Faculty Research Projects

Dr. Jesus 'Chuey' Abrego

Dr. Abrego is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership with the Department of Organization and School Leadership at UTRGV. Before his work in higher education, he served as a middle school science teacher, and in numerous capacities at the Texas Education Agency in the departments of Statewide Staff Development Program with the Office of Curriculum, Assessment, and Professional Development; Middle School Education and Migrant Education. Also, he served as an assistant principal in an inner-city urban high school, and as a middle school principal in Texas. He regularly presents at national and state conferences. His areas of interest and research include professional learning communities and teacher leadership. He is a coauthor, of Lead with Me: A Principal’s Guide to Teacher Leadership.

Dr. Israel Aguilar

Originally from the Rio Grande Valley, Dr. Aguilar earned a B.A. and M.A. in English literature from The University of Texas at Brownsville. He also holds a Ph.D. in education with a major in school improvement from Texas State University-San Marcos. In addition, he holds Texas educator licensure in the following areas: superintendent, principal, and classroom teacher. Dr. Aguilar's professional experience include serving as a school administrator in Dallas, and as a teacher in Austin and Brownsville.

Dr. Alejandro Garcia

Dr. Alejandro Garcia is an assistant professor in the Organization and School Leadership department. Dr. Garcia has taught both at the elementary and secondary levels and has served as a Technology Training Specialist for McAllen ISD, Edinburg CISD, and Region 1. In addition to being a Technology Specialist, Dr. Garcia's administrative experiences include being Technology/Library Services Coordinator for Mission and Edinburg school districts. Dr. Garcia’s research publications and interest cover Technology leadership, teaching in Higher Education, and Distance Learning.

Dr. Federico Guerra

Dr. Federico Guerra is an Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership Program at UTRGV who received his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University at Kingsville in 2009. Dr. Guerra teaches in the master’s program with teaching interests in the areas of effective educational leadership, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, superintendency, alternative education programs, and teacher instruction and effectiveness. Before coming to UTRGV, Dr. Guerra worked in public education for 15 years as a teacher, science department chair, assistant principal, and administrator for at-risk programs. Dr. Guerra is the plenary representative for the University Council for Educational Administration, and his research interests include adolescent mental illnesses, school improvement, curriculum development and implementation, and at-risk students. He has been a member of five dissertation committees since arriving in 2013 to the university and currently advises three doctoral students.

Dr. Rosalinda Hernandez

Dr. Hernandez is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership Program who received her Ph.D. in Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin in 1996. Before coming to the University, Dr. Hernandez worked in public schools as an associate superintendent in high schools, assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, and elementary school teacher. Dr. Hernandez was awarded the Bill & Melinda Gates Grant, a $1.5 award for High School Redesign Planning, in Austin, Texas, and the College of Education Collaborative Research Grant (CRG), in May 2008. She teaches in both the master’s and doctoral programs with teaching interests in the areas of curriculum development, school Principalship, school community relations, school support services, an internship in Principalship, and organizational leadership. Dr. Hernandez’s research interests include issues in the area of curriculum development, high school reform and leadership in redesigned high schools, and principal mentoring. She has been a chair and member of six dissertation committees since 2008. Dr. Hernandez currently advises seven doctoral students.

Dr. Velma Menchaca

Dr. Menchaca is Chair and Professor in the Educational Leadership Program at UTRGV. In 1991, she earned her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Administration. She teaches in both the master’s and doctoral programs. Her teaching specialties include sociocultural foundations of education, administration of special instructional programs, curriculum development, instructional leadership, an internship in principalship, master’s thesis, and dissertation research and writing. Dr. Menchaca’s research interests include teachers as mentors and principals as mentors. Her specialization is in the areas of multicultural education, sociocultural issues, culturally relevant content, and curriculum development. She has worked in higher education for twenty-five years. Before working in higher education institutions, Dr. Menchaca worked as an elementary school teacher and English Department Chair in the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Menchaca has chaired five dissertation committees and has been committee member of ten dissertations and two theses. Dr. Menchaca currently advises eight doctoral students.

Dr. George Padilla

Dr. Padilla earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin in 1997, a Master's in Educational Administration from Pan American University, and a BS in Political Science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is currently an Assistant Professor in Organization and School Leadership at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Since 1997, he served as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas—Pan American teaching educational administration courses including statistics, principalship, curriculum, community relations, and personnel services. Dr. Padilla worked in the Texas Public Schools as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, central office administrator, and superintendent. As a teacher, he helped develop a DAEP touted as one of the best in the state of Texas. As a school principal, Dr. Padilla helped lead the evolution of an academically poor-performing junior high into an academically high-performing “Recognized” middle school. He also guided a high school achieve its highest performance levels in state accountability indicators and its first “Recognized” status. As a district administrator, he led the district's efforts in state accountability, data analysis, academic improvement planning, program evaluation, district policy development, organizational climate assessment, school safety and security, and student discipline programs. As a superintendent, he helped a small rural school district with a record of poor academic achievement meet state academic standards at all levels. As an assistant professor at UTRGV, Dr. Padilla’s research interests focus on the development, practice, and effects of successful school leadership. He hopes his research and teaching at UTRGV helps produce greater school leaders who will develop learning communities where every child can learn and develop to his/her maximum personal potential.

Dr. Marie Simonsson

Dr. Simonsson has been the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program Director at UTRGV since 2007, and she is an Associate Professor in her ninth year in the Educational Leadership Program. As a Doctoral Program Director, Dr. Simonsson is required to teach full-time, conduct research, and administer the campus program along with providing professional and community service. In 1998, she earned her doctorate from the University of Houston in the area of Educational Administration & Supervision, graduating Cum Laude. Dr. Simonsson has taught graduate and undergraduate classes at UTRGV in the departments of curriculum and instruction, health and kinesiology, educational psychology, and educational leadership. Her teaching specialties include research and evaluation, applied research, quantitative research, program evaluation, critical thinking and current issues, doctoral internship, and dissertation research and writing. Her research interests include Leadership issues in PK-16 educational settings. She has numerous articles and presentations focused on student assessment, programs for gifted and talented students, and culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Dr. Simonsson has chaired and co-chaired eight dissertation committees since 2008 and has been a member of seventeen different dissertation committees since 2002. She has also co-chaired and been a member of eleven completed Master’s thesis committees in the Department of Educational Psychology. Dr. Simonsson has worked in higher education for more than twenty years and currently advises six doctoral students.

Dr. Velma D. Menchaca is a Professor in the Organizational & School Leadership Department at UTRGV. In 1991, she earned her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Administration. She teaches in the teacher leadership program, higher education program, and the doctoral program. Her teaching specialties include sociocultural foundations and issues, special instructional programs, instructional leadership, and dissertation research and writing. Dr. Menchaca’s research interests focus on multicultural education, sociocultural issues, culturally relevant content, and higher education leadership. She has worked in university settings since September 1990. Before working in higher education institutions, Dr. Menchaca worked as a school teacher and English Department Chair. Dr. Menchaca has chaired 21 dissertation committees and has served on several other students’ dissertation committees. Dr. Menchaca currently advises eight doctoral students. 

Dr. Guerra, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Associate Professor in the College of Education at UTRGV, brings a wealth of experience to his role. He has been a dedicated faculty member at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) for 13 years. He spent four years as Department Chair for the Department of Organization & School Leadership. With a background in public education that spans 23 years, he has served in various capacities, from teacher and science department chair to assistant principal and administrator for at-risk programs. This extensive experience underscores his deep understanding of the educational system. 

At UTRGV, Dr. Guerra instructs within the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and the Master's Program in Higher Education Administration. His pedagogical focus includes effective educational leadership, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, alternative education, and higher education administration. 

As a figure in educational administration, Dr. Guerra's research interests span many impactful areas. These include Doctoral Education Dynamics, with a focus on doctoral student progression and the psychological factors affecting their success and retention, adolescent mental health, curriculum development, and interventions for at-risk students. This diverse expertise is a testament to his deep understanding of the educational landscape. 

Since joining UTRGV in 2013, Dr. Guerra has significantly contributed to doctoral mentoring, having chaired 7 dissertations and participated in 22 others. He currently oversees the dissertation work of 17 doctoral candidates and serves on 5 additional dissertation committees. 

Dr. Hilda Silva has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Organizational and School Leadership Department at UTRGV since 2015. 

Prior to her appointment as faculty, she served as Vice President for Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. She served as Vice President for 15 years and has varied experiences in higher education administration. 

Her EdD is from the University of Houston in Administration and Supervision.  

Her research agenda focuses on factors that impact retention and graduation at a Hispanic Serving Institutions.  She has presented data on the College Assistance Migrant Program and on the Student Employment Initiative and how those support programs impact students’ success.