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Sombrilla

The University of Texas at San Antonio Online Magazine

Class Notes


Class Notes is a compilation of alumni submissions and reports from newspapers and other media outlets.


1977

Fidel Rodriguez jr., M.B.A., has been named 2014 Aggie Lawyer of the Year by the Texas Aggie Bar Association. He currently runs a law office in San Antonio. He is a 1973 graduate of Texas A&M University and also obtained his law degree from UT Austin. The association honored Rodriguez in March.

1982

Ricard Des Chenes, B.A. in geography, recently published the second edition of his book “The Insignia, Uniforms & Equipment of the U.S. Army Balloon Corps: 1917- 1922.” He is a leading expert on the World War I Balloon Corps and became interested in the subject because his grandfather was assigned to Camp John Wise in San Antonio, where the Army trained balloon pilots and observers

1990

Denise Sikes, B.B.A. in management, was nominated for the DallasHR 2013 Human Resource Executive of the Year Award. She currently is the vice president of human resources at CyrusOne, a co-location solutions provider. DallasHR is a nonprofit association with nearly 2,000 members and more than 1,000 companies represented in its membership.

Blake Pounds, M.B.A in interamerican management, was recently appointed to managing director of Accenture’s Houston office. He will lead a staff of approximately 1,500 and oversee developing local business relationships, expanding civic presence and fostering employee engagement. He has been with Accenture for 23 years, including leading the Energy Trading & Risk Management Practice for five years and serving on the Energy Leadership Team.

1994

Kenneth H. Bennett, Jr., M.S. in electrical engineering, has been promoted to vice president of the Applied Physics Division at Southwest Research Institute, where he will lead a staff of more than 100 engaged in research, development and testing in electronic, mechanical and chemical engineering; radio frequency; optics; acoustics; and sensor design. He was previously director of the Electronics Systems and Robotics Department. Bennett holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a member of the Audio Engineering Society.

1995

Balerie A. Carillo, B.A. in political science, is chief legal counsel for the Fort Worth Independent School District. After graduating from Texas Tech University Law School in 1998, she served as in-house counsel at Dallas Independent School District. Her peers nominated her as a “Top Attorney in Education Law in the City of Forth Worth” for 2013.

1996

Darrell Colley, B.A. in criminal justice, received the Outstanding Graduate Award, M.P.A., on Dec. 6, 2013, from Wayland Baptist University.

Marisol Perez, B.A. in political science, serves as secretary of the board for the Martinez Street Women’s Center. Perez received her law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law, where she received the Richard Green Spirit of Social Justice Award in recognition of her clinical work on behalf of low-income people in San Antonio and South Texas.

1998

Jeff Temple, B.A. in psychology, has been named vice chairman of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Task Force on Domestic Violence, the result of legislation signed into law in 2013. The law calls for measures to examine and address the impact of domestic violence on the health of women and children during pregnancy. He currently is an associate professor and director of behavioral health and research at UTMB.

2002

Roland Rios, Ph.D. in educational leadership, is the director of technology at Fort Sam Houston ISD.

2003

Santiago Alaniz, B.A. in political science and criminal justice, has been promoted to partner with the law firm of Fisher & Phillip, LLP. Santiago also was selected as one of San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 under 40.

Aaron K. Parencia, B.S. in civil engineering, has been promoted to vice president of the Phoenix office of Bury, an engineering and design firm.

2006

Phan Tong, B.S. in biology, went on to Texas A&M College of Pharmacy and in 2011 graduated with a PharmD. He is currently pursuing an M.B.A. from UT Pan American and is a candidate for graduation this spring. He’s now assistant manager at Scott & White Center for Diagnostic Medicine- Pharmacy, in Temple. A fervent football fan, he has been a season ticket holder since the first UTSA season.

2012

Krystal Cantu, B.A. in communications, was featured in the Dec. 27 issue of the San Antonio Express-News for being a fitness inspiration. The Rackspace employee lost her arm in an auto accident but continued doing CrossFit. Shortly after the accident, she was invited to Virginia to compete in the Working Wounded Games for people with disabilities, and took part in the Gladiator Rock ‘n’ Run.

Katherine Carey, M.A. in art history, is director of education at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio. She was named the 2013 Museum Educator of the Year.


Alums—Keep in Touch

We want to know what you've been up to lately. New jobs, relocations, accomplishments, marriages—whatever your news, share it with friends and classmates.

Email alumni@utsa.edu

Or write to: Office of Alumni Programs
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, TX 78249

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Current Issue: Spring 2014 | Table of Contents