By News and Media Relations

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – DEC. 11, 2025 – The staff and faculty at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley united to reflect on the university’s progress, share expertise and shape its future at the inaugural Professional Development Day.

Developed by the Organizational Development & Training department within UTRGV Human Resources, the event, held on Nov. 5, aimed to foster a culture of continuous learning. A total of 855 staff and faculty participated, both in person and virtually, to enhance their skills and learn from one another.

Nicole Englitsch, Organizational Development manager for Human Resources & Talent Development, emphasized that hosting this day demonstrates UTRGV’s commitment to investing in its people.

“Offering this day shows our commitment to investing in our people, and employee participation ensures that we continue cultivating a workplace where innovation, collaboration and excellence can thrive,” she said.

This September, UTRGV was recognized for the second consecutive year as one of the Great Colleges to Work For^®, reflecting its commitment to a positive campus culture and employee experience. UTRGV was one of only 76 institutions nationwide awarded the 2025 distinction based on faculty and staff feedback.

Competing in the large university category (more than 10,000 students), UTRGV excelled in two key areas:

• Professional Development: This category emphasizes support for faculty and staff growth, focusing on onboarding processes and career support.
• Community and Belonging: This category recognizes institutions dedicated to fostering community and assessing individual experiences within that context.

“Our recognition as one of the Great Colleges to Work For in 2025, especially in Professional Development, underscores the importance of opportunities like Professional Development Day,” Englitsch said. 

Employees in Edinburg enjoyed a wellness walk around the campus as part of the day, providing an opportunity to connect with their fellow colleagues. (UTRGV Photo by Carlos Cuadros)

The idea for Professional Development Day originated from Amnah Imtiaz, Human Resources Training Coordinator, who envisioned a platform for growth and collaboration, which was quickly embraced by the Office of Development and Training (ODT), according to Englitsch.

The ODT team transformed Imtiaz's concept into a full-day event featuring various sessions, wellness walks and more on the Edinburg, Brownsville and Harlingen campuses as well as virtually.

To kickstart the event, Englitsch mentioned that they tapped into the campus community's wealth of knowledge through an open call for proposals. The university received an impressive 37 submissions, reflecting the expertise within the UTRGV community. This year’s sessions focused on key themes such as Leadership & Management Skills, Technology & Digital Literacy, Wellness & Resilience, Student Engagement & Success, Academic Excellence & Research, and Operations.

“At UTRGV, we strongly believe in the power of knowledge sharing and learning from one another,” she said. 

A DECADE OF GROWTH

As UTRGV celebrates its 10th anniversary, Englitsch noted that it was an ideal time to launch this event with the theme “A Decade of Growth.” This theme reflects UTRGV’s ongoing evolution not just in size and programs but also in the development of employees contributing to the mission. 

“We wanted to create a dedicated space for staff and faculty to learn from one another, enhance skills and connect across departments,” she said. “UTRGV has grown tremendously over the past 10 years, driven by our people. This event was designed to invest in them.”

Feedback for the day was overwhelmingly positive, with a 100% response rate indicating strong interest in future Professional Development Days. Participants suggested spreading sessions over multiple days for greater flexibility, and ODT is exploring this option. 

Englitsch expressed the goal of building on this momentum to establish Professional Development Day as a signature UTRGV experience that supports faculty and staff growth for years to come.

“Professional development strengthens our university at every level,” she concluded. “When employees engage in learning opportunities, they grow in confidence, skill and effectiveness, directly enhancing the experiences of our students, colleagues and community partners.”

To learn more about faculty and staff resources at UTRGV, visit www.utrgv.edu/human-resources/current-employee/employee-resources/index.htm. 

Miguel Ramirez, a UTRGV employee, presents to a group in Harlingen, on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool in the workplace. (UTRGV Photo by Juan Ramirez)