Announcement of Vice Provost for International Study Programs

Dear Colleagues: 

With the growth of UTRGV, our international presence and scholarly programming have also advanced, creating opportunities for our faculty and students to do even more.  It is for this reason that I have created the position of Vice Provost for International Study Programs (formerly the Office of Global Affairs). This position represents a strategic evolution of the university’s Office of Global Affairs and is integral to enhancing UTRGV's global engagement, research, and teaching missions. 

To lead these efforts, I am pleased to inform you that I have appointed Dr. Jaime Ortiz to the position of Vice Provost for International Study Programs, effective Monday, November 18, 2024.  It was Dr. Ortiz’s leadership of the Office of Global Affairs, since September of 2022, that informed my decision to elevate international study programs to that of a vice provost.      

This Vice Provost will be responsible for providing the Office of International Study Programs with the vision, strategy, and operational leadership to accomplish our objectives in cultivating study aboard opportunities with our current and future international education partners.  This administrative position will weave together the existing programs under the Office of Global Affairs, such as Education Abroad and Global Initiatives, to facilitate even stronger relationships with international institutions and organizations. Our success in these areas will be critical as we further embody the established identity and mission of UTRGV.   

Dr. Ortiz is a Professor of International Business in the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship. His international affairs experience is extensive, with appointments in international organizations, private corporations, and non-government entities in economic and business matters in more than thirty-six countries. He has directly contributed to strategic initiatives for the United Nations Development Program, Inter-American Development Bank, Organization of American States, Pre-investment Organization of Latin America and the Caribbean, and The World Bank.  This administrative and leadership experience makes Dr. Ortiz an ideal leader to take on this new venture. 

I want to thank Dr. Ortiz for accepting the challenge of this unique role at UTRGV.  We welcome Dr. Ortiz as a member of the Academic Affairs leadership team.    

Sincerely,

Luis H. Zayas, Ph.D.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs