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Faculty Success, Diversity & Inclusion ¡Juntos al exito! Session 6 - June 29

College of Sciences Office of the Dean

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Phone: (956) 665-2404 (Edinburg)
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Guest Speakers - June 29th

Dr. Alan Earhart

Director of International Programs and Partnerships
Phone: (956) 665-3572
Email: alan.earhart@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Alan Earhart

Born and raised in Vancouver, Washington, Alan has more than a decade of leadership experience in international programs. He spent 10 years working in study abroad administrative roles in Italy most recently as the director of Georgetown University’s prestigious Villa Le Balze program near Florence, Italy. He also served as the inaugural resident director of the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Sicily. Alan was drawn to international education because of his experience as a first-generation college student studying abroad in Florence, Italy. He understands the profound impact that this experience can have on all students. He is motivated to serve students and provide academic experiences that improve student success. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Italian Literature as well as a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering. Alan started at UTRGV on June 20th, 2016.


Director of International Programs and Partnerships
International Programs and Partnerships
Email: alan.earhart@utrgv.edu
Office of Global Engagement
Phone: (956) 665-3572

Dr. Rupesh Kariyat

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
Phone: (956) 665-2953
Email: rupesh.kariyat@utrgv.edu
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Dr. Rupesh Kariyat

Dr. Rupesh Kariyat is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. He received his MS from the University of Wyoming, Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University, and had his Post-Doctoral training at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH, Zurich). Dr. Kariyat’s research focuses on species interactions mediated by insects and plants, addressing questions on mating system evolution, ecological interactions, and their underlying molecular mechanisms. The long-term goal of Dr. Kariyat’s research program is to identify and develop sustainable pest management strategies, thereby reducing the use of harmful pesticides. Dr. Kariyat has published more than 40 peer-reviewed research articles, and since joining UTRGV, Dr. Kariyat’s research (as Principal and Co-Principal Investigator) program has received more than $3.3 million in grants including funding from agencies such as USDA-NIFA, USDA-ARS, ASPB, ConTex to name a few. Dr. Kariyat is also a recipient of the University of Texas Regents Rising Star Award, CoS Excellence in Research Award, and Teaching awards from American Society for Plant Biologists, and Entomological Society of America. Dr. Kariyat teaches undergraduate Entomology, Ecology, and graduate Plant-Microbe Interactions and Insect Ecology classes. More details about Kariyat lab, students, teaching, and outreach activities can be found at https://phenotype2017.wixsite.com/kariyatlab.


Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
Department of Biology
Email: rupesh.kariyat@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-2953

Maria Leonard

Assistant Professor of Practice, VCoB
Phone: (956) 665-4068
Email: maria.leonard@utrgv.edu
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Maria Leonard

Mrs. Maria Leonard is a professor of practice and internship coordinator for the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV VCoBE). She specializes in teaching upper-level business management courses in topics ranging from Business Ethics, Sustainable Economic Development, Stakeholder Management, and Organizational Behavior.  

Mrs. Leonard serves as faculty advisor for the UTRGV chapter of a global business student organization called Enactus, which in its first year of service was recognized as Rookie of the Year and has won the title of regional champion every year since its inception and were selected top 16 finalists during the National Expo and Competition in 2021. She now sits on the National Faculty Advisory Board for this Organization.

Mrs. Leonard has over 20 years of management experience in senior management positions in apparel manufacturing in the USA and Mexico and received her MBA from the University of Texas Pan American in the year 2000.  She also holds a certification for Project Management in the Development Sector (PMD).

She has served as trainer for the youth entrepreneurship program sponsored by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Additionally, she acts as a corporate trainer for the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center at UTRGV and serves as a management consultant for a wide range of nonprofits and businesses in the Rio Grande Valley and Houston, TX.

She has been the recipient of the UTRGV Excellence in Education for Sustainable Development Award, the Women Empowerment Award by the Association of Accountants and Business Professionals at UTRGV, and UTRGV Faculty Advisor of the Year in 2020.

Additionally, she is very active in the community, having served as Board President for The Hidalgo County League of Women Voters, and Board President for Hidalgo County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Casa Hogar MAMi, a boys and girls orphanage located in Reynosa, Mexico, as well as Proyecto Desarrollo Humano in Penitas TX, and is president of the Business Advisory Council for the PSJA Career and Technical Education Division.
Assistant Professor of Practice, VCoB
Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Email: maria.leonard@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 665-4068

Nora B. Sustaita

Transportation Security Officer for the Transportation Security Administration
Email: nbsustaita@gmail.com
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Nora B. Sustaita

Nora B. Sustaita is a first-generation graduate student who completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Psychology in 2019 from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). She was born in Hidalgo, Texas, is a native to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and presently serves the public as a Transportation Security Officer in the Transportation Security Administration. Nora is currently pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Nursing at South Texas College (STC) and is expected to graduate in December 2022. Her goals are to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and serve the veterans of the RGV. Attending STC and performing her clinical rotations in the hospitals residing in the Lower RGV grants her the opportunity to gain experience and insight of the treatment and predominant factors affecting veterans throughout the healthcare system.


Transportation Security Officer for the Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
Email: nbsustaita@gmail.com

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