Web Exclusives
Spring/Summer 2019
Fall/Winter 2018
Fall 2017
58 Reasons to Study Abroad
Roadrunners have been globetrotting for academic credit at UTSA for years, and they've shared their "pics or it didn't happen" moments with us
Spring 2017
Sparking Debate
UTSA educational psychologist Sharon Nichols studies how politics affects students and teachers
Mujer Unveiled
Maribel Valdez Gonzalez '13 has become the face of a movement after being a global poster child for the international Women’s March.
Fall 2016
To a Fine Art
Gallery owner Patricia Ruiz-Healy M.A. ’05 helps to showcase some of the region’s best artists
History Irreplaceable
UTSA archivists are preserving historic items that shine a light on the lives and work of some of America’s most important activists
Reinventing Teaching
Two colleges are collaborating to hone techniques for improving learning for students in the STEM fields.
Easy-Peasy Nutrition
If your arrival on campus as a student left you confused about how to eat well, you might be glad to learn that UTSA has a registered dietitian who can work with you.
Spring 2016
May the Torque Be with You
A new product created by a team of UTSA students could save companies billions
Foster Care Firsthand
UTSA experts are working to fix the failing foster care system. One Roadrunner discusses his personal experience of growing up in the system.
The Sombrilla Poll
You have opinions and insights, and we want you to share them. Tell us what you'll be doing for your Spring Break this year.
Butterflies for Beginners
Monarchs are Texas' official state insect. But how much do you really know about America's most common butterfly? Take our quiz to test your knowledge..
Altruism and Public Health
A pair of entrepreneurial students have developed a high-tech way to help homeless individuals tackle mental health issues.
Spring/Summer 2015
Studying the Small for a Big Impact
UTSA researchers develop a possible new method for early detection of breast cancer
Heritage Divide
A UTSA professor's new book explores a religious icon that's revered in Mexico but worshipped only secretly north of the border
Camping In
Forensics, archaeology, engineering and music are some of the areas that secondary and primary school students travel to UTSA to study each summer.
Build It Better
A group of UTSA students has substantially cut the cost and time required to produce a functional robot by 3D-printing the parts for a class project.
What's Your Roadrunner IQ?
Just how good is your knowledge of your alma mater? Take our quiz to find out and see how you rank against fellow 'Runners.
Click for Dollars
Crowdfunding website Launch UTSA has been exceeding targets through small donations that add up.
Roadrunners Give Back
Each spring, UTSA faculty, staff and students fan out across San Antonio to donate time at local organizations.
Fall 2014
Anatomy of a Zombie Shoot
To photograph alumnus and acclaimed thriller writer Joe McKinney M.A. '04 for our Community section, Sombrilla staff wanted to see him in context with a familiar subject: a zombie. See a slideshow on how the pairing, shot at the historic Carter mansion in downtown San Antonio, came together.
Piano Woman
Olivia Jamandre ’07, who received her bachelor’s in music with a concentration in piano at UTSA, was also a Fulbright scholar. In this clip she talks about how her Fulbright year at the Sibelius Academy in Finland has changed her life.
Rescue Mission
Archivists from the UTSA Libraries are saving data in their Special Collections—that's been store away on outdated media—from obscurity as part of a national project that transfers the found information to cloud servers. Watch them talk about the process of uncovering research materials. And learn how to best preserve your own documents and pics for posterity.
The Veteran Inventor
UTSA engineering student, Gary Walters ’13 lost his leg in a bomb blast. He talks about his Army experience and how problems with his new prosthetic leg led to a senior class project that is now being readied for market.
A Man, His Bike, His Art
You might have noticed Braydon Gold’s fixed-gear bicycle around campus, but did you realize it was more than just a mode of transportation?
Spring 2014
Kicking It
Research being done by UTSA Engineering and SiViRT
Let the Word Go Forth
View a presentation of “Let the Word Go Forth.”
Honorable Quest
The university’s newest faculty members come from around the globe and bring with them unique expertise and research.
Fall 2013
Boomtown, Texas
It seems to have happened overnight. With the discovery of the Eagle Ford Shale, small towns across the southern half of Texas are dealing with more people, more housing needs and more money.
Spring 2013
Healing Water
In a small village in Peru, clean water is a luxury most can’t afford. A group of UTSA students is installing a water distribution system to sustain all 500 residents.
Fall 2012
The Lipstick Effect
When it comes to choosing a mate, the decision for women often comes down to hormones
Spring 2012
The Movement
A journey through the South takes 40 UTSA students to places where civil rights history was made.
Fall 2011
UTSA Student Veterans
After returning from war zones, these veterans have found a place at UTSA to recover and cope. They also find the assistance they need to complete their degrees. Hear them tell their stories.
Sacred Places
Sacred places aren’t simply the ones with golden spires that sprout above treetops. They’re often small nuggets nestled quietly in the most surprising places, as one UTSA architecture class discovered.
The more things change…
Change has been a by-word on the UTSA campus in recent years, and the changes here are phenomenal in their scope. Guest columnist Gage E. Paine, vice president for student affairs, explores how despite these changes, some things remain the same.
Vein Research Grant
A team of engineers from UTSA and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio received a five-year, $1.8 million RO1 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the causes of arterial tortuosity, also known as artery twisting or curling.
The Tejano Sacrifice
Here's a little known fact regarding the Civil War: Approximately 2,550 Tejanos fought for the Confederacy, while 900 Tejanos served in the Union Army. Study explores the treatment of Tejano vets after the Civil War
New York, New York
Mabry, an associate professor of music, lived out a lifetime dream in March when he was a guest conductor at Carnegie Hall. Mabry led a group of 60 performers, who included current members of the UTSA’s Women’s Choir and members of the UTSA Women’s Alumnae Choir.
Early Intervention
How do pre-reading children use cognitive thinking skills and word skills to understand spoken text? That’s the mystery Brenda Hannon, assistant professor of psychology, is trying to solve.
UTSA team studies Mexico’s highest point
Blake Weissling is getting a first-hand look at one of the only pieces of glacial ice left in the tropical northern hemisphere.
Barry Klinge '06
Barry Klinge is sitting at the airport waiting to catch a flight to Gettysburg, Penn. He and his younger brother, Brad—co-stars of the Discovery Channel reality show Ghost Lab—are on their way to the Phenomenology 102 convention
Virtual Possibilities
UTSA is joining a $250,000 UT System initiative that just might transform undergraduate education. Read about faculty and staff members who are teaching students in the virtual world of Second Life.
Konichiwa
The College of Architecture held its first study abroad summer program in Japan this year. See a slideshow from the students’ trip to explore traditional and contemporary architecture in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Rock ’n’ Roll, Family-Style
Power pop and straight-up rock ’n’ roll with a ’60s vibe is the celebrated sound of Hacienda, a San Antonio quartet with UTSA roots. Read an interview with band members Dante Schwebel ’03 and Rene Villanueva ’06 and check out a video for their song, "She’s Got a Hold on Me."
Share your thoughts
We'd love to hear from you. Use this form to share your thoughts and it will get emailed to sombrilla@utsa.edu. Check out the next issue to see if your message gets published in our "Your Letters" section.
