In the News
UTRGV Brownsville lecturer named faculty advisor of the year
May 28, 2021 (my rgv news)— After being an entrepreneur and a leader for several years, Sylvia Robles started her teaching career in Monterrey, Mexico, not knowing that one day she would end up in Brownsville creating one of the most successful programs UTRGV hosts, which is the “Adopt a Startup,” where students collaborate with local businesses that are starting their entrepreneurship journey.. ..… Read more
UTSA, UT institutions receive $5 million to expand Blackstone LaunchPad
Jan 27, 2021 (texas Border)—There’s no shortage of innovative and entrepreneurial students at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) . ..… Read more
It might be a short-term band-aid'; Economists unsure if forcing a return to work is the right move
May 18, 2021 (Valleycentral.com)— HARLINGEN, Texas (KVEO) — Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday Texas would no longer be giving additional COVID-19 unemployment benefits starting June 26. . ..… Read more
Analysts see RGV Economy making gains
May 2021 (positive Valley news)— (VBR)—The Rio Grande Valley’s real estate market currently has a scarcity of existing homes for sale. Residents holding on to properties as the region and country exits out of an economy influenced by the pandemic. . ..… Read more
Rio Grande Valley realtors say demand for homes is higher than supply
April 27, 2021 (Valley Central)—HARLINGEN , Texas (KVEO)—Housing prices across the Rio Grande Valley are on an upwards trend, but realtors say there are some costs that come with having more buyers than sellers. . ..… Read more
The Best Online MBA in international business degree programs - intelligent
2021 (intelligent)—The Best Online MAB in International Business Degree Programs . ..… Read more
DesignRush Global Student Design Competition - 2021 Winners
March 30, 2021 (Trend & Insights)— DesignsRush expert panel of judges included in-house and partner agency UX, UI, and graphic design experts. ..… Read more
Lone Star College selects melissa Gonzalez as kingwood campus president
Apr 12, 2021 (Houston business journal)— Lone Star College has hired Melissa Gonzalez as the president of LSC – Kingwood. ..… Read more
Brownsville residents express concern about gentrification caused by spaceX
Apr 7, 2021 (Valley Central)— BROWNSVILLE, Texas (KVEO) – Recent SpaceX activity has sparked a wide range of emotions in the community. ..… Read more
Chess team wins it third president's cup
Apr 6, 2021 (texas border business)— Two of the four members of the winning President's Cup chess team from UTRGV are students in the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Vladimir Belous is a Finance major and Kamil Dragun is a Management major. ..… Read more
Small businesses move toward online sales as fewer people shop in-person this holiday season
Nov 27, 2020 (Valley Central)— UTRGV’s Marketing Department Chair Dr. Michael Minor says in today’s age, it is essential for small businesses to have a web presence in order to compete with national retailers.… Read more
RGV Angel Network seeks to expand investment opportunities
Nov 27, 2020 (The Monitor)— Three years ago Chad Nunnery and his business, Composite Access Products, had a problem. Martin, a former business professor at UTPA, says in many ways Nunnery’s success is what the network was founded to fuel.… Read more
UTRGV intern program offers help to local businesses
Oct 31, 2020 (Valley Morning Star)— The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) is offering paid internships to students in the UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship to help out small businesses that have had to cut staff because of the coronavirus pandemic.… Read more
Governor Abbott Appoints Betancourt To Texas Facilities Commission
Sept 15, 2020 (Houston Style Magazine)— Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Eddy Betancourt to the Texas Facilities Commission for a term set to expire on January 31, 2023. Betancourt received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and International Business Studies from The University of Texas Pan American.… Read more
RGV may receive fewer winter Texans due to border closure
Sept 12, 2020 (HR Daily Advisor)— Dr. Michael Minor is the chair of UTRGV’s Marketing Department and agrees the Valley may be able to make up a significant portion of its winter Texan population stuck in Canada. But it depends on how the trend of COVID-19 infections plays out.… Read more
Before We Bring Them Back, Are They Worth Rehiring?
Aug 28, 2020 (HR Daily Advisor)— The term “boomerang employee” refers to a worker who has left your company only to be rehired sometime later. Michael C. Campion (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), was part of a study that analyzed data on 30,714 employees at a large retail organization with locations throughout the United States who initially were hired/rehired into the management trainee position.… Read more
Trump called the USMCA the best trade deal ever. Analysts say it's not likely to help Texas during the pandemic
Aug 12, 2020 (The Texas Tribune)— The COVID-19 pandemic has clobbered the Texas economy and trade with Mexico, clouding the trade deal’s potential impacts.Salvador Contreras, a professor of border economics at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said that data from May brought bad news for Texas and the rest of the country. … Read more
Bolivia's senate approved 'miracle mineral solution' — a toxic bleach with no medical use — as a treatment for COVID-19
July 16, 2020 (Business Insider)— Professor Diego Escobari, a Bolivian economics professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande, told Business Insider that alternative and traditional medicines have grown more popular as the pandemic worsened. … Read more
Things could be bleak for many months, if not years
May 25, 2020 (Rio Grande Guardian)— UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Center for Border Economic Studies predicts Texas’ current economic woes will last many months, if not years.The group produces a report on the economy every quarter. The authors are Dr. Salvador Contreras, associate professor of economics at UTRGV, and Dr. Rogelio Sáenz, professor of demography at the University of Texas San Antonio. … Read more
United Way of Greater Houston Board of Trustees Elects H-E-B Executive Armando Perez as Chair
April 22, 2020 (Woodlandsonline)— A native Texan, Perez earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas-Pan American. In addition to his board role at United Way, Perez currently sits on the Kinder Institute Advisory Board and has previously served as chairman of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and as a board member of the Houston Food Bank and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Foundation. … Read more
Business law expert warns against “Blessing Loom” scheme
April 21, 2020 (ValleyCentral)— Business Law Lecturer James A. Gleason with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurshipgives some insight … Read more
UTRGV’s Chirchir turning heads, shining in cross country, track
March 28, 2020 (The Monitor)—Abraham Chirchir is an Accounting Major at UTRGV. He’s won the WAC indoor 5,000-meter championship three straight years and won the indoor 3,000-meter run this year. … Read more
Orlando Castañeda named BBVA USA McAllen City President
March 10, 2020 (Yahoo Finance)—A Rio Grande Valley native, Castañeda comes to the bank for the second time after six years working in corporate client banking and specialized industries with a financial institution in Houston. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley, where he also obtained an MBA. … Read more
Valley banker appointed to Dallas Fed Reserve board
January 09, 2020 (The Brownsville Herald)—Joe Quiroga of Edinburg was elected to the board of directors by member banks of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He will serve a three-year term, ending on Dec. 31, 2022. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas- Pan American. … Read more
UTRGV offers resources to help grow small businesses
December 04, 2019 (The Brownsville Herald)—Lou Castro sat next to a small barbecue pit holding containers of TXQ Rubs, at the UTRGV Community Engagement & Student Success Building in Edinburg. … Read more
Winter and ‘converted’ Texans fuel South Texas economy
September 30, 2019 (cOUNT ON NEWS 2)—A survey of Winter Texans done in 2018 by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley found that most indicated they planned to return, and many would consider making South Texas their permanent home. … Read more
Business vision inspires UTRGV alums to open Main Street Deli in Brownsville
September 26, 2019 (UTRGV NewsRoom)—A year ago, UTRGV alums Hector Zavala and his fiancé, Diana Medina, saw an opportunity. … Read more
UTRGV business dean shares vision and motivation
September 24, 2019 (The Monitor)—Lance Nail keeps a personable approach in leadership, listening for input before making decisions as dean at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. … Read more
City of McAllen hires new finance director
September 10, 2019 (Valley Central)—Sergio Villasana Jr, was hired as the new finance director for the city of Mcallen.Villasana earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Brownsville. … Read more
UTRGV launches hospitality, tourism degree
August 08, 2019 (The monitor)—The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is moving further along a planned and approved degree program for hospitality and tourism. … Read more
Ask the Experts: Best Business-Credit-Card Practices
July 27, 2019 (Wallehub)—Dr. Ahmed Elnahas, an assistant professor in economics and fiance at UTRGV, gives more insight on the Best Business-Credit Card Practices … Read more
Be Our Guest
July 26, 2019 (UTRGV Newsroom)—In much the spirit of Lumiére’s grand song, “Be Our Guest,” UTRGV has launched a hospitality and tourism initiative designed to teach students about serving guests with style and meeting their needs with efficiency … Read more
Jaime Tijerina appointed to Thirteenth Court of Appeals
July 24, 2019 (KVEO)—Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Jaime Tijerina, whome received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from The University of Texas Pan American, to the Thirteenth Court of Appeals for a term set. … Read more
A teaching hotel is in the works
June 20, 2019 (Brownsville Herald)—A new hotel that will have 138 rooms and serve as a teaching facility is being discussed with the City of Brownsville, developers and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. … Read more
Security First Federal Credit Union names new president/CEO
June 17, 2019 (CU Insight)—Security First Federal Credit Union named Erasmo Ramos as its new president/CEO effective Monday, June 24. Ramos earned a master’s degree in business administration and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. … Read more
Students represent UTRGV at largest university model UN conference
June 11, 2019 (UTRGV NewsRoom)—Carlo Flores, a International Business major and seven other UTRGV students, took part in the 2019 National Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference in New York City in April, participating as delegates in committees and discussing international issues of far-reaching impact. … Read more
Academics weigh in on post-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico
June 06, 2019 (BayState banner)— Marie Mora, a professor at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, said that Puerto Rico’s debt crisis reached a high point in 2006, and since then, the island has seen only one year of positive economic growth. … Read more
Tariff on Mexico would "Have a Detrimental Impact"
June 05, 2019 (KVEO)—"When President Trump decided to impose these tariffs, he basically said, 'I don't care what trade agreements we have in place.' Says UTRGV Associate Professor and economist Dr. Salvador Contreras. "This supersedes those agreements it doesn't matter if we have NAFTA still in effect or the USMCA, it would matter." … Read more
Local Economist Speaks on Tariffs Proposed on Mexico
June 04, 2019 (KVEO)—"Right here in the Rio Grande Valley, we speak to Dr. Salvador Contreras, a UTRGV associate professor and local economist who has been tracking the tariffs President Trump has made in China. … Read more
RGV not thrilled with Trump’s new tariffs on Mexican goods
June 01, 2019 (The Monitor)—Salvador Contreras, an economist who runs the border economics program at UTRGV, summed it up quickly: “It’s bad, it’s bad.” … Read more
Recently appointed Robert C. Vackar College Dean Lance Nail looks forward to arrival at UTRGV
May 22, 2019 (San Diego Union-Tribune)—Lance Nail’s decides to step down as dean of SDSU’s Fowler College of Business and he announced that he’s taking a deanship at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. … Read more
UTRGV legacy alumna says business degree helps provide skills for running her flamenco dance company
May 17, 2019 (UTRGV Newsroom)— UTRGV legacy alumna Mercy Renteria’s love for dance began when she was just 3 years old. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from UTPA, recognizing that even a dancer would need business sense. … Read more
MBA grad survives health challenge, now helps other UTRGV students succeed
May 7, 2019 (UTRGV Newsroom)—When UTRGV graduate student Griselda Muñoz walks across the stage May 10 to accept her master’s degree in business, she knows the sources of her strength will be sitting in the audience – her 13-year old twins, Christian and Dominic Peña. … Read more
UTRGV Honors Student-Athletes at V Awards
May 6, 2019 (KRGV)—Two VCoBE Business Students, Ragni Steen Knudsen (International Business) and Abraham Chirchir (Accountancy) received the Student-Athlete of the Year award, the latter being a two time recipient. … Read more
Economic impact on bridge delays
May 6, 2019 (Valley Central)— UTRGV here's an impact to the waiting that sometimes people forget to put a dollar value to it. Sometimes we think in terms of casual from the financial perspective, but we forget the dollar value with the opportunity cost. The time waiting to take place, there's a cost to your time," Delgado said, a UTRGV Economics Professor … Read more
Border crisis may soon impact fruit, vegetable prices, experts say
April 25, 2019 (Fox News)— If this keeps up, it could lead to everyday American consumers finding produce more expensive with the supply drying up. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley economist, Salavador Contreras, said Americans are likely to feel the effects of these longer wait times. … Read more
New UTRGV online graduate certificate focuses on global sustainability management
April 3, 2019 (UTRGV Newsroom)— Dr. Edith Galy, UTRGV associate professor of international business and entrepreneurship, has helped develop a new graduate certificate program in international sustainability management, under the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship, aimed at preparing students for careers in international sustainability management. … Read more
UTRGV alumna finds success mixing her two passions: marketing and fashion
Febuary 21, 2019 (UTRGV Newsroom)—Dr. Ngoc Cindy Pham, an alumna of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, she was a doctoral graduate of the UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, where she earned a Ph.D. in marketing in 2018. She is now an assistant professor of marketing and international business at Brooklyn College in New York. … Read more
UTRGV: Men’s Intramural Flag Football team claims national championship title
January 18, 2019 (UTRGV Newsroom)—For the men’s intramural flag football team at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, there was no better way to ring in the New Year than by winning the national title. The team was led by AJ Garza, who is pursuing a Masters in Accountancy. Another team member was Sal Martinez who is an undergraduate in accounting. They earned the 2018 National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) National Flag Football Championship title during a national tournament held in Pensacola, FL., Jan. 3-6. … Read more
Meet Joseph Marquez, a UTRGV finance major
January 17, 2019 (UTRGV Newsroom)—I decided to major in finance because of my love for numbers. … Read more
UTRGV Online MBA alum scores profession dealing with international business for San Antonio
January 8, 2019 (UTRGV Newsroom)— UTRGV alumnus Jean-Luc Mette is no stranger to international borders. “I don’t think I would’ve gotten my current role without the MBA from UTRGV,” Mette said. … Read more
Rio Grande Valley, TEXAS | Nov 23, 2020—The season for giving has begun, but for UTRGV student organization Enactus, philanthropy is a year-round mission. … Read more
Rio Grande Valley, TEXAS | Nov 09, 2020—The UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship will offer a Master of Science in Global Commerce accelerated online program starting January 2021. … Read more