Profile: Carlos A. Rios, EdD, MPA

Biography

As the Senior Director for Educational Affairs at the UTRGV School of Medicine, Dr. Rios oversees the alignment of academic and administrative functions, policies, and processes across Undergraduate Medical Education and Student Affairs. He is dedicated to fostering a culture of belonging and student success, advancing the School of Medicine's mission and vision, and enhancing the quality and effectiveness of educational affairs through evidence-based practices, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.

Before joining the School of Medicine, Dr. Rios served as the Director of College Access/Special Programs within the Division of Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs for five years. During this period, he successfully wrote and managed federal grants, securing over $4 million for the Rio Grande Valley to support college readiness initiatives aimed at assisting low-income and future first-generation college students.

Prior to his tenure at College Access, Dr. Rios was the Associate Director of International Admissions and Student Services at the Office of Global Engagement, a role he assumed in February 2015. He began his career at the university in 2010, spending the first five years at the Office of Graduate Studies, where he supervised the graduate admissions and technology support teams and provided graduate admissions support to over 70 graduate programs.

Before his academic career, Dr. Rios worked in the private sector, focusing on human resources operations, integration, and organizational effectiveness. He is a proud three-time alumnus of this institution, holding a B.A. in Inter-American Studies, an M.P.A. in Public Administration, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in higher education administration.