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Alumni DC
TESTIMONIALS UTSA Alumni in the D.C. area hold a variety of positions
with employers that include the US Department of Defense, US Department
of Agriculture, the George Washington University, Georgetown University,
and more.
Here are some profiles of UTSA alumni currently working
in the Washington, DC metro area. Several of them were offered their current
positions as a result of first working as an intern.
Samuel Berrios (BBA '00, '01)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Accounting Policy
AnalystAfter his junior year at UTSA, Sam came to Washington as an intern
in the US Department of Agriculture working in the environmental policy
area. He extended his stay through the fall of 1999 to work as an
economic policy intern at the US Department of Treasury where he was
the only student from the UT system working among students from premier
economics research institutions such as Stanford, MIT, and Harvard.
After completing his degrees at UTSA, he accepted a permanent position
in the Regulatory Accounting Policy Division at FERC.
"Interning in Washington, DC was one of the most rewarding experiences
of my academic career. The internships opened my eyes to the many
professional opportunities that DC has to offer. I returned to San
Antonio with a greater appreciation of the role the Federal Government
plays in our daily lives and a greater, strategic view of our nation's
political infrastructure."
Jerry Cook (BSEE '88)
US Army Intelligence, Electronics Warfare, Simulators and
Trainers Team; Leader
Mr. Cook served in the US Army from 1980 to 1984 and
upon his discharge attended UTSA as a full time student while working
full time at the KCOR radio station. In 1988, Mr. Cook accepted a Test
Director position with the Department of the Army at Aberdeen Proving
Ground, Maryland. He went on to complete his Executive Masters of Science
in Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Cook was selected
to participate in the Army Acquisition Corps' Competitive Development
Group and completed Army Management Staff College as well as the Program
Manager's School at Fort Belvoir, MD. He currently works with the US
Army Developmental Test Command as the Leader of the Intelligence, Electronic
Warfare, Simulators and Trainers Team.
Jeannine Dollard (BBA '87)
American Health Care Association; Research Director
Ms. Dollard attended UTSA as a full-time undergraduate while working
full-time at a San Antonio law firm. After receiving a degree in business
administration from UTSA in 1987, Ms. Dollard continued to work in law
and began to consider graduate school options. After deciding not to pursue
a law degree, Ms. Dollard enrolled in the UTSA Master of Public Administration
program in 1990. In 1991 the opportunity to move to Washington DC was
presented to Ms. Dollard and she was able to transfer most of her graduate
course work to the MPA program at George Mason University in Fairfax,
Virginia. After completing her MPA in 1993, Ms. Dollard took an unpaid
internship position with the Legislative Department of the American Health
Care Association (AHCA) in Washington DC. After only a few months as an
intern, Ms. Dollard was hired by the AHCA Regulatory Department as a Senior
Research Analyst. Ms. Dollard has now worked for AHCA in this position
for nine years and has produced significant research and impact studies
for the long-term care industry represented by AHCA. The work that Ms.
Dollard conducts at AHCA is used by Congress on Capitol Hill, by industry
regulators in Washington DC and by associated business nationwide.
Belinda Garza (BBA '01)
US House of Representatives; Scheduler and Executive Assistant
Belinda first made her way to Washington during the summer following
her junior year in college. She worked as an intern in the US Census Bureau
in the Division of Finance. The following summer she returned to DC to
work with the US Coast Guard in the Training Resources Management area.
She accepted an internship at the US Department of Health and Human Services
working in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Belinda's broad experiences helped cement her decision to work in the
policy arena and she ultimately landed a job on Capitol Hill where she
works as a scheduler and executive assistant.
"I first came to DC to get some work experience on my resume and
do a little traveling on the East coast. I ended up networking with lots
of young professionals and met many people from Texas living here who
made it feel like I hadn't left home. Now I'm back for a few more years
before heading off to grad school."
Lorenzo Garza (BBA '00)
Federal Reserve Board; Financial Analyst
- Following his junior year at UTSA, Lorenzo was selected as one of
thirty interns by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute to work
on Capitol Hill. During the next two summers he returned to Washington
as an finance intern with the Federal Reserve Board. He went on to complete
a Masters degree at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship
and Public Affairs. He was also a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico where
he completed economic research and worked in investment banking. In
2001, Lorenzo began working at the Federal Reserve on a team that supervises
the largest banks in the the world and monitors credit conditions for
the Chairman and Governors.
"As a student at UTSA, I was curious about job opportunities outside
of Texas, but wasn't sure about moving too far from my family and friends
in San Antonio. I decided I would try DC for a summer. I had nothing to
lose because if I didn't like it here I would simply return to Texas.
I wound up learning alongside some of the foremost experts in my field
of study, made a strong network of contacts, and found a gold mine of
jobs here. Best of all, there were social and cultural activities almost
every day of the week. I would recommend an internship to anyone who wants
to get their foot in the door to find a permanent job and advance their
career more rapidly."
Angelica Mendoza (BBA '00)
US Department of Commerce, International Trade Analyst
Thirty hours later, her life changed. On the wings of a post-UTSA graduation
summer sabbatical, Angelica Mendoza, drove to unfamiliar territory - Washington,
DC. Enticed by the possibilities of foreign travel and applying her degree
work of international business and economics in the international arena,
Angelica accepted a position as an international trade analyst at the
International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce.
Over the past two years, Angelica has traveled to several remote Asian
locations (e.g., cities within the People's Republic of China, including
Hohhot, Hangzhou, and Kunshan) to enforce our international trade laws.
As an international trade analyst, Angelica researches and prepares various
briefing material which is subsequently used by Department delegates in
negotiations with representatives of foreign governments regarding potential
trade remedies.
"Sometimes, I feel like I am walking in a dream. After less than a year's
worth of experience, I found myself in a conference room with officials
from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing,
China, discussing anti-dumping trade issues. But my time here is not a
dream. Previously, unknown and locked doors are now known and open. In
Washington, DC, I create and attain my goals."
Michelle Vaca-Senecal (BA '96)
US International Trade Commission; International Trade Analyst
and
Benjamin Senecal (BS '95)
KPMG Consulting
Benjamin and Michelle relocated to Northern Virginia after graduating
from the University of Texas at San Antonio and marrying in San Antonio
(August 1996). Benjamin fulfilled a five-year commitment in the US Navy,
as a Nuclear Engineer under the Naval Reactors program located in Crystal
City, Virginia. Both Benjamin and Michelle pursued and completed Masters
degree programs in May 2000. Benjamin graduated with a Master of Engineering
Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
of Technology; he also completed his Professional Engineer license (VA.)
in July 2000. Michelle graduated with a Masters of International Commerce
and Policy from George Mason University and was the recipient of her
graduate program's David Ricardo Trade Award. In February of 2001 Benjamin
received the Navy Achievement Medal and departed from the US Navy to
take a position with KPMG Consulting performing financial management
tasks. Upon graduation Michelle accepted a permanent position as an
International Trade Analyst with the United States International Trade
Commission (USITC), providing expert industry and economic advice for
national policymakers. In September 2001 Michelle was selected as one
of 25 individuals worldwide and participated in the International Career
Advancement Program (ICAP) for mid-level international affairs career
professionals at the Aspen Institute. To date, both continue in their
current positions, visit San Antonio often and have long range plans to
return to Texas after getting the "DC experience."
Michael Tidwell (BA '77)
U.S. Postal Service Headquarters
Joining the first wave of undergraduates as a junior when UTSA opened
its main campus in the fall of 1975, Michael attended UTSA full-time
and majored in Political Science. Like other students discovering the
(then) new campus, Michael discovered that new universities do not come
with pre-packaged "student life" kits. Michael joined with other students
on the new campus to organize the original Black Student Alliance and
the Young Democrats. He was later elected by a campus-wide gathering
to chair a committee that drafted the original Student Representative
Assembly constitution which was ratified in a student referendum and
approved by the University and the Board of Regents in the fall of 1976.
That semester, Michael was elected to serve as the first President of
the UTSA Student Representative Assembly. Among the improvements to
student life that he can recall having helped initiate was the establishment
of the first SRA-sponsored on-campus film series. The one presidential
prerequisite that he recalls receiving was the honor of receiving the
first sip from the first keg at the first Sombrilla Beer Party. He does
not recall the name of the band that played, but remembers that the
beer could not have tasted better.
Michael credits his UTSA academic experience, especially a senior seminar
organized by Dr. Richard Gambitta, as providing an excellent foundation
for final stage of his academic career, the University of Texas School
of Law. Upon completion of studies at U.T. Law School in 1980, Michael
began work as an attorney for the United States Postal Service at its
headquarters in Washington, DC There, he continues to enjoy an interesting
career litigating cases before the Postal Rate Commission and providing
advice to senior postal management on a variety of legal and public
policy issues.
My Alumni Profile
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