Who to contact?
Administrative Associates
Julie Perez – Administrative Assistant I, ESCNE 2.368, 956-665-5223. Julie.perez@utrgv.edu, Second Administrative Assistant to the Department Chair and the Biology Department. Julie is the point person for Biology students to address questions about overrides, course availability, questions about advising, degree plans, or course substitutions.
Diana Ocañas – Administrative Assistant II, ESCNE 2.368, 956-665-3537, diana.ocanas@utrgv.edu, First Administrative Assistant to the Department Chair and the Biology Department. Diana also helps with handling student concerns such as overrides, etc., but she primarily deals with faculty budgets, accounting, etc.
Faculty
Dr. Fred Zaidan - Professor, Chair of the Biology Department, ESCNE 2.360, Frederic.zaidan@utrgv.edu
Dr. Zaidan’s PhD is from the University of Arkansas, he studies snakes and their physiology.
The Department Chair is the administrative position that oversees all faculty and students in the Biology department. He works with students who are struggling to improve their GPA and is the final decision-maker on most overrides, course substitutions, etc.
Dr. Kathryn E. Perez - Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Biology, ESCNE 1.316, Kathryn.perez@utrgv.edu
Dr. Perez’s PhD is from the University of Alabama, she studies snails and student learning of evolution. The role of Undergraduate Program Coordinator is to assist the Chair in developing curriculum and other activities that help students succeed in the biology program.
Dr. Robert K. Dearth, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator, Biology, ESCNE 1.312, Robert.dearth@utrgv.edu
Dr. Dearth’s PhD is from Texas A&M University, he studies hormonal regulation of breast cancer development. The role of Graduate Program Coordinator is to assist the Chair in developing policies, curriculum, and helping students enter and succeed in the biology graduate program.
For future reference, current contact info can always be found here:
http://www.utrgv.edu/biology/faculty/edinburg/index.htm
http://www.utrgv.edu/biology/faculty/brownsville/index.htm
Biology faculty’s research: http://www.utrgv.edu/biology/research/research-fields/index.htm