SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 — UTSA Academic Affairs is pleased to announce its 2020–2021 Advancing Next-Gen Faculty Leadership fellows. Now in its second year, the program is designed to provide intensive one-on-one training and development experience to promote diverse academic leadership at UTSA.
Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo is a professor of information systems and cybersecurity in the College of Business and holds the Cloud Technology Endowed Professorship. He joined UTSA in 2016 as part of the cluster hiring program to broaden and deepen the university’s area of research excellence in cyber. He is also the graduate adviser of record for the Ph.D. program in information technology. With the goal of strengthening his research leadership capabilities, Choo will complete his fellowship within Knowledge Enterprise.
As part of the fellowship, Choo plans to leverage his extensive national and international connections and experience on interdisciplinary research teams to strengthen UTSA’s partnerships and research capabilities in cybersecurity and STEAM fields: science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
“I firmly believe that internationalization and partnership are central to UTSA research activities—in terms of gaining broader research viewpoints on cybersecurity (and cyber STEAM), enhancing student and faculty recruitment, facilitating international placement and exposure, enriching college and campus culture, and improving university rankings from a research and creative/scholarly output perspective,” he said.
Mark Giles is a professor of educational leadership and policy studies in the College of Education and Human Development. He has served as the director of the African American Studies program and now graduate adviser of record and program coordinator of the master’s program in higher education administration. He has also served as vice president and president of the national scholarly organization Critical Race Studies in Education Association.
As an African American scholar-educator, Giles says he desires to grow his professional opportunities toward senior-level administrative positions and make a positive impact on expanding access, equity and academic excellence opportunities for underserved students. Giles will complete his fellowship within Inclusive Excellence.
“As a participant in this program, I hope to develop my ‘10,000-foot view’ of several academic operations, especially related to undergraduate and graduate education, faculty development strategies, and academic unit financial management,” he said. “In addition, I wish to gain insight on executive-level decision making.”
Terri Matiella ’00, M.S. ’09, Ph.D. ’12, M.A. ’19 is a senior lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science and Ecology in the College of Sciences. Since joining the UTSA faculty in 2013, she has served her department, college and at the university level in several ways, including the Core Curriculum Assessment Committee and the College of Sciences Dean’s Leadership Initiative on Student Success. In 2018 she was honored with the President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Core Curriculum Teaching. With her extensive background and experience in improving STEM education, she has been instrumental in working across all levels of the university to enhance curriculum and teaching practices to support student and faculty success.
Matiella will fulfill her fellowship in Teaching and Learning Services within the division of Academic Innovation. She will be working on projects focusing on small teaching tips and tools faculty can implement and use in classes that can lead to big impacts for students. She wants to provide opportunities for structured exchange of ideas on curriculum, teaching practices and classroom issues for teaching faculty.
“My goal is to help build a culture of inclusion and collaboration among our teaching faculty by providing regular opportunities for mentorship and guided discussions related to various teaching topics,” she said. “The more we collaborate, the more we will discover innovative ideas for our courses and interdisciplinary projects in the classroom that can have higher impact on students and facilitate their success.”
A lifelong Roadrunner, Matiella holds four degrees from UTSA, a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in the sciences and most recently a master’s in education, curriculum and instruction with a certificate in higher education administration.
Launched in 2019, the objectives of the Advancing Next-Gen Faculty Leadership Fellows Program are to help up-and-coming faculty leaders learn about the academic organization and operations; develop skills and attributes of effective academic leaders; consider current and future challenges and opportunities in higher education; recognize and implement the values of diversity, inclusion, self-awareness and ethical leadership; and develop professional relationships. Fellows spend approximately 10 hours per week in residence in their assigned unit, attend regular meetings, and work with their mentor to complete a special project.
The program is open to all tenured associate or full professors and full-time non–tenure-track faculty who have been employed as faculty at UTSA for at least three years.
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September is National Hispanic Heritage Month. House of Neighborly Service is gearing up to increase awareness of the growing needs of our Westside community while embracing our Hispanic culture every step of the way. Our team is excited to announce the First Annual La Casita del Barrio 1K/5K Walk/Run.
Our Lady of the Lake University, 11 SW 24th St, San Antonio, TX 78207Come experience a Hispanic Market with us!
Rowdy StatueWe will be reading For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez. We will meet on Zoom to discuss the book. The book is free for students who request it, please email multicultural@utsa.edu to request the book and/or to join the Book Club and receive messages and information about this and future readings and discussions.
Virtual EventCome and practice your Spanish in a friendly and engaging environment! You will also learn about Hispanic cultures with us as we play games, watch videos, sing, and participate in many other language and cultural activities! All levels are welcome! ¡Nos vemos!
Willow Room (SU 2.02.12,) Main CampusIn partnership with UTSA Libraries and the Consulado General de México en San Antonio, Carriqui will host Ven a Tomar, where guests will sample mezcal, cocktails and unique bites to celebrate UTSA's Mexican Cookbook Collection.
Carriqui, 239 E Grayson St San Antonio, TX 78215The UTSA Orchestra will be performing Rapsodia Mexicana, a captivating concert celebrating Mexican music and the confluence of cultures in South Texas. Joined by organist Colin Campbell (Texas A&M International University) and UTSA's Mariachi Los Paisanos, watch as the orchestra brings to life the essence of Hispanic culture through their powerful performances.
UTSA Recital Hall, Main CampusA fun night for UTSA students to relax and play loteria. Student Success Centers will also have recourses for students to learn more about programs and services.
Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28,) Main CampusThe 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.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
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 ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.