Congratulations to our 2022 Excellence in Online Learning Conference Award Recipients! Thank you for all you do to improve online and hybrid education at UTRGV.

Excellence in Online Teaching Award

Dr. Alyssa Cavazos
Associate Professor
Department of Writing and Language Studies

Dr. Alyssa G. Cavazos is an Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy Studies in the Department of Writing and Language Studies and Director for the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She teaches undergraduate and graduate coursework in writing studies. Her pedagogical and scholarly interests include: language difference in the teaching of writing, translingual writing across communities, professional development in higher education, and border rhetorics. She was awarded the University of Texas System 2017 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, the 2017 UTRGV Excellence Award in Teaching, and serves as a fellow in the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers. She is committed to designing linguistically inclusive pedagogies, which can lead to students’ academic success across academic disciplines in higher education.​

Excellence in Hybrid Teaching Award

Dr. Edgar Corpuz
Associate Professor ​
Department of Physics and Astronomy ​

​Dr. Edgar Corpuz is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He received his Ph.D. in Physics at Kansas State University with research specialization in physics education. He teaches a wide variety of courses including lower and upper division physics courses, and graduate courses for the MSIS in Science and Technology and Ph.D. in Physics degree programs. He is an advocate of student-centered teaching techniques which include interactive lecture-demonstration, Just-in-Time Teaching, and team-based learning (TBL). He is part of the inaugural cohort of the UTRGV Faculty Affordability Advocate and was awarded the 2021 Open Educational Resources Award and the 2021 College of Science Excellence in Teaching Award.

Innovation Award

Dr. Jorge Canchola
Lecturer I​
Department of Biology

Dr. Jorge Canchola is a lecturer in the Department of Biology and Director of the Pre-Health Professions Office. He studied Business at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Design at Parsons School of Design in NYC prior to studying Medicine at the Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas. Before joining UTRGV, he worked as a physician in Mexico while also teaching at UTB and UAT. He has taught asynchronous, synchronous, hybrid and face-to-face Human Anatomy and Physiology lectures and labs. He implements innovative, learner-centered evidence-based practices in his courses. His goal is to deliver exceptional learning experiences and impart lessons that will last a lifetime.   ​