SPRING 2010 - The University of Texas-Pan American

ALUMNIpillars of successclass of 2010very two years, The University of Texas-Pan American choosesoutstanding alumni to be featured in the university’s VisitorsCenter, the “front door” of the campus where tens of thousands ofguests are welcomed each year.On Feb. 19, the latest “Pillars of Success” were introduced in aceremony attended by nearly 200 family members, friends, faculty, staffand students, and the honorees’ photos and stories were unveiled in anexhibit that will remain in the Center until 2012.The “Pillars of Success” Class of 2010 was selected by the UniversityExecutive Committee from a list of nominees recommended by theVisitors Center Exhibits Committee, which is composed of facultyand staff.“We keep this display up for a period of two years because we wantour visitors and students to know what this university is producing –outstanding graduates. These ‘Pillars of Success’ stand as role models forpaths we want our students to follow,” said Dr. Robert S. Nelsen,UTPA president.gustavo de la viña †dr. dana gonzalez dr. anil menonGustavo De La Viña, chief patrolagent (retired), United States BorderPatrol – An Edinburg native, De LaViña, earned a bachelor’s degreein physical education in 1963and served as an educator beforeentering the U.S. Border Patrol in1970. Over the next 34 years, herose to lead a number of BorderPatrol Sectors across the countryand assumed the position of chiefof the U.S. Border Patrol in 1997,serving until his retirement in2004. He was the first Mexican-American to achieve that position.De La Viña’s initiatives includeOperation Gatekeeper, whichadded infrastructure, technologyand more agents along the border todiscourage illegal immigration, andthe Border Safety Initiative, whichsystematically advised borderresidents of the dangers of illegalcrossings saving thousands of livessince its inception. De La Viña, whopassed away suddenly late last year,was represented by his daughterDina and other family members atthe ceremony.† deceasedLos Arcos 20Dr. Dana Gonzalez, obstetricianand gynecologist, Victoria (Texas)Women’s Clinic – A child of firstgeneration, Mexican-Americanmigrant farm workers, Gonzalezwas raised in Alamo and aspiredto be a doctor while attending theSouth Texas High School for HealthProfessions, where she ranked thirdin her class. While in high school,she became a single mother but withencouragement from family andeducators continued her dream ofa medical career. She was acceptedinto the Premedical HonorsCollege program at UTPA, whereshe received a bachelor’s degree inbiology in 1998. Gonzalez went onto obtain her medical degree at TheUniversity of Texas Medical Branchin Galveston. She is currentlypracticing in Victoria as the city’sonly Mexican-American bilingualob/gyn.Dr. Anil Menon, president, Globalizationand Smart+ConnectedCommunities at Cisco Systems Inc.– After earning an MBA from thenPan American University in 1984,Menon launched his career to becomea global corporate leader. Inhis current role, Menon co-leads across-Cisco team in the corporation’sglobalization efforts aroundSmart+Connected Communities,focusing on services-led solutionsin safety and security, real estate,energy and transportation. He is responsiblefor utilizing new businessmodels, solutions and a global ecosystemin these efforts. Menon previouslyled IBM’s corporate strategyin IBM growth markets and was alsoa successful academic and businessconsultant, providing services toworldwide corporate giants such asCoca Cola and Sony Corp. amongmany others. Currently on the jobin his native country, India, Menonwas represented at the ceremony byJackie Michel, a former colleague ofMenon and current director of Innovationand Intellectual Propertyat UTPA.