Meet Krystal Marroquin, a UTRGV Unsung Hero
Text by Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
Krystal Marroquin, HR training coordinator for Edinburg and Brownsville campuses, works within the Office of Human Resources and plays a vital role in organizing and facilitating impactful training sessions for UTRGV staff and faculty. One aspect that brings immense joy to Marroquin’s work is the opportunity to foster team-building skills throughout campus, she said.
Having been part of the UTRGV family for 15 years, Marroquin is grateful for the friendships and bonds she has made along her journey. She looks forward to further professional growth and development within the university. “I feel a strong sense of duty and pride for the institution that has given me so much,” Marroquin said.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT UTRGV?
As part of the HR team, my role involves creating and organizing training for UTRGV employees. This includes designing and delivering interactive training content to meet the needs of university departments and offices, figuring out what kind of training employees need and creating materials to help employees learn essential workplace skills such as effective communication, time management, teamwork, customer service and emotional intelligence to name a few.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
My career journey began as a student employee in 2009 and I have been working here ever since. I became a professional staff member in 2013, totaling almost 15 years working for the institution. I spent 13 of those years working with the Division of Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs, serving longest as the coordinator for recruitment and orientation.
DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY?
Every day is different, thankfully. Depending on the day, I may have back-to-back Zoom sessions on any of our various monthly training offerings, like Vaqueros Culture of Service Excellence. Or, my teammate, Amnah and I may be facilitating through the laughter and discussion of up to 300 faculty and staff members trying to build a tower out of index cards during a teambuilding session.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
My favorite thing about my job is being able to see someone have an “aha moment” or see the gleam of pride and knowledge in their eyes when they learn something new about themselves or their teammates during a session. I also love being able to engage with, educate and get to know employees from multiples areas and various levels of UTRGV.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY, OR STORY, ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE?
As a proud alum and employee, UTRGV has given me some of my best friends, a life partner, mentors, coworkers, and the most outstanding student employees over the years. If I must pick one, I would say it is watching the burning of the letters during Homecoming. I attended for the first time during my freshman year, and it was while I watched the letters burn along with my friends that I felt the most connected and proud to be part of the university. I have not missed a single burning of the letters since then, and I still get goosebumps and teary-eyed as soon as the first letter catches a blaze as all the feelings and pride come rushing back.
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I am unashamed to call myself a “Disney adult,” and even though my Hogwarts letter seems to have been lost in the mail, I am proud to be a Gryffindor with a hummingbird Patronus.
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UTRGV COMMUNITY?
I feel a strong sense of duty and pride for the institution that has given me so much. As a first-generation college graduate, I know how difficult and intimidating the college experience can be, but also the immense impact it can have when navigated successfully. Thanks to this experience, every day I strive to serve the UTRGV community to the best of my ability through my commitment to service excellence. I have loved seeing the growth of UTRGV, but more importantly, I look forward to continuing to grow with it.
