The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Office of Global Engagement Division of Research, Graduate Studies & New Program Development
International Faculty Fellows
About the International Faculty Fellows (IFF)
International Faculty Fellows will work closely with the Office of EVP-RGSNPD and the Office of Global Engagement in building sustainable partnerships with institutions in their original home countries. International Faculty Fellows play an important and central role in UTRGV being a global university. Among their many activities, they will to establish recruitment pipelines for our undergraduate and graduate programs, expand university research opportunities, negotiate with international partners on a range of programs and collaborations, and provide a positive global-footprint for UTRGV.
International Faculty Fellows for AY 2019-20:
Dr. Francis Kofi Andoh-Baidoo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems. He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Business Administration with a major in Information Systems and a minor in Finance from Virginia Commonwealth University in Ghana. He also has a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Information Technology Management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His undergraduate in Materials Engineering is from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. He serves on the editorial review board of several Information Systems journals. He is a certified Oracle Database Administrator and has industry experience in Enterprise Resource Planning Systems and Business Intelligence. His areas of expertise include business Intelligence/Analytics and Information Security.
Dr. Teresa Feria–Arroyo is an Associate Professor in the UTRGV Biology Department. She holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and MS in Animal Biology from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Her undergraduate degree, a BS in Biology, was also earned in Mexico from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Dr. Feria’s research focuses on understanding present and future (under climate change scenarios) distribution of living organisms using Geographical Information System m(GIS) technologies and Species Distribution Models. Her areas of expertise include Ecology, Global Change Ecology, Geographic Information Systems, Species Distribution Modeling, Invasive Species, Vector-Borne diseases, Endangered Species, and Climate Change. 
Dr. Erwin Suazo is an Associate Professor in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Arizona State University and his MS in Mathematics from Arizona State University. His undergraduate was earned in Colombia. His research interests are in the analysis of partial differential equations (PDEs) appearing in wave phenomena. The equations he works on have interesting and useful applications in physics (like describing the motion of particles in the presence of magnetic and electric fields changing with time), electrical engineering (laser beam propagation on lenses and atmosphere), biology (spacial population growth and gene selection) and computer science (testing numerical methods for PDEs).
Agreements: International Agreements (commonly called a Memoranda of Understanding or MOU) are developed between UTRGV and an international partner for a variety of purposes including research and resource sharing, study abroad programs (both faculty and non-faculty led), faculty and/or student exchanges, or other initiatives. UTRGV, as part of the University of Texas System, has two primary types of Agreements: Agreement of Cooperation & Program Agreement. To learn more about Agreements, how to create them, and a list of current Agreements, please see the links below.
| Learn More | Documents |
| How to Create an Agreement | Convenio de Cooperación |
| Existing Agreements | Program Agreement |
| Information Sheet |
International Programs & Partnerships:
- Visiting Scholars & J-1 Exchange Visitor Program
- Student Exchange Program
International Admissions & Student Services:
- Scholarships
- Cost of Attendance for UTRGV 2019-2020
- International Undergraduate Admissions
- International Graduate Admissions
Examples of Transfer Programs:
- 2+2: Undergraduate students spend two years in the partner institution then transfer for the final two years to UTRGV. They receive two Bachelor degrees, one from each institution.
- 3+1: Undergraduate students spend three years in the partner institution then transfer for the final year to UTRGV. They receive two Bachelor degrees, one from each institution.
- 3+1+1: Undergraduate students spend three years in the partner institution then transfer for the final year to UTRGV. In their first year at UTRGV they take both undergrad and grad courses. They then enter a UTRGV Masters program and graduate in one year. They receive a Bachelor's degree from their home institution and a Masters from UTRGV.
Downloadable Information and Links:
IFF Powerpoint (Click here to download)
Support and IFF can expect from OGE:
- Pre/post-travel meetings and orientations.
- Resource for questions on “all things” international.
- Modest supplies (portfolio, paper, copying, swag, etc.)
- Assistance in building a larger agenda and set of objectives.
- Maintaining a database of contacts, travel, outcomes, etc.
- Logistics for signings, visitors, relevant meetings, etc.
- Ensuring IFF has a basic knowledge of UTRGV’s degrees and colleges.
- Invitations to appropriate events, such as signings.
- Create and maintain a webpage/email for IFF.
International Travel and the International Oversight Committee (IOC):
UTRGV international travelers should first check with the IOC webpage prior to traveling. The IOC was established as part of the UT System-wide effort to ensure safe international travel. Some areas of the world present heightened health and safety risks as outlined in Level 3 and Level 4 area, regional, or country advisories on the U.S. Department of State Travel Alerts and Warnings’ list. Known as “restricted regions”, travel to these locations may require additional efforts to mitigate risk and, at times, call for the avoidance of travel altogether.
All travel to areas with Level 2 and above must first submit an application to the IOC.
To submit a travel application go to: https://www.utrgv.edu/oge/explore-the-world/i-o-c/index.htm
Alan Earhart
alan.earhart@utrgv.edu
956-665-3572
Dennis Hart, PhD
dennis.hart@utrgv.edu
956-665-3572
Samantha Lopez
samantha.lopez@utrgv.edu
956-665-2922