By Maria Gonzalez

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JAN. 12, 2026 – UTRGV recently met with leaders from The Welch Foundation to discuss expanding opportunities that support chemistry research and student success.

The Welch Foundation is one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for fundamental chemical research at universities and colleges in Texas, and the November meeting, held at the UTRGV Rio Bank Building in McAllen, brought together university leadership, Institutional Advancement, chemistry faculty and Foundation representatives.

Conversations focused on strengthening existing collaborations, learning about current and upcoming grant programs, and identifying new ways to support faculty whose work aligns with the Foundation’s mission.

“It was inspiring to see the power of collaboration in action as we welcomed leaders from the Welch Foundation to UTRGV,” said Dr. Kelly Nassour, executive vice president for Institutional Advancement. “Partnerships like this drive innovation and enable our College of Sciences faculty to make a meaningful impact through student mentorship and research.”

Foundation leadership highlighted the importance of maintaining direct communication with funded institutions, and of learning firsthand from faculty and trainees.

“The purpose of our campus visits is to maintain an open and ongoing channel of communication with our funded institutions, ensuring faculty and administration remain up to date on new and existing grant programs,” said Dr. Adam Kuspa, president of The Welch Foundation.

“The Welch Foundation continues to be impressed by the quality and impact of the research conducted at UTRGV. We also value meeting with the faculty and, in some cases, the trainees and former trainees in person, allowing us to hear about their experiences and progress firsthand,” he said.

Kuspa said the Foundation’s visit to UTRGV reinforced the commitment to supporting institutions that are expanding opportunities in chemical research and student development.

“We deeply value our partnership with UTRGV and view it as contributing to our broader mission of supporting chemical research in Texas,” he said. “We applaud UTRGV’s considerable participation in their departmental grant and encourage eligible faculty to apply to our research grant program.”

TRANSFORMING ACADEMIC PATHS

UTRGV research leadership emphasized how the visit reinforces opportunities for faculty and helps strengthen the institution’s growing research profile.

“The visit from The Welch Foundation was an excellent opportunity to strengthen UTRGV’s ties with one of the most respected supporters of chemical research in Texas,” said Dr. Thomas B. Spencer, senior associate vice president for Research Operations. “Our discussion centered on how UTRGV’s growing research capacity and faculty expertise align with the Foundation’s mission to advance fundamental science.”

Ongoing collaboration with Welch helps create new pathways of support for both students and faculty, Spencer said, and broadens opportunities for research engagement across the College of Sciences.

Faculty who met with Foundation representatives shared how Welch support continues to shape student training and research involvement at UTRGV.

“This visit provided significant value to our research community,” said Dr. Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo, director of the UTRGV School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences and principal investigator of the Welch Institutional Grant. “Our faculty had the chance to interact directly with leaders from the Welch Foundation, gaining deeper understanding of the Foundation’s diverse programs and long-term dedication to supporting scientific inquiry.”

The exchange also allowed faculty to share how Welch support continues to shape opportunities and direction for UTRGV students, she said.

“We discussed how the Welch Scholarship has transformed the academic paths of our students, with several choosing to major in chemistry after discovering their passion through hands-on research made possible by Welch support,” she said.

“A key takeaway from the conversation was the clarity of our mutual vision: to advance scientific knowledge through collaboration, curiosity and meaningful investment in young researchers,” she said. “This renewed commitment lays the groundwork for continued partnership with the Welch Foundation and supports the future of research at UTRGV.”

MEETING PARTICIPANTS

UTRGV attendees included Provost Dr. Luis Zayas; Dr. Lucas Macri, dean of the College of Sciences; Feria-Arroyo; Nassour; Spencer; chemistry faculty Dr. Eloi Camprubi-Casas, Dr. Evangelia Kotsikorou, Dr. Yonghong Zhang, Dr. Julie Vanegas, and Dr. Debasish Bandyopadhyay; and Kelli Quin, assistant vice president for Development.

Representing The Welch Foundation were Kuspa, president; Carla Atmar, director of grant programs; and Kristin Roden, associate director of grant programs.