Message from the Provost

Dear UTRGV community:

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Lilia Fuentes as Dean of the School of Nursing. Dr. Fuentes is an Associate Professor and has served as Interim Dean of the School of Nursing since Spring 2022. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA), UTRGV's legacy institution, and completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Fuentes has dedicated her career to academic nursing in the Rio Grande Valley and served as faculty at UTPA until the establishment of UTRGV in 2015. Since then, she has held leadership roles within the School of Nursing at UTRGV, including Associate Director of the program, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, and Director of Faculty Success and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Dr. Fuentes has the knowledge and experience to be an effective leader in the School of Nursing, and I am confident that she will continue to work collaboratively with the faculty, staff, and administration to ensure the success of our students. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Fuentes on her assignment to this new role. Your support will be paramount to her success as we begin the next chapter in the development and growth of UTRGV’s School of Nursing.

Sincerely

Luis H. Zayas, PhD
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs