2023 | The Newsroom

UTRGV Sustainability Fellows recognized for research efforts

Thursday, May 25, 2023
The UTRGV Office for Sustainability (OFS) held a reception May 4 to recognize students from its Graduate Sustainability Fellowship program, which engages students in research for sustainable development.

Ten faculty named recipients of 2022-2023 UTRGV Faculty Excellence Awards

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Ten faculty members have been named recipients of the 2022-2023 UTRGV Faculty Excellence Awards.

UT Health RGV, Hidalgo County Precinct 4 celebrate new Primary Care Annex in San Carlos

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
The community partnership between the UTRGV School of Medicine, UT Health RGV and Hidalgo County Precinct 4 hosted a ribbon-cutting Tuesday morning for the new UT Health RGV AHEC Primary Care Annex Building.

UTRGV Sustainability Ambassador reception showcases students’ impact

Monday, May 22, 2023
UTRGV students and faculty were part of an afternoon of exchange at the Sustainability Ambassador reception, held May 5 at the Ballroom on the Edinburg Campus.

UTRGV concludes Spring 2023 commencement on Brownsville Campus

Saturday, May 20, 2023
Nearly 900 graduates were able to walk the stage to celebrate their accomplishments today at UTRGV’s belated commencement celebration on the Brownsville Campus.

UTRGV awarded $1.4M to spearhead Climate-Smart Initiative in Valley

Friday, May 19, 2023
Researchers from the UTRGV College of Sciences have joined forces with lead partner Texas A&M AgriLife Research and other major agriculture entities on a $65 million grant to assess greenhouse gas fluxes and conduct soil analyses.

UTRGV creates partnerships across region to expand economic development footprint

Thursday, May 18, 2023
With a mission to advance regional economic, workforce and business development, UTRGV’s Office of Workforce and Economic Development is expanding its network and reach to cities across the Rio Grande Valley through satellite offices.

UTRGV CMAS awarded $2.9M for HSI Program

Thursday, May 18, 2023
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the UTRGV Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS) a $2.9 million grant to help fund the ongoing Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program. The program helps expand educational ...

UTRGV RCVCOBE professor helps design curriculum for Amazon Small Business Academy

Wednesday, May 17, 2023
In March 2023, UTRGV business professor Derek Abrams was recruited by the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) to help design a new curriculum for the Amazon Small Business Academy (ASBA).

UTRGV linguist awarded NEH grant for continued research on bilingual voices

Wednesday, May 17, 2023
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently awarded a $349,931 grant to Dr. Katherine Christoffersen, a UTRGV assistant professor in Applied Linguistics, Department of Writing and Language Studies, for her research project entitled ...

UTRGV awarded $17M to train mental health professionals for Valley schools

Tuesday, May 16, 2023
On Tuesday, May 16, UTRGV held a joint press conference with partnering education agencies to announce the launch of two $5M expansions to a grant that provides direct intervention to K-12 students, ¬and fortifies the infrastructure for ...

The UTRGV School of Medicine celebrates fourth commencement – reaches 200 medical graduates

Saturday, May 13, 2023
This is the fourth group of medical graduates from the School of Medicine, with 45 medical graduates in the Class of '23. Nearly 200 medical students have graduated to date and joined residencies in the Rio Grande Valley, and across Texas ...

UTRGV Spring 2023 commencement kicks off celebration with 3,000 grads

Friday, May 12, 2023
More than 3,000 UTRGV students crossed the stage on Friday to accept their diplomas, on the first day of UTRGV’s Spring 2023 Commencement.

UTRGV hosts 3rd Annual Latina THRIVE Summit

Thursday, May 11, 2023
UTRGV will host the “Latina THRIVE Summit” for college faculty and administrators, May 18-19 on South Padre Island. This year’s summit will focus on the THRIVE (The Healthy DepaRtment Initiative for InclusiVe Excellence) ...

UTRGV Chess Team’s Beradze fulfills lifelong dream of computer science degree

Thursday, May 11, 2023
A key member of the UTRGV national champion chess team, Irakli Beradze will graduate May 13 with a second bachelor’s degree, this one in computer science, after having earned a degree in law in his home country of Georgia.

From UTRGV Theatre stage to commencement stage, graduating senior says ‘It’s all worth it’

Thursday, May 11, 2023
UTRGV graduating senior and mother of two Dalia Emanuel this weekend will walk the stage to accept her degree in Theater with a concentration in Design.

First-gen college grad finds joy in the UTRGV journey to commencement

Wednesday, May 10, 2023
UTRGV student Omar Zapata knows well enough that the path to a college degree is full of unexpected twists and turns.

UTRGV Biomedical Science major reflects, grateful for family support

Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Alexa Posas, a native of Rio Grande City, will be trading in her mariachi chaquetilla (waist jacket) for scrubs this spring when she earns her Biomedical Sciences degree from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, May 13 in ...

UTRGV Centering Parenting Clinic supporting mothers this Mother's Day

Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Motherhood can be challenging, especially for new mothers. To address this, UT Health RGV has created a new care group model clinic in the Rio Grande Valley – the UTRGV Centering Parenting Clinic – offering professional and medical ...

UT System Board of Regents approves UTRGV PhD in Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications

Tuesday, May 09, 2023
The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Thursday approved a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications degree program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

UTRGV’s Feria named to UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers

Monday, May 08, 2023
UTRGV’s Dr. Teresa Patricia (Paty) Feria-Arroyo is one of four new inductees into the esteemed UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers for 2023.

$5M UTRGV mental health program expands to two Laredo school districts

Thursday, May 04, 2023
A UTRGV project that addresses the shortage of mental health service professionals in Texas schools has expanded to serve the Laredo and United independent school districts.

UTRGV part of statewide research on childhood depression, trauma

Thursday, May 04, 2023
UTRGV School of Medicine researchers have joined psychologists and psychiatrists at learning institutions across Texas to hear what young people have to say about their experiences with depression or trauma. Their analysis of what the youths say ...

UTRGV, Harmony Public Schools sign MOU establishing new partnership

Thursday, April 27, 2023
UTRGV and Harmony Public Schools signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to commemorate a new partnership between the two institutions.

UTRGV School of Medicine student earns U.S. Public Health Service Award

Wednesday, April 26, 2023
The recipient of this year's U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award is César Sevilla Jr., a third-year medical student.

UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine urges awareness

Tuesday, April 25, 2023
April is National Foot Health Awareness month, and Dr. Javier La Fontaine, dean of the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine, is urging the Valley community to stay vigilant for foot or ankle problems

Research duo bringing breakthrough vector-borne disease research to UTRGV

Monday, April 24, 2023
A research project led by two UTRGV professors will develop coastal flood models that map how climate-related events increasingly affect the spread and emergence of infectious diseases. Dr. Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo, a UTRGV professor of ...

Hawaiian grad student at UTRGV passionate about sustainability

Monday, April 24, 2023
Mackenzie Feldman, a graduate student in the UTRGV School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences, come to the Valley all the way from Oahu, Hawai’i. She obviously likes to stay busy, and it’s all for a good cause: sustainable ...

UTRGV “Future of Food” panel hosts young agriculturists

Friday, April 21, 2023
Professors and leaders in local food security efforts, and community health advocates gathered on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus for the university’s first Food Summit event. Young farmers ranging from middle school to college-age spoke on a ...

UTRGV Mathematics and Science Academy helps students get a head start on college

Thursday, April 20, 2023
For Rio Grande Valley high school students looking to get a jumpstart on college life, UTRGV’s award-winning early college program, the Mathematics and Science Academy (MSA), will host information sessions in May.

UTRGV spring exhibit, RGV Perrenial, features various art offerings

Thursday, April 20, 2023
There is still time to check out the annual UTRGV spring exhibition – 2023 RGV Perennial – which runs through April 21 at the Rusteberg Gallery in Brownsville.

UTRGV to host first Food Summit event in honor of Earth Day

Tuesday, April 18, 2023
This year’s UTRGV Earth Fest will host the first ever Food Summit, in commemoration of Earth Day.

UTRGV and City of Edinburg partner for Wall that Heals, on display April 20-23

Tuesday, April 18, 2023
UTRGV and the City of Edinburg have partnered to host a 375-foot-long replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, to be on display April 20-23 at the Ebony Hills Golf Course.

Follow UTRGV’s Department of Theatre to the ‘End of Days’

Monday, April 17, 2023
Science fiction meets fantasy and cottagecore (rural aesthetic) meets the apocalypse in the last production of the Spring 2023 season for UTRGV’s Department of Theatre.

DOE director of Economic Impact and Diversity delivers keynote at UTRGV

Friday, April 14, 2023
On April 12 The Honorable Shalanda H. Baker, director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity and the Secretarial Advisor on Equity, visited UTRGV to deliver a keynote address on energy justice.

11 UTRGV students fulfilling Valley legislative internships at Texas Capitol

Thursday, April 13, 2023
Eleven UTRGV students went to Austin this year for the 88th legislative sessions assigned to Rio Grande Valley legislators.

DOE official Shalanda H. Baker to visit UTRGV for keynote on energy justice

Thursday, April 06, 2023
The Honorable Shalanda H. Baker, director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, will deliver the keynote address at an upcoming stakeholder engagement session at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

UTRGV communication professor recalls paths to personal success

Friday, March 31, 2023
No matter which roads you choose in life, a guiding force might be leading you where you are meant to be.

Hocker shares growth, goals, of Valley’s leader in academic medicine

Friday, March 31, 2023
On March 30, National Doctor’s Day, the dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine delivered his annual State of the School address.

UTRGV’s Guerra draws strength from peers, family – and mariachi!

Thursday, March 30, 2023
When Dr. Dahlia Guerra, special assistant to the dean of the UTRGV College of Fine Arts, sets her mind to something, she doesn’t let much get in her way.

Laredo College and UTRGV partnership to create limitless opportunities for students

Thursday, March 30, 2023
With more than 150 miles separating Laredo College and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, distance is still no barrier to collaborating and providing Laredo students with expanded higher education opportunities.

UTRGV Luminary Scholars prepare to welcome new cohort to one-of-a-kind program

Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Last year, 24 UTRGV students made campus history when they became the first members of a unique breed of Vaqueros known as the Luminary Scholars.

UTRGV’s Alvarez reflects on the power, compassion of women

Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Dr. Stephanie Alvarez, associate professor of Mexican American Studies (MAS) at UTRGV and director of the university’s Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS), didn’t buy clothes from a retail store until she was 13 years old.

UTRGV and HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division announce creation of physician residencies at Brownsville, McAllen hospitals

Monday, March 27, 2023
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division have announced an agreement to bring 30 resident physicians to Brownsville and McAllen by summer 2024, with plans to seat 150 total resident physician positions ...

UTRGV’s Hay highlights woman-led activism against Agent Orange chemical

Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Environmental historian Dr. Amy Hay draws hope for the future from this country’s troubled past.

UTRGV hosting three-day NACCS conference in Brownsville

Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Various UTRGV departments, along with the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies, are hosting the 2023 Tejas Foco Conference on the Brownsville Campus.

The Art of Health: UT Health RGV bringing wellness to the community in art form

Tuesday, March 21, 2023
UT Health RGV is finding artistic ways to educate the community on healthcare.

UTRGV president announces new provost / senior VP

Monday, March 20, 2023
Dr. Luis H. Zayas, who for 10 years (2012-2022) served as dean of the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, has been named UTRGV’s new provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, President Guy ...

UTRGV fourth-year medical students ‘feeling lucky’ this Match Day

Friday, March 17, 2023
The UTRGV School of Medicine's fourth-year medical students celebrated their hard work this annual Match Day, on Friday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day. Forty-five members of the Class of 2023 and four from the Class of 2022 ...

UTRGV anthropology group participates in humanitarian efforts in Eagle Pass

Thursday, March 16, 2023
Peace of mind can be hard to find – especially if you’re the family of undocumented immigrants who have disappeared crossing the border.

UTRGV student entrepreneur is named Future Texas Business Legend

Thursday, March 16, 2023
We all have a purpose.

UTRGV profs talk about meteorite activity in the RGV

Wednesday, March 15, 2023
The UTRGV College of Sciences, the Astrobiochemistry Lab, and the Center of Excellence in STEM Education (C-STEM) will host a public talk regarding meteorites, titled “From the Stars to Your Backyard: Meteorites Impacting the Rio Grande ...

Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin to headline UTRGV’s Distinguished Speaker Series

Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Academy-award winning actress and activist Marlee Matlin will open UTRGV’s Spring 2023 Distinguished Speaker Series on Wednesday, March 22.

RCVCoBE’s Maria Leonard named Woman of Distinction by RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Maria Leonard, an assistant professor of practice of Management with the UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, has been selected by the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for its annual Women of Distinction ...

UTRGV, Mission CISD, Rotary Club project nurtures ‘next-gen farmers’

Tuesday, March 14, 2023
School children from the Mission school district have become empowered agents of change against food insecurity, harvesting crops they grew with the support of a partnership between the City of Mission Rotary Club and three departments at UTRGV.

UTRGV ENACTUS Chapter’s SOAR Project students tour sustainable farm

Monday, March 13, 2023
Back in February, UTRGV’s ENACTUS Chapter members helped several students from its Sustainable Opportunities for Advancement and Recruiting (SOAR) project tour the Terra Preta Farm in Edinburg.

Home for the Hub: UTRGV holds grand opening for eBridge Center

Friday, March 10, 2023
The doors are finally open.

UTRGV celebrates International Women’s Day by #EmbracingEquity

Friday, March 10, 2023
Positive, impactful messages of equity uplifted women and supporters on International Women’s Day, during an event March 8 at the UTRGV Ballroom in Edinburg.

UTRGV hosts health day for more than 700 pre-K students

Friday, March 10, 2023
Little Marco Alvarado is still in pre-K at PSJA, but he gets it.

UTRGV UTCRS awarded grant to promote railway transportation safety

Thursday, March 09, 2023
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded UTRGV’s University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) a $10 million grant to focus on promoting safety in railway transportation systems.

Guy Bailey to join Excelencia in Education’s Presidents for Latino Student Success network

Thursday, March 09, 2023
UTRGV President Guy Bailey is one of the newest members of the Excelencia in Education Presidents for Latino Success network.

UTRGV hosts commemoration of 200 years of diplomatic relationships between the U.S. and México

Thursday, March 02, 2023
The UTRGV Center for Mexican American Studies, FESTIBA, the UTRGV colleges of Liberal Arts and Fine Arts, in collaborating with the Mexican Consulate in McAllen, will host a panel and celebration to commemorate 200 years of diplomatic ...

UTRGV Graduate College hosts Graduate Fair 2023

Wednesday, March 01, 2023
UTRGV Graduate College will be hosting its Graduate Fair 2023 in March on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.

UTRGV research efforts and accolades continue to grow, break internal records

Wednesday, March 01, 2023
When UTRGV started in 2015, one of its founding priorities was to conduct research that would have an impact on the Rio Grande Valley, the state of Texas and beyond.

Business owner, nurse, UTRGV alumna works to uplift community

Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Dr. Esther Akindayomi, a UTRGV MBA alumna and local business owner, admits she tends to overbook herself.

UTRGV faculty receives Carnegie African Diaspora fellowship

Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Dr. Aje-Ori Agbese, an associate professor at UTRGV, has been awarded a fellowship under the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program to travel to Nigeria this summer, to work on a film project with Pan Atlantic University’s Nollywood ...

UTRGV alum trailblazer, innovator in Black hair care

Monday, February 27, 2023
Mecia Duru, a UTRGV alumna who graduated with a degree in Mass Communications in 2018, became the change she wanted to see in her community by helping bridge the gaps in Black hair care disparities.

UTRGV mechanical engineering alumna paints own path to success

Friday, February 24, 2023
Opportunities increasingly are on the rise for women in the historically male-dominated field of engineering – thanks to determined women like UTRGV alumna Laura Escobar.

UTRGV School of Medicine announces $6 million CPRIT award to expand cancer research

Friday, February 24, 2023
UTRGV and the prestigious Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) gathered in McAllen on Friday with community leaders and key legislators to celebrate a five-year, $6 million award from CPRIT to the university’s South ...

UTRGV piano student named winning soloist for New York Golden Classical Music Awards

Thursday, February 23, 2023
This summer, Jingyue Ren, a grad student at UTRGV, will perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as one of the winners of the New York Golden Classical Music Awards.

UTRGV celebrates 17th annual FESTIBA starting Feb. 25

Wednesday, February 22, 2023
UTRGV is bringing the joy and wonder of literacy to the community with its annual Festival of International Books & Arts (FESTIBA).

UTRGV center provides opportunity for students and local entrepreneurs to compete for $5K in Business Plan Competition

Wednesday, February 22, 2023
With a goal of turning great ideas into great businesses, the annual UTRGV Rafael Munguia Business Plan Competition is currently accepting applications through Friday, Feb. 24.

Super bowl of science competitions: UTRGV hosts Regional Science Bowl

Tuesday, February 21, 2023
High school students from across the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi faced off in the Super Bowl of science competitions, the 2023 Regional Science Bowl, hosted by UTRGV on Feb. 11.

CPRIT awards UTRGV School of Medicine $6 million to advance cancer research

Tuesday, February 21, 2023
The UTRGV School of Medicine's South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (ST-CECR) has been awarded $6 million by the prestigious Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), funding that will help accelerate the ...

Dr. Karen Lozano first UTRGV inductee to National Academy of Engineering

Monday, February 20, 2023
Dr. Karen Lozano, UTRGV professor of Mechanical Engineering and Julia Beecherl Endowed Professor, has been elected into the prestigious National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Engineer’s Week: ‘Creating the Future’

Monday, February 20, 2023
Engineers Week 2023 kicked off on Friday and continues this week celebrating the theme “Creating the Future.”

New rankings list UTRGV as 7th best public university in nation

Thursday, February 16, 2023
A new college ratings system that highlights the economic impact of institutions, as well as the return of investment they provide students, recently ranked UTRGV as the seventh Best Public University in the nation.

UTRGV Honors College part of consortium developing FANH innovation

Thursday, February 16, 2023
The UTRGV Honors College is part of a multi-institution consortium, called the Grand Challenge Scholars Institute, tasked with developing the future workforce in the fields of food, agriculture, and natural and human sciences (FANH) by leveraging ...

DoD Under Secretary Shyu visits UTRGV to deliver inspirational keynote at National Manufacturing Expo

Thursday, February 16, 2023
Heidi Shyu, the U.S. Department of Defense under secretary for research and engineering, on Feb. 16 launched the 2023 National Manufacturing Expo being hosted on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus.

UT System student regent visits UTRGV

Tuesday, February 14, 2023
University of Texas System Student Regent Neelesh C. "Neel" Mutyala connected with UTRGV leaders and students recently during a two-day tour of the university.

UTRGV hosting 2023 Manufacturing Expo & Exhibition

Monday, February 13, 2023
UTRGV will host its second National Manufacturing Expo and Exhibition, Feb. 16 and 17 on the Edinburg Campus.

UTRGV Library honors Black History Month with new resources, events

Thursday, February 09, 2023
The University Library at UTRGV, in honor of Black History Month, has compiled displays and resources on the Edinburg, Harlingen, and Brownsville campuses to help celebrate this month of recognition.

RedRover Readers RGV fosters social-emotional well-being for children

Tuesday, February 07, 2023
Buddy, a mixed-breed dog, was left to starve in the rain and snow, spending most of his young life chained to a tree in the backyard of neglectful owners. He had no shelter, and neighborhood kids would throw rocks at him. He spent his days in ...

UTRGV to host science bowl competition for high school students

Friday, February 03, 2023
High school students will convene on The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg campus on Saturday, Feb. 11, to show off their math and science skills at the Regional Science Bowl competition.

UTRGV to conduct homecoming week on both Brownsville and Edinburg campuses

Thursday, February 02, 2023
UTRGV will host its traditional spring Homecoming events, Feb. 6-11, to unite the community via Vaquero pride and spirit.

UTRGV’s Alvarez granted NEH Faculty Awards Fellowship for research on Chicana feminism

Wednesday, February 01, 2023
Dr. Stephanie Alvarez, UTRGV associate professor of Mexican American Studies and director of the Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS), has been awarded a research fellowship by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

UTRGV hosts kickoff of Texas Legislative Tour in the Valley

Tuesday, January 31, 2023
As the 88th Legislative Session gets underway, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley hosted legislators from across the state on two stops of their Legislative Tour of the Rio Grande Valley.

UTRGV’s Energy & U first live show garners about 3,000 attendees

Friday, January 27, 2023
More than 3,000 elementary students and the general public witnessed the first live performance of UTRGV's “Energy & U” spectacle, a show filled with explosions, bubbles and lots of learning and fun.

UTRGV’s Razo awarded grant to improve area mental health services for children

Thursday, January 26, 2023
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley a $5.7 million grant to address the shortage of mental health service professionals in schools.

UTRGV Ballet Folklórico presents its annual production - Alegría

Tuesday, January 24, 2023
The UTRGV’s Ballet Folkórico is presenting its annual dance production, Alegría 2023, with shows in Brownsville and Edinburg.

UTRGV student selected to attend national advertising program

Monday, January 23, 2023
UTRGV senior Charlie (Carlos) Luna, a mass communication major with a concentration in advertising and public relations, is one of just 50 university students from across the country chosen to participate in the American Advertising Federation ...

UTRGV School of Medicine commended for its Graduate Medical Education Program

Wednesday, January 18, 2023
The UTRGV School of Medicine’s physician training program has been granted continued accreditation from the national council charged with evaluating and accrediting Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs across the United States.

Groundbreaking held for new collegiate academy in McAllen

Wednesday, January 18, 2023
UTRGV and the McAllen Independent School District broke ground today on the new UTRGV-McAllen ISD Collegiate Academy to serve the students in the area.

UTRGV volunteers give back on MLK Day of Service

Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Rakes and shovels in hand, Jay Sanchez, a senior majoring in computer software engineering at UTRGV, brought members of his fraternity to volunteer at Restlawn Cemetery in Edinburg on Monday morning in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ...