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Office of Faculty Success & Diversity

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Office of Faculty Success and Diversity
Edinburg: ESSBL 5.101
Brownsville BLHSB 2.402
Email: facultysuccess@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-2111
Phone Alt: (956) 882-8978

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Faculty Success and Diversity Council

Faculty Success & Diversity Council

The council members were selected via a competitive process, and represent a diverse cross-section of our faculty community.  Each provide unique perspectives in furtherance of UTRGV’s core values of diversity, inclusion, and access.  

FSDC Council

Shawn Saladin

AVP for Faculty Affairs
Phone: (956) 665-3651
Email: shawn.saladin@utrgv.edu
Read More

Shawn Saladin

AVP for Faculty Affairs
Division of Health Affairs
Email: shawn.saladin@utrgv.edu
EHABW 2.230
Phone: (956) 665-3651

Michael Abebe

Professor
Phone: (956) 665-5225
Email: michael.abebe@utrgv.edu
Read More

Michael Abebe

Professor
Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship/Department of Management
Email: michael.abebe@utrgv.edu
ECOBE 124A
Phone: (956) 665-5225

Megan Birk

Professor
Phone: (956) 665-3321
Email: megan.birk@utrgv.edu
Read More

Megan Birk

Professor
College of Liberal Arts/Department of History
Email: megan.birk@utrgv.edu
ELABS 347B
Phone: (956) 665-3321

Kim Nguyen Finn

Lecturer II
Phone: (956) 665-7041
Email: kim.finn01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Kim Nguyen Finn


Lecturer II
Health Professions/School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: kim.finn01@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.266
Phone: (956) 665-7041

Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroy

Professor
Phone: (956) 665-7322
Email: teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu
Read More

Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroy


Professor
College of Sciences/Department of Biology
Email: teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu
ESCNE 4.364
Phone: (956) 665-7322

Javier Cavazos

Associate Professor
Phone: (956) 882-5709
Email: javier.cavazos@utrgv.edu
Read More

Javier Cavazos


Associate Professor
College of Education and P-16 Integration/Department of Counseling
Email: javier.cavazos@utrgv.edu
EEDUC 3.102
Phone: (956) 882-5709

Thuy Vu

Associate Professor
Phone: (956) 665-3729
Email: thuy.vu@utrgv.edu
Read More

Thuy Vu


Associate Professor
College of Engineering & Computer Science/Department of Civil Engineering
Email: thuy.vu@utrgv.edu
EACSB 1.207
Phone: (956) 665-3729

Daniel Hunter-Holly

Associate Professor
Phone: (956) 882-7178
Email: daniel.hunterholly@utrgv.edu
Read More

Daniel Hunter-Holly


Associate Professor
College of Fine Arts/School of Music
Email: daniel.hunterholly@utrgv.edu
BMUSCI 2.229
Phone: (956) 882-7178

Lilia A. Fuentes

Associate Professor
Phone: (956) 665-2384
Email: lilia.a.fuentes@utrgv.edu
Read More

Lilia A. Fuentes


Associate Professor
School of Nursing
Email: lilia.a.fuentes@utrgv.edu
EHABE 2.101
Phone: (956) 665-2384

Dagoberto Eli Ramirez

Lecturer III
Phone: (956) 665-3823
Email: dagoberto.ramirez@utrgv.edu
Read More

Dagoberto Eli Ramirez


Lecturer III
University College
Email: dagoberto.ramirez@utrgv.edu
ESTAC 2.101
Phone: (956) 665-3823

John Gonzalez

Associate Professor
Phone: (956) 665-3575
Email: john.gonzalez@utrgv.edu
Read More

John Gonzalez


Associate Professor
School of Social Work
Email: john.gonzalez@utrgv.edu
ESWOT 1.221
Phone: (956) 665-3575

Adela Valdez

Associate Dean Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity and Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, UTRGV SOM
Phone: (956) 296-1471
Email: Adela.Valdez@utrgv.edu
Read More

Adela Valdez

Associate Dean Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity and Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, UTRGV SOM
Email: Adela.Valdez@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 296-1471



Faculty Success & Diversity (FSDC) Sub-committees

The FSDC focused their recommendations in 2021-2022,  addressing previous faculty feedback in the areas of policies, programs, and processes aimed to support faculty across all disciplines and ranks. With a diverse array of backgrounds, areas of expertise, and strengths, the council worked in eight sub-committees to propel the work described below.

Non-Tenure Track Policy

Chair: Kim Finn (College of Health Professions) 

    kim.finn01@utrgv.edu

Members:  

Javier Cavazos (College of Education & P-12 Integration)
Lilia Fuentes (School of Nursing)
John Gonzalez (School of Social Work)
Dagoberto Ramirez (University College)

Charge: 

To review documents, review guidelines, and policies related to non-tenure-track faculty.

Current Project: 

After conducting research, the sub-committee developed a draft outline of a HOP policy based on current Non-Tenure Track Guidelines. They collaborated with a Faculty Senate sub-committee on developing a draft policy. 

Faculty Development Leave Policy

Chair: Thuy Vu (College of Engineering & Computer Science) 

    thuy.vu@utrgv.edu 

Members:  

Lilia Fuentes (School of Nursing)
John Gonzalez (School of Social Work)

Charge: 

To review documents, review guidelines, and policies related to Faculty Development Leave.

Project: 

After conducting research, the sub-committee developed a draft HOP policy based on the Faculty Development Leave Application & Guidelines. 

Policy

Chair: Megan Birk (College of Liberal Arts) 

   megan.birk@utrgv.edu 

Members: 

Michael Abebe (Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship)
Daniel Hunter-Holly (College of Fine Arts)
Thuy Vu (College of Engineering & Computer Science) 

Charge: 

To review policies that impact faculty and make recommendations for improvement.

Project: 

The sub-committee is currently reviewing HOP 06-502: Annual Faculty Evaluation for the purpose of making recommendations for improvement and collaborating with faculty shared governance units.

Awards and Recognition (Work Complete)

Chair: John Gonzalez (School of Social Work) 

    john.gonzalez@utrgv.edu

Members: 

Michael Abebe (Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship)
Teresa Feria Arroyo (College of Sciences)
Thuy Vu (College of Engineering & Computer Science) 

Charge: 

To review and provide recommendations on faculty awards and recognition programs.

Project: 

Advanced proposal to expand Faculty Excellence Awards at the institutional and college level. Two new Faculty Excellence Awards (Distinguished Scholar and Emerging Scholar) were instituted because of this proposal in Spring 2022.  

Faculty Development Landing Page (Work Complete)

Chair: Michael Abebe (Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship) 

   michael.abebe@utrgv.edu

Members: 

Teresa Feria Arroyo (College of Sciences)
Daniel Hunter-Holly (College of Fine Arts)
Dagoberto Ramirez (University College)
Thuy Vu (College of Engineering & Computer Science) 

Charge: 

To develop a centralized search tool for Faculty Development sessions hosted across campus.

Project:

Faculty Development searchable web page was completed and continues to be managed by the Office of Faculty Success & Diversity. 

Faculty Mentoring (Work Complete)

Co-Chairs: Adela Valdez (School of Medicine) & Teresa Feria Arroyo (College of Sciences) 

                 Adela.Valdez@utrgv.edu                    teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu

Members: 

Javier Cavazos (College of Education & P-16 Integration) 
Kim Finn (College of Health Professions) 
Lilia Fuentes (School of Nursing)
Dagoberto Ramirez (University College)

Charge: 

To examine current practices and provide a recommendation/outline of a model for new faculty mentoring. 

Project: 

Developed a Faculty Mentoring Excellence Workshop series to aid faculty mentors in developing a mentoring plan and then following up on the implementation and assessment. 

New Faculty Onboarding Program (Work Complete)

Co-Chairs: Adela Valdez (School of Medicine) & Teresa Feria Arroyo (College of Sciences) 

                 Adela.Valdez@utrgv.edu                    teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu

Members: 

Javier Cavazos (College of Education & P-16 Integration) 
Kim Finn (College of Health Professions) 
Lilia Fuentes (School of Nursing)
Dagoberto Ramirez (University College)

Charge: 

To outline and develop a year-long onboarding program for new faculty that provides opportunities for networking, professional advancement, and understanding more about UTRGV and the larger Rio Grande Valley communities. 

Project: 

A year-long program outline was completed and continues to be executed by the Office of Faculty Success & Diversity. 

Research Support (Work Complete)

Co-Chairs: Megan Birk (College of Liberal Arts) & Teresa Feria Arroyo (College of Sciences) 

           megan.birk@utrgv.edu                         teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu

Members: 

Michael Abebe (Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship)
Javier Cavazos (College of Education & P-12 Integration)
Dagoberto Ramirez (University College)

Charge: 

To provide recommendations for further support of faculty research initiatives.

Project:

Two proposals were accepted and implemented in Spring 2022. The first was for mid-career faculty research development and the second was a research support fund intended to seed faculty research on its way to further recognition and potential external funding. 



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