Student and Faculty Spotlights

A Passion for Public Service and Legal Advocacy

Andrea Maldonado’s journey at the UTRGV Honors College is fueled by a deep commitment to public service and the legal field. “The most valuable part of my Honors College experience has been challenging myself and fully immersing in my passions,” she reflects. Through honors-by-contract assignments, Andrea has explored her interests closely with faculty mentors, becoming a more passionate and well-rounded student.

“The most valuable part of my Honors College experience has been challenging myself and fully immersing in my passions.”
— Andrea Maldonado

Embracing the Archer Fellowship Opportunity

Inspired by her upbringing in a small border town, Andrea applied for the Archer Fellowship to grow as an advocate and community leader.

“Applying for the Archer Fellowship was about transforming my lived experiences into action at the heart of policy-making in Washington, D.C.”

— Andrea Maldonado

This fall, she will serve as a policy intern for the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, working with Hispanic and Hispanic-serving legislators to advocate for the legislative priorities of their communities. She hopes to advance compassionate immigration reforms while gaining firsthand experience in the policymaking process.

Advice for Future Archer Fellows

Andrea encourages Honors students to craft a compelling and cohesive application narrative:

“Develop your story. Your application should weave your lived experiences, challenges, and passions into a cohesive narrative—from your résumé to your personal statement and policy paper.”

— Andrea Maldonado

Andrea’s story reflects the heart of the UTRGV Honors College: curiosity, leadership, and engagement with purpose to shape a better future.

Mentorship that Transforms Students

For over a decade at UTRGV, Dr. Yonghong Zhang has guided Honors students who are highly motivated, curious, and eager to learn beyond the classroom. He finds joy in seeing these students reach their career goals—whether entering medical school, health professions, or research fields.

One memorable experience was mentoring an Honors student who began with an Honors-By-Contract project in his biochemistry course. The student’s dedication turned into a larger research endeavor that resulted in unexpected discoveries, a successful Honors thesis, and even a peer-reviewed publication with the student as first author—an extraordinary accomplishment for an undergraduate. This experience not only shaped the student’s path to medical school but also left Dr. Zhang deeply proud of their shared achievement.

What Makes Honors Students Shine

According to Dr. Zhang, Honors students succeed through strong academic skills, self-motivation, a clear career plan, and effective time management. He believes the Honors College provides the ideal setting for these qualities to grow, offering smaller classes, specialized coursework, and rich opportunities for research and mentorship.

Empowering Student Success

"The Honors College offers students a more rigorous and engaging learning experience—through specialized coursework, research opportunities, and faculty mentorship—that helps transform curiosity into meaningful achievements." – Dr. Yonghong Zhang

Dr. Zhang’s story reflects the heart of the UTRGV Honors College: mentorship that inspires, opportunities that challenge, and the pursuit of excellence that empowers students to achieve their dreams.