skip to main content
UTRGV The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Main Menu
Donate Now Directory myUTRGV

You are here:

  1. Team

UTRGV Chess Program Office of Student Life and Dean of Students

  • Home
  • Accomplishments
  • Tournaments
    • Community Tournaments
    • Summer Camps
    • 2025 South Texas State Grade Championships
    • 2025 Texas State Girls Championships
  • Team
  • Instruction
  • Contact Us

Contact Us

Chess Program
Brownsville Campus, Casa Bella 633
Email: chess@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 882-5761
Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

Spring 2026 UTRGV Chess Team Roster

To see a particular full profile, click on the person's photo.

Bartek Macieja, M.S.Phys.

Chess Coach, Chess Grandmaster
Phone: (956) 882-5761
Email: bartek.macieja@utrgv.edu
Read More

Bartek Macieja, M.S.Phys.

  • Curriculum Vitae
Chess Coach, Chess Grandmaster
Chess Program
Email: bartek.macieja@utrgv.edu
Casa Bella 633
Phone: (956) 882-5761

Colt Smith-Munoz

Program Manager
Phone: (956) 882-5761
Email: colt.smithmunoz@utrgv.edu
Read More

Colt Smith-Munoz

Anthony "Colt" Smith-Munoz has BS in Pure Mathematics and is UTRGV alumni.

He first learned to play chess back 13 years ago through outreaches hosted by the very UTRGV Chess Program he now works for. Chess has had a big influence on him and in the RGV over the past few decades, and as Program Manager he hopes to continue and expand that legacy both in UTRGV and the Valley as a whole.

Program Manager
Chess Program
Email: colt.smithmunoz@utrgv.edu
Casa Bella 633
Phone: (956) 882-5761

Gleb Dudin

Grandmaster
Email: gleb.dudin01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Gleb Dudin

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Junior
  • Program: Psychology
  • College: Liberal Arts
  • Department: Psychological Science
  • Major: Psychology
  • USCF: 2646
  • FIDE: 2574
  • Title: Grandmaster
  • Hometown: Moscow, Russia
Grandmaster
Email: gleb.dudin01@utrgv.edu

Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux

Grandmaster
Email: shawn.rodriguelemieux01@utr...
Read More

Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Senior
  • Program: Biomedical Sciences
  • College: Health Professions
  • Department: Health & Biomedical Sciences
  • Major: Biomedical Sciences
  • USCF: 2529
  • FIDE: 2516
  • Title: Grandmaster
  • Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Grandmaster
Email: shawn.rodriguelemieux01@utrgv.edu

Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso

Grandmaster
Email: jose.cardoso01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Freshman
  • Program: Business Administration
  • College: Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Department: Marketing
  • Major: Marketing
  • USCF: 2578
  • FIDE: 2524
  • Title: Grandmaster
  • Hometown: Cali, Colombia
Grandmaster
Email: jose.cardoso01@utrgv.edu

Santiago Avila Pavas

Grandmaster
Email: santiago.avilapavas01@utrgv...
Read More

Santiago Avila Pavas

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Freshman
  • Program: Computer Engineering
  • College: Engineering and Computer Science
  • Department: Electrical Engineering
  • Major: Computer Engineering
  • USCF: N/A
  • FIDE: 2490
  • Title: Grandmaster
  • Hometown: Palmira, Colombia
Grandmaster
Email: santiago.avilapavas01@utrgv.edu

Ekin Baris Ozenir

International Master
Email: ekinbaris.ozenir01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Ekin Baris Ozenir

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Senior
  • Program: Computer Engineering
  • College: Engineering and Computer Science
  • Department: Electrical Engineering
  • Major: Computer Engineering
  • Minor: Applied Statistics & Data Science
  • USCF: 2494
  • FIDE: 2426
  • Title: International Master
  • Hometown: Mersin, Turkey
International Master
Email: ekinbaris.ozenir01@utrgv.edu

Jakub Fus

International Master
Email: jakub.fus01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Jakub Fus

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Senior
  • Program: Psychology
  • College: Liberal Arts
  • Department: Psychological Science
  • Major: Psychology
  • USCF: 2514
  • FIDE: 2442
  • Title: International Master
  • Hometown: Warsaw, Poland
International Master
Email: jakub.fus01@utrgv.edu

Aziz Degenbaev

FIDE Master
Email: aziz.degenbaev01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Aziz Degenbaev

  • Level: Junior
  • Program: N/A
  • College: N/A
  • Department: N/A
  • Major: N/A
  • USCF: 2390
  • FIDE: 2291
  • Title: FIDE Master
  • Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia
FIDE Master
Email: aziz.degenbaev01@utrgv.edu

UTRGV Chess Program

Phone: (956) 882-5761
Email: chess@utrgv.edu
Read More

UTRGV Chess Program

Email: chess@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 882-5761

Martyna Starosta

Woman FIDE Master
Email: martyna.starosta01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Martyna Starosta

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Freshman
  • Program: Pre BBA in Economics
  • College: Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Department: Department of Economics
  • Major: Economics
  • USCF: N/A
  • FIDE: 2185
  • Title: Woman FIDE Master
  • Hometown: Jejkowice, Poland
Woman FIDE Master
Email: martyna.starosta01@utrgv.edu

Rachel Palmero Martinez

Woman FIDE Master
Email: rachel.palmeromartinez01@ut...
Read More

Rachel Palmero Martinez

  • Level: Post Baccalaureate Undergrad
  • Classification: Post Baccalaureate Undergrad
  • Program: Mass Communication
  • College: Liberal Arts 
  • Department: Communication
  • Major: Mass Communication
  • Concentration: Broadcast
  • USCF: 1979
  • FIDE: 1903
  • Title: Woman FIDE Master
  • Hometown: Havana, Cuba
Woman FIDE Master
Email: rachel.palmeromartinez01@utrgv.edu

Manuela Hernandez Bermudez

Woman FIDE Master
Email: manuela.hernandez01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Manuela Hernandez Bermudez

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Freshman
  • Program: Business Administration
  • College: Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Department: Marketing
  • Major: Marketing
  • USCF: 2043
  • FIDE: 1941
  • Title: Woman FIDE Master
  • Hometown: Tulua, Colombia
Woman FIDE Master
Email: manuela.hernandez01@utrgv.edu

Lauren Tovias

Untitled
Email: lauren.tovias01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Lauren Tovias

  • Level: Undergraduate
  • Classification: Senior
  • Program: Multidisciplinary Studies
  • College: Liberal Arts
  • Department: Interdisc Prog & Cmmnty Engage
  • Major: Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Minors: Marketing, Business Administration, Psychology
  • USCF: 1278
  • Hometown: Harlingen, USA
Untitled
Email: lauren.tovias01@utrgv.edu

Jump to Top

UTRGV

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • CARES, CRRSAA and ARP Reporting
  • Site Policies
  • Contact UTRGV
  • Required Links
  • Fraud Reporting
  • Senate Bill 18 Reporting
  • UTRGV Careers
  • Clery Act Reports
  • Web Accessibility
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • Reporting Sexual Misconduct