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LOS ARCOSThe University of Texas-Pan AmericanSpring 2008Vol. 14, No. 2Grupo DueloCollege of Arts and HumanitiesReading Other Worlds: Storytelling through the ArtsMarch 24-29Los Arcos

LOS ARCOSThe University of Texas-Pan AmericanSpring 2008, Vol. 14, No. 2Director ofUniversity RelationsSenior EditorGraphic DesignersWritersPhotographerContact Us:Phone: 956/381-2741Fax: 956/381-2416E-Mail: vasquezm@utpa.eduMail:The University of TexasPan AmericanAttn: Office of UniversityRelations, AB1291201 W. University DriveEdinburg, TX 78539-29992Los ArcosSandra QuintanillaMelissa VasquezAaron CantuRoland AnzalduaGail FaganMelissa C. RodriguezMelissa VasquezJosue D. EsparzaLos Arcos is published twotimes a year for alumni andfriends of The Universityof Texas-Pan American bythe Office of UniversityRelations, AB 129, 1201 W.University Drive, Edinburg, TX78539-2999.The University of Texas-PanAmerican is an affirmativeaction, equal opportunity employerand institution. It doesnot discriminate on the basisof race, color, creed, gender,national origin, age, veteranstatus or disability.Individuals with disabilitieswishing to acquire this publicationin an alternative formator needing assistance orreasonable accommodationsto attend any event listed,need to contact the ADAcoordinator at 956/381-2127.UTPA to partner in Departmentof Homeland Security projectThe University of Texas-Pan Americanhas been named a partner universityin the establishment of the Center ofExcellence for Border Security andImmigration by the U.S. Department ofHomeland Security (DHS).“The establishment of this center isanother significant marker in UTPA’stransformation to a nationally recognizedlearner-centered research institution. Thisalong with other recently announcedinitiatives, such as the Center for RapidResponse Manufacturing, are part ofour plan to bring additional intellectualand fiscal resources to the Valley,” saidDr. Paul Sale, UTPA provost and vicepresident for Academic Affairs.The center, spearheaded by TheUniversity of Arizona at Tucson, will bea consortium of 12 universities, includingUTPA that will focus on the researchof population dynamics, immigrationadministration and enforcement,operational analysis, control andcommunications, immigration policy,civic integration and citizenship, borderrisk management and internationalgovernance.Partner universities under the researchcomponent will share $15 million over thenext six years to develop better modelsfor understanding immigration andnew technologies, such as surveillance,screening, data fusion and situationalawareness using sensors, unmanned aerialvehicles and other technologies. WhileThe University of Arizona at Tuscon willhead the research area, The University ofTexas at El Paso will lead the educationalcomponent of the center. The Centerof Excellence for Border Security andImmigration is one of five new centersconducting multi-disciplinary research andcreating innovative learning environmentsfor critical homeland security missions.Dr. Van Reidhead, College of Socialand Behavioral Sciences dean, will leadthe cross-campus collaborative effort ofUTPA interdisciplinary scientists, whowill study a wide range of immigrationrelatedfactors affecting border securityand quality of life in the U.S.-Mexicoborder region including undocumentedimmigration, civic integration of newimmigrants, human and drug trafficking,utilization of public services, criminalbehavior, detention and court processes,law enforcement practices and policies,and trade and international relationshipsof border communities.“The beauty of this center is that DHShas funded UTPA researchers to studyimmigration on the border for what it“The beauty of this center is thatDHS has funded UTPAresearchers to study immigrationon the border for what it really is,not what Washington thinks itis. The UTPA approach will beused to understand immigrationthroughout the country.”– Dr. Van ReidheadDean, College of Socialand Behavioral Sciencesreally is, not what Washington thinks itis. The UTPA approach will be used tounderstand immigration throughout thecountry,” Reidhead said.UTPA’s research is anchored to theBorderlife Research Project of Dr. ChadRichardson, professor in the Departmentof Sociology, who, for more than 30years, has developed a model utilizingstudent researchers to conduct researchrelated to the distinct South Texas socialand cultural environment. Since then,his students have conducted more than10,000 interviews among 25 distinctsocial or cultural groups on both sides ofthe border resulting in more than 6,000ethnographic accounts of the lives ofindividual people as told by them. Theeconomic value of the borderlife archivehas been appraised in recent years at $2million.Reidhead said the center will notonly support UTPA’s vision of becomingthe premier learner-centered researchinstitution in the state, but it will give UTPAstudents choices and the preparationneeded to succeed in whatever careerpath they choose. The Center ofExcellence for Border Security andImmigration, Reidhead said, is also agood addition to UTPA’s IntelligenceCommunity Center of AcademicExcellence, a federally designated centeron campus that was funded through a$2.5 million government grant in 2006and is piloted by the College of Socialand Behavioral Sciences.

Ozuna named business administration deanAfter a national search, Dr. Teofilo Ozuna was recently nameddean of the College of Business Administrationat The University of Texas-Pan American.Ozuna has served in numerous capacitiesduring his time at the University including viceprovost for the Office of Graduate Studies,associate dean for COBA and most recentlyinterim dean of the college for the last year.UTPA Provost and Vice President forAcademic Affairs Dr. Paul Sale said althoughOzuna’s most recent experience is at UTPA,he has a long successful record at Texas A&MUniversity and has already used that experienceto strengthen this campus.“Dr. Ozuna has the vision, experience,and background to lead the college at a timewhen UTPA is transforming itself into a learnercenteredresearch institution,” Sale said.Ozuna said first on his list of things to do iscontinue to focus on hiring excellent faculty who fit the learnercenteredresearch mind-set the University and college are movingtoward.“This will greatly benefit our students and enhance the learningthey are engaged in,” he said.There are three areas Ozuna said he would like to excel in,including continuing to enhance the professional development ofUTPA students.“Doing this will complement the knowledge they gain in theclassroom and will make them better business leaders,” he said.“I want to also create an environment in the college where ourfaculty excel and become national leaders in their field.”Ozuna said he would also like to redesign the MBA program sothat it better fits the new organizational structurethat regional, national and global companiesare now engaged in.Ozuna, who has been with UTPAsince 2000, began his duties as head of thecollege March 1. As dean, he will lead fourdepartments that offer eight bachelor’sdegrees, three master’s degrees and onedoctoral degree.Ozuna said he is most proud of organizingthe student leaders of the 14 business studentorganizations into the Business Student AdvisoryCouncil, which provides the Office of the Deanwith feedback on student issues and helps otherstudents engage in professional developmentand leadership.“We are already experiencing theleadership accomplishments these studentorganizations are having regionally, statewide, and internationally,”he said.Ozuna received a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economicsin 1981, and a doctorate in agricultural economics in 1989 fromTexas A&M University.The College of Business Administration includes the departmentsof accounting and business law, economics and finance, computerinformation systems and quantitative methods, and management,marketing and international business.The college currently enrolls more than 2,600 undergraduateand 288 graduate students, as well as 63 doctoral students, witha roster of more than 80 full- and part-time faculty.– Dr. Teofilo OzunaSACS renews University’s accreditationThe Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)Commission on Colleges reaffirmed the accreditation of TheUniversity of Texas-Pan American Dec. 11.Dr. Blandina Cárdenas, UTPA president, said this news meansUTPA has fully met the demanding criteria established by SACS,which administers the accreditation process every 10 yearsfor colleges and universities in 11 states – Alabama, Florida,Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, SouthCarolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.“It is important for our faculty, staff, students and all of SouthTexas, the state and nation to know that UTPA has been recognizedby The Southern Association of Colleges and Universitiesas providing a true quality education to all who pass through ourdoors. Our employees and students can be proud to work hereand to attend this wonderful institution,” she said.The reaffirmation work at UTPA was a three-year long process,and included a self-study, a quality enhancement plan (QEP), anda review by an external visitation team. The University’s QEP, amajor component of the SACS accreditation process, focuses onimproving student success in college algebra.Dr. William L. Turk, UTPA assistant professor of political scienceand the SACS accreditation coordinator and liaison, said theentire process was very detailed and comprehensive.“Everything from the groundskeeping to the graduate schoolwas reviewed. We filed five all-inclusive paper and electronicreports, and we reported on everything from the President’sOffice to the painters who make our buildings so attractive,” Turksaid. “Two different groups of academics from universities all overthe SACS 11-state region dissected everything we do at UTPA.”Turk said the announcement of the reaffirmation of accreditationsignaled the end of a lengthy process, which involved thecountless time and effort of about 150 members of the UTPA community– students, faculty and staff. The announcement was madeduring the annual SACS meeting held in New Orleans, which Turkattended with Dr. Paul Sale, provost/vice president for AcademicAffairs.“The final result of reaffirmation can be summed up quitesimply. Every day thousands of employees work at UTPA and atthe end of the day each one has made a terrific contribution tothe education of thousands of students. The SACS assessmentof the accumulation of those days of work is simply a confirmationof what this University is about – giving the best quality ofeverything associated with higher education to our students andcommunity,” Turk said.Accreditation is a voluntary, independent review of aninstitution’s educational programs and their adherence toaccepted academic standards. It determines a school’s eligibilityfor participation in Title IV (federal) and state financial aidprograms as well as the acceptance and transfer of collegecredits of its students.Graduation from an accredited institution also qualifies its studentsfor admission to higher education (graduate school), morespecialized institutions or for professional practice. UTPA was firstaccredited in 1956.Los Arcos 3

Online courses offer students flexibility and convenienceEven though Marybeth Kochis resides in Austin, pursuing aMaster of Science in kinesiology at The University of Texas-PanAmerican is possible thanks to the online degree programs andcourses the University offers.Kochis, who works as a senior consultant for Kepner-Tregoe – aconsulting and training services company – said she travelsfrequently for work, so pursuing her master’s degree online is aperfect fit for her.“I am a road warrior and I live in the boonies, far away fromcivilization, so that’s why I chose an on online degree,” Kochissaid. “I often do assignments at 2 a.m. I love the flexibility intime for meeting deadlines since I have access 24 hours a day tocontent and assignments.”According to the Sloan Consortium,more than 3.2 million students arelearning online in the United States.Kochis isn’t the only student taking advantage of the flexibilitythat online courses provide. According to the Sloan Consortium,more than 3.2 million students are learning online in theUnited States.UTPA offers a master’s in kinesiology and a master’s in businessadministration that are fully online, and more than 700 classesare taught by University professors that utilize some aspect ofthe Web.There are three types of online classes that can be taken tofulfill online degrees, as well as traditional degree requirementsat UTPA. Fully online courses require that students log in to acomputer to complete their assignments and projects, whileWeb-augmented courses are face-to-face courses that areaugmented by technology that students can access through theWeb. Reduced seat-time courses meet in the classroom one day aweek and online the other day, which increases the utilization ofclassroom space.This semester approximately 14,900 students are taking one ofthe three types of online courses at the University, according toDr. Jane LeMaster, executive director for the Center for Learning,Teaching and Technology. She said they are trying to grow theonline program and are continuously working to give students allof the options they need.“Our students are becoming so much more technology savvyand they are demanding the flexibility more,” LeMaster said. “Itis so much easier when they can decide when they want to attendclass, complete assignments and interact with their peers.”LeMaster said there are many advantages to taking onlinecourses, ranging from not having to find a parking spot, to beingable to work from home or another location.“Convenience is one reason that some students prefer onlinecourses,” LeMaster said. “Some may have schedule conflicts withother classes, work, having to pick up children or other homedemands that make flexibility essential.”This semester UTPA offers 63 fully online, five reduced-seat timeand 704 Web-augmented courses. Within the last two years, theUniversity has doubled the number of fully online courses beingoffered from 31 to 63.Sklyar Stoleson, a junior majoring in computer science, said heenjoys the online component of his class because it helps him staymore organized and offers flexibility.“My professor assigns a lot of teamwork projects, and thetechnology makes those projects more convenient, since I can login from the comfort of my home,” he said.He said he finds the instant messaging applications, as wellas the Blackboard component of the class particularly useful.Blackboard is the Web-based application that serves as the onlineclassroom. With this technology students have access to discussionboards, chat rooms, and different places for their coursecontent. There is even technology available now where studentsand professors can interact via Web cameras and microphones.Not only are online courses advantageous to students, but alsoto the University and faculty members.“Online courses allow for flexible scheduling which providesan opportunity for better classroom utilization and decrease thestrain on classroom space,” LeMaster said. “One advantage tofaculty is also increasing the faculty member’s flexibility on howthey use their time.”Online courses require a great amount of discipline in keepingup with the reading, assignments and interaction requirements inorder to be successful, LeMaster said. But often times, she said,students come to class ready to work and engage.“I feel like the students that come into my class are morerelaxed. They come when they have everything else taken care ofand they can talk,” LeMaster said. “Since so many of our studentshave jobs and families, we’ve allowed them to take coursesand finish their degrees sooner than they wouldhave been able to otherwise.”To learn more about onlinecourses, contact LeMaster at956/381-2979 or visithttp://cdl.utpa.edu.

Cárdenas to lead UTBorderplex Health CouncilAs the new chair, effective February2008, of the UT Borderplex HealthCouncil, Dr. Blandina Cárdenas,president of The University of Texas-PanAmerican, will lead the council’s missionto promote education and research toaddress the health challenges of theSouth Texas border region.Established in 2006, the UT BorderplexHealth Council is a collaborativeinitiative bringing together the scientificand health research expertise of two ofThe University of Texas System health science centers with theknowledge and skills of the many UT System academic institutionsalong the Texas-Mexico border.Its founding members include The University of Texas HealthScience Center at San Antonio and its Regional AcademicHealth Center campuses in Harlingen and Edinburg, TheUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and itsSchool of Public Health, The University of Texas-Pan Americanand The University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas SouthmostCollege. The Council also works collaboratively with the UTHealth Science Center at San Antonio Laredo Campus Extension,The University of Texas at El Paso and the UT School ofPublic Health’s El Paso regional campus. The current Councilalso includes community representatives from the border region.“The Borderplex institution presidents are united in ourcommitment to collaboration that will strengthen this work onthe border,” Cárdenas said.The council offers financial support in the form of grantsranging from $20,000 to $50,000 to promote inter-institutional,interdisciplinary research, scientific inquiry, and programsinitially targeting three significant health-related issuesfacing border residents – diabetes, obesity and the nursingworkforce shortage.Since its inception, it has funded $550,000 in 11 proposalsexamining topics ranging from the susceptibility of tuberculosisin diabetic patients to a feasibility evaluation ofexpanding existing accelerated LVN to BSN/RN nursingprograms to additional campuses.For more information on the UT Borderplex Council orproposal submission procedures, contact Carol Rausch, assistantto the UTPA president, at 956/381-2127 or via e-mail atbradencr@utpa.eduFall 2008 to offer more degree options for studentsThe University of Texas-Pan American will soon offer twonew minors to complement the 55 bachelor’s degrees currentlyoffered at the institution, as well as a master’s degree in physicianassistant studies.The Master of Physician Assistant Studies, which will be offeredstarting fall 2008, will require 100 semester credit hoursof professional curricula including medical science courses inpathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical science, and medicalpsychiatry, among others. The program is open on a competitivebasis to anyone having met the prerequisites, but applicants witha science background are encouraged to apply.For students who have already completed a bachelor’s in physicianassistant studies, an online bridge program will be available.Students can continue working while completing 16 hours ofdesignated online courses and then receive theirmaster’s degrees.“The new master’s program will emphasize evidence-basedmedicine in which the ‘best practice’ approach is tied to clinicalresearch,” said Frank Ambriz, assistant professor and chair of thePhysician Assistant Studies Program. “The second unique aspectof our program is that during the last four months of clinical rotations,the students will choose a specialty track in one offour areas of medicine to gain more confidence. The areasinclude geriatrics, emergency medicine, rural medicine, andborder health.”Effective fall 2008, the University will also open minors inglobal security studies and Hispanic media studies, which willeach require 18 hours of coursework. Nick Weimer, managerof the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence(ICCAE) said the global securities studies minor is interdisciplinaryin nature and has been developed to complement all majorson campus.“The emphasis of this minor will be advanced interdisciplinarystudy, research, and team communication in situations where studentswork to produce solutions to problems that involve workingwith specialists in many different fields,” Weimer said.The courses that make up the global security studies minor willconsist of an introduction course that will present the structure ofthe minor as well as familiarize students with the ICCAEand available career opportunities within the intelligencecommunity. The ICCAE, which is housed out of the College ofSocial and Behavioral Sciences, is UTPA’s first federallydesignatedcenter which was made possible through a $2.5million government grant.The purpose of the center is to educate and prepare SouthTexas students as national security, global economy andintelligence leaders.Students will also choose between a course in science/engineering research or a course in social and health sciences.Nine hours of cluster courses outside of a student’s major tobroaden their foundation skills will also be required, aswell as a practicum course where students will work on aresearch project.“Students should consider the global security studies minor togain the knowledge and skill sets needed for leadershipin all sectors of the global economy – for careers in government,corporations, education, and nonprofit organizations,”Weimer said.The minor in Hispanic media studies, which will require 18 hoursof coursework, will also be offered in the fall. This multidisciplinaryminor includes courses such as media andHispanics, global communication, Spanish language mediastudies, advanced Spanish language and six hours of language,cultural studies or a communication internship.“The minor will complement anyone, but would be best forjournalism, communication and modern language students,” Dr.Salma Ghanem, department of communication chair, said. “Studentsshould consider a minor in Hispanic media studies becauseof the growth of Spanish media and the Hispanic population.”Also in the works to be submitted for approval is amaster’s in global security studies and leadership and doctoralprograms in applied and computational mathematics, andengineering science.For more information about the master’s in physician assistantstudies, contact Ambriz at 956/316-7042. To learn more aboutthe minors in Hispanic media studies and global securities studies,call Ghanem at 956/381-3583 and Weimer at 956/381-3551,respectively.Los Arcos5

Last year former Microsoft guru Charles Simonyispent $25 million for a tourist’s ride into earth’s orbit.Not many can afford that type of rendezvous with theuniverse.Soon, however, Rio Grande Valley students andthe community will also have an opportunity to moreclosely experience the wonders of space via newlyenhanced planetarium facilities at The University ofTexas-Pan American.With close to $70,000 in funding recently approvedby the University, UTPA’s H-E-B Planetarium will be upgradedwith a digital projection system and the latest insurround sound capabilities, be made handicapped accessible,and sport an upgraded reception area, whereeducational, hands-on exhibits will be on display.In addition, the University will purchase a portable,inflatable planetarium dome, five to seven meters indiameter, which can be utilized for community outreachin schools and other locations.“We want people to get excited about education,”said Dr. Steven C. Tidrow, associate professor andchair of the UTPA Department of Physics and Geology.“The present analog projection system can’t providethe types of functions that the new portable digitalprojector will for instruction to students enrolled inastronomy courses and for educational outreach toyouth and adults from our community.”Dr. Nicolas Pereyra, a lecturer in the Department ofPhysics and Geology and head astronomer at UTPA,said the planetarium’s evolution into a digital, multimediaenvironment will transform the viewer’s picture ofthe universe.“The audience, for example, will literally movethrough the Milky Way galaxy. And we will be ableto project images and zoom in and out as needed onplanets and other objects in astronomy classes and inpublic presentations,” he said.A visit to the planetarium can make concepts inphysics and astronomy easier to understand said Dr.Edwin LeMaster, dean of the College of Science andEngineering, who promotes the educational value ofa planetarium and the spark it might ignite in studentsto pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering andmath) studies and careers.“It is something that excites kids’ imaginations,”he said.Three full-dome videos that can be run in boththe fixed and portable planetarium are also beingpurchased. The videos, which range in price from$1,500 to $5,000 each, are intended to serve threeaudiences – “Sky Quest” for elementary/middle schoolstudents, “Oasis in Space” for high school students,and “Hubble Vision 2” for adults/Winter Texans. Thedepartment hopes to add to their video offerings anddevelop their own presentations as additional fundsbecome available.“We welcome donations – we’d like to be able tohave two digital projectors so if one is at a school, thefixed planetarium could still offer presentations. Withother new technology available, we could also createa Cave Automatic Virtual Environment – a totally threedimensionalworld – within the planetarium lendingto other research and entertainment opportunities forstudents and the community,” Tidrow said.Looking back at the planetarium’s 45-year history,it has drawn valued community support toward itsrole in creating science literacy in Valley students andresidents.Built in 1963 in the initial stages of the Space Age,the 1,373-square foot planetarium seats 40 under its20-foot diameter dome. A place where students andvisitors can view a reproduction of the nighttime skythrough projected images on its domed ceiling, theplanetarium supported the then Pan-American College’sDepartment of Astro-Science.Initiated in 1955, the astro-science departmentoffered the only degree program of its type in theUnited States, combining astronomy, astronautics andastrophysics. The department also operated an observatoryadjacent to the planetarium that housed one ofthe largest telescopes on any Texas university campusin 1965 and was once in charge of one of three earthsatellite tracking stations in the country.The observatory – a building designed and equippedwith high-powered telescopes to observe astronomicalphenomena – was built with support from Mrs.Moulton “Ty” Cobb, widow of the former baseballgreat then living in Weslaco, who donated $7,000 forthe construction of the observatory dome.The projection system for the planetarium, accordingto Tidrow, came as a donation after use in World WarII from the Army Signal Corps associated with theformer Moore Air Force Base located northwest ofEdinburg, where thousands of Air Force pilots over theyears received their primary flight training.“The projector was used in the training of aviatorsto utilize the stars for guidance during night flights inWorld War II,” Tidrow said.In the 1960s, both planetarium and observatorywere popular attractions. Astro-science studentsoffered moon-watch events and planetarium showsthat at the program’s peak attracted in one year alone11,000 visitors. As the number of astro-science majorsdecreased toward the end of the U.S. Apollo program,the university discontinued that degree program in1973.The observatory was torn down in 1995 to makeway for the construction of the $26 million sciencebuilding complex, which incorporated the planetariumin its courtyard. In 1997, thanks to financial supportfrom the H-E-B Grocery Company’s foundation, theplanetarium underwent another facelift, particularly the6 Los Arcos

UNIVERSITY TO LAUNCHNEW SPACE ADVENTUREaddition of its bright blue and green mosaic exterior.It was also named at that time the H-E-B Planetarium inhonor of company’s support to the University. Visits tothe planetarium have continued since, with 500 studentvisitors in the fall 2007 semester.Tidrow said recently the interest in astronomy byUTPA students has skyrocketed.“In the past five years, the number of semester credithours taken by students has gone approximately from464 per semester year in 2002-2003 to more than2,000 in 2007-2008 – a growth rate on average ofabout 35 percent a year,” he said. “There are a lot ofreasons – we have brought in some professors who areenthusiastic about what they are teaching. The planetariumalso offers experiencesthat students would not haveother places.”The physics and geologydepartment, which is in theprocess of constructing a newplanetarium Web site, providesnight observation sessions forastronomy lab students everyTuesday between 7 and 10 p.m.These sessions are also open tothe public, offering two 10-inchtelescopes capable of darksky, deep space observation ofgalaxies to nebulas. Visitors tothe night observation site, locatedjust north of the PhysicalScience Building on campus,are assisted by Pereyra andseveral volunteer astronomygraders and lab instructors.UTPA students alsohave the opportunity forastronomy and physicsstudy and research usingthe state’s second largestobservatory at Stephen F.Austin University, whichUTPA has a historicalaffiliation with. Their observatory’sconstruction wasfacilitated in 1978 by thedonation of its one metermirror from UTPA, whichwas obtained as part of agrant from the NationalScience Foundation.While the greatmajority of us will neverget to experience thereal space travel thatSimonyi did, both Tidrow andPereyra agree that gaining a better understandingof the universe is essential for us all, particularly theyounger generation.“There are many things to learn and be discussedwithin a planetarium. As we understand more aboutour universe, the better we can understand ourselvesand the resources we have access to, thus the brighterthe future we can plan for,” Pereyra said.To learn more about the physics and geology departmentat UTPA, go to http://www.utpa.edu/dept/physci/. For more information on the plantetarium,call 956/316-7088 or 381-3521 or send an e-mail toHEBplanetarium@utpa.edu or to Tidrow at sctidrow@utpa.edu.

Dr. Rozzano C. Locsinfills endowed chairin nursingNursing was not the first choice of aprofession for Rozzano C. Locsin, R.N.,Ph.D., F.A.A.N., the first recipient of theLillian O. Slemp Endowed Chair in Nursingat The University of Texas-Pan American.Locsin, a professor of nursing at theChristine E. Lynn College of Nursing atFlorida Atlantic University, wanted to bea musician or to build airplanes as anaeronautical engineer.“But my father said ‘no, you have to bea nurse.’ In my native country, the Philippines,the culture is similar to here – whatyour father says, you do,” he said.It was a fortunate decision for the nursingprofession, where Locsin has excelledas an educator, scholar and researcher.“Dr. Locsin’s selection for the endowedchair was based on his exemplary work ininternational nursing, development of newnursing programs and the acquisition ofexternal funding to support research andprogram development. His mentorship tofaculty in developing their own researchagendas will ensure sustainability after heleaves,” said Dr. Bruce Reed, dean ofthe College of Health Sciences andHuman Services.Locsin, who earned both his bachelor’sand master’s degrees in nursing fromSilliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippinesand his Ph.D. from the Universityof the Philippines in Manila, has servedas a consultant worldwide in nursingcurriculum development and internationalnursing education. In 2000, he served asa Fulbright Scholar in Uganda, where hehelped facilitate two master’s programsin nursing.Locsin’s research interests includetechnology and caring in nursing, holisticnursing and arts and aesthetics in therapyand health promotion. As a piano musicenthusiast, Locsin carried his interest in music’seffects into his academic endeavors.“My master’s thesis was on music andpostoperative pain. Nurses should be ableto use any therapy that does not require aprescription,” he said.Locsin has published extensively in booksand international journals. In 2001 heco-authored the book “AdvancingTechnology, Caring and Nursing” and in2005 authored “Technological Compe88Los Los Arcos Arcostency as Caring in Nursing: A Model forPractice.” As co-editor, he published thereference/textbook titled “Technology andNursing Practice: Concepts, Process, andIssues” in 2007.His many honors include the EdithMoore Copeland Excellence in CreativityAward from Sigma Theta Tau InternationalHonor Society of Nursing in 2003 andthe FAU Researcher of the Year Award in2006. He was inducted as a Fellow of theAmerican Academy of Nursing in 2006.Locsin said the overall goal of the chairis to assist and facilitate the productivity ofthe nursing department faculty thus creatingopportunities to advance the mission ofthe department, college and University ingeneral regarding research and scholarlyendeavors.“Faculty productivity is understood in twoways – productivity in scholarly works andcreative endeavors such as publications ofmanuscripts and other works, and receiptof grants and funds that influence studenteducation and increased graduationrates,” he said.To stimulate faculty research andexternal funding, Locsin has scheduledguest lecturers experienced in these areasto present to UTPA faculty. He also startedthe Slemp Research Initiative, whichprovides a seed grant of $1,850 to currentnursing faculty to pursue research projects.“Receiving a research grant fostersopportunities to receive more researchgrants,” he said.Among the projects awarded so far isresearch focused on the descriptions usedfor body parts when querying a childabuse victim. Another project will examinethe experiences of nursing students usingsimulation technology or a robot called“Sim Man” that mimics human anatomyand physiology for training in healthcare.Locsin is also facilitating curriculumdevelopment for advanced practice nursing– a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)program – that may replace UTPA’s twocurrent nurse practitioners programs. Hesaid by 2015, according to the AmericanAssociation of Colleges of Nursing, nursepractitioners should be DNP-prepared.“An expert DNP program preparesnurses who can plan, implement andcordinate the care of persons with complexproblems and provides students further opportunitiesfor professional growth throughcontinuing formal education,” Locsin said.“It will also allow UTPA to lead SouthTexas in the development of programsand projects that increase access to careamong the underserved population of theValley.”Locsin said UTPA has about 100 master’sprepared graduates who would qualify tobe in the DNP program.To address what Locsin said is a “global”shortage of nurses, he hopes to developfaculty incentive programs to enhance facultyrecruitment and retention. With UTPAfaculty, he is also exploring the feasibilityof an accelerated BSN (Bachelor of Sciencein Nursing) degree program, wherepersons with a degree in another fieldcould earn a bachelor’s degree in nursingin one year (three semesters). Currentlyfive semesters are required to complete thenursing core curriculum to earn a BSNat UTPA.“Talk about producing more nurses – thisis one way to do it,” Locsin said. “The challengeis to find the money for the nurseeducators required for such a program.One faculty member is required for every10 students to comply with the Board ofNurse Examiners rules for the state ofTexas.”To enhance the international activities bythe nursing department, a study abroadprogram to Thailand has been organizedfor May 9-23 in cooperation with FAU.The students and faculty attending will takecourses in Healthcare Transitions in GlobalCommunities.“The world is getting smaller – weshould know how to care for people fromcultures other than our own,” Locsin said.Locsin’s position as chair, which beganSeptember 2007, will end June 2008. Formore information on nursing programs atUTPA, contact the UTPA Department ofNursing at 956/381-3491.For more information on establishing anendowed chair at UTPA, contact Lydia P.Aleman, executive director for UniversityAdvancement, at 956/381-5301 or viae-mail at aleman@utpa.edu.

UTPA vice presidentawarded TBEC honorThe Texas Business and EducationCoalition (TBEC) presented Dr. JohnEdwards, vice president for Enrollmentand Student Services at The Universityof Texas-Pan American, with its 2008Distinguished Achievement Award inEducation at itsannual VIP Briefingin Fort WorthFeb. 29.“TBEC is pleasedand proud topresent thisaward to Dr. JohnEdwards, a leadercommitted to educationalimprovement, community service,and state and local initiatives thatmake education accessible for underservedstudents. His involvement andsupport for the TBEC Texas Scholarsand Honor Roll Schools initiatives inSouth Texas have served as models forthe entire state,” Dr. Orbry Holden,TBEC director of Business and EducationOutreach, said.TBEC is a nonprofit organization ofTexas business leaders formed in 1989to engage with educators in a long-termeffort to improve public education inthe state. TBEC initiated its DistinguishedAchievement Award to recognize thosewho make exceptional contributions toTexas public education and the stateof Texas.Edwards’ long career in enrollmentmanagement and improved accessto higher education by underservedstudents began in 1979 as foundingdirector of the New Student RelationsOffice at Texas Tech University inLubbock. He later became the foundingdirector of Enrollment Management,and eventually served as dean ofEnrollment at Texas A&M at Commercefor 15 years. In 2000 Edwards beganhis current position at UTPA, where hehas continued to demonstratehis state and national leadership inhigher education.A strong advocate for partnershipswith business to improve opportunitiesfor higher education, Edwards helpedfound the Valley Outreach Center,with the support of McDonald’s Corporationand Texas Guarantee, whichprovides information and assistance toSouth Texas students interested in postsecondary education.To facilitate student success at UTPA,he initiated the Child DevelopmentCenter and advocated for the Wellnessand Recreation Sports Complex completedin 2007. In addition, Edwardshas initiated several Phi Theta Kappaacademic honor society alumni chaptersat universities and the PAL Program atUTPA and Texas A&M Commerce. PALassists former foster childrenwith college preparation, financialassistance and mentorship uponuniversity admission.Department explores offering an accelerated BSN programFaculty and administrators in the Departmentof Nursing at The University of Texas-PanAmerican are exploring the feasibility of offeringan accelerated BSN (Bachelor of Nursing)program for UTPA students.To start the process, the department recentlyhosted a workshop with Debera J. Thomas,D.N.S, A.R.N.P., assistant dean of UndergraduatePrograms and associate professorat the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing atFlorida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Ratonto discuss the possibility of the program.Thomas heads a successful accelerated BSNprogram initiated at FAU in 2003. She met thefaculty members of a UTPA BSN CurriculumCommittee and gave an overview of the keycomponents, curriculum, and challenges ofFAU’s accelerated program.“Directed to graduates with degrees inother majors than nursing who want to switchcareers, the accelerated BSN program is comprisedof an integrated compressed curriculuminstead of the traditional two-year program.The program we propose can be completedin one calendar year or three semesters,” saidRozzano C. Locsin, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N.,who fills the Lillian O. Slemp Endowed Chairin Nursing at UTPA and is also a professor ofnursing at FAU.Currently five semesters are required tocomplete the 52-hour core nursing curriculumfor a BSN at UTPA.“This is one way to provide a quickerpipeline of more nurses to combat the nursingshortage,” Locsin said.The state of Texas has a shortage of 19,000registered nurses according to estimates of theTexas Nurses Association. In the year 2020,that figure could reach close to 71,000 dueto a growing and aging population andmany current nurses in the state nearingretirement age.Thomas said the accelerated programat FAU graduated its first set of students in2005. By May 2008 there will be close to150 graduates from the program, which has aretention rate of 97 percent and a 97 percentpass rate on the state board licensing exam.“Local hospitals we work with wouldactually rather hire our accelerated programstudents. They are usually more mature, betterat critical thinking and have more life experience,”Thomas said.She said their program is only one of a fewthat is a calendar year program.“The FAU program is also almost 100percent integrated with the traditionalbaccalaureate program and that’s what wewould propose at UTPA because it is the mostcost effective. It’s also a way to help with thesocialization of the accelerated students intothe culture of nursing,” she said.Sandy Sánchez, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.M.,UTPA BSN program coordinator, describedan accelerated program as very time andintellectually demanding.“Students would be in classes or the clinicalsetting approximately 40 hours a week. It’slike a full-time job,” she said. “Students willhave to be self-motivated and directed. Theywill have to be quite committed to this cause.”The primary challenge to establishing theprogram is to find the money for the twoadditional year-round nurse educatorsrequired for such a program. One facultymember is required for every 10 students tocomply with the Board of Nurse Examinersrules for the state of Texas. Also, the salaryof nurse educators is generally $20,000 lessthan nurses in the service sector making itdifficult to lure them to generally nine-monthacademic positions.“There are a lot of qualified applicants toour nursing programs but we don’t have thefaculty,” Locsin said.Carolina Huerta, Ed.D., R.N., UTPA chairof the Department of Nursing, said she thinksthat an accelerated program would be agood addition to the nursing programs currentlybeing offered at UTPA but recognizesthere are many challenges in establishing one.“An accelerated program may not be possible,unless the department has the financialresources required to offer such a program,”she said.Nursing education is very expensive saidThomas. At FAU it generally costs $100,000to produce 10 nursing graduates per year. Tohelp fund the program, FAU has establishedagreements with three area hospitals. Thehospitals also provide scholarships for studentsin exchange for a commitment to workin those hospitals for a designated time frameafter graduation.Even if the funding is provided for twofull-time positions through budget increases orfunding support from area hospitals, an acceleratedprogram is not going to completelysolve the nursing shortage Sánchez said.“One of the hindrances to people enteringnursing is that people see nurses only in alimited role – they see them in the hospitalor a physician’s office. In reality we need tostart promoting nursing as a health disciplinethat goes from extreme wellness to extremedebilitation, and there is a role for anypersonality in nursing. If you want to be ahealth promotion or wellness nurse out in thecommunity you can do that. If you want tobe a high-tech nurse working in a researchlab you can do that. It is such a broad fieldthat there is a role for every personality,”Sánchez said.Although the program is only in thepreliminary planning stages, AcceleratedBSN committee members said they seek thecomments from graduates who would beinterested in such a program. For more information,contact the Department of Nursing at956/381-3491.Los Arcos 9

CommunicationBooks, Music, Arts and FunUTPA’s second annual festival set for March 24-29ith more than threemillion Texans consideredilliterate, The Universityof Texas-Pan Americanhopes to put a slight dentin that statistic by hosting their secondannual Festival of International Booksand Arts (FESTIBA), March 24-29.This year FESTIBA 2008, titled“Reading Other Worlds: StorytellingThrough the Arts,” will not only highlightthe arts and humanities at UTPA, butalso emphasize the importance and joyof reading and writingfor people of all ages inSouth Texas. To spreadthe joy of reading, oneof the nation’s premierliterary festivals in thecountry, the Texas BookFestival, and Reading isFundamental (RIF), oneof the nation’s oldestand largest nonprofitchildren’s literacy organizationswill join forceswith FESTIBA to distributemore than 34,000 booksto local school districts.“Our goal is to increase interestand appreciation for reading andimprove success in secondary and postsecondaryeducation through FESTIBA,”Dr. Dahlia Guerra, dean of the Collegeof Arts and Humanities and FESTIBAcoordinator, said.The Texas Book Festival for a secondtime, in collaboration with UTPA and theRegion One Education Service Center,will provide six area elementary schoolswith the opportunity to visit with some ofthe nation’s premier children’s authorsthrough its Reading Rock Stars program,formerly known as the Author! Author!program. The schools were chosen outof 70 applications from the Rio GrandeValley area.Authors such as René Saldana Jr.,Carmen Tafolla, Diane GonzalesBertrand, René Laínez, Lee Merrill Bird,Xavier Garza, and Amada Irma Perezwill be meeting with more than 3,500South Texas children March 25-26. Inaddition, the authors will discusstheir literary works and presenteach child attending the event withan autographed book said Clay Smith,literary director for the Texas Book Festival.Also, all participating schools willreceive a set of books from the authorsfor their school libraries.“Reading Rocks Stars is wonderfulbecause it goes one step further. Theprogram is for lower-income elementaryschools whose students may not readbooks on their own. We choose authorsfor the Reading Rock Stars programwho are brilliant presenters and canbring the books to life. We are lookingforward toFESTIBA,” Smithsaid.In addition,FESTIBA will partnerwith RIF in thedistribution of morethan 30,000 booksto local schools toencourage readingamong students ingrades pre-k-sixth.“We expect itto be a long-termpartnership thatis not only aboutFESTIBA, but is really more aboutempowering our families with readingas a fundamental part of their lives,”UTPA President Dr. Blandina Cárdenassaid about the partnership.According to Stephen Leach, directorof government relations and communityoutreach for RIF, the organization assists4.6 million children throughout thecountry and 100,000 are served inSouth Texas. Leach said the main goalof RIF is to provide books and otherliteracy resources to parents, teachers,and other professionals who work in theliteracy environment.“We are involved in this South Texasinitiative to help with erasing the studentdropout rate because we understandthat it is at an alarming rate right now.We are hoping to do a lot of work herein South Texas to help raise the graduationrate and we are excited about theopportunity. Through this partnership wewill be successful,” Leach said.ARTMUSICJoining FESTIBA 2008 will be CongressmanRubén Hinojosa (TX-15) who willhost the first ever Congressional Roundtableon Literacy to be held duringFESTIBA on March 28, a day scheduledfor South Texas librarians. Hinojosa saidnumerous congressional leaders includingHenry Cuellar and Solomon Ortizwill join him to discuss and find solutionsfor the nation’s high illiteracy rates.“One of the goals of the CongressionalRoundtable is to draw moreattention to this alarming rate of illiteracythat we have in America. Literacystatistics in Texas alone are a cause forserious concern. More than three millionTexans are considered to be functionallyilliterate, while one in four Texans lacksreading and writing skills, and ourstate of Texas has the unimaginabledistinction of ranking 47 th lowest amongthe 50 states in reading and writingliteracy. We have got to do somethingand that is why your congressmen havemade it one of the highest priorities incongress,” Hinojosa said.In continuing with the theme ofencouraging reading and writing, theUniversity’s Distinguished SpeakerSeries will conclude the year of bringingdynamic speakers to campus duringFESTIBA with an appearance by leadingChicana playwright and novelist DeniseChávez. Chávez, who will speak March25, 7:30 p.m. at the Student UnionTheater, has written and producednumerous one-act plays since the 1970s;and is best known for her fiction, including“The Last of the Menu Girls,” and“Face of an Angel.”FESTIBA, which originally started asa three-day event, has expanded to aweek to offer the public a variety of

Community DayMarch 29Free ConcertGrupo Dueloevents such as concerts, workshops andlectures, exhibits, and a CommunityDay. The weeklong event is a spin-offof UTPA’s Hispanic Engineering, Scienceand Technology (HESTEC) Week, whichis geared toward promoting scienceliteracy and careers in science, engineering,mathematics and technology.“FESTIBA 2008 will be an excitingevent and a unique cultural opportunityfor our University and South Texas,”Dr. Dahlia Guerra, dean of the Collegeof Arts and Humanities and FESTIBAcoordinator, said.A major highlight of FESTIBA willbe Community Day, March 29 on theUTPA grounds that will offer the publicnumerous entertainment and educationalevents including a free concertby Grupo Duelo, an international bandwith a norteñosound who gotits start in Roma,Texas, from 5-6:30p.m. at the UTPAQuad.One of the topmariachi groups inthe country, MariachiSol de Mexicode José Hernandez,who are knownfor mesmerizingaudiences with theirdynamic energyreflecting México’srich cultural heritagewill performduring CommunityDay. The concert isscheduled for 7:30p.m. at the ne Arts Auditorium, andan admission fee will be required. Inaddition to their performance, MariachiSol De Mexico will host a workshop for“Festiba 2008 will be an exciting eventand a unique cultural opportunity forour University and South Texas.”South Texas middle and high schoolmariachi groups March 28, whichwill lead up to a mariachi competitionconcert featuring the groups duringCommunity Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.at the Fine ArtsAuditorium.FESTIBA CommunityDay is an opportunityfor familiesto come out andenjoy a number offree musical concerts,poetry readings,documentary films,and art and photoexhibits performedand provided byUTPA’s own studentsand faculty as wellas other masters inthe field of arts.Several tents willalso be availablefor Community Dayattendees includingone featuringcooking demonstrations, a book fairwith local authors signing their literary– Dr. Dahlia Guerra,Dean, College of Arts and Humanitiesworks, a Scholastics Book tent with televisioncharacters “Maya and Miguel,”a RIF tent with achildren’s computerlab, andstorytelling tentwith Texas BookFestival authors.Other FESTIBA2008 partnersinclude RegionOne EducationService Centerand UTPA GEARUP, ScholasticBooks, The MonitorNewspapers in at Community DayMeet “Maya and Miguel”Education, H-E-B,National Endowmentof the Arts, Edinburg EconomicDevelopment Corporation, IBC Bank,International Women’s Board, andKappa Delta Pi, an international honorsociety in education.For a complete schedule of FESTIBAevents visit http://www.coah.utpa.edu/festiba/ or call 956/381-2175.History

08Events to AttendFESTIBASaturday, March 29COMMUNITY DAYGrupo Duelo, free concert, 5 p.m. at UTPA Quad.Vive el Bajo! South Texas Double Bass Concert, 6:30 p.m.at the FIAC 103 Recital Hall.Mariachi Sol de Mexico Concert, 7:30 pm at the FineArts Auditorium (admission fee).Monday, March 24Opening reception for “Lost Cultures: The Aztecs” at the UTPAVisitors Center“Legends and Folktales” Exhibit at the Communication of Arts andSciences Gallery, open all week.“Cine Mexicano – Epoca de Oro” movie and discussion with UTPA ProfessorDr. Lino Garcia and Monterrey, Mexico literary critic Rogelio R. Reyes, 11 a.m. at the Student Union Theater.Tuesday, March 25Distinguished Speaker Series with Chicana playwright and novelist Denise Chávez, 7:30 p.m. at the Student Union Theater.Free admission.Wednesday. March 26Meet playwright and author Denise Chávez, 12:45 p.m. at the Communication of Arts and Sciences Gallery.Texas Commission of the Arts Storyteller Gayle Ross, 2 p.m. at the Clark Gallery.La Boda de la Mujer Maravilla, a Spanish student drama, 3 p.m., at Student Union Theater.UTPA Chamber Music Concert featuring the music of Mozart and Brahms, 7:30 p.m. at the Media Theater, located adjacent tothe University Library.Thursday, March 27UTPA Salsa and Percussion Ensembles to perform, noon at UTPA Quad.Book Fair, Scholastic Books Tent with “Maya & Miguel,”Storytelling Tent with Texas Book Festival Authors, CookingDemonstrations, noon-6 p.m., QuadFilm screening of “Machuca” followed by a panel discussion, 2 p.m. at the Media Theater, located adjacent to the University Library.Rondell Davidson Lecture Series featuring Dr. John Charles Chasteen, an author of Latin American history books and professor atUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 5 p.m. at the Media Theater, located adjacent to the University Library.An Evening with Author Lorenzo Pace – Pace will be performing “Jalani and the Lock,” named one of the best children’s booksfor 2001 by the Los Angeles Times, for people of all ages, using music and exciting visual effects, 6 p.m. at the Clark Gallery.Friday, March 28UTPA Salsa and Percussion Ensembles to perform, noon at UTPA Quad.“Artists Who Write” presentation, 6 p.m. at the Clark Gallery.UTPA Dance Concert, 7:30 p.m., Fine Arts Auditorium.UTPA Chamber Music Concert featuring the music of Mozart and Brahms,7:30 p.m. at the Media Theater, located adjacent to the University Library.12 12 Los Arcos

UTpa Alumni Q&AEmmy Winner Steven EscobarFor Steven Escobar being one of few Hispanicsin Hollywood to own a PrimetimeEmmy Award is not only an honor, but amajor coup for the Edinburg native whoset out to win the coveted statuette fiveyears ago. Escobar, a freelance film/television editor and producer, was oneof seven editors to win a Primetime EmmyAward for Outstanding Picture Editing forReality Programming for the popular CBSreality show “The Amazing Race” in September2007. Escobar, owner of Jesco FilmEntertainment, LLC, said he always knewhe wanted a career in the entertainmentindustry, however since he did not considerhimself much of an actor, his interests tookhim behind the scenes where editing andproducing became his passion. Escobarsaid taking a summer television workshopat The University of Texas-Pan Americanwhere he received hands-on experienceworking on a crew to make a featurelength movie led to his decision to transferfrom Sam Houston State University toUTPA’s communication program. Escobargraduated from UTPA in 1993 with aBachelor of Arts in communication with aconcentration in radio/TV/film.What advice would you offer students lookingto pursue a career in film/televisionand wanting to move to Los Angeles?My advice is not to move to LA right afterUTPA. I suggest that you should learneverything you can by working in as manycapacities of the entertainment industrythat you can and figure out which one youare most interested in. It is very rare inHollywood that someone will master manyaspects all at once. If you are interestedin acting, take a lot of classes and do shortfilms so you can have a demo and a goodrésumé. The same goes for being an artdirector, an editor, and a make-up artist.I remained in the Valley and in Texas forseven years before I decided to make themove to Los Angeles. It helped me land ajob quicker because of the résumé I hadbuilt and the connections I made early on.What was it like for a South Texas kid towin a Primetime Emmy Award?It’s kind of weird to me to be one of a fewHispanics in Hollywood to win such anhonor but I know that I knew that sacrificeand determination were going to play apart of that if I wanted to stand out amongthe others. I was very lucky to have bothmy mother and my sister with me when ourteam of seven editors won the Emmy. I feellike I put all their doubts in my professionto rest at that moment.What is unique about your job?My job as a film/TV editor is unique tome because I believe that is where thestorytelling is made. You can take ascene from a movie or reality show andmake it sad, happy, or even dramatic ifyou really want to, but it’s important toknow what your story is and where it willend. You can make someone appear tobe a “bad” guy/girl just by choosing theright facial reactions without having themsay anything. It all depends on what thescene calls for.What is next on your plate of projects –more reality television, movies, shows,etc.?I am starting the next season of “BigBrother 9” and will return to “TheAmazing Race” in May. I also producelow-budget independent films with mypartner so we are working on a couple ofprojects. I am also editing a documentaryon the side for Gil Cates Jr., son of GilCates, the producer of the AcademyAwards. This will be the second project Iwill be involved with him on.What do you think is the future of realitytelevision?Most people won’t believe me, but realityTV is not going away anytime soon. Withthe writer’s strike affecting the televisionschedule, more and more reality showsare being ordered every week so therewill be a flux of shows appearing on cableand primetime. I’m hoping by the time thisinterview comes out that the writer’s strikewill be over so everyone can go back towork.Tell us about the scholarshipyou started in theRio Grande Valley?I am still in the processof organizing a scholarshipthrough UTPA andEdinburg High School forstudents who are interestedin pursuing careersin film, television, andradio. I decided to startthis scholarship as a wayto help current studentswith costs of materials toproduce their own projects. I know howexpensive school can be so I want to helpstudents gain demo reel material so thatthey can enter the workforce after UTPAahead of other students.What do you plan to have accomplishedin five, 10, 20, and 50 years – personallyand/or professionally?I usually plan only five years in advance.Five years ago, I drove my mom to theAcademy of Television Arts & Scienceswhen she was visiting and showed her ahuge replica of the Emmy. I told her, justjokingly, “In five years, I’m going to winone of those.” That was exactly five yearsago. My next five years, I have variousplans. I want to continue editing andhopefully work on a motion picture, and atleast get nominated for an Oscar and winit. It might take me 10 years but I’m willingto work hard. On the other hand, I alsowant to expand my company to producenetwork TV shows, specials, and featurefilms – kind of like Jerry Bruckheimer (aprominent film and television producer)has done for himself.Los Arcos13

ven though Dr. Shelia Pozorskiwasn’t born in the Rio GrandeValley, she considers herself tobe a native since her parents moved herewhen she was an infant. After attendingEdinburg High School and graduatingfirst in her class, Pozorski left to pursuean education at Harvard University whereshe was introduced to the two things sheloves in life the most – studying archaeologyand her husband and fellow UTPAprofessor Dr. Thomas Pozorski, whom shemarried later at the UTPA chapel. Bothwent on to pursue doctorates at The Universityof Texas at Austin and then workedand taught in Peru, Pittsburgh, and Denverbefore coming to then-Pan AmericanUniversity in 1988 and teaching. Pozorskiwas recently nominated for the MinnieStevens Piper Professor Program Award,which honors 15 professors from across thestate of Texas during each academic yearfor their dedication to the teaching professionand for their outstanding academic,scientific and scholarly achievement.QCan you tell us about theresearch you do?My research focuses on the developmentof early civilization along the Peruviancoast, one of a few areas of the worldwhere complex society arose independently,without outside influence. Morespecifically, I work in the Casma Valley,about five hours north of Lima by bus. Theearly civilization I study did not really havea name, so we named it the Sechin AltoPolity, taking the name from the largest(excavation) site. The culture is about4,000 years old and lasted more than500 years. At the time when the SechinAlto Polity flourished, the Casma Valleypeople built the largest structure in theFaculty Profile:Dr. Shelia PozorskiNew World, a flat-topped pyramid about100 feet tall with a surface large enoughto hold 15 football fields. This immensebuilding is just part of a larger plannedsettlement with plazas, smaller administrativestructures, and houses; and there arefour other contemporary, large plannedsettlements within the Valley.QAre you planning anyupcoming archaeologicaltrips?At the end of May, I’ll be leaving for Perualong with four students, Tom, and a colleaguefrom UTPA. I won’t be doing anyexcavating this season because we are inan analysis and writing phase. Everythingwe find has to stay in Peru. So we arefinishing a three-year National ScienceFoundation grant to help us study, draw,photograph, and write about the ceramics,textiles, plant and animal remains, stonetools, and other artifacts from the sites wehave been excavating. The students willspend much of their time helping us withthe analysis; however, we also take timeout to visit the sites we have excavatedas well as other archaeological sites andongoing excavations by our colleagues.We are also already doing the preliminaryreconnaissance in preparation to startdigging again in 2009.I am also planning the annual AnthropologicalClub field trip to Mexico inMay. During the eight-day trip, we willbe visiting the Mexico City area includingTeotihuacan, the Aztec ruins downtownnear the zocalo (square), and probablyTula.QWhat has been your mostinteresting find?I have been involved in making lots ofinteresting finds over the years. One of themost exciting occurred at a Casma Valleysite called Pampa de las Llamas-Moxekewhen we were digging in the architecture.We found a carved stone, about thesize of a mailbox, with a double-bodiedserpent on one face and the impressionof a hand on another face. The find wasspecial because the carvings are uniqueand because it is very rare to find stonecarvings in their original location.QDo you participate in any volunteeractivities?I work with local law enforcement officersand help them to assess and identify humanskeletal remains. Using the same skillsthat enable me to study the burials I findin Peru, I can provide data on age, sex,stature, and sometimes cause of death forthe more modern human remains. In return,I am often able to borrow unclaimedand unidentified remains to use in myarchaeology methods class so that studentsget valuable hands-on experience.Indirectly, I help provide large amountsof volunteer labor for local museums andarchives by supervising the museum studiesand archive studies courses at UTPA. Studentsearn anthropology credit by workingas interns in our local museums and naturecenters. The program has grown rapidly,to the point that I am able to place over50 students per semester.QWhat kind of careers are out therefor students interested inanthropology?Career opportunities in anthropology aremany and varied. I followed a fairly traditionalpath for archaeology by getting myPh.D. and then going on to do researchand teaching in my field. Students withmaster’s or bachelor’s degrees who areinterested in archaeology can work oncontract archaeology projects here in theUnited States. Any development with city,county, state, or federal funds must bepreceded by a survey of the area by anarchaeologist to be sure that no culturalremains are impacted. This regulationresults in a steady stream of opportunitiesto do archaeology.More broadly, our anthropology majorsare qualified to apply for most jobs thatinvolve working with people. I oftenremind them that they are unlikely to seean advertisement for an anthropologist.Instead, they must often sell themselves toprospective employers.QWhat advice would you givestudents interested in the field?I would give students two pieces of advice.First, try anthropology before you makeyour final decision. Do some actualfield work or work with a professor ona research project. I was able to go toPeru as an undergraduate, and I stronglybelieve in taking our undergraduates withme to Peru. The second is, follow yourdream! Other professions may be verylucrative, but so much about anthropologyis constantly interesting that we anthropologistslove what we do.

UTPA gears upto prepare localeducators to teachadvanced coursesThe University of Texas-Pan American is onceagain teaming up with the College Board to offerlocal, state and national educators three weeksof intensive Advanced Placement (AP) and Pre-APtraining courses this summer.UTPA’s AP Summer Institutes are intensivefive-day programs for both new and experiencedteachers. Each workshop will be led by CollegeBoard-certified AP consultants and will provideparticipants with the experiences necessaryto teach advanced placement courses in theirdiscipline.The institutes are offered during the weeks ofJuly 7-11, July 21-25 and August 4-8 and are heldon the University campus, as well as the UTPAAnnex building.The institutes are designed to help the teachersdevelop, reinforce and implement a strongercurriculum for their Pre-AP and AP students basedon classes they will be teaching.Workshop activities include creation of an APprogram in the participant’s area of expertise,review of past AP examinations and scoringrubrics, guidance for teaching critical concepts,development of successful AP assignments,hands-on experience for AP workshops andopportunities to network with other AP teachers.For more information on the AP SummerInstitutes or to register, call 956/292-7577.Erika Buentello, a teacher at J.B. Alexander HighSchool in Laredo, works on a project during theStudio Art Institute hosted by the UTPA SummerInstitutes two years ago.UTPA student Janette Cavazos assists a resident at the center in constructing a poem.Power of Words:Students bring joyof poetry to othersAndrew Butler, a resident at the Judge Homer Salinas Rehabilitation Centerin Edinburg, said he never realized how similar poetry and rap were untilhe participated in the Creative Writing Service Learning Project, a programsponsored by several departments at The University of Texas-Pan American.Butler said prior to taking part in the program, he always thought he wouldbecome a rap artist, but since then his goals have changed.“First I thought poetry was for people who were soft at heart but I foundout that I’m really soft at heart, so now I am doing poetry,” Butler said. “Ireally like it because you put your words and feelings together and spreadit to other people and some people can really relate to it and get somethingout of it.”For Butler writing has become an outlet where he can express his innerthoughts through words as well as reflect on his life.He said he is grateful to the students and faculty of UTPA’s departments ofEnglish, criminal justice and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences fortaking time from their busy lives during the fall 2007 semester to help spreadthe joys of writing and the power of words to individuals like himself.“I think that the boot camp residents are appreciative of UTPA for helpingus reconstruct our minds onto more positive activities,” Butler said.The project, which began in 2007, was the brainchild of UTPA EnglishAssistant Professor Emmy Perez and because of its success other UTPAeducators have jumped on the bandwagon. The collaborative program givesUTPA student and faculty volunteers the opportunity to make a difference byteaching center residents how to write poetry.“The University should be more than just academic, it should give somethingback to the community. This does two things – it allows students to get experiencein tutoring and mentoring, and it also shows the community that we canbe involved in helping the community to grow,” said Stanley Gonzales, UTPAcriminal justice lecturer.Gonzales said the program has made an impact on the residents, who arecourt ordered to stay in the facility for six months.”We hope that in the end they have improved their writing skills becausewe all know how important it is in the real world to communicate effectively.If they are able to improve their writing through some of these techniques itwould be a big plus for them,“ Gonzales said.For Janette Cavazos, a senior English major, the experience will serve herin the future as she plans to go into the teaching field. She said this volunteereffort will not only help the residents, but her as well, become better studentsand individuals.“I really hope when they get out of here they are able to follow throughwith their writing. I hope that they have learned a lot from their past experiencethrough writing about it, and hopefully they won’t make the samemistakes they made in the past,” Cavazos said.Gonzales said since the center closed in Februrary, the program plans tobranch out to juvenile facilities in the area to continue its mission of bringingpoetry into the hearts of others.Los Arcos 15

FACULTY EXPLORE NEW METHODS TO DIAGNOSE AUTISMWith autism affecting one in 150 children nationally, Dr. CherylFielding knows the seriousness of autism spectrum disorders and isworking to accurately diagnose the disorder among children in theRio Grande Valley through her research at The University of Texas-Pan American.Autism, a complex neurobiological disorder, impairs a person’sability to communicate and relate to others, with symptoms rangingfrom very mild to severe. According to Autism Speaks, the nation’slargest autism advocacy organization, autism is more common thanpediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined and occurs in allracial, ethnic, and social groups. It is four times more likely to occurin boys than girls. The Center for Disease Control reports that almost1.5 million people in the United States are autistic and the rate ofautism is increasing 10-17 percent annually.As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and associateprofessor in the Department of Educational Psychology at UTPA,Fielding has worked with local school districts and parents to assistwith autism spectrum disorders diagnoses and intervention.“Our evaluation allows parents to receive a comprehensive, teambasedassessment, conducted by professionals who are credentialedin the administration of evaluation instruments that are known as the‘gold standard’ in the assessment of autism,” she said. “It also allowsparents to receive a report written by practitioners who are licensedto diagnose autism within the public school setting.”Fielding and Dr. John Lowdermilk, assistant professor of educationalpsychology at UTPA, said educating parents is critical tohaving children diagnosed in a timely manner and showing them howto begin treatment intervention.In clinical terms, there are a few absolute indicators that suggesta child should be evaluated to determine if a child is on the rightdevelopmental path, Fielding said.According to First Signs, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicatedto educating parents and pediatric professionals about the earlywarning signs of autism and other developmental disorders, someindicators include:•No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressionsby six months or thereafter.•No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or otherfacial expressions by nine months or thereafter.•No babbling by 12 months.•No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing,reaching, or waving by 12 months.•No words by 16 months.•No two-word meaningful phrases(without imitating orrepeating) by 24 months.•Any loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age.“If your baby shows any of these signs, please ask your pediatricianor family practitioner for an evaluation,” Fielding said. “If yourchild is over the age of three, public schools are required to performan evaluation at no cost to parents.”Fielding and Lowdermilk recently conducted a workshop forapproximately 90 parents of children with autism and other developmentaldisabilities at UTPA. As the only BCBA in the Rio GrandeValley, Fielding’s parent training is critical to helping children withautism lead productive lives with early intervention.“Research has shown us that the earlier children are identified andthe earlier intervention begins, the better the outcomes,” Fieldingsaid. “National data indicates that the average age that Caucasianchildren are identified for an autism spectrum disorder is betweenDr. Cheryl Fielding (left) works with Celina Wood and her mother,Claudia Wood, during one of her sessions at the University.ages four and five. For Hispanic children the average is closer toseven. Therefore it is crucial that parents in this area are madeaware of the early signs so that their children can be identified anda comprehensive intervention program can be implemented sooner.The sooner the better.”Additionally, Fielding conducts research with Dr. Terry Overton,professor of special education at The University of Texas at Brownsville/TexasSouthmost College. Fielding said the most significantfinding of their research, which is based on a sample of more than70 locally referred children with an autism spectrum disorder, is thatthey are seeing trends that mirror national data regarding things likethe percentage of regressive cases, ratio of boys to girls, and falsepositives, among others.Both Fielding and Overton also study the validity and reliability ofthe instruments they use, specifically regarding their accuracy withinbilingual populations.“Sometimes the publishers of assessment instruments purport thattheir instruments are able to reliably pinpoint children with an autismspectrum disorder within a bilingual population,” Fielding said.“Bilingual children develop language in different patterns thanmonolingual children and this impacts their performance onstandardized measures.”Fielding and Lowdermilk recently applied for a more than$500,000 grant in hopes of establishing a clinic at UTPA that wouldprovide services to children with autism. The University has thecapability to house the clinic in an 8,000-square-foot facility in thefirst floor of the Education Complex.“Parents are desperate for help. Many have told me that they havetaken their children to doctors all over the United States and havehad all types of medical testing conducted and the doctors say tothem, ‘We’re sorry to tell you we can’t find anythingphysically wrong with your child. It must be autism. Take them topublic school, they’ll know what to do,’” Fielding said. “It just hasn’tbeen my experience that all public schools are providing what isneeded to meet the unique needs of these children. I receive anaverage of two to three phone calls a week from parents, teachers,medical doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, physicaltherapists, or speech therapists asking for training or some type ofhelp in getting special education services for these children.”If funded, the clinic would provide evaluations to determine ifa child meets the criteria to receive special education servicesas a child with autism or other developmental disability; interventionservices such as behavioral therapy provided by aboard-certified behavior analyst; and counseling therapy for familymembers.Private donors who are interested in learning more about theproposed center or would like to contribute to this cause can callUTPA’s College of Education at 956/381-3627.16 Los Arcos

New director forecasts Valley to be new global manufacturing centerIf the predictions of Dr. John Lloyd, the new director of theRapid Response Manufacturing Center at The University of Texas-Pan American, come true the center of state-of-the-art manufacturingin the world will soon lie right here in the Rio Grande Valley.Lloyd, who also holds the position of University DistinguishedProfessor of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University,was welcomed at a University reception Feb. 18 by UTPAadministrators, faculty and local business and economicdevelopment leaders.“This (center) is a pursuit to regain and sustain U.S. and NorthAmerican competitiveness in the global marketplace and thevehicle by which we are doing this is the concept of advancedmanufacturing and rapid response,” Lloyd said. “TheRapid Response Manufacturing Centerwill bring a lot of recognitionand a lot of economic power.”Both the Dean of the Collegeof Science and Engineering Dr.Edwin LeMaster and UniversityPresident Dr. Blandina Cárdenassaid Lloyd, who will also serve asresearch professor of manufacturingengineering at UTPA, brings awealth of expertise and world-classcredentials to the campus.“Lloyd is the most internationallyrenownedfaculty member to joinUTPA in its entire history. He is notonly the kind of magnet for resourcesand talent that we seek dedicatedto this concept of rapid responsemanufacturing but he has alreadydedicated a commitment to ourstudents,” Cárdenas said.Lloyd, who earned his undergraduate,master’s and Ph.D. in mechanicalengineering from the University of Minnesota,spent his early academic careerat the University of Notre Dame andonce worked as an engineer for Proctorand Gamble. He founded and has servedas the director of the Institute for GlobalEngineering Education at Michigan State University. In 1994 hewas appointed as a guest professor in the Department of EngineeringMechanics at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, whichis the highest award Tsinghua grants to international scholars. In2000 he received the first Honorary Doctor of Technical Sciencefrom the Russian Academy of Sciences ever awarded to anAmerican engineer.Lloyd was already a familiar face to a number of Valley facultymembers, students and local business and economic developmentleaders. His hiring, LeMaster said, grew out of a relationshipUTPA had established over the past few years with MichiganState and Monterrey Tech in Mexico in the Partnership forInnovation program funded by the National Science Foundation(NSF). Lloyd, LeMaster and Dr. Miguel Gonzalez, UTPA associatedean of the College of Science and Engineering and director ofSchool of Engineering and Computer Science, collaborated ondeveloping the innovative engineering education program basedon another NSF-funded initiative Lloyd co-founded at MichiganState University called INTEnD (International Networked Teamsfor Engineering Design).Designed to give students experience in working together inmultidisciplinary, multi-institution engineering product designteams, the Partnership for Innovation received one of four ASME(American Society for Mechanical Engineers) awards for curriculuminnovation in mechanical engineering education and anAT&T Innovation in Technology Utilization award. It nowserves as a key education program in the Rapid ResponseManufacturing Center.The center is one component of a regional effort to buildan infrastructure and a workforce to support rapid responsemanufacturing called NAAMREI (North American AdvancedManufacturing Research and Education Initiative).NAAMREI is a network of alliances led by UTPA, South TexasCollege, five economic development corporations, Region OneEducation Service Center and Workforce Solutions.With $5 million from a Department ofLabor Workforce Innovation in RegionalEconomic Development (WIRED) grantand $3 million from the Texas WorkforceCommission, NAAMREI will also developa large industrial research and developmentpark and provide workforcerecruitment and training.Rapid response manufacturingemploys the concepts of masscustomization of products and speedto market said McAllen EconomicDevelopment Corporation ExecutiveDirector Keith Patridge, who as oneof many NAAMREI partners greetedLloyd at the reception.“We need to focus on how wecan start delivering to our customersas many variations of a product thatwe can but still standardizing asmuch as possible in a veryshort delivery time frame,”Patridge said, foreseeing oneday a 30-day design cycle will bethe norm.The center will incorporate theinvolvement of many disciplines –marketing research, for example,from the College of Business Administration, newtooling methods provided by nanotechnology discoveries in theCollege of Science and Engineering and the critical thinking skillsand multicultural awareness highlighted in many new programs inthe College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.Over the past few years, Lloyd said, he has met many“great” people in the Valley – people with what he called “visionary innovation.”“It is beyond regular innovation. This takes special education,special creativity and a backing that says ‘don’t fear the risk, let’sgo for the success,’” he said. “What bigger draw could there beto come here than to be able to work in that environment and beable to help lead not only McAllen, not only Edinburg, not onlyUTPA, not only the region, not only the state of Texas, not onlythe United States, not only North America but the world.”The official opening of the Rapid Response ManufacturingCenter, located adjacent to the UTPA Police Station on campus,will be held Friday, April 11, featuring an appearance by the U.S.Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez.The opening will be followed by a Rapid Response ManufacturingInnovation Corporate CEO Summit with Texas GovernorRick Perry, Senior Vice President of the National Associationof Manufacturing, Emily DeRocco, and South Texas legislativeleaders.For more information, call Lloyd at 956/381-3522 or e-maillloydjr@utpa.edu or Gonzalez at 956/381-3510 or e-mailgonzalezma@utpa.edu.Los Arcos 17

A Starr in asmall townThe 100-mile drive to and from The University of Texas-PanAmerican’s Starr County Upper-Level Center in Rio Grande Cityfor some would get mundane and frustrating, but for Dr. AlmaPerez, director of the facility, it is a daily trip she takes so that herstudents don’t have to.Perez, a resident of Zapata and a UTPA assistant professor,starts her workday at 1 p.m. every day by checking thetemperature of each of the three classrooms and computer lab atthe facility to make sure the students have a comfortable learningenvironment. She also teaches classes and at times, even fieldscomplaints from students when the soda machines have eatentheir money. However, the most important thing Perez doesduring the day is make sure that all UTPA Starr County studentsreceive a world-class education in a small town setting.“This is a dream job for me. I love it. I think we have the bestenvironment to work in simply because it is not the facility, but thestudents that are so appreciative that UTPA is here, so that theydo not have to travel 100 miles for each class meeting,”Perez said.After eight years in Rio Grande City, the Starr County Upper-Level Center has had a major impact in the area and in the livesof students who have benefited from the facility being located intheir own backyard.“I attended the main Edinburg campus for most of my collegecareer and the drive was killer for me – financially and for mycar. This facility is a godsend for us in the area,” said Gilberto DeLos Reyes, a senior interdisciplinary studies major.De Los Reyes said since he began taking courses at the extensioncenter, this year alone he has only set foot on the maincampus three times to take state exams, and he has not had toask for any time off from work to take classes.He said he appreciates UTPA’s efforts in helping Starr Countystudents meet their educational needs. De Los Reyes said heplans to become a teacher and hopefully work in the Roma orRio Grande City school districts. He eventually plans to pursue amaster’s degree.Perez said the center has produced 210 graduates from theCollege of Education EC-4 bilingual generalist program, themajority who have gone on to be teachers in Starr County, LaJoya, and Mission areas.Students at the Center get a little help with assignments from Dr. AlmaPerez before the start of her class.Dr. Alma Perez serves as director of the Starr County Upper-Level Centerin Rio Grande City.“It has been a very positive impact for Starr County whenyou have over 200 college graduates coming out of this facility.That does make a big difference in a small community like this,”Perez said.Perez said she is most proud of the Center’s 99 percentgraduation rate.“We get them, and we graduate them,” she said.The University opened the facility the fall of 2003 to helpalleviate some of the commuting problems for the Starr Countystudents, but also provide higher education opportunities to all thecitizens in the western region of the Rio Grande Valley – includingStarr, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties – an area that has beenidentified as economically and educationally disadvantaged. TheStarr County Upper-Level Center, a 3,000-square-foot mobilebuilding, is located on five acres of leased land in the CountryEstates subdivision off FM 755.The presence of UTPA in the Starr County area has been inexistence since 1976 when education courses were offered in RioGrande City. It was not until the fall of 2000 that the Universityoffered a full program of course offerings toward a bachelor’sdegree in interdisciplinary studies in elementary education witha specialization in bilingual education. At that time courses weretaught at Ringgold Middle School.“The people of Starr County had been wanting Pan Am tooffer the whole program because it had always offered courseshere and there, but never a complete program until fall 2000,”Perez said.The Center offers undergraduate programs in EC-4 bilingualgeneralist for education majors, criminal justice, and graduatemaster’s-level courses in educational leadership and reading. Inaddition, interdisciplinary courses are offered in history, English,and anthropology.“The courses offered here are not just for education majors, butalso for those students from the community and others who cannotget the classes they need on the main campus,” Perez said.Since the Center opened, Perez said it has seen a steadyincrease in student enrollment and full-time students taking 12credit hours.Perez said the typical student who takes courses at the Centerare Hispanic females with a median age of 26, married with twochildren, and working full time in the public schools.“From our profile we are catering to the older married studentswho are serious about their education. That has been my greatestreward to see their interest, their motivation, and willingness toachieve their goals. A lot of our students are also first-generationcollege graduates.”To ensure the future of the Center, UTPA was awarded $6million through House Bill 153 of the 79 th state legislature inSeptember 2007 to build a permanent home for the facility.Los Arcos 19

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