Faculty

Directors

Dr. Paul Jorgensen

Dr. Paul Jorgensen
Co-Director

Human Dimensions of Organizations
Email:

Phone: (956) 665-8003

Paul Jorgensen is an Associate Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma and was formerly a Research Fellow at the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University (2011-2013).

Dr. Jorgensen’s research concerns campaign finance, institutional corruption, and public policymaking. With support from the Institute for New Economic Thinking, he continues to generate data to analyze the outsized influence of money in politics. He has published in the International Journal of Political Economy, Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Policy Studies Journal, Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, and other journals and edited volumes. He teaches courses in the Human Dimensions of Organizations, an undergraduate degree program using the liberal arts to critically analyze power, leadership, and ethics in organizations.

As Co-Director of the Center for Collaboration and Ethics, Dr. Jorgensen promotes the Center’s research and community-building efforts on collaborative governance.

Advisory Board

Dr. Dahlia Castillo

Dr. Dahlia Castillo
Assistant Professor

Email: 
ESWOT 1.202
Phone: (956) 665-5903

Dahlia Castillo is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Department at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she teaches courses on foundational concepts, ethics, and adult interventions. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy (BSOT) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (1991) and a Post-Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) from Mount Mary University (2016).

Dr. Castillo's teaching and research focus on professionalism and client-centered care. She integrates simulation and interprofessional education into her courses, providing students with realistic, immersive experiences that enhance their clinical reasoning and ethical decision-making.

As a member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Collaboration and Ethics, Dr. Castillo brings extensive clinical expertise in health-related issues, K-12 professional education, and interprofessional collaboration. Her contributions align closely with the Center’s mission to foster diverse perspectives and support the development of ethical practices in academia and the broader community.

Dr. Enedina Enriquez

Dr. Enedina Enriquez
Clinical Associate Professor

Email: 
ESWOT 1.215
Phone: (956) 665-2555

Enedina Enriquez is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Social Work. She is a licensed clinical social worker, and a Texas State Board Approved Clinical Supervisor. She holds a doctorate from the University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

Dr. Enriquez’s teaching focuses on advocacy and social justice. She teaches practice courses working with diverse individuals, families, and groups preparing future social work students how to develop an advocacy plan, use their voice for social justice and commit in solving ethical issues in the field of social work.

Dr. Enriquez serves as the President for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention South Texas Chapter spreading awareness hosting community events to end the shame and stigma of suicide. Dr. Enriquez serves as a faculty advisor for the UTRGV Active Minds Chapter on campus. She has collaborated with student organizations to host events on  mental health on campus to reduce the shame and stigma.

A project highlighting cultural ethical issues using a film of a Hispanic family who lost a loved one to suicide, is designed to help communities increase awareness how cultural norms may serve as a barrier for bereaved survivors to seek help. The film encourages a dialogue for mental health professionals to consider culturally sensitive approaches engaging Latino bereaved survivors in community supportive services.

 As a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Collaboration and Ethics, Dr. Enriquez contributes her expertise in advocacy, social justice, critical thinking and innovative ideas planning events for the center.

Dr. Sedat Erdogan

Dr. Sedat Erdogan
Assistant Professor

Email: 
ECOBE 218G
Phone: (956) 665-5105

Dr. Sedat Erdogan is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship. He earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Texas at El Paso and holds a Master of Accountancy degree from the University of Arkansas. His doctoral dissertation investigates ethical language in mandatory and voluntary disclosures within corporate annual filings. Dr. Erdogan’s research focuses on earnings management, accounting and business ethics, voluntary disclosures, and international accounting.

Dr. Erdogan teaches Intermediate Accounting II to undergraduate students and Advanced Data Analytics in Accounting to Master of Accountancy students, where he integrates ethical considerations into his curriculum to prepare future accountants and business leaders for responsible decision-making. As a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Collaboration and Ethics, Dr. Erdogan is dedicated to leveraging his expertise in ethics to advance academic research, enhance teaching practices, and foster meaningful engagement with the community, thereby promoting integrity and ethical standards within both educational and professional spheres.

Dr. Fidencio Mercado

Dr. Fidencio Mercado
Clinical Associate Professor

Email: 
EHABW 1.130
Phone: (956) 665-3074

Fidencio Mercado is a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and currently serves as the Interim Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling in the College of Health Professions. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) in the state of Texas.

Mr. Mercado earned his Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) in 2003. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at UTRGV.  

With extensive clinical experience in addiction and mental health counseling, Mr. Mercado has dedicated his career to working with Hispanic adolescents, young adults, adults, and their families. His teaching portfolio includes courses on addictions, rehabilitation services, and student professional development. His research interests focus on addictions, spirituality, ethics, and multicultural concerns.

In addition to his academic/administrative and clinical roles, Mr. Mercado serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Collaboration and Ethics (CCE), where he contributes his expertise in mental health and addiction counseling to address shared ethical concerns.

Dr. Melisa Vivanco

Dr. Melisa Vivanco
Assistant Professor

Email:
BMSLC 3.220

Phone: (956) 882-7436

Melisa Vivanco is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, with a background in teaching Mathematics and Philosophy at both the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the University of Miami. She holds a doctorate from UNAM (2018) and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami (2022), and her academic work centers on the philosophy of mathematics and logic.

Dr. Vivanco’s research and teaching reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry, critical thinking, and nuanced ethical analysis. She has designed and implemented a new bilingual course, Ethics, Technology, and Society, recently approved for offering at UTRGV. By introducing this bilingual format, Dr. Vivanco expands educational accessibility and encourages inclusive engagement with contemporary ethical issues in technology.

As a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Collaboration and Ethics, Dr. Vivanco contributes her expertise in rigorous logical reasoning, philosophical exploration, and multicultural teaching approaches. Her work aligns with the Center’s mission by fostering collaborative dialogue, encouraging diverse perspectives, and supporting the development of ethically grounded practices that benefit both academia and the broader community.