UTRGV’s Dr. Thomas B. Spencer has been selected a NASA Solar System Ambassador, to share the wonders of space exploration with the Rio Grande Valley community and UTRGV students. (UTRGV Photo by Jesus Alferez)
Friday, October 27, 2023
Faculty Focus, Research
By Maria Gonzalez
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Dr. Thomas B. Spencer, UTRGV associate vice president for Research Operations, has been selected as a NASA Solar System Ambassador.
Spencer will serve as a volunteer representative to the Valley community, sharing captivating science, space exploration updates and discoveries.
“This year has been an amazing year and I am thrilled to be an ambassador,” he said. “I have been working to connect Valley community members and UTRGV students with the latest information on NASA's missions and space science.”
Solar System Ambassadors, selected by NASA based on their background and active involvement in the space science community, are passionate about expanding their knowledge of space exploration and sharing NASA's story.
The Solar System Ambassadors Program is a public engagement initiative led by space enthusiasts across the nation, communicating NASA's discoveries and future plans for solar system exploration to the general public. Selected members share the excitement of space exploration within their local communities, reaching those who may not be aware of NASA's ongoing efforts.
Spencer is working to bridge the NASA community and the Rio Grande Valley, predominantly through events and online discussions. Conversations will focus on innovative NASA and space exploration research at UTRGV, reaching the UTRGV community and broader public.
"I am eager to share my enthusiasm for and knowledge of space exploration within our UTRGV community and the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. We have a wealth of opportunities in the RGV, and this program allows people from all backgrounds to share the excitement and learn," Spencer said.
The conversations will be available for wider audience review on the UTRGV Research Website.
Dr. Can (John) Saygin, senior vice president for Research and dean of the UTRGV Graduate College, congratulated Spencer.
“Dr. Spencer's selection as a NASA Solar System Ambassador is a testament to his commitment to enhancing UTRGV's research reputation, showcasing the knowledge and expertise of our faculty, and creating innovative learning opportunities for our students,” he said.
For more information about Spencer, visit, https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/ambassadors/2480/.
ABOUT UTRGV
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.
UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016.