Meet Lorena Roxburgh, a UTRGV Unsung Hero
Text by Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
Lorena Roxburgh, program coordinator for the UTRGV Edinburg Campus P-16 Outreach and Testing Services department, focuses her efforts on middle school initiatives, including STEM conferences and camps.
She is centered on helping students persevere and succeed, so one of her favorite memories is when a former UTRGV Mother-Daughter Program alum told her that being part of that program in middle school inspired her to obtain a degree at UTRGV.
“I gleamed with pride, knowing that the services we provide to our school and community partners can have a great impact on students,” she said.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT UTRGV?
I am the program coordinator for the middle school initiatives, and STEM conferences/camps for P-16 Outreach and Testing Services.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
I have about 13 years of service, between UTRGV and legacy institution UTPA.
WITH THE SOCIAL CHANGES DUE TO COVID-19, DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY
Throughout the pandemic and now, business continues as usual. I did have to adapt to a new way of doing my job. I learned to use other platforms I rarely used before to communicate with student employees, staff, faculty and community partners. My work calendar was filled with Zoom meetings. Being back on campus, there has been a sense of returning to some type of normalcy. These days, I can incorporate the new things I learned while working virtually to be more creative in providing our services.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE MAINTAINING YOUR ROLE UNDER COVID-19?
I have always been able to adapt to change quickly. However, one of the biggest challenges at the start of the pandemic was maintaining participation from our program partners. As our community was learning to adjust to these changes, our services were impacted. I was in constant communication with our school partners to help everyone understand the needs of our participants, as we transitioned from in-person to virtual service. Keeping participants engaged and attending sessions in the programs was a challenge.
IN WHAT WAYS DID YOU HELP YOUR DEPARTMENT MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS?
Our department works with a large team of student employees and staff and has contact with the members of the community. Therefore, I continued to follow the university’s COVID guidelines. I remind our team about daily self-screenings, highly recommend face coverings, and continue to social distance while in office. I am disinfecting my workstation before I start my workday and before I leave.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY, OR STORY, ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE?
My favorite memory is when a former program student came up to me on campus and shared that she was an alum of the UTRGV Mother-Daughter Program when she was in middle school. She said that being a part of that program, and learning about the STEM fields and the importance of higher education, was one of the reasons she chose to attend UTRGV. I gleamed with pride, knowing that the services we provide to our school and community partners can have a great impact on students.
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU
I enjoy the beauty of nature. One of my favorite things about the campus is all the trees. I love taking a walk around campus early in the morning, listening to the birds chirping and feeling the fresh breeze. I always take a moment to take a deep breath and appreciate the day.
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UTRGV COMMUNITY?
Throughout the years, I have had the privilege to network and build strong working relationships with the amazing campus partners who have assisted me with many of our department programs.
WHAT ARE SOME ENCOURAGING WORDS YOU COULD SHARE WITH YOUR PEERS ABOUT COVID-19?
Just like every other difficult time in history, we will continue to overcome and persevere. Just keep moving forward, one day at a time. There is always hope in every new day. Just remember that, with every step you take, you should try to help someone else along the way.
