skip to main content
UTRGV The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Main Menu
Donate Now Directory myUTRGV

You are here:

About Faculty Bios

School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling College of Health Professions

  • Home
    • About Overview
    • Message from the Director
    • Mission
    • Accreditation
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Faculty Bios
    • Featured News Overview
    • Events
    • News Archive
    • CACREP Overview
    • About CACREP
    • CACREP Information for Students
    • CACREP Standards
    • CACREP Annual Report
    • Academic Programs Overview
    • Graduate Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Certificate Programs
    • Student Engagement Overview
    • Student Organizations
    • Professional Organizations
    • Student Testimonies
    • Student Resource Center
    • Student Financial Support Overview
    • Scholarships

Contact Us

School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
EHABW 1.266 (Edinburg campus)
Email: rehabservices@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-665-7036
Fax: 956-665-5237
Facebook Twitter

Quick Links

  • School Director
  • School Homepage
  • Faculty
  • Student Engagement

Faculty Bio's

Antonio Aguirre

Clinical Assistant Professor / Rehab South Coordinator
Phone: (956) 882-5068
Email: antonio.aguirre@utrgv.edu
Read More

Antonio Aguirre

Antonio Aguirre Jr. is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at UTRGV. Mr. Aguirre has been teaching in the School of Rehab since 2010. He is currently teaching most of his classes at the Brownsville campus where he is the coordinator for the School’s expansion to that campus. Mr. Aguirre, as well, is finishing up his doctoral studies in Rehabilitation Counseling. Mr. Aguirre’s research interest include mental health services, transitional services, and bilingual services for the Latino demographic. Mr. Aguirre has an earned Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling, and holds a certificate school counseling. He has over 20 years of experience in the counseling and education field.

Related links:

Antonio Aguirre's CV

Antonio Aguirre's faculty profile

Clinical Assistant Professor / Rehab South Coordinator
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: antonio.aguirre@utrgv.edu
BLHSB 2.740
Phone: (956) 882-5068

Russell Armstrong

Lecturer I
Phone: (956) 665-5913
Email: russell.armstrong@utrgv.edu
Read More

Russell Armstrong

Russell was born in Livingston Montana July 1947.   He moved with family at one year of age to housing in Mammoth Hot Springs, headquarters for Yellowstone Nat. Park.   He attended a two room elementary school at the park headquarters.  He attended middle school and high school in the small town of Gardiner, Montana where he graduated second in his class of 16.  He was active in speech and drama competing on district and state level tournaments.  He also played basketball.

He attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana and then transferred sophomore year to the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana where he graduated with a Bachelor Arts History and Political Science with a life time Montana Teaching Certificate.   

Armstrong was hired to teach all sections of social studies grades 7-12 in a small school in Rudyard, Montana, a wheat farming community 7 miles south of the Canadian border.  This assignment also included other duties of head basketball coach, assistant football coach and head girls track coach.   After two years of teaching he moved his wife, two children, two dogs and a cat and their 60 foot mobile home to Texas.  He traded his personal vehicle for a used mobile home truck in order to move the mobile home on his own. 

Armstrong next adventure found him planning and developing a Winter Texas Recreational Village in Pharr, Texas.   He oversaw the design, construction and operations of the 1000 site RV resort with and opening for business in November 1978.   He sold the resort in 1983 and invested his funds in the construction of a large conference center known as the El Bingo Grande and operated this business until 1989.   The facility is now owned by the City of Pharr and known as the Pharr Events Center.  

In 1991 Armstrong made the decision to return to school and moved to San Marcos, Texas graduating with a Masters of Health Care Administration May 1995.   He was then hired by the Department of State Health Services where he served in various administrative positions until his retirement June 2013.

While employed by the state now under the Health and Human services Commission, Russell  again returned to school and enrolled in the Master Rehabilitation Counseling Program at UT-PA. Graduating with MS Rehabilitation Counseling 2009.   He passed the CRC exam and the National Counselor Exam, becoming an LPC in 2010.   He has maintained his Licensed  Professional Counselor status and sees clients in his Equine Facilitated Counseling practice in Edinburg.    He also has applied and been selected for the past four academic years as full time faculty in the School of Rehabilitation.

Related Links:

Russell Armstrong's CV

Russell Armstrong's faculty profile

Lecturer I
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: russell.armstrong@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.102D
Phone: (956) 665-5913

Maria Gabriela Bridges

Lecturer I
Phone: (956) 665-8738
Email: maria.bridges01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Maria Gabriela Bridges

Dr. Gabi Bridges (Ortiz-Ramirez) graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitative Services from the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) in 2011, a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from UTPA in 2015, Graduate Certificate in Mexican- American Studies in 2020, and her doctorate from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2022. Dr. Bridges (Ortiz-Ramirez) began her professional career in case management with the Hidalgo County Public Defender’s Office in 2012, later moved on to teach children with disabilities in public schools in 2015, and then working with Centers for Independent Living in 2018. Dr. Bridges (Ortiz-Ramirez) currently serves on the board of directors for the Valley Association for Independent Living along with her husband, Dr. Ernesto Ramirez. Her work is centered around community and cultural critical interpretations of disability, disability identity in Higher Education, and Liberation Psychology. Her dissertation is titled: From Nepantla to Aztlan: Testimonios of Faculty Mothers of Color with Disabilities. She is currently employed as a lecturer at the UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling and teaches primarily on the Brownsville campus. 

Related Links:

Maria Gabriela Bridges' CV

Lecturer I
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: maria.bridges01@utrgv.edu
Brownsville
Phone: (956) 665-8738

Eluterio Blanco

Clinical Assistant Professor / Addiction Studies Coordinator
Phone: (956) 665-5240
Email: eluterio.blanco01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Eluterio Blanco

Eluterio (Jr.) Blanco earned his PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling and is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor as well as a certified Master Addiction Counselor.  He has been providing counseling services to clients with Substance Use Disorders, including adolescents, adults, and special populations since 2002. He is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and is the Addiction Studies Program Coordinator.  Eluterio holds professional memberships with the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), the Texas Association of Addiction Professional (TAAP), and is a Past-President of the Valley Association of Addiction Professional (VAAP).  He has also served two terms on the Board of Directors for TAAP.  He has co-authored an article on the attitudes of Mexicans Americans towards cannabis use and is his dissertation focused on professional/community stigma toward persons with substance use disorders by Mexican Americans.

Related links:

Eluterio Blanco's CV

Eluterio Blanco's faculty profile

Clinical Assistant Professor / Addiction Studies Coordinator
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: eluterio.blanco01@utrgv.edu
EPOB14 RM 1.101A
Phone: (956) 665-5240

Roy Chen

Professor
Phone: (956) 665-3590
Email: roy.chen@utrgv.edu
Read More

Roy Chen

Dr. Roy Chen received a doctorate in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from Michigan State University. He has published extensively in rehabilitation, allied health, counseling, and education journals. He also has presented regularly at international, national, and regional conferences. Roy has a wide array of research interests including psychosocial aspects of disability, career development, multicultural counseling, neuromuscular and neurological disorders, employment of people with disabilities, psychiatric rehabilitation, gerontology, special education, and addiction studies. 

Roy has decades of experience in teaching undergraduate, master, and doctoral level courses. His specializations include research methods, case management, psychology of disability, multiculturalism, vocational rehabilitation, medical aspects of disability, and career counseling. He especially enjoys mentoring and collaborating with doctoral students on research projects. Roy was educated in three countries and had worked as a financial analyst in the banking and finance sector for many years before switching his career track to rehabilitation counseling.

Education

  • Graduate Certificate 2009, Illinois Institute of Technology
  • PhD 2006, Michigan State University
  • MS 1998, California State University at Los Angeles
  • MBA 1994, Azusa Pacific University, California
  • BS 1989, University of Southern California


Related links:

Roy Chen's CV

Roy Chen's faculty profile

Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: roy.chen@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.302
Phone: (956) 665-3590

Rene Gonzalez

Professor
Phone: (956) 665-7038
Email: rene.gonzalez@utrgv.edu
Read More

Rene Gonzalez

Dr. Rene Gonzalez, is an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Gonzalez obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). He teaches undergraduate, masters and doctoral courses. Dr. Gonzalez was appointed to the Rehabilitation Council of Texas by Governor Rick Perry. The Rehabilitation Council of Texas (RCT) advocates for people with disabilities in the vocational rehabilitation process to ensure Texans with disabilities have access to an effective vocational rehabilitation service delivery system leading to employment. Dr. Gonzalez has clinical experience in providing psychotherapy/counseling for, predominantly, Latino/Hispanic with various disabling conditions to attain and maintain employment and/or attending post-secondary training. Dr. Gonzalez’ areas of expertise include: virtues and character strengths, resilience, psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability, and vocational rehabilitation outcomes. Dr. Gonzalez co-authored several peer-reviewed publications relative to virtues and character traits, resilience, positive psychology, and psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability. Dr. Gonzalez also authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications relative to rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders, older persons with diabetes, older stroke survivors, and caregiver burden and Hispanic caregiving. In the area of grants, Dr. Gonzalez served as Principal Investigator for a grant funded through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) and Morehouse College as the administrative coordinating body. In addition, Dr. Gonzalez served as Co-PI of an RSA long-term training grant.

Related links:

Rene Gonzalez's CV

Rene Gonzalez's faculty profile

Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: rene.gonzalez@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.268
Phone: (956) 665-7038

Noreen Graf

Professor
Phone: (956) 665-7344
Email: noreen.graf@utrgv.edu
Read More

Noreen Graf

Noreen Graf, Rh.D. is a Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.  Dr. Graf has over 20 years of teaching experience, focusing on counseling skills and research courses.  Her research areas include trauma, disability and spirituality, positive psychology, and veteran’s adjustment.

Related links:

Noreen Graf's faculty CV

Noreen Graf's faculty profile

Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: noreen.graf@utrgv.edu
EHABW 2.314
Phone: (956) 665-7344

Saara T. Grizzell

Associate Professor / MS & PhD Program Coordinator
Phone: (956) 665-3050
Email: saara.grizzell@utrgv.edu
Read More

Saara T. Grizzell

Dr. Saara Grizzell has extensive field experience in both private and public rehabilitation settings. She has facilitated many groups in neuro-orientation, psychoeducation, and addictions recovery and has worked for decades in the field of vocational rehabilitation, both as a rehabilitation counselor and forensics evaluator. Her published research interests include: Group counseling; Acquired Brain Injury; Progress monitoring; and Quality Assurance. Dr. Grizzell is working as an associate professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. In addition, she is currently serving as board President of the Rehabilitation Program Evaluation Network (RPEN), a national organization serving the needs of program evaluators in the public and private sectors. Dr. Grizzell is also serving as an associate editor for Contemporary Research in Disability and Rehabilitation, an open-access peer-reviewed journal.


Related links:

Saara Grizzell's CV 

Saara Grizzell's faculty profile

Associate Professor / MS & PhD Program Coordinator
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: saara.grizzell@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.132
Phone: (956) 665-3050

Silvia Gutierrez-Leal

Clinical Assistant Professor / Clinical Coordinator
Phone: (956) 655-3044
Email: silvia.gutierrezleal01@utrg...
Read More

Silvia Gutierrez-Leal

I am a graduate from the University of Texas Pan American where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a double minor in Addiction Studies and Rehabilitation Counseling.   After a short career in education, I found my calling for counseling.  I decided to return to UT-Pan American and earned a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling.  This degree has afforded me an opportunity to provide services to individuals of varied ages, cultures, demographics, and with numerous medical and psychological issues. 

 In 2016 I joined the faculty of the University of Texas-Rio Grande Vally, School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling.  Here, I teach numerous courses including Assessments in Human Services, Current Issues in Addictions Studies and Case Management.  I greatly enjoy my work as an educator as it allows me an opportunity to work with many future clinicians

Silvia Gutierrez-Leal's CV

Clinical Assistant Professor / Clinical Coordinator
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: silvia.gutierrezleal01@utrgv.edu
EHABW 2.132
Phone: (956) 655-3044

Rommel Johnson

Associate Professor
Phone: 956-665-5255
Email: rommel.johnson@utrgv.edu
Read More

Rommel Johnson

Rommel Johnson, PhD., LPC, CAADC, CRC, NCC

Dr. Rommel Johnson is an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Western Michigan University and Master of Arts degrees in Community Counseling and Youth Ministry from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. Dr. Johnson  is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the States of Michigan and Texas and is Board Certified in General Counseling (NCC), Addiction Counseling (CAADC) and Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC). Dr. Johnson has over 14 years of broad counseling experience and has worked with clients of many diverse backgrounds and presenting problems, both within the United States and internationally.

Dr. Johnson has worked as an Adjunct faculty member at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan as well as a mental health counselor in the Counseling and Testing center on the campus. Dr. Johnson has presented on various topics at several regional and national counseling conferences and is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the Michigan Counseling Association and the North Central and Southern Associations for Counselor Education and Supervision.

Dr. Johnson's research interests include exploring brain neuroplasticity in addiction and recovery, and understanding issues of race, social justice, disability and mental health within Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino/a immigrants.

Related links:

Rommel Johnson's CV

Rommel Johnson's faculty profile

Associate Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: rommel.johnson@utrgv.edu
EPOB 14 room 1.101F
Phone: 956-665-5255

Perla Y. Leo

Lecturer I
Phone: (956) 665-3734
Email: perla.leo@utrgv.edu
Read More

Perla Y. Leo

Mrs. Leo is a Lecturer I with the School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling at UTRGV. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor practicing psychotherapy in Mission, TX. Mrs. Leo earned a Master’s of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from UTPA in 2012 and a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2009. She has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC) since 2012 and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) since 2017. She has experience working as a professional in state Vocational Rehabilitation as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in San Antonio, TX. Mrs. Leo also has experience in providing academic accommodation in higher education during her time as a Coordinator for Student Accessibility Services at South Texas College. Her field specialization is in mental health with past work experience conducting intake assessments, crisis intervention services and psychosocial skills training at several mental health agencies across the state including Tropical Texas Behavioral Health in Hidalgo County.

Related Links:

Perla Leo's CV

Lecturer I
School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling
Email: perla.leo@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.134
Phone: (956) 665-3734

Irmo Marini

Professor
Phone: (956) 665-7035
Email: irmo.marini@utrgv.edu
Read More

Irmo Marini

Dr. Irmo Marini is a Professor in the School of Rehabilitation at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. He earned his master’s in clinical psychology from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Canada, and his Ph.D. in Rehabilitation from Auburn University in Alabama. Dr. Marini earned two outstanding faculty research awards at Arkansas State, three more faculty research awards at Pan-American, two outstanding teaching awards at Pan-American, and one service award. On a national level, Dr. Marini was the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Career in Rehabilitation Education award by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education, and a year later received the 2010 James F. Garrett Distinguished Career award in rehabilitation research by the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association. He was also voted the National Council on Rehabilitation Education’s 2013 recipient of the Rehabilitation Educator of the year award. He also received the Patricia McCollom distinguished career award in life care planning research in 2015. To date, he has published over 85 peer-reviewed journal publications, 40 book chapters, and co-authored and co-edited 7 books on counseling and rehabilitation counseling psychology related topics. Dr. Marini is former President of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association and former Chair of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. Dr. Marini has maintained a forensic life care planning and vocational expert private practice since 1994.

Dr. Irmo Marini's research interests include psychosocial aspects of disability, forensic rehabilitation research issues, attitudes toward disability, spinal cord injury issues, social injustice, oppression and disability, and positive psychology.


Related links:

Irmo Marini's CV

Irmo Marini's faculty profile

Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: irmo.marini@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.310
Phone: (956) 665-7035

Diana Mendez

Lecturer III
Phone: (956) 665-5110
Email: diana.mendez@utrgv.edu
Read More

Diana Mendez

Diana Mendez is a Full-time Lecturer in the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling and has been teaching for UTPA and UTRGV since 2011. Her university responsibilities include: developing Deaf Concentration courses as well as Addiction Track courses and providing instruction to undergraduates. Mrs. Mendez conducts research in the areas of deafness, addiction, and supervision for LPC-interns. Mrs. Mendez provides guest lecturers and presentations on state and local levels in areas of mental health disorders and deafness. Mrs. Mendez has over 30 years’ experience working with the Deaf and hard of hearing and continues to service this underserved community as a Licensed Professional Counselor -Supervisor in private practice.

Related links:

Diana Mendez's CV

Diana Mendez's faculty profile

Lecturer III
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: diana.mendez@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.102B
Phone: (956) 665-5110

Fidencio Mercado

Interim Director / Clinical Professor
Phone: (956) 665-2672
Email: fidencio.mercado@utrgv.edu
Read More

Fidencio Mercado

Mr. Mercado is a Clinical Associate Professor with the School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling at UTRGV. He also serves as the Associate Director for the School and Undergraduate Coordinator. Mr. Mercado earned his Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from UTPA in 2003. He has been a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) since 2006 and a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2018 (LPC-Intern since 2015). He has clinical experience working as a professional in Addictions/ Mental Health Counseling. His work has been primarily with Hispanic adolescents, young adults, adults and their families. He currently teaches undergraduate courses related to Addictions and has research interests in addictions, spirituality, ethics and multicultural concerns. He has served as the Chapter President of the Valley Association of Addiction Professionals (VAAP), a chapter of the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals. Mr. Mercado has been trained and certified in Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). He is also the PI of the Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATC) sub-award grant with UT Austin. The grant is federally funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the South-Southwest Region of ATC.

Related Links:

Fidencio Mercado's CV

Fidencio Mercado's faculty profile

Interim Director / Clinical Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: fidencio.mercado@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.130
Phone: (956) 665-2672

Camron Ortega

Assistant Professor
Email: cameron.ortega@utrgv.edu
Read More

Camron Ortega

Dr. Cameron Ortega is an Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Service and Counseling. She holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling (2022), a Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling (2009) from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts (2006) from the University of Texas Pan American. With over 15 years of experience in mental health and substance use treatment, Dr. Ortega has worked with diverse populations in various settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and private practice. She serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Texas Rehabilitation Association and is a Board Director for the Palmer Drug Abuse Program in McAllen.

Dr. Ortega's research interests focus on the intersection of substance use, disability, and psychiatric disorders, with an emphasis on social justice, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community. She is dedicated to understanding how these intersecting identities affect mental health and well-being. Her work aims to address disparities in access to care and support due to systemic inequities. Additionally, she explores modern technology for innovative interventions, examining the potential of digital tools such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, telehealth, and mobile applications to improve access to care and treatment outcomes.

Related links:

Dr. Cameron Ortega's CV

Assistant Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: cameron.ortega@utrgv.edu
EHABW 2.124

Kim Nguyen-Finn

Assistant Professor / Expressive Arts Coordinator
Phone: (956) 665-7041
Email: kim.finn01@utrgv.edu
Read More

Kim Nguyen-Finn

Kim Nguyen-Finn, PhD, LPC-S, has been a mental health counselor since 1998 and is a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor Board-approved Supervisor. Aside from serving as a lecturer in the School of Rehabilitation Counseling and Services, she provides individual, family, and couples counseling for a wide range of issues, including anxiety disorders, OCD, depression, trauma resolution, and gender identity, in private practice. Currently, Dr. Finn also serves as supervising consulting counselor for UTRGV’s Office for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention, and is an expert witness for domestic violence and sexual assault cases. Dr. Finn was raised in a military household and earned her doctoral degree from UTRGV’s Rehabilitation Counseling program and Master’s of Arts in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Related links:

Kim Nguyen-Finn's CV

Kim Nguyen-Finn's faculty profile

Assistant Professor / Expressive Arts Coordinator
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: kim.finn01@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.136
Phone: (956) 665-7041

Bruce Reed

Professor
Phone: (956) 665-3151
Email: bruce.reed@utrgv.edu
Read More

Bruce Reed

Dr. Bruce J. Reed received his PhD from the University of Northern Colorado in 1993 and has been on the faculty since then. Dr. Reed’s areas of interest include grant writing, administration and leadership, academic program development, supported employment, mentoring, and assistive technologies.


Related links:

Bruce Reed's CV

Bruce Reed's faculty profile

Professor
School of Rehabilitation Counseling & Services
Email: bruce.reed@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.126
Phone: (956) 665-3151

Belinda Rivas

Clinical Associate Professor / Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Phone: (956) 665-3591
Email: belinda.rivas@utrgv.edu
Read More

Belinda Rivas

Belinda Rivas is a Clinical Assistant Professor (non-tenure track) with the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling and has been teaching undergraduate courses since 2006.  Belinda Rivas earned her Master of Science degree in Counseling from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Texas. She has completed her course work for PhD in General Psychology teaching track and is currently all but Dissertation. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She has a special interest in research supported practices in mental illness management and recovery, family and patient psychoeducational, psychosocial skills training, cognitive behavioral counseling, community treatment, integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders, ethical practices, and motivational interviewing.

Related links:

Belinda Rivas's CV

Belinda Rivas's faculty profile

Clinical Associate Professor / Undergraduate Program Coordinator
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: belinda.rivas@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.330
Phone: (956) 665-3591

Nancy Riddick

Lecturer I
Phone: (956) 655-665-5244
Email: nancy.riddick@utrgv.edu
Read More

Nancy Riddick

Dr. Nancy Riddick received her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Services and Counseling from the Dept of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) at Edinburg. Dr. Riddick received her Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Management from American InterContinental University in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Dr. Riddick has worked as an Adjunct/Part-time Lecturer faculty member at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, at Northwest Indian College in the State of Washington, and at the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Training & Technical Center (AIVRTTAC) at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona as Content Expert/Researcher. Dr. Riddick also served as an elected executive board member (Secretary) and board member-at-large for the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns (NAMRC). She has presented topics at local, regional, and national counseling conferences for the past 12 years. Dr. Riddick is well known as an advocate for female leadership and individuals with disabilities and has over 30 years of working in the field with individuals of diverse cultures, and diverse backgrounds, in North Carolina and Texas.

Dr. Riddick has received awards for her leadership, community service, and customer service from UTRGV, WSSU, and the DHHS-NC and two National Awards from the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns (NAMRC) and the National Council of Rehabilitation Education (NCRE).

Dr. Riddick's research interests include focusing on the leadership and job satisfaction of female faculty in Higher Education; Native American health disparities, and the education and job development of individuals seeking Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Related Links:

Nancy Riddick's CV

Lecturer I
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: nancy.riddick@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.134
Phone: (956) 655-665-5244

Blanca Robles

Clinical Assistant Professor
Phone: (956) 665-2132
Email: blanca.robles@utrgv.edu
Read More

Blanca Robles

Ms. Blanca Robles earned a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master's in Rehabilitative Services from UTPA. Before her work, at UTRGV her professional experiences come from working as an Employment Specialist, Social Security Benefits Counselor, Medical and Vocational Case Manager in the private sector, and mental health contract work at a local independent school district. She has been teaching for the school since 2011 and with the university since 2006. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, for which she supervises interns in professional practice. In addition, Ms. Robles is highly involved in community service and proudly serves as a board member at a local non-profit agency serving people with disabilities.

Related links:

Blanca Robles's CV

Blanca Robles's faculty profile

Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: blanca.robles@utrgv.edu
EHABW 2.130
Phone: (956) 665-2132

Shawn Saladin

Professor
Phone: (956) 655-7005
Email: shawn.saladin@utrgv.edu
Read More

Shawn Saladin

Shawn P. Saladin, Ph.D., CRC, CPM is the Assistant Dean/Director of the UTRGV Office of Student Accessibility Services and is a tenured full professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling. He is also the Associate Director of the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) and co-pi on the Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary and Behavioral Health Care (I2 PBH) program as part of a Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program grant. He previously worked with the State of Texas state/federal VR program for eleven years and prior to that in the Texas public secondary education school system. In addition, his service includes eighteen years of continuous gubernatorial appointments. These include the Rehabilitation Council of Texas, The Texas Governors Committee on Persons with Disabilities and currently the President of the Texas School for the Deaf Governing Board. He has received university level awards for teaching, research, and service. He has also received recognition from the community as Distinguished Community Leader for his work with the Deaf Community and the Promethean Award form Texas Rehabilitation Association.

Related links:

Shawn P. Saladin CV

Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: shawn.saladin@utrgv.edu
EUCTR 108
Phone: (956) 655-7005

Barbara Schoen

Associate Professor
Phone: (956) 665-5107
Email: barbara.schoen@utrgv.edu
Read More

Barbara Schoen

Dr. Barbara Schoen is an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Schoen received her doctorate in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from Michigan State University in 2010 and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Her research interests include social justice, community outreach and psychosocial adjustment to disability. Prior to her doctorate, Dr. Schoen completed a two-year Advanced Training Fellowship funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research through the University of Michigan’s Model Spinal Cord Injury Care System (2003-2005), where she led a project funded through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation investigating the needs of and providing resources to rural consumers with SCI. Because of her continued work in that area, the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) presented her the 2009 Earl Walden Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Advocacy.

While at The University of Texas at El Paso (2010-2017) Dr. Schoen was the Principal Investigator of projects funded through The National Institute of Health, National Library of Medicine and Department of Education totaling over $1,000,000. She served as a consultant and subject matter expert responsible for rural based content development for a Technical Assistance Center-Targeted Communities Grant, administered Project HIGHER (a program providing graduate students as coaches to students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in certificate programs). Dr. Schoen was recently funded by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities to identify strengths and challenges encountered by the Rio Grande Valley individuals with intellectual disabilities. She has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and presented at local, state, and national conferences. Finally, Dr. Schoen has taught courses including, Cognitive, Behavioral and Psychological Aspects of Disability, Counseling Special Needs Populations, Career Development, Substance Abuse, Group Counseling, Medical Aspects of Disability and Grant Writing.

 

Related links:

Barbara Schoen's CV

Barbara Schoen's faculty profile

Associate Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: barbara.schoen@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.304
Phone: (956) 665-5107

Denise Silcox

Clinical Associate Professor
Phone: (956) 665-8077
Email: denise.silcox@utrgv.edu
Read More

Denise Silcox

Related links:

Denise Silcox's CV

Denise Silcox's faculty profile

Clinical Associate Professor
School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Email: denise.silcox@utrgv.edu
EHABW 1.102C
Phone: (956) 665-8077
Jump to Top

UTRGV

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • CARES, CRRSAA and ARP Reporting
  • Site Policies
  • Contact UTRGV
  • Required Links
  • Fraud Reporting
  • Senate Bill 18 Reporting
  • UTRGV Careers
  • Clery Act Reports
  • Web Accessibility
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • Reporting Sexual Misconduct