Meet David Pike, a UTRGV Unsung Hero
Text by Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
For more than a decade, David Pike has been one of the people behind the camera, capturing UTRGV’s milestones, celebrations, and everyday moments. His photos have told the university’s story across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond, showing the world the spirit of UTRGV.
Now, as David prepares to retire at the end of August, we are celebrating him as this month’s Unsung Hero. In a special twist, David wanted to share his reflections on his journey before stepping into the familiar Unsung Heroes format.
A Farewell from David
“I’ve read Unsung Heroes for… well, since we started publishing it. And honestly, I never imagined being part of the series. There’s a format to it, which I promise to get back to, but before that I’d like to start by (ironically) saying goodbye.
I’ll be retiring at the end of August — and it’s been such a journey with UTRGV that I wanted to (selfishly!) use this platform to step back and reflect for a moment.
I started at UT Brownsville back in 2007 with the BS Nursing department grant, helping to transfer their in-person courses to online. After that grant ended, I moved to the College of Education to work on an online ACP, again creating online courses. I worked with so many great people there, and I’m really proud of the things we accomplished together.
When that grant wrapped up, I worked for a bit as a photographer for the Valley Morning Star. My boss there was later hired at UTRGV just as the university was forming — and not long after, she brought me onboard too.
I’ve been a photographer for UTRGV for about 10 years now, and I’ve had a front-row seat watching the university grow into what it is today. So many ribbon cuttings across the Valley. So many world-changing discoveries. And the people! Not just the amazing and talented people I work with in my department, but everyone I meet through my job.
The brilliant staff, faculty, and students in the Theatre Department. The inspiring people I work with in Master Chorale. And there are departments, I suppose, that our students rarely even hear about — like Institutional Advancement. We wouldn’t be where we are today without those amazing people. Or the Workforce and Economic Development team — they’re out there making sure the RGV communities are healthy and strong and ready to support our graduates.
I know I’m forgetting many, and there’s not enough space here to mention everyone. I know that I’m a minor cog in this beautiful institution — but I’m proud of the work I’ve done here. I’ve made it a point to try never to say no when someone asks for help. I’ve always tried to do my best work to represent UTRGV. And I still get a thrill every time one of my photos gets used in a story about the university — especially when it’s from the other side of the world.
I’m going to miss everyone. UTRGV is only ten years old — still a toddler, considering all she’s already accomplished — and the best days are still ahead. But now I’ll have to watch and cheer from the outside. You all make me proud.
Okay! Back to the format.”
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT UTRGV?
Photographer.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
10 years at UTRGV, 7 years at UTB.
DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY.
One of the best things about being a photographer is that there are no average days. Maybe it’s taking a portrait of one of the amazing staff or faculty. Maybe it’s being out in the field among the scrub brush or deserted coastline, getting photos of ongoing research. Or maybe it’s just arriving on campus at sunrise in hopes of a new beauty shot — the signs, the clouds, and the sun all in the right place. It’s a glorious job.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Honestly, and perhaps counterintuitively, it’s processing the images. Taking the photos is great — the planning, trusting your intuition, trying to see the frame, the story, the lighting — but getting back and seeing the results is like magic. I need more magic in my life, and photography fills that need.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY, OR STORY, ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE?
Because of working in the News department, I have a ton of great memories. The start of the School of Medicine, the School of Podiatric Medicine, working with the Theatre Department for photocalls of the productions, and so many others. But I think one of my most vivid memories is during COVID lockdown, when UTRGV stepped up to do testing and then vaccinations. I volunteered to be there, capturing our frontline people putting themselves on the line for our community. I was there when we received the first vaccines for the area. When we started vaccinating first responders and the elderly. Through all of it.
Oh — and working on Halloween stories with our writers!
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU.
Most people in my department know this stuff, but probably no one else:
- Although I’ve enjoyed photography my entire life, it wasn’t my career until recently.
- For about 10 years in the late ’70s I was in a heavy metal band called Naked Steel — playing in Hollywood and around Southern California. (I started playing D&D around 1976, so the band emblem was a large two-handed sword — Naked Steel.)
- I worked about 30 years in the carpet manufacturing business as the Technical Supervisor and was known as the “Carpet Guru” of the West Coast.
- I was a photographer for the Valley Morning Star for a couple of years before being hired at UTRGV.
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UTRGV COMMUNITY?
I like to think that I’ve had a great relationship with the UTRGV community. Over the years, people learned that they could call on me for anything. I have people who call me for portraits, or when student researchers need photography work done. Theatre, Choir, Bee Campus — I’m up for any of it.
I hope people will remember me kindly, if not fondly. I’m going to miss everyone quite a bit.
