Class Notes
2023
Eduardo Garcia, B.S. in mechanical engineering, was hired as a full-time mechanical design engineer at Honda. In the summers of 2022 and 2023, Garcia was an infotainment development intern with the motor company. Read about the hands-on experiences Garcia had during his time at UTSA.
Bonnie Lee, B.S. in construction science and management, took on the role of a field engineer at Webber, a leading commercial, heavy civil and waterworks construction company headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. Lee served as a field engineering intern before being offered a full-time position.
Suyapa Muñoz, B.A. in psychology and B.S. in neurobiology, is a service navigator at the Corazon Ministries Harm Reduction Center. Read how this first-generation graduate is devoting her life to helping others.
Carly Schneider, B.B.A in operations and supply chain management, is a product owner for the data and analytics team at Victory Capital Management. Learn how Schneider landed her new role.
Amanda Sendejo, B.B.A. in marketing, is working as a game operations assistant for the San Antonio Spurs while being a full time boxer.
2022
Nina Davis, B.A. in philosophy, is a regional associate for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington D.C. where she focuses on campaign fundraising. Davis was once an intern for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
2021
Spencer Burford made history during as being the first former member of the UTSA football program to appear in the the Super Bowl LVIII as the San Francisco 49ers took on the Kansas City Chiefs. Read more about Burford’s journey into the NFL in “Remarkable Rookies.”
Dominic Carrasco, B.A. in history, was named a project manager for Brown and Ortiz Attorney Firm. Carrasco was a formerly an intern for CPS Energy.
Joel Engulu, M.P.A. in public administration, went on a humanitarian mission to help communities in the Congo establish stability.
Natalie Malluru, B.S. in public health, helped create the Pocket Vax app, which provides users with reminders for upcoming vaccinations and up-to-date CDC data.
James Misutka, B.S. in environmental science, joined the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a hydrologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to the USGS Misutka joined the U.S. Forest Service through its Recent Graduate Pathways Program. Misutka was one of nine people hired from different parts of the United States to work at the Mark Twain National Forest in Rolla, Missouri. Read more about Misutka’s journey in Sombrilla Magazine’s “In the Great Outdoors.”
SEND US YOUR NEWS!
Keep your Roadrunner classmates updated about your career, family or your adventures in shaping the world in big and small ways.
2020
Michael Paul Hartmann, M.B.A. in business, earned a spot on the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2024 40 Under 40 list. Hartmann is a R&D manager at Southwest Research Institute for carbon capture and utilization process development.
Rajeev Suri, M.B.A. in business, has been named the chairman of the Department of Radiology in the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Suri previously served as interim chair of the department.
2019
Ashton Rouska, B.A. in psychology, won first place at the 2021 U.S.A. Powerlifting Nationals Competition in Daytona, Florida. He set the American record for squats, lifting 265.5 kg in the 103 kg weight class. Rouska is an Army medical service corps officer studying to become a military clinical psychologist.
2018
Keven Graham, M.B.A in business, joins SWBC Investment Company as senior vice president for wealth management. Prior to joining SWBC, Graham was the managing director and head of client experience and product management.
Robert Paul Moreira, Ph.D. in English, published DIG, a mixed-genre collection of short stories, micro fiction, hybrid fiction and drama.
Cindy Nieto-Ruiz, M.A. in bicultural-bilingual studies, won the KENS 5 EXCEL Award recognizing teacher excellence. Nieto-Ruiz is a teacher at Scarborough Elementary School in Northside ISD.
David Schwarz III, B.A. in psychology, a cancer survivor, has published the book Beating Cancer Through Faith and Inspiration to help fellow cancer patients cope with their diagnosis.
2017
Devon Acosta, B.A. in criminal law/ law enforcement administration, married his wife, and fellow UTSA alum, Vanessa, in 2023. The couple has twin daughters, who are 2 years old. Devon is a domestic violence crisis advocate at the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.
Dayna Devon, B.A. in English, joined the team for the TV show “L.A. Unscripted.” She was previously an entertainment reporter for KTLA in Los Angeles.
Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, B.A. in communications, landed at no. 71 on a list of the 100 most influential African Americans of 2021 published by The Root. He is a San Antonio city councilman serving District 2.
Andi Rodriguez, M.S. in architecture, was an honoree for the 2022 San Antonio Business Journal Women’s Leadership Award. Rodriguez is vice president of cultural placemaking for Centro San Antonio.
2016
Matthew Duran Reynolds, M.B.A. in business, made the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2024 40 Under 40 list. Reynolds is the chief financial officer at Worth & Associates.
Marissa Del Torro, M.A. in art history, was named assistant director of programs and exhibitions at NXTHVN in New Haven, Connecticut. She was most recently a curatorial fellow at NXTHVN, where she co-curated two exhibitions and worked alongside studio fellows in developing their professional practice.
Kenton Trevino, B.S. in kinesiology, was promoted to assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs. Trevino spent the previous two seasons working as an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs of the NBA’s G League.
2015
Phillip Garza, B.A. in information systems, was named president of Enlighten IT Solutions, which is a managed IT and cybersecurity company headquartered in San Antonio. Garza has been in the industry for more than 19 years.
Lea Hajjar, B.B.A. in management, launched the online business Woof Wardrobe designs, which provides products, apparel and gifts for dogs. Hajjar’s goal is to donate a portion of proceeds to shelters, adoption agencies and charities in need.
Sarah Esserlieu Khalil, M.S. in urban and regional planning, earned a spot on the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2024 40 Under 40 list. Khalil is the director of development for Great Springs Project.
Supratim Srinivasan, M.S. in electrical and electronics engineering, made the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2024 40 Under 40 list. Srinivasan is the CEO and co-founder of Atma Energy.
2014
Myrriah Gómez, Ph.D. in English, was one of 17 contributors for a new book which explores the word “querencia.” Gomez is an assistant professor for the University of New Mexico Honors College.
Thomas Moore, M.S. in sociology, is lead faculty of sociology and social work at Colombia State Community College in Colombia, Tennessee.
2013
Lorena Caesar, M.A. in teaching English as a Second Language, is lead faculty at North American University.
Christopher Garcia, B.A. in political science, was named Senior Legislative Affairs Advisor for the White House.
Melissa Cabello Havrda, M.B.A. in business, has been named the new chair of the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. She is a practicing attorney and was elected to the San Antonio City Council in 2019.
Cheri LaBelle, B.A. in multidisciplinary studies, is an internships program specialist within the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. LaBelle assists in placing hundreds of NASA interns each year. Her husband, James, is also a UTSA alum and an engineer for NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston.
Pamela Canales Massey, B.A. in architecture, earned a spot on the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2024 40 Under 40 list. Massey is the director of business development at Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc.
2012
Frank Castellano, M.B.A. in business, has been named executive vice president and San Antonio practice leader for Brown & Brown, one of the leading insurance brokerages in the nation. He was most recently the vice president and head of distribution for global retail markets (west region) for Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Gráinne McCabe, Ph.D. in anthropology, has been appointed as chief conservation officer for The Wilder Institute. McCabe was previously head of field conservation & science at the Bristol Zoological Society.
Christopher Medrano, B.B.A. in business, was recognized by the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) as a 40 under 40 Honoree. Medrano serves as the executive vice president and chief information officer of Kleberg Banks.
Matthew Reynolds, B.B.A in real estate ffinance and ddevelopment, has been appointed as new chief financial officer by local office developer Worth and Associates. Reynolds has been with the firm for 10 years.
Jennifer Rulon, M.S. in health and kinesiology, was selected as the 2022 Commencement speaker for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Rulon is a 15-time Ironman triathlete.
Luis Adrian Zapata, B.A. in communications, is the new chairman of the board for the Laredo Chamber of Commerce.
2011
Crystal Adams, B.A. in communications, published the book Perversion of Love, which explores love languages from a faith-based perspective.
Alexis Clark, B.A. in interdisciplinary studies, has been selected as the new principal of Crockett Elementary School in Houston. Clark was previously the assistant principal at Harvard Elementary School in Houston.
Natalie Herrera, B.A. in communications is pursuing a graduate degree from Arizona State University in digital marketing. Herrera is a field marketing administrative assistant.
2010
Mariella Ozuna, ’10, M.P.A. ’17, serves as the the chief innovation and technology officer for San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside. Ozuna’s main focus at SAGE is overseeing the Eastside Promise Zone, a 22-square-mile, federally designated geographic area for SAGE to offer “ladders of opportunity” based on highest need. Read more about Ozuna’s journey in Sombrilla Magazine’s “Transforming Lives with Data.”
Alejandro Paredes, B.B.A. in economics, is the owner of the restaurant Fish Lonja. The restaurant was featured in the 2021 Restaurant List by The New York Times, highlighting 50 exciting American eateries.
Sandra Sandoval, B.A. in political science, was awarded the American Legal Technology Award in the individual category. Sandoval is a product lead for Citizenshipworks, a free online resource that provides naturalization services.
Isabel Servantez III, B.A. in art history, has been hired by the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin after completing a year-long Semmes Foundation internship.
2009
Cynthia Arreola, B.B.A management in international business, is the new assistant dean of operations for the Carlos Alvarez College of Business.
Deyla Elliot, was chosen as co-president of FemCity San Antonio, a local chapter for a national women’s business and professional organization. She also stepped into the role of manager of enrollment operations at education company, Evidence in Motion.
Jonathan Garcia, B.A. in political science, was a 2021 C-Suite Awards honoree. Garcia is chief financial officer for CNF Technologies Corp.
Antonio Giustino, M.B.A. in business, was appointed to the position of chief technical officer for Westbridge Energy Corporation. He is helping advance the company’s solar PV project pipeline and development.
Monica Hayes, M.S. in mechanical engineering, was an honoree for the 2022 San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, celebrating young business and community leaders. Hayes is the owner of Fusion Success Group.
Deidra C. Mayberry, B.A. in communications, was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who. Mayberry is the co-founder and executive director of Reading to New Heights, a nonprofit organization that provides adult literacy learning opportunities.
2008
Crystal Fonseca Tubig, B.B.A. in business, was appointed to the school board of the Marble Falls ISD. She is the vice president of operations for M&C Fonseca, a business that specializes in underground utilities.
Jamie Kowalski, B.A. in communications, was named to Port San Antonio’s 11-member board of directors. Kowalski is vice president of corporate relations for the RK Group.
Rafael Veraza, B.S. in biology, was promoted to CEO of Vascular Profusion Solutions Inc. He was previously the chief of technology and scientific officer for the San Antonio-based medical technology company.
Leticia Ysassi, B.A. in business, and her salon, Ysassi and Co. won first place for Best Salon in San Antonio by the San Antonio Express-News.
2007
Mike Bratten, B.S. in civil engineering, was an honoree for the 2022 San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, celebrating young business and community leaders. Bratten is the president of Axis Structural, LLC.
Mark Carmona, M.B.A. in business, was appointed by City Manager Erik Walsh as San Antonio’s first-ever chief housing officer. Carmona was previously a consultant for the H.E. Butt Foundation.
Will Conway, B.A. in political science, was a 2021 C-Suite Award honoree. Conway is CEO of Pathwire, a company that provides its clients with services to build apps and develop email programs.
Jeffrey M. Coyle, M.P.A. in public administration, has been promoted to assistant city manager. Coyle has been working for the City of San Antonio since 2013, starting as the director of government and public affairs.
Arturo Herrera Jr., B.A. in political science, was an honoree for the 2022 San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, celebrating young business and community leaders. Herrera is the manager at VIA Metropolitan Transit.
Nathan P. Murphy, M.P.A. in public administration, was appointed to the Texas Energy Reliability Council by Gov. Greg Abbott. Murphy is senior counsel for Valero and a corporate member representative for the Texas Oil and Gas Association.
George Presses, B.S. in biology, was appointed to the Texas Energy Reliability Council by Gov. Greg Abbott. Presses is currently the vice president of fuel and energy for H-E-B.
Salvador Tellez, B.A. in Spanish, was promoted to head coach of the football team at Lanier High School. Tellez previously served as offensive and defensive coordinator, and assistant coach for Lanier since 2013.
2006
Christopher Allison, B.B.A. in finance, M.B.A in finance ’09, B.A. in criminal justice ’15, launched Palms Out Apparel, an online store which sells UTSA merchandise. Allison is a former police officer and U.S. Army veteran.
Sean Attwood, B.B.A. in marketing, was named the business development manager for VIP Tech Consultants. Attwood previously worked in economic development for the Alamo Colleges District and served as a senior executive for greater: SATX.
Laura Cabanilla, M.P.A. in public administration, won a Women’s Leadership Award from the San Antonio Business Journal. Cabanilla is the corporate responsibility lead for diversity, equity and inclusion at USAA.
Jacob Cavazos, B.B.A. in management, was an honoree for the 2022 San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, celebrating young business and community leaders. Cavazos is senior vice president of Broadway Bank.
Kim Jefferies, B.A. in interdisciplinary studies, was a 2021 C-Suite Award honoree. Jefferies is CEO of Brighton Center, a nonprofit that provides community education and development services for children with disabilities and developmental delays.
Tina Mendler, B.B.A. in HR management, was named a 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Awards honoree by the San Antonio Business Journal. For over a decade, Mendler has focused on creating more equitable workplaces in San Antonio.
Emmy Ruiz, B.A. in English, was promoted to Assistant to President Joe Biden. She previously served as Director of Political Strategy and Outreach for the White House.
Alfred Vitela III, B.S. in mechanical engineering, joined the planning, engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. Vitela worked as a senior mechanical engineer for UT Health in San Antonio, Texas for the past six years.
Javier “Jay” Zambrano, M.P.A. in public administration, was named Vice President of Advancement and University Relations for the University of Houston-Downtown. Zambrano has more than 24 years of experience in fundraising and higher education.
2005
Michael Austin, B.M. in music composition, was appointed executive director for the Society for the Study of Sound and Music in Games. Austin is a senior lecturer in music and sound at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk.
Alda P. Dobbs, B.S. in physics, wrote the debut novel “Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna,” inspired by her great-grandmother’s journey to the U.S. during the Mexican Revolution. Dobbs previously worked as an engineer before pursuing her love of storytelling.
Jason Endsley, B.A. in psychology, joined Greater Texas Credit Union as vice president of payments strategy and operations. For the last eight years, he oversaw card operations and strategy at University Federal Credit Union.
Christina Martinez, B.A. in English, is the first executive director for the Dee Howard Foundation. Martinez has been president of the San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees since 2021.
Celeste Menchaca, B.A. in criminal justice, has earned her Certified Floodplain Manager designation from the Texas Floodplain Management Association. Menchaca is a planning manager for the City of Victoria.
Laura Olguin, B.B.A. in finance, was promoted to marketing coordinator of events, promotions and administration by the AfterMarket Auto Parts Alliance Inc. Olguin has been with the company since 2018.
Brandee Perez, B.B.A. in accounting, was an honoree for the 2022 San Antonio Business Journal Women’s Leadership Award. Perez is chief operating officer for the San Antonio Housing Authority.
Armida Y. Riojas, M.A. in economics, was chosen to lead the San Antonio branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas as its assistant vice president. She joined the San Antonio branch of the Fed in 2007.
2004
Andrea Huizar Beymer, M.S. in civil engineering, is the first Hispanic woman to be promoted to chief operating officer by the San Antonio Water System. She will oversee all operations including construction and engineering; production and treatment, as well as distribution and collection for the utility company.
Sarah A. Garza, M.B.A. in business, was promoted to vice president of clinics and physicians for Driscoll Health System. Garza has been with the company since 2012.
Rebecca Lively, B.B.A. in information systems, was an honoree for the 2022 San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, celebrating young business and community leaders. Lively is deputy director of the U.S. Air Force’s 90th Cyberspace Operations Squadron.
Elysia Treviño-Gonzales, B.A. in interdisciplinary studies, was an honoree for the 2022 San Antonio Business Journal Women’s Leadership Award. Treviño-Gonzales is the chief executive officer for Twang Partners.
Danny L. Zincke, B.S. in health and kinesiology, has been named an assistant city manager for the City of Boerne. Zincke was formerly the city’s director of community services.
2003
Felice Koenig, M.F.A. in art, selected the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology to receive proceeds from the sale of her artwork. Koenig is a faculty member at Daemen College, where she is a visual artist and educator, working in acrylics, watercolors, graphite and ink.
Daniel Steve Villarreal, M.A. in education, is an English as a Foreign Language (ELL) professor in Taiwan. He is also volunteering as an online EEL teacher for Vietnamese students.
2002
Devin Brown, B.B.A. in marketing, was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame, becoming the first UTSA student-athlete to be enshrined in the Hall. The former UTSA men’s basketball star played eight seasons in the NBA and is now the head of operations at Nike ProSkills San Antonio.
Christopher J. Rosas, M.B.A in business, vice president of tax and treasury at Bumble, has joined the San Antonio Report’s board of directors.
2001
Ramon Benavides, B.S. in biology, was named the 2022 Texas Teacher of the Year by the Texas Association of School Administrators. He teaches at Del Valle High School in El Paso.
Jay Clingman, M.B.A. in business, was named vice chairman of Texas Capital Bank. Clingman was previously with JPMorgan Chase & Co. for more than 30 years.
Robert Gibson, B.M. in music, has been awarded the Dr. Kruckeburg Faculty Excellence Award at Troy University. Gibson is a lecturer at the John M. Long school of Music at Troy.
Joe Guzman, B.A. in economics, was named the chief financial officer at Methodist Hospital Atascosa. Guzman has 20 years of financial experience in the health care industry.
Lindsey Tucker, B.A. in communications, has joined commercial brokerage NIA Partners and parent company Partners Real Estate Co. as their third partner in the San Antonio office. She was formerly the first vice president at CBRE Group Inc.
1999
Jeanette Ball, M.A. in education, was named the new superintendent for the Southwest ISD in San Antonio. She was formerly superintendent for Judson ISD.
Robert Godines, B.B.A. in marketing, owner of Matador Men’s Grooming, opened two new locations in San Antonio.
1998
Linda Garza Molina, M.A. in Spanish, was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Board of Pardon and Paroles. Molina is an attorney in private practice and a municipal judge for the City of Sandy Oaks, Texas.
Maggie Tuschinski, B.B.A. in business, was named executive vice president and chief digital officer by First National Bank. Tuschinski previously served as vice president of digital services for Frost Bank.
1997
John Clamp, M.B.A in finance, was recently named chief administrative officer for VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio. Prior to VIA, Clamp was the senior vice president of finance and administration for The Doseum.
Lauren Walthour, M.P.A, published “Patterns of Saturn: A Mid-Cycle Memoir.” The memoir explores the patterns and cycles of a woman’s journey.
1996
Janie Gonzalez, B.A. in sociology, was reappointed to chair of the CPS Energy Board for another five-year term. Gonzalez was first appointed to the board in February 2019.
Jesse Vargas, B.B.A. in management, was hired as the vice president of the San Antonio Zoological Society. Vargas is helping the zoo manage its multiyear improvements and expansion plans.
1995
Michael Petersen, B.S. in biology, has been appointed chief clinical innovation officer by NTT DATA. Petersen is joining the company from Accenture, where he helped shape the firm’s health equity capabilities and ecosystem.
Jane Paccione, B.A. in sociology, M.P.A. in public administration ’19, was named managing director of collective impact for the San Antonio Area Foundation. Paccione’s main assignment is managing the company’s Successfully Aging and Living in San Antonio (SALSA) initiative.
Angie Salas, B.B.A. in management, was named vice president and general manager of broadcasting and digital operations by Nexstar Media and will serve the Champaign and Springfield, Illinois areas. Salas was previously director of sales for Nexstar’s media businesses in Quad Cities, Iowa.
1994
Kevin Parsley, M.B.A. in business, has been appointed chief operating officer by Christus Southeast Texas Health System in Beaumont. Parsley has had several roles with the organization for the last 28 years, including strategic planning, business development, operations, managed care and physician engagement.
1993
Jesse Carrillo, M.B.A. in business, has been appointed as chief innovation officer by the Howard Hughes Corporation. Carrillo was previously the chief information officer for the real estate investment company Hines.
Christina Casanova, B.B.A. in management, has been named the executive director for instructional accountability for United ISD in Laredo. Casanova was previously United ISD’s director for student assessment.
Christopher Monestier, B.B.A in management, has been named interim fire chief for the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) by City Manager Erik Walsh. Monestier has been with SAFD for over 30 years, his most recent position being deputy chief.
1992
Anna de Luna, B.A. in American studies, premiered her one-woman show, which tells the story of her mother Carmen Villafuerte de Luna and her journey emigrating to the U.S., at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.
1991
John Halloran, B.B.A. in accounting, was invited to participate in March 2017 at a symposium at the Vatican on the 50th anniversary of Musicam Sacram, a document on music in the Catholic Church. Halloran was was one of 14 from the U.S. to meet with Pope Francis. |
1986
Jeff Clarke, B.S. in electrical engineering, has been promoted to chief operating officer and vice president for Dell Technologies. Clarke, who has been with Dell since 1987, was previously the vice chairman of products and operation at the company.
Sandy Galvan, M.A. in education, was reappointed to the One-Call Board of Texas. The board manages the “Call Before You Dig” system, which notify the underground facility operators for excavation plans so pipelines and utility lines can be marked to prevent accidents.
1985
Marcelino Rodriguez, B.B.A. in accounting, was named chief financial advisor for the PHP Agency. He previously served as chief financial advisor for Modern Industries Inc.
1982
Roxanne Austin, B.B.A. in accounting, has been elected to the Verizon Board of Directors. Austin is the founder, president and CEO of Austin Investment Advisors, a private investment and consulting firm, and chairs the U.S. Mid-Market Investment Advisory Committee of EQT Partners.
1979
Sara Dysart, M.A. in education, was named an Outstanding Lawyer by the San Antonio Business Journal. She is the owner of Dysart Law Firm.
Deborah Prost, M.B.A. in business, was named to the board of the San Antonio River Authority as secretary. Prost is a former board member of the UTSA Alumni Association.