Affinity Groups
The University of Texas at San Antonio considers Affinity Groups an essential component that connects various workforce members and the University. Therefore, an inherent element of the mission of an Affinity Group is to promote the welfare of UTSA and its purpose.
Affinity Groups are voluntary associations of people who have common interests. Affinity Groups play a vital role in articulating, promoting, and supporting the needs and goals of their various communities and organizations. Their primary focus is to develop and improve the campus climate by increasing the presence of diverse faculty and staff. The groups can assist the organization with recruiting, retaining, and promoting top, diverse talent. In addition, they can help increase morale, provide insights into diverse areas, build bridges to the community and empower members.
Currently, UTSA has various identity-based Affinity Groups (see list below). The Office of Inclusive Excellence supports these groups in promoting a sense of belonging for employees and providing a community. We encourage the formation of new affinity groups and would like to support any employees looking to start a new group. Please reach out to the Office of Inclusive Excellence for any support that you may need.
If you are interested in establishing a new affinity group or want to re-activate your affinity group registration for the upcoming academic year, please fill out the New Affinity Group Registration Form or the Renewal Affinity Group Registration Form.
List of Affinity Groups
The Association of Chinese Professors at UTSA mission is to promote academic activities, career development, and professional success of Chinese professors at UTSA, and to present and represent Chinese professors at UTSA as a collectivity to the general UTSA community and the outside world.
The Association of Chinese Professors at UTSA serves as a means for members to keep in touch with one another; to share experiences, common concerns, and information; to exchange professional achievements; to represent members' common interests and develop collective professional projects; and to promote academic, scholarly exchanges between China and America and other countries.
Contact: Xiaohe Xu
Our mission is fostering academic and professional development of black faculty, students, and staff at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The organization accomplishes this mission by promoting cultural events, advancing professional development, providing scholarships, serving as an advocate for, and developing support groups for the faculty, staff, and students. Additionally, the BFSA champions the recruitment, retention, and advancement of black faculty, staff, and students as we pursue the vision and mission of UTSA.
Kelly Nash, Ph.D.
Yolanda Williams
Karla Broadus
visit the BFSA website
Our mission is fostering community for Fixed Term Track (FTT) faculty in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts and to integrate FTT faculty into the fabric of our college. The COLFA FTT Affinity Group accomplishes these goals by providing resources, promoting curriculum development, and developing networks for the retention and advancement of FTT faculty. The COLFA FTT Affinity Group will support COLFA FTT by advancing awareness of University resources, teaching awards, and conferences. In addition, The COLFA FTT Affinity Group will foster a community of fellowship and friendship. This mission is in accordance with the University’s core values of encouraging “an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.”
Contact: Annette Portillo
Leaving your home behind and starting a new position in a foreign country abroad can be challenging. The International Faculty Group provides a home for incoming faculty, helps them transition to their new home, and serves as a forum to exchange thoughts and experience!
Contact:
The purposes of the Postdoc Association are:
• Provide a social network and support group for postdoctoral fellows in order to create and community of support, engagement, and interdisciplinary research opportunities
• Connect postdoctoral fellows with resources and support services that are essential to gaining the most from the UTSA employment experience
• Increase communication among postdoctoral fellows, faculty, staff, and administration at UTSA
• Provide postdoctoral fellows with the opportunity to attend workshops, seminars, and conferences that will help them with their research, grant writing, and professional endeavors
• Foster an environment in which postdoctoral fellows can freely express their ideas and opinions on current issues, cutting-edge research, and other employee concerns
Contact:
Althea Campuzano, Co-Chair
Marina Armendariz, Co-Chair
Postdocs@utsa.edu
We, the University of Texas at San Antonio Pride Faculty and Staff Association, endeavor by our organization, presence, and visibility to help create a safe and supportive professional environment for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and ally faculty and staff of UTSA. The Pride Faculty and Staff Association is an inclusive professional organization that serves as a resource and advocacy group for employees and their families.
Among the functions of the Pride Faculty and Staff Association are the following:
- To provide a safe and confidential forum for discussing issues important to the LGBTQA+ community at UTSA.
- To encourage and promote scholarship, research, and teaching that addresses questions relevant to LGBTQA+ persons and all university members across disciplines concerned with understanding the role of gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation in culture and society.
- To help faculty across the university develop pedagogical approaches that are sensitive to the sexual diversity present both in our classrooms and in the larger community served by the undergraduates and graduates we are preparing for professional service.
- To help faculty and staff across the university understand and model behaviors that contribute to making UTSA a productive learning and working environment for gay and lesbian employees and students.
- To foster retention of LGBTQA+ faculty and staff.
- In the spirit of the university’s desire to establish a diverse community, the Pride Faculty and Staff Association shall seek to provide support and guidance for the university regarding issues that affect the well-being of LGBTQA+ employees of the university.
Contact:
PrideFSA@utsa.edu
Pozzi, Luca; Chair
Shaffer, John; Vice-chair
Palese, Tim; Treasurer
The mission of Rowdy Warriors is to promote the inclusion of a diverse community and culture of Veterans, family members, and supporters at UTSA.
Among the functions of the Rowdy-Warrior Military Veterans Alliance are the following:
- To represent the interests of Veterans faculty and staff;
- Assist and support the recruitment and retention of Veteran employment at UTSA;
- Promote cultural diversity and positive relations throughout the University community;
- To promote the individual and collective well-being of Veteran faculty and staff;
- Advocate for the career advancement of Veterans on campus;
- To ensure and facilitate the development and advancement of Veteran faculty and staff;
- Promote and celebrate the diverse Veteran culture at UTSA;
- Support, socialize and recognize RWMVA members and build a cohesive campus community;
- To maintain an effective and positive relationship between the University and its Veteran constituency;
- Collaborate with other University organizations and the community at large to foster a greater understanding of veterans and transitioning service member’s issues and concerns;
- We will build networks and foster partnerships among academic affairs, student affairs, and community organizations to advance diversity, equity, and social justice;
- Be a resource for professional development, onboarding, and mentorship for faculty, staff, and students;
- and Advance the recruitment, development, and retention of Veteran faculty and staff.
Contact:
kathryn.carrillo@utsa.edu
joshua.trigo@utsa.edu
odell.kelley@utsa.edu
Purpose:
1) Represent and protect the interests of survivors of sexual violence at UTSA.
2) To promote the individual survivor and address the survivor's specific needs to be successful during their time at UTSA.
3) To encourage the support of new survivors to reach out for help and start their healing journey.
4) Assist in and reinforce the cultural change process on campus to educate on sexual violence and end violence issues.
5) We recognize that healing is a lifelong journey, and we hope to foster healing through connection to other survivors and allies on campus.
Contact:
madison.cowles@utsa.edu
The mission of Thrive Network is to create a safe space for staff to share experiences, ideas, and support. Thrive Network is meant to bring people together to engage, share resources, ignite collaboration and network to support staff in being successful in any position at UTSA. Thrive Network is an affinity group open to all staff to share support and help each other go from surviving to thriving. Since the pandemic, embarking on new work modalities, and all the other challenges in between that we have recently been facing there has been greater need to pay attention to staff issues and support systems. Thrive Network seeks to create a space for connection among staff to share, learn, and help us thrive in our positions.
Contact:
Cynthia Arreola
Paula Castillo
The mission of the UTSA for Ukraine Affinity Group is to express solidarity and support to people impacted by Russia’s violent and unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Our mission is consistent with UTSA’s commitment to democratic values that promote equity and social justice for all people around the globe. The group works on short-term and long-term advocacy initiatives and actionable projects to provide support to the people of Ukraine in areas such as humanitarian aid, well-being, social relations, education, research, art, and culture.
The group functions as a meeting place and is engaged in sharing resources, promoting scholarly exchanges, building connections, facilitating USA-Ukraine relationships, and offering forums for community conversations.
Embodying the motto “For Our Freedom and Yours,” the group:
- supports peace through civic reflection, dialogue, and action;
- emphasizes the value of joint effort and collaboration;
- upholds individual agency as the core of social responsibility on a local and global scale.
Overall, the group aims at being sensitive and responsive to the needs of the people of Ukraine affected by the war and welcomes ideas and resources to support them.
Contact:
Vittorio Marone, President
Bekisizwe Ndimande , Vice President
Contact: Annette Portillo
Contact:
WPASA Leadership
Donna Edmondson
