NSF Fellows Faculty
The NSF Fellows program aims to transform the learning of STEM in underserved minority students by embedding a sense of both belonging and commitment to STEM including their broader impacts on the community. Through the implementation of culturally relevant pedagogies and/or community engagement, STEM Fellows pledge to foster student sense of belonging, pride, and cultural wealth to develop a critical consciousness of the sciences and its application. STEM Fellows will not only transform STEM curriculum and practices, they will help build a STEM-based intellectual and scholarly foundation for improved sense of belonging through cultural-relevance and improved critical thinking and communication skills.
Tina Tomas, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry
tina.tomas@utrgv.edu
Chemistry lecturer III
Tina Thomas has been an instructor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for more than 5 years. Thomas came to the United States as engaged scholar at Texas A&M University, and in 2010 received her PhD at Texas Tech University Lubbock. She first started teaching chemistry at the University of Georgia and in 2013 moved to UTRGV. Dr. Thomas teaches General Chemistry, Chemistry for Engineers and Environmental Chemistry. Research interests includes Carbohydrate analysis and biofuel/biodiesel/bioethanol production from algae, lignocellulosic and oil seeds.
Mirayda Torres-Avila, Ph.D
Department of Biology
mirayda.torresavila@utrgv.edu
Dr. Torres-Avila t has been an instructor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for more than 7 years. She received her bachelor’s at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, and in 2013 received her PhD at Purdue University. Dr. Torres-Avila teaches General Biology I & II, Anatomy and Physiology I, and Biological Communication using technology in and out of the classroom, active and experiential learning. Her research interest is mainly in the areas of molecular evolution involving agricultural problems and some scholarship of learning
José Ponce
School of Mathematical and
Statistical Science
jose.ponce@utrgv.edu
José Ponce has been an instructor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley since 2015. He was born in Brownsville, Texas. He received his bachelor’s in Computer Science in 2005 at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. In 2008, he received his master’s in mathematics at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College; in 2013 he received his master’s in Applied Mathematics at Iowa State University. His areas of expertise are Groups and association schemes, Quantum computers, and Developmental Mathematics.