As Commencement approaches, UTSA graduates are workforce ready

MAY 7, 2025 — In high school, it seemed inevitable that when Yağmur Hocaoğlu entered UTSA, she would study chemical engineering. With her academic strengths in chemistry and math, she was poised to enter and grow in the high-demand field she loved.

Since then, Hocaoğlu has had the opportunity to grow as a student through UTSA’s many career-ready and experiential learning opportunities, including UTSA Peer Mentors, the Klesse Student Ambassador program and the UTSA Citymester Program while being a student in the UTSA Honors College. She also served as a process engineering intern with Allegiance Refining.

Hocaoğlu took full advantage of the many opportunities that UTSA offers to set students up for success in the workforce, building up their experience and skills. UTSA aims for 75% of its undergraduates to participate in a classroom-to-career experience by 2028.

“What I enjoyed most about UTSA was the endless number of opportunities available to students,” Hocaoğlu said. “UTSA offers a wide range of opportunities, and I truly appreciated the chance to explore them. Each experience helped shape who I am today and contributed to the development of both my personal and professional skills.”

At only the start of her professional career, Hocaoğlu is already finding success in the chemical engineering field. After she graduates with her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, she will build upon her UTSA experiences when she becomes a process engineer at San Antonio Refinery, owned by Allegiance Refining.

Yağmur Hocaoğlu

Hocaoğlu is one of nearly 5,000 UTSA students entering the workforce this spring and summer. Approximately 3,980 undergraduates, 902 master’s students and nearly 95 doctoral students are completing their studies at UTSA. They’ll cross the Commencement stage on Sunday, May 18, to receive their degrees in two ceremonies at the Alamodome.

Every year, Roadrunners like Hocaoğlu enter the workforce well-prepared to thrive in their new careers.

To train the workforce of tomorrow, UTSA offers hundreds of experiential learning opportunities in a vast array of disciplines. Whether interning with a startup venture, studying abroad or conducting cutting-edge research, students can get a head start on their career development while building a professional network.

“Before college, I believed that a high GPA would guarantee a job, but I learned that success also depends on developing strong social and networking skills,” Hocaoğlu said. “Connecting with companies, professors and industry professionals plays a major role in career opportunities.”

University resources such as the University Career Center also play a role in preparing students with the help of career fairs, internship resources, resume building and interview skills. The Career Center’s services aren’t limited to just students; alumni can take advantage of them as well. The center’s staff is dedicated to working with students to help them transition from their academic studies  into a career that is aligned with their professional goals. They also work alongside other offices such as the colleges, the Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Leadership, the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement, the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Institute for Law and Public Affairs to ensure student success.

Beverly Quintana

Similar to Hocaoğlu, Beverly Quintana’s hard work and professional development in her internship with The University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company (UTIMCO ) has also led to a full-time job after graduation. She’s been hired by UTIMCO as a private equity analyst.

Quintana, who is earning a B.B.A. in Finance from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, was one of five students in the highly competitive UTIMCO internship program. During this time, the UTSA undergraduate gained hands-on experience in asset management and discovered a passion for private equity.

“It was surreal,” she said. “I told myself I had to be good enough that they couldn’t say no.”  

At UTSA, graduate students are likewise well-positioned to compete with the nation’s best.

Swathi Weaver, who is earning her doctorate in counselor education and supervision this month from the College of Education and Human Development, can attest to this.

Swathi Weaver

Weaver came to UTSA in 2022 with nearly a decade of experience as a professional counselor when she decided to pursue her Ph.D. Now that she is poised to begin the next leg of her career, Weaver will be joining Eastern Oregon University as a full-time faculty member mentoring students who are on the path to becoming counselors.

While at UTSA, Weaver conducted research into eating disorder risks among adult women of Indian descent in the U.S. She presented her findings at conferences around the country and published research articles, which she says has shaped her professional identity. She also mentored students entering the field and she supervised master’s-level clinicians during their practicum semesters. This opportunity helped her hone her teaching and mentorship skills.

Hocaoğlu, Quintana and Weaver will celebrate their accomplishments with the UTSA Class of 2025 on May 18. The morning Commencement ceremony will celebrate graduates in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design, and University College. The afternoon Commencement will honor graduates in the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.

UTSA is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution specializing in cyber, health, fundamental futures, and social-economic transformation. With more than 35,000 students, it is the largest university in the San Antonio metropolitan region. UTSA advances knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service.

— Valerie Bustamante Johnson