ISS Team

Dr. Samantha López brings more than 22 years of experience in international education to her role as Director of International Admissions and Student Services at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). In this role, she oversees all international students pursuing academic programs at UTRGV, as well as students participating in the National Student Exchange (NSE) program. She also manages the incoming international exchange students from UTRGV’s global partner institutions.

A proud UTRGV alumna, Dr. López earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees from the university. In 2021, she completed her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Higher Education Teaching, with her dissertation titled: “Academic and Cultural Perspectives of International Students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution.”

Dr. López is a long-standing member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and was honored with the Outstanding Service Award to International Education for her national-level impact—most notably for her successful advocacy with the U.S. Department of Labor. Her winning case led to a policy change that has since benefited many international professionals in higher education across the country.

Her professional interests include international student services, immigration policy, and research focused on student experiences in higher education. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and two playful dogs.

Jessica Alvarado is an International Student Advisor on the Edinburg Campus. She has over 5 years of experience with the office of strategic enrollment with both The University of Texas- Pan American and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Jessica received her Bachelors of Rehabilitation Services with a concentration in Addiction Studies from UTRGV in December of 2015. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Library Studies from Texas Woman’s University.

Her professional interest is to help grow the mission of the University by serving the students who are planning to, or currently attend. UTRGV. Her hobbies are reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family.

Nellie Leyva, is an International Student Advisor in the Brownsville campus. She has over ten years of progressive experience in the undergraduate college admission and enrollment process through employment with UTB/TSC, and now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Nellie received her Bachelor of Arts in Applied Science with a concentration in Early Childhood Education and Educational Technology in May 2016. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Early Childhood at UTRGV.

Her hobbies include spending time with her family, such as baking Pinterest recipes with her 8 year old daughter and going on dates with her husband. She is known for traveling every other weekend to Monterrey, Mexico or to Houston, Texas to visit her extended family. She also has a passion for motivational books and quotes and has a huge collection to inspire any occasion.

Jessica earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and was born and raised in Rio Grande Valley. Her career in higher education began in the Counseling and Career Services Office, followed by a transition to the Admissions Office at The University of Texas at Brownsville. In 2010, she joined the Office of Global Engagement as an International Admissions Specialist, where she has since dedicated over eight years to assisting prospective international students.

Bringing a wealth of experience and expertise, Jessica has personally guided students from 67+ countries in their pursuit of higher education. Passionate about cultural exchange, she enjoys interacting with international students and learning about their traditions.

In her free time, Jessica loves cooking, reading, and watching movies.

Contact Information:
📧 Email: Jessica.cantu@utrgv.edu
📞 Phone: (956) 882-8298

Dulce Ayala was born in Reynosa, Mexico. She graduated from Juan Diego Academy in Mission, Texas, in 2022. She is a University of Texas Rio Grande Valley freshman majoring in Accounting. Her main goals are to pursue a master's degree and earn a CPA license. She enjoys reading and listening to music, as well as playing volleyball. She joins International Admissions and Student Services as a Work-Study student concentrating in the Accounting area in 2023 Summer. 

Mia Cantu was born in Mcallen, Texas but raised in Matamoros, Tamps. Mia Graduated from high school at Hanna's High school in Brownsville, Texas, and is now a Freshman student at The University of Texas of Rio Grande Valley, as a Criminal Justice Major and with a minor of Physiology. Mia's main goal is to achieve her degree in Fall 2026.  During her free time, she enjoys listening to music, shopping, and travel.