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Arturo BARRIO

Vice President for International Relations, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ

Arturo Barrio is Assistant Vice President for International Relations at The University of Texas at El Paso (¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ). He previously held the roles of director of collaboration and stakeholder development, senior advisor to the president of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ on Mexico and Latin America, executive director of international programs, and special assistant to the president of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ on external affairs. 

Before joining ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ in 2015, Barrio served in various leadership positions for the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs leading up to his service at the Mexican Mission to the Organization of American States, where he oversaw Economic and Cooperation Affairs. During his tenure at the Mexican Ministry, he served as director general of the Mesoamerican Integration and Development Project, deputy director general of social, human and sustainable development of the Mesoamerica Project, and director for border affairs and advisor to the undersecretary for North America. 

Since 2023, he has served as a member of the Texas Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. In 2025, he became a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and in the same year, he was selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar. 

From 2018 to 2021, he was appointed and served as chair of the City of El Paso's Committee on Border Relations. 

Barrio's past affiliations include serving as the president of the Camino Real Rotary Club in El Paso. He also held the positions of public image chair for Rotary's District 5520 and assistant public image coordinator for Rotary Zones 26 and 27.  

Barrio earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. He also holds a Master's Degree in Applied Public Policy from the Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas in Madrid. 

Dr. eduardo villacis calderon

Assistant Professor, Woody L. Hunt College of Business

Dr. Villacis Calderon, an Assistant Professor of Accounting and Information Systems at The University of Texas at El Paso, holds a Ph.D. in Business Information Technology from Virginia Tech. His expertise lies in business analytics, business intelligence, information security, and AI applications. His research delves into online health communities, algorithmic transparency, and executive decision-making, as evidenced by his publications in esteemed journals such as Expert Systems with Applications, Information & Management, and Finance Research Letters. Dr. Villacis Calderon, a passionate educator, has been recognized for his innovative approach to integrating artificial intelligence into the classroom, earning him the Woody L. Hunt College Teaching Award. 

Erika crawley

Founder & Lead Consultant, HESA Consultants, LLC

Erika Crawley is a dynamic higher education leader with 10+ years of experience in student affairs across the country. As the Founder and Lead Consultant of her own education consultancy, she prepares prospective students and empowers current college students to thrive. Erika is a seasoned presenter with expertise in conflict resolution, student leadership, and inclusive community building. Her work spans HSIs, HBCUs, Ivy League institutions, and beyond—driving student success through intentional engagement and equity-driven practices. 

jair munoz, Ph.d.

Lecture, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of New Mexico

Jair Munoz, Ph.D., is a recently appointed Lecturer III in Secondary Education in the College of Education and Human Sciences for the University of New Mexico. With over nine years of combined adjunct faculty experience in higher education in Teacher Education, Educational Psychology, Reading and English departments. Dr. Munoz' experience ranges from scholarly and/or collaborative work in Teacher Education, Literacy/Biliteracy, Educational Leadership, Composition, the School to Prison Nexus, minoritized populations, and AI. 

jennifer pitre

Study Abroad Advisor, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ

Jennifer Pitre is a Study Abroad Advisor for the Office of International Programs and Study Abroad. She has been working at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ for over 2 years and has primarily worked with incoming and outgoing exchange students. Jenn completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Temple University. She has studied abroad twice in Rome, Italy for a semester and for the academic year. She has been in the International Education field since 2021 and loves working with students from diverse backgrounds. In her free time, Jenn loves to binge watch tv shows, axe throwing and karaoke.   

jessica Martinez

Attorney and Licensed Vocational Nurse

Jessica Martinez is a Licensed Attorney practicing in Dallas, Texas. Jessica obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law in May of 2024. 

Jessica is a proud ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Alumni. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in May of 2021 from ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. Jessica was actively involved during her time as a Miner. Most notably, she served two terms as the Student Government Association President, from 2019 to 2021. She represented the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ community at the UT System level. She is a member of Kappa Delta Chi, Sorority, Inc. and served as the chapter President and Educator during her time at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. Jessica was also named a Top 10 Senior for 2020-2021.  

Jessica is also a Licensed Vocational Nurse. She attended Jefferson/Silva Health Magnet High School and completed their Vocational Nursing program. She obtained her license in 2017 and has over 6 six years of experience practicing as a Pediatric Home Health Nurse. 

Jonathan hinojos

Student Organizations Coordinator, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Student Engagement and Leadership Center

Jonathan Hinojos brings extensive experience in communications, organizational leadership, and student engagement to his role as Lead Coordinator of Student Organizations at the University of Texas at El Paso. In this position, he oversees more than 300 student organizations while spearheading comprehensive development programs. His professional background includes strategic communications work with United Way of El Paso County, where he strengthened community outreach through targeted content and media initiatives. Jonathan has also contributed his expertise in internal communications at Autodesk and provided academic support services at El Paso Community College.

Lucina zárate

Assistant Dean, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Pharmacy

Lucy Zárate is a proud ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ alum, first-generation college graduate, and former transfer student who now serves as Assistant Dean at the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Pharmacy. With nearly 14 years of experience at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, she is passionate about helping students unlock their potential and take ownership of their future. 

Lucy is also a certified CliftonStrengths coach, a Title IX advisor, and a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Administration. She has led campus-wide initiatives focused on student development and academic success. In this workshop, she’ll guide students through goal-setting strategies that are practical, personal, and empowering—so they can take action and thrive during their time at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. 

Mandy PULIDO

Director of Student-Athlete Development, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics

Dr. Megan Kendall

Associate Professor, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ College of Engineering

Dr. Meagan R. Kendall is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Education and Leadership at the University of Texas at El Paso. A UT Austin Mechanical Engineering graduate, Dr. Kendall’s biomechanics research focused on medical device design, resulting in innovative prosthetic products designed to enhance comfort during ambulation for lower-limb amputees. Since joining ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, Dr. Kendall has leveraged her experience in product design to develop the engineering design and entrepreneurship core courses in the BS in Engineering Innovation and Leadership. She also serves as the Graduate Program Director for the MS in Integrated Engineering, a professional master’s program launching in Fall 2025 at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. Dr. Kendall now focuses on engineering education research, developing the Contextual Engineering Leadership Development framework for student and faculty engineering leadership development. Her research has led to the formation of two start-up companies, two patent applications, one book, and numerous papers. She has led/co-led over $10.5 million in grant-funded projects. She is also Co-Founder of the Educational Design Collaborative, a consulting group that offers customized professional development to support faculty in their journey toward inclusive and engaging instruction. Dr. Kendall has served as the ASEE LEAD Division Chair and Frontiers in Education 2022 Technical Program Chair. Dr. Kendall has been recognized for her teaching, being awarded the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ College of Engineering Teaching Award and Best Teaching Paper from the ASEE Entrepreneurship Division. 

Miles cooper

Director, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Student Engagement and Leadership Center

Miles Cooper is a graduate from USC and a M.A graduate here at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ with a passion for student engagement and leadership. He has directed the Student Engagement and Leadership Center at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, significantly enhancing student participation and building strategic partnerships. Previously, Miles served as an Assistant Coach for the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, focusing on player development, game strategy, and community outreach. His diverse experience also includes roles in student conduct and recreational sports, where he demonstrated strong team leadership and adaptability across higher education and athletics.

Patrick gabaldon

Public Defender and Artist

Patrick Gabaldon was born and raised in El Paso Texas and fell in love with art at a young age. His passion for painting began after returning home to the border after graduating law school. He currently focuses his work on the bright colors and often overlooks the vibrancy of the desert and its people. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso and St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio. His art has appeared in all sorts of media including the New York Times, national televised media, magazines, documentaries, and in the homes and spaces of his supporters and collectors. If he is not at his easel or in the mountains, he can likely be found at the El Paso County Courthouse where he works as a Public Defender representing the people of El Paso.   

Ray varela

Lecture, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Entering Student Experience

Ray Varela is a proud ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ alumni, graduating with a BMS in Multidisciplinary Studies and MED in Educational Administration. In addition, he is completing his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership in December 2025. His research interests include personal and social identity, belonging, and contextualizing Latinx student experiences, particularly those who are first-generation. Ray has worked in higher education for over seventeen years, starting as a student worker at El Paso Community College, where he developed an appreciation for the servingness that comes with working in the college environment. Ray is an authentic, inclusive leader with servant leader qualities mixed in. His main focus as faculty on the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ campus is to help students find their voice and use their lived experiences as the superpower recipe to leads them through their academic career and beyond. 

rebecca moreno

Leadership Development Coordinator, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Student Engagement and Leadership Center

Rebecca currently serves as the Leadership Development Coordinator for the Student Engagement and Leadership Center at The University of Texas at El Paso (¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ), where she focuses on cultivating leadership skills and empowering students. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ and earned her MBA in business management, joining the six percent of Latinas with master's degrees in the US. Her professional experience includes serving as the Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator for ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ's Graduate School and as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Love Your Block, roles that deepened her commitment to community engagement and educational access. As a proud El Pasoan, Rebecca's passion for her community extends beyond her professional work and is reflected through her photography work which captures the daily life and stories in our bordertown. 

steven brown

Lecturer, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Entering Student Experience

Steven Tyler Brown is a lecturer with the Entering Student Program. He earned his BA in Multidisciplinary Studies in 2018 and his MA in Leadership Studies in 2020 from the University of Texas at El Paso (¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ). Steven has been working at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ since 2016 and was awarded the Outstanding Student Advocate for Entering Students Award in 2018. He was also awarded Liberal Arts Graduate Student Marshal and Outstanding Student for his MA Program in 2020. For his teaching philosophy, he believes that every single student has something special that they can bring to the table. He creates a classroom environment in which students can be their true selves and accept the differences of others. Steven is a die-hard fan of Naruto and loves to longboard/skateboard in his free time.