Ferialab Biosafety Laboratory

Dr. Can Saygin

Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College

can.saygin@utrgv.edu

Dr. Can Saygin

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Dr. Can Saygin
Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College
Division of Research
ESSBL 5.112
Email: can.saygin@utrgv.edu

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Can Saygin, PhD. is the Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the
Graduate College. He is also a Professor of Manufacturing and Industrial
Engineering at the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences. Prior to his
current administrative position, he served as a Senior Associate Vice President
for Research (4/1/2020-7/30/2022), Senior Vice Provost for University
Planning (6/1/2019-4/1/2020), Senior Vice Provost for Institutional
Intelligence and Strategic Initiatives (3/1/2018-7/1/2019); Interim Dean of the
Graduate School (06/2018-03/2019); Advisor to President on Strategic
Initiatives (11/15/2017-3/1/2018); Associate Vice President for Sponsored
Project Administration in the Office of Research (2013-2018) at The University
of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). He received his BS ('89), MS ('92), and PhD ('97)
degrees in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis on advanced manufacturing
and automation from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara in Turkey.
In his academic career, he worked at the University of Toledo (1997-1999), the Missouri University of Science and
Technology (formerly University of Missouri-Rolla) (1999-2006), and The University of Texas at San Antonio (2006-
2022) before joining UTRGV in August 2022. He is the recipient of the UTSA College of Engineering 2009 Excellence
in Teaching Award, the UTSA President’s 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence, and The
University of Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award in 2012. As a faculty member, he has directed
several projects funded by the Air Force Research Lab, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of State, U.S.
Department of Defense, the Boeing Company, the Ford Motor Company, UT Health San Antonio, Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, and various manufacturing industries. He has also led regional advanced
manufacturing efforts under the designation of Alamo Manufacturing Partnership.

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Thomas Spencer

Associate Vice President for Research Operations

thomas.spencer@utrgv.edu

Thomas Spencer

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Thomas Spencer
Associate Vice President for Research Operations
Division of Research
ESSBL 5.110
Email: thomas.spencer@utrgv.edu

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Thomas B. Spencer, Ph.D., M.B.A., is the Associate Vice President for Research Operations Research at UT Rio Grande Valley.  Before joining UTRGV, Dr. Spencer held faculty appointments at UT Dallas, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University.

He has worked in Academia and Research Administration for 20+ years and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the National Council of University Research Administrators(NCURA).  

Thomas’ research focuses on the study and methods of research itself:  Research Administration, Public Affairs and American Healthcare.  The understanding of Economic, Political and Public Policy decisions as they relate to research administration, accessibility, data privacy, and healthcare services is of prime importance in modernresearch.

Additionally, the concept of Research Administrative Burden, or the study of policy related to the “red-tape” burden of research administration for scientists, administrators and regulators is woefully underserved as a research topic unto itself.   Thomas has devoted both his career and education to the investigation of these topics as they relate to Org Theory, Public Service Motivation, Ethics and Leadership.  

He can be reached at Thomas.Spencer@UTRGV.edu.

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Dr. Teresa Feria Arroyo

Associate Dean for Faculty Success & UT System Distinguished Teaching Professor

(956) 665-7322

teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu

Dr. Teresa Feria Arroyo

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Dr. Teresa Feria Arroyo
Associate Dean for Faculty Success & UT System Distinguished Teaching Professor
College of Sciences
ESCNE 4.635
Email: teresa.feriaarroyo@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-7322

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Dr. Teresa Patricia (Paty) Feria is a full Professor in the Biology Department at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). She serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Success at the College of Sciences (COS) and as a UTRGV Provost Fellow and Office for Sustainability Fellow. She has mentored high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, and new faculty at UTRGV. To create a supportive community, she created a program at UTRGV called “Juntos al Exito” - together, we succeeded – where a panel of faculty/administrators and students share their successful testimonials. Topics included a sense of belonging, family culture, education, student mentoring, and more. Her inclusive and culturally responsive mentoring strategies and activities include icebreakers, self-reflections, creating support networks, and community engagement activities. Dr. Feria received the Provost’s International Studies Award (2011) and the Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Science and Mathematics (2012). She received a USDA Kika de la Garza Science Fellowship and is a member of Mexico’s National Researchers System (Sistema Nacional de Investigadores). In 2018, Dr. Feria received the Outstanding International Faculty Female at UTRGV Excellence Award in Community Engagement at the College and University levels and the Fred W. and Frances H. Rusteberg Fellowship. She was Chair of the Women’s Faculty Network at UTRGV from 2018-2019. In 2022, Dr. Feria co-founded the Women in Science Network at COS. She received the prestigious UT System Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2020.

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