A Message from UTSA President Ricardo Romo, March 2016

Ricardo Romo
President, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Dear Friends,

The world is one step closer to wiping out cancer, and it's because of the work that is taking place at UTSA. Matthew Gdovin, a leading researcher in our College of Sciences, has developed a promising therapy to treat patients with hard-to-reach tumors in the brain stem, aorta or spine.

The non-invasive therapy destroys 95 percent of treated cells in just two hours' time. After the injection of a chemical compound, a beam of UV light is aimed at the tumor site to help kill the tumor's cells. This therapy could have a major impact on how we treat triple negative breast cancer, one of the hardest cancers to treat, and on how we treat children, who don't respond well to radiation.

Gdovin is just one of the UTSA faculty members doing groundbreaking research in cancer treatment. UTSA chemists like Donald Kurtz and his team have developed a way to shoot 'iron bullets' at cancer cells and kill them with infrared light.

UTSA medicinal chemist Doug Frantz, who lost three uncles to brain cancer, is leading a team of UTSA students in molecular research. Because stem cells can become any type of cell in the body, Frantz's laboratory is focused on identifying molecules that can convince stem cells they want to become something other than cancer. It's a very unique approach.

While several UTSA researchers are working to eradicate cancer, others are working on ways to mitigate challenges related to cancer.

Mohammad Rahman, a UTSA doctoral student, is looking at the tissue, cellular and subcellular levels of cancer to develop tools that will help scientists and clinicians better predict treatment outcomes.

UTSA stem cell researcher Brian Hermann is working with a team that has discovered a way to preserve the fertility of pre-pubescent boys who have cancer.

Cancer research has come a long way in the last few decades. But it's a persistent disease and there is so much work yet to be done. At UTSA, we are committed to world-class research that improves the quality of life. We are equally passionate about training the next generation of brilliant cancer researchers.

Together, we are working to eradicate this devastating disease.

Go 'Runners!

Ricardo Romo
President, The University of Texas at San Antonio

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Events

April 20-21

Fiesta Arts Fair

Fiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.

UTSA Southwest Campus

Wednesday, April 24, 11:30 a.m.

Denim Day

Join the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.

Student Union Window Lounge, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 24, 5:00 p.m.

Simplifying Citations With Zotero

Learn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.

Virtual Event

Friday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.

McNair Scholar's Spring Celebration

This event is to achnowlege the graduating seniors and induct the new cohart of scholars to our program.

North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140,) Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Alamodome

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Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.