Profile: Iliana Cantu, EdD, MBA, MA

Biography

Iliana Cantu, EdD, MBA, MA, serves as the Education Development Specialist in the Office of Faculty Affairs at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine. A proud native of the Rio Grande Valley, Dr. Cantu has devoted her career to promoting culturally responsive teaching practices.

She holds a Master’s degree in Communication Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Training and Consulting from the University of Texas–Pan American (2014), as well as an MBA and a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction from UTRGV.

With over a decade of experience spanning K–12, higher education, and continuing education. Her research interests include teacher praxis, professional development, Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Pedagogy, and issues of representation in education. Through her scholarship and practice, Dr. Cantu remains committed to empowering educators and communities to create transformative and affirming educational experiences.