Dean

Dean of the College of Health Professions 
Dr. Michael Lehker

Dr. Michael Lehker, Founding Dean of the College of Health Professions, is a professor of microbiology in the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Lehker has taught various courses in microbiology, genetics, developmental biology, and molecular biology at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has over 20 years of teaching and research experience at majority Hispanic institutions. He maintains an active research laboratory studying the role of iron acquisition and utilization in the pathogenesis of the sexually transmitted protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. 

Dr. Lehker is committed to enhancing and promoting allied health professional students' education, research, and clinical practice at the College of Health Professions. A particular focus is on innovative educational approaches in healthcare education to enhance student engagement and effectiveness and the establishment of new programs to increase participation of Rio Grande Valley students in the allied health, medical, and biomedical workforce. Building research capacity is another passion of Dr. Lehker.  

Dr. Lehker received his undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso. He received his Ph.D. in microbiology from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He began his work in the RGV in 2003 when he joined the faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College. Before joining UTRGV, he also held faculty positions at UTEP and UTHSCSA. 

Email:  michael.lehker@utrgv.edu