Brownsville graduate transforms student leadership – and her own voice – at UTRGV

By Victoria Brito Morales

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – MAY 14, 2026 – For Erica Coronado, graduating from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley means more than finishing a degree. The Brownsville native leaves UTRGV with stronger confidence, and a lasting leadership impact through her work with the university’s Center for Student Involvement.

The 24-year-old marketing major will graduate this Saturday after two years as a student employee, during which she helped redesign UTRGV’s Student Leadership Academy.

Coronado joined the Center for Student Involvement in 2024, beginning in civic engagement. In that role, she designed promotional materials and helped boost student awareness around voting. By fall 2025, she transitioned into leadership programming, an experience that shaped her growth and leadership skills.

TRANSFORMING STUDENT LEADERSHIP 

When Coronado arrived, the Student Leadership Academy was a one-day program. Through her contributions over the next year, she helped reshape it into a more interactive, development-focused experience built around personal and professional growth.

The academy now includes hands-on learning, guided self-reflection and team-based activities that encourage students to explore leadership styles while strengthening community connections. Delivered through two-part sessions, such as workshops in Brownsville and Edinburg, participants identify their interests and learn practical ways to create positive change.

Coronado said one of the academy’s guiding messages is that leadership requires practice, and that mistakes are part of the process. The redesign emphasizes that students don’t have to lead perfectly; they just need to lead together.

“The main concept we wanted to emphasize was that it’s okay to make mistakes,” Coronado said. “You work together as a team to get through it. I think a lot of students really enjoyed that.”

DISCOVERING HER VOICE

Coronado, who graduated from Simon Rivera Early College High School in 2020, started college in Houston at Lone Star College, and later returned home to complete her bachelor’s degree at UTRGV.

In high school, she described herself as reserved. At UTRGV, she found opportunities that pushed her to communicate more confidently and connect with others. She said that growth shaped how she approaches her goals today and how she leads.

A major turning point came in summer 2025 when she attended the Institute for Leadership Education and Development (I-LEAD) conference, hosted by the Association of College Unions International, with Ashley Guzman, assistant director of the Center for Student Involvement. Traveling out of state for the first time, she said she returned with fresh ideas and renewed energy.

“I really enjoyed it,” Coronado said. “When Ms. Ashley and I came back, I had a bunch of ideas. At the time, we didn’t really know what direction we wanted to go, but we came back ready to make a change.”

MENTORS WHO HELPED SHAPE HER LEADERSHIP

Throughout her student employment, Coronado worked closely with Guzman, who mentored and guided her. She also credits Brandon Sanchez, program coordinator, with encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone.

“They saw something in me,” Coronado said. “They encouraged me to keep presenting and building those skills.”

Guzman said Coronado’s leadership will continue to influence the program even after she graduates. 

“Erica is an exceptional facilitator who has empowered students to recognize their value and inspired them to continue making a difference,” Guzman said. “I’m incredibly proud of her graduation and excited to see what she will achieve next.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Balancing classes, responsibilities and work between Brownsville and Edinburg wasn’t always easy, Coronado said. Still, she saw the experience as part of her development, especially as she looks ahead to new milestones, including considering graduate school, and preparing for her wedding later this year.

“I’m excited for everything this year has for me,” Coronado said. “It feels good to move forward.”

To learn more about UTRGV’s Spring 2026 Commencement on May 15-16 at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, visit www.utrgv.edu/commencement.