there is one person selected annually to receive this award. The Carl D. Perkins Government Relations Award honors an ACA member who has made a significant contribution to the counseling profession, or individuals served by the profession, by influencing public policy at the state or national level.

Twenty-five entrepreneurs from varied industries across San Antonio were chosen to participate in a high-level business development curriculum led by Texas A&M University–San Antonio professors and The Bank of San Antonio bankers. Offered through the Dr. Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders, STRIDE is the first program of its kind offered in San Antonio to support entrepreneurial development. STRIDE stands for strength, tenacity, resolve, impact, disruption and empowerment, six key pillars the program wants to instill for an entrepreneur’s success. A&M-SA’s College of Business professors, Dr. Stephanie Black, associate professor; Dr. Weixing Ford, assistant professor; Dr. Chin-Yen Alice Liu, associate professor; Matthew Mangum, J.D., LL.M., clinical assistant professor; Dr. Adrian Guardia, instructional associate professor; and Dr. Richard Green, associate professor; served as facilitators. Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio and Elaine Mendoza, president and CEO of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc., Texas A&M Regent, and Rebecca J. Viagran, director of workforce development

and community partnerships, served as guest speakers for certain sessions.

The highly specialized curriculum is designed for emerging entrepreneurs who are developing their own strengths-based leadership and knowledge of available financial solutions, along with best practices for business growth. The five-week course started September 9 and includes facilitated peer-learning, hands-on lesson plans and one-on-one access to bankers to demystify the banking practices that can prohibit some business owners from financial solutions needed to grow. The next STRIDE program is slated for spring 2023 and will focus on women-owned businesses.

DR. CARL SHEPERIS

DR. MALIN LILLEY DR. AMY C. LEWIS

Dr. Davida Smyth, associate professor of molecular microbiology, was selected as the recipient of the 2022 Four Year College and University Section Biology Teaching Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers. In addition, Dr. Smyth judged the SA SMART Challenge and her mentored team, Keystone School, was awarded first place. Ariel Robles a graduate student in Dr. Smyth’s lab was awarded an American Society for Microbiology Future Leaders Mentoring Fellowship. She was appointed to the American Society for Microbiology Curriculum Guidelines Taskforce 2.0.

Dr. Megan Wise de Valdez, associate professor of biology and biology program coordinator, was named as a Piper Professor of 2022 by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. Dr. Wise de Valdez is one of 10 professors awarded the distinction in the State of Texas and marks the first time a Texas A&M-San Antonio professor has received the distinction while at the University. Selections are based on nominations submitted by each college or university in Texas and 10 awards of $5,000 each are bestowed annually to outstanding professors for their exceptional teaching at the collegiate level.

“I get a lump in my throat when I think about having been awarded the Piper Professorship because it has made me feel seen and valued for something that often goes uncelebrated: the care and dedication put towards mentoring students,” said Dr. Wise de Valdez. “Successes in teaching and mentorship are so often overshadowed by the value placed on our role as researcher or scholar and that is why it is so gratifying to be honored for my most treasured role, that of an educator.”

skills through explicit training. The A&MSan Antonio interns will work with SWISD and their students with autism in a full research project in the fall and spring.

Southwest Independent School District (SWISD) to lead an experiential research project titled “RobotMediated Interventions for Students with Autism.” Four undergraduate student interns (Nizet Garcia, Maria Santillan Ibarra, Simone Leal and Joanna Ortiz) worked in SWISD with students with autism in an educational setting during the summer. The interns learned how to apply evidence-based practices, establish research protocols, and administer the curricular intervention using MILO, a humanoid robot designed to improve social

Dr. Jeong Yang, associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Computing and Cyber Security, serves as project lead for a nearly $300,000 National Science Foundation grant (plus $24,000 for Google Cloud Credits) to develop a customizable secure mobile app that provides users with accurate information about transit service. The

app will also enable data collection to evaluate the impact of poverty, race and ethnicity on the commute experience of transit users. Rounding out the collaborative interdisciplinary research team — representing sociology, computer science, cyber security and information science, the “Building a Smart Mobility Network for San Antonio Transit to Improve Transit Service and Social Impact (SmartSAT)” project represents a breakthrough accomplishment for the University. Supported by WiCyS (Women in Cybersecurity) scholarship and NSF grant award, Dr. Yang, along with computing and cyber security students and faculty, attended the 2022 WiCyS conference in Cleveland, Ohio, in March. One of the goals of the grant is to increase the participation of women, and retain and advance them in the field. Students attended workshops and presentations and met and networked with students from other universities and professionals from technology industries and government agencies.

Dr. Dawn Weatherford, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Theresa Garfield, professor of special education, collaborated with

DR. DAWN WEATHERFORD and DR. THERESA GARFIELD

DR. DAVIDA SMYTH

DR. JEONG YANG

DR. MEGAN WISE DE VALDEZ

Raymond Cardenas and his wife married in 2015, have two children: a son, Raymond Jr., 6, and daughter, Everleigh, 3. After graduation, Cardenas entered the oil and gas industry and has used his degree in business to achieve major milestones. Cardenas has been production manager and account manager at several companies. He is active in the American Association of Drilling Engineers in the Permian Basin area and has served as an Inside Guard for two years in the Knights of Columbus. Cardenas also is active in golf, clay shooting, hunting and softball.

Jollyn S. Hilliard is expanding her real estate practice from solo agent to team. She has been in real estate for seven years and is available to help A&M–San Antonio students/alumni.

Sonya Walker was elected to the State Democratic Executive Committee, Senate District 26, in July. She is focused on voter registration.

Javier Morales has created a resource for families who have children with disabilities and do not speak English at lospadrespreguntan.com.

Melissa Ann Ochoa recently launched MVP Event Planning and is a motivational speaker. She also runs MVP Financial and Insurance Services. She earned a B.A.A.S., which she needed at the time to earn a promotion, which she did. She also is a full-time grandma to a 6-year-old.

Mary Daniela Loredo Prado accepted a position as project director of talent search at Palo Alto College in March. She and Armando Prado Jr. are expecting their first child in November.

Michael Writer accepted a position in the semiconductor industry and is relocating to Austin, Texas.

Hannah M. Dunn Eli is a functional living skills teacher at Devine Intermediate School.

Nathan R. Mara is city manager for Decatur, Texas, as of July 1. Mara spent 17 years in the fire department serving every rank, including fire chief. Mara and his wife, Amber, welcomed their third child, Benjamin, on August 23.

Kareni Valadez has joined the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in the foster care area after interning with the department in spring 2022 while finishing her M.S. in criminal justice at Sam Houston State University. She encourages soon-to-be graduates to take that opportunity to intern and choose wisely from options because you never know, it may be the place where you make a long-term career.

Nilda Montes de Oca and her husband, Michael Barnes, are sponsoring 20 Zambian children by providing them with school uniforms, shoes, school books and supplies through the Patrick Himwiita Foundation, which de Oca helped form in 2021. The goal is to follow the students through to college and provide the necessary tools for their development, including sanitary pads for menstruating girls, who currently stop going to school due to a lack of hygiene products. De Oca is on the Foundation board.

Isabel M. Quinones launched a home-based cookie business, Belle’s Sweet Delights. Quinones sells drop cookies on weekends at pop-up stores. She also is an independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics.

20 18

Sharon A. Aguillen accepted a position as director of entertainment and events for the Oneida Nation. She is living in Manlius, New York, which is outside of Syracuse, New York.

Gabrielle M. Herrera was accepted to HubSpot’s RISE Mentorship program, which focuses on diversity, inclusion and belonging, while promoting growth and development at HubSpot. Herrera is a marketing operations manager supporting customer communications.

Mary Bello , who is enrolled in the online M.B.A. program at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, turned her hobby of making decorated cookies into a business. You can find her work on Instagram @Camissweettooth.

Ernest D. Hernandez manages The Emperors Tent, a social enterprise with the mission of providing Iistening and guidance with a spiritual tone. The guidance is geared toward life change and personal transformation. Hernandez is advancing his research on Social Entrepreneurship Corporation: Legitimacy Through Industry and Law.

Aaron S. Campbell works on the marketing and development team at the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio, taking photos, editing videos and creating graphics for the agency. He also assists with presentations for grant applications. He finds working in the nonprofit sector — and with children — to be fulfilling. Campbell said the club is always seeking volunteers.

Katelyn E. Foster married Wyatt Trinidad on May 1. Her dog Willow was part of the ceremony.

La-Tieka Sims ’20 was married on July 26 at The Preserve at Canyon Lake. Jarrick Brown, assistant director of student involvement, was the officiant and Jamie Jackson, a current student, was maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Cristina Dominguez, assistant director of student involvement; Iris Castillo, student; and alumnae Nia Cromartie and Jorlanditha Austin. Attendees included A&M-San Antonio President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, former employee Yvette Milo, and Chief of Staff/Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Jessica Loudermilk.

Michael A. Gonzales began a supervisor position with Southwest Business Corporation (SWBC) on June 1. He has also written, illustrated and self-published a children’s picture book entitled Messy Pinky Puppy Needs a Bath. It is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook formats.

Daniel Gutierrez was hired as a data analyst in an aircraft maintenance organization in March, an achievement he credits to earning his B.A.A.S. degree.

20 21

Aketzali Aguilar has been a family support advocate at the nonprofit ChildSafe since October 2021 and has a child in third grade.

Francisco G. Aguirre accepted a position as technical support specialist at Spectrum. He also is planning travel to Disney with his significant other and friends.

Zachary Bullard is part of the University’s inaugural cohort for a master’s degree program in applied behavior analysis.

Sarah G. Garcia accepted a second-grade teaching position in the Harlandale Independent School District. This is her third year of teaching.

Danielle VanBuskirk is pursuing a master’s degree in strategic communications and digital strategy online through the University of Oklahoma. VanBuskirk is a tech for a retina specialist at Tyler Retina consultants. She is planning a career in social media marketing and public relations.

Dani R. Vidal is pursing a master’s of library science degree at the Texas Woman’s University School of Library and Information Studies.

Gretel A. Trejo is a case manager at a personal injury legal firm, guiding clients through the process of insurance claims and specialized medical treatment. She and her husband welcomed their first child, Sebastian Felix Ochoa.

20 22

Nicholas Tennessee is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at The University of Texas San Antonio. He also has accepted a position in the Wellness Department of Bexar County.

Dimon J. Barnes gave birth to Elwyn Murrell on June 13.

Lowry Mays , a longtime supporter and friend of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, passed away on September 12 at the age of 87. A 1957 graduate of Texas A&M University, Mays served two terms on The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents (1985-1991 and 2001-2007), including as chairman from 2003-2005.

Founder and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, a mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio, Mays and his family hold a tremendous legacy of philanthropy and stewardship throughout the city, including at A&M-San Antonio. A $5 million gift from the Mays Family Foundation in 2017 made possible the University’s Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement and marks the largest gift in A&M-San Antonio history. The Mays Center provides increased opportunities for community service, internships and job-shadowing, as well as access to new community-based, work-study programs with local employers and career-focused resources for students and alumni. In addition, the Foundation gave $200,000 toward general University support.

“We were saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Mays. He and the Mays family have deep, longlasting connections to Texas A&M-San Antonio and our community,” said A&M-San Antonio President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson. “Mr. Mays shared with me the importance of the A&M-San Antonio campus and I know how much he appreciated the significance of community engagement and the learning that occurs outside of the classroom.”

Mays had served as a member of the A&M-San Antonio University Advisory Board since 2014. In 2010, he was honored with the Dream Maker Award by the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation as part of the annual Dream Maker Scholarship and Award Ceremony. The celebration is the Foundation’s signature fundraising event to support student scholarships.

The legacy of Mays and his family at A&M-San Antonio continues to positively impact the lives of students. The Mays Center, celebrating its five-year anniversary, continues to provide enhanced learning opportunities and access to resources and relationships to develop students into careerready and community-minded graduates.

Golf Tournament 2023 Scholarship

Enjoy a great day of golf, supporting the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation, by registering for the 2023 Scholarship Golf Tournament. Our golf tournament was created to help generate scholarship support for qualified, well-deserving A&M-San Antonio students.

Each participant will receive a goodie bag, enjoy a silent auction, the chance to win a NEW vehicle and much more! Since the Foundation’s inception, we’ve partnered with the University to raise more than $13 million in philanthropic support. During that time, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to more than 6,000 students. You can help transform students’ lives today.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Development Officer II Sabrina San Miguel at ssanmiguel@tamusa.edu or (210) 784-1124.

One University Way San Antonio, TX 78224

Festival de Cascarones Sunday, April 30

Join us for the annual Festival de Cascarones, the official finale to Fiesta® San Antonio! Free and open to the public, this event will feature live music, food, games and fun for the whole family — all day long! There will be a Kids Zone for the young ones and the event is pet-friendly (dogs must be leashed). Information on live performances, entertainment and activities will be announced at a later date.

Save the date now to close out Fiesta® San Antonio at Texas A&M University-San Antonio!