2025-2026 New Faculty Profiles

Shinwoo Choi
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work

Dr. Choi comes to UTEP from Texas State University where she served as an assistant professor in the School of Social Work. Dr. Choi’s research centers on improving the well-being of diverse and vulnerable families. Her work focuses on two key areas: (1) challenges in disaster preparedness and recovery among populations with mental or physical health issues, language barriers, or limited resources; and (2) the impact of racial microaggressions on racial minority individuals and their coping strategies. She has led research projects on community resilience and mental health during disasters, including hurricanes in Florida (2017–2020), winter storms Uri and Viola in Texas (2021), the Maui wildfire (2023), and Texas wildfire (2024–2025). Her work has been funded by the NSF NCAR Early Career Innovator Program, FEMA Higher Education Research Award, and the Natural Hazards Center’s Quick Response Grant. Dr. Choi enjoys teaching research methods and Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She is an active member of SSWR and CSWE. Dr. Choi earned her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an MS in Social Work from Columbia University, and a BA in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Naruki Hiranuma
Associate Professor, Department of Physics

Dr. Hiranuma joins UTEP from West Texas A&M University (WTAMU), where he served as an associate professor in the Department of Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences. Originally from Japan, Dr. Hiranuma earned his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Texas A&M University, College Station and an M.S. in Environmental Science from WTAMU. His research focuses on atmospheric ice nucleation, cloud physics, and precipitation engineering. He hopes to support UTEP students in developing their marketable skills towards their career goals and inspire his research mentees to be the next generation of researchers in atmospheric physics. After his doctoral studies, he completed postdoctoral training at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany). He has served on the user executive committee of Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory at PNNL. Dr. Hiranuma is a recipient of the 2025 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and is a member of the American Meteorology Society, where he often chairs an atmospheric physics session.

Juan Juarez
Associate Professor, Department of Art
Chair, Department of Art

Mr. Juarez joins UTEP from Syracuse University, where he served as associate professor of art and director of graduate studies. He holds a Master of Fine Arts and Master of Arts in studio arts and painting from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing from the University of North Texas. A practicing and exhibiting visual artist, his studio practice spans photography, painting, collage, video, installation, and digital mediation. His work has been featured in exhibitions at the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Haggerty Museum of Art, Palazzo Trevisan degli Ulivi in Venice, Aspex Gallery in Portsmouth, the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, and the Syracuse University Art Museum. With 18 years of tenure-track teaching experience at a research-intensive institution, Mr. Juarez brings an interdisciplinary, research-based approach to studio arts instruction. His expertise includes painting, photography, and critical art theory, and he is dedicated to fostering student engagement, research, and professionalism.

Henry MacCarthy
Associate Professor, Department of Theatre and Dance
Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance

Dr. MacCarthy joins UTEP from Gustavus Adolphus College, where he was associate professor and co-chair of Theatre and Dance and affiliate faculty in the Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies Program. A Venezuelan theatre artist and scholar, Dr. MacCarthy holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from Ohio University and a Master’s in Stage Direction from Indiana University. His research and creative work focus on diasporic performance, Cuban zarzuela, and physical theatre, often bridging academic inquiry and professional practice. As a director, he has helmed over 30 professional productions in the US and internationally, with credits spanning opera, devised theatre, and classical and contemporary texts. His scholarship has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. An award-winning educator, he has led innovative curricular and donor initiatives while mentoring student directors and performers. He is a member of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). More at: hwmaccarthy.wixsite.com/director.

Christopher Ramaekers
Associate Professor, Department of Music

Dr. Ramaekers joins UTEP from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW), where he served as a tenured associate professor and director of orchestras. While in the Midwest, he was music director of Symphony847 and Access Contemporary Music in Chicago. He spent 12 years at UWW, where he also served as music director of the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Vincent’s, and the Hyde Park Youth Symphony. Dr. Ramaekers has been principal conductor of the Middleton Community Orchestra and Ravenswood Community Orchestra, associate conductor of the Chicago Composers Orchestra, and assistant conductor of the Quad-City Symphony. He has appeared with the Kenosha, Kalamazoo, Beloit-Janesville, and Skokie Valley Symphonies, Ensemble Dal Niente, and the Chicago Opera Vanguard. Ramaekers can be heard on recordings with Symphony847, Spektral Quartet, and the Chicago Composers Orchestra, as well as with organizations such as Rémy-Martin, and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He has held fellowships with the Allentown Symphony and the Peninsula Music Festival, won the 2011 American Prize, and holds a D.Mus. and M.Mus. from Northwestern University and a B.A. in music from Western Michigan University.

Mingao Yuan
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Dr. Yuan joins UTEP from North Dakota State University (NDSU), where he was promoted to associate professor in the Department of Statistics in 2024. He earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Indiana University Indianapolis, an M.S. in applied mathematics from Chongqing University of Technology, and a B.S. in mathematics from Jinan University. His research interests include social network analysis, statistical inferences, applied probability, data science, and machine learning. His research has been published in prestigious journals such as The Annals of Statistics, Bernoulli, Statistica Sinica, and Statistics and Computing. He has served as a reviewer for reputable journals including Journal of the American Statistical Association, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B, Electronic Journal of Statistics, Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability, among others. Dr. Yuan is passionate about mentoring doctoral and graduate studies.

Jianjun (John) Zhu
Associate Professor, Department of Marketing Management and Supply Chain

Dr. Zhu comes to UTEP from New Mexico State University (NMSU), where he served as head of the Marketing Department. Prior to his appointment at NMSU, Dr. Zhu taught at the University of Hong Kong. He also has industry experience with multinational corporations. Dr. Zhu explores technology-driven innovation in marketing, with research interests in blockchain, crowdsourcing, crowdfunding, and new e-business models such as the sharing economy. He applies AI, machine learning, and text-mining to study issues like data security, mobile marketing, user-generated content, and immersive technologies (VR, AR, MR). He has published in leading journals including Journal of Marketing Research, Production and Operations Management, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Management, and Research Policy. He teaches marketing strategy, digital marketing, international marketing, and innovation management across undergraduate, MBA, Ph.D., and executive levels. Dr. Zhu is a member of the American Marketing Association.

Daisy Celeste Alvarado
Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy

Dr. Alvarado is an occupational therapist and occupational scientist. Her research focuses on understanding occupational identity and the biopsychosocial mechanisms of occupation that impact health and well-being. Her teaching emphasizes the importance of blending research and practice skills. Prior to her tenure-track appointment at UTEP, she worked as an adjunct faculty member at the UTEP Department of Occupational Therapy, guiding student research projects. Dr. Alvarado was recently recognized as a 2025 Change Maker: Borderland Woman in Health for her contributions to research and practice in occupational therapy at UTEP and in the borderland. Her scholarly contributions include national and international conference presentations and publications in journals, such as Psychosomatic Medicine and the Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. She serves as a special volunteer researcher for the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center and secretary of the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA.

MD Armanuzzaman
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science

Dr. Armanuzzaman (Arman) joins UTEP from Northeastern University where he served as a postdoctoral research associate at the Khoury College of Computer Sciences. His research focuses on securing modern computing systems, with emphasis on systems and software security; embedded and operating systems security; FPGA-based security solutions; the application of machine learning; large language models in cybersecurity; and quantum computing security. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University at Buffalo and a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology in Bangladesh. His work has been published in top-tier venues, including ACM ASIACCS, IEEE SEED, NDSS, ACM SAC, and INFOCOM. Beyond research, Dr. Arman is passionate about ethical hacking and actively participates in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions. His team ranked among the top five in recent MITRE Embedded CTF competitions. He is enthusiastic about forming a CTF team at UTEP to mentor and compete with students in national and international cybersecurity challenges.

Kevin Giang Barrera
Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing, Management and Supply Chain

Dr. Barrera joins UTEP from Georgia State University (GSU), where he earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration with a focus on marketing. He also holds an M.Sc. in Marketing from GSU; an MBA from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), Brazil; and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the National Experimental University of Tachira (UNET), Venezuela. Dr. Barrera’s research lies at the intersection of marketing strategy, technology, innovation, and customer experience (CX). His foundational research on the conceptualization of the Metaverse and its implications for marketing is published in the Journal of Business Research. Dr. Barrera’s dissertation research garnered significant recognition, including being a finalist for the 2024 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS)-Mary Kay Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Competition Award, and winning the Best Paper Award at both the 2023 American Marketing Association (AMA) Winter Conference and the 2022 Marketing, Strategy, and Policy (MSP) Conference. Professor Barrera’s teaching interests surround digital marketing, social media intelligence, generative AI applications in marketing, and marketing research and strategy. His dedication to teaching has also been recognized with the 2024 GTA Teaching Excellence Award at GSU. Dr. Barrera is a member of the American Marketing Association, Academy of Marketing Science, and Society for Marketing Advances. He has served in the AMA’s Doctoral Student Special Interest Group (DocSIG), including serving as the organization Chair in 2022-2023. Currently, he is an officer of the AMA’s Marketing for Higher Education Special Interest Group (HigherEd SIG). Dr. Barrera is a reviewer for the Journal of Product Innovation Management, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Consumer Behaviour, and California Management Review. In his spare time, Dr. Barrera enjoys watching crime thrillers and action/adventure movies, traveling, and exploring new cuisines.

Quintan Crough
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Dr. Crough joins UTEP from Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, where he earned a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in forensic psychology. As a legal psychology researcher, he specializes in investigative interviewing and interrogation techniques, with particular focus on the use of persuasion in this context. His work aims to balance investigative efficiency with ethical considerations in legal interviews, ensuring fair treatment of interviewees. He completed his undergraduate studies at Carleton University, earning a B.A. in psychology. Dr. Crough has published extensively in both academic journals and applied outlets, and his work has been supported by prestigious grants, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Award and multiple Ontario Graduate Scholarships. He is also an active member of the American Psychology-Law Society, International Investigative Interviewing Research Group, and Society for Policing and Criminal Psychology. As an instructor, Dr. Crough integrates innovative research findings through case studies, practical exercises, and real-world applications, ensuring students develop both theoretical knowledge and applied skills.

Joseph J. Cuozzo
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

Dr. Cuozzo joins UTEP with a research background in theoretical solid-state physics. His research focuses on understanding the fundamental properties of synthetic quantum materials and exploring their integration into a variety of quantum technologies to improve performance. His research has contributed to important advances, such as the discovery of Leggett collective modes in a Dirac semimetal, and has been published in journals such as Nature Physics, Nature Communications, ACS Nano and Nano Letters. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from William & Mary, and a B.S. in Physics (summa cum laude) and a B.A. in Mathematics (summa cum laude) from the University of South Florida. Prior to joining UTEP, Dr. Cuozzo was awarded the President Harry S. Truman Postdoctoral Fellowship in National Security Science and Engineering at Sandia National Laboratories. He has given briefings on quantum technologies to organizations such as DTRA and DAPRA, and serves as a reviewer for Physical Review Letters, PRX Quantum, Physical Review B, and Communications Physics. He is a member of the American Physical Society and serves as an APS Career Mentoring Fellow. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, playing basketball and trying to keep up with his energetic toddler.

Anabella Donnadieu Bórquez
Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing Management and Supply Chain

Dr. Donnadieu Bórquez joins UTEP from Washington State University, where she earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Marketing. Her research interests are in understanding the consumption practices and experiences of minoritized and stigmatized consumers, with the goal of ensuring that their needs are better served by the marketplace. She is committed to highlighting diverse perspectives through her scholarship and strives to bring that same commitment to the classroom. Her work has been published in Psychology & Marketing and the Journal of Product & Brand Management and has been presented at conferences such as the American Marketing Association Winter Academic Conference, the Society for Consumer Psychology Annual Conference, and the Association for Consumer Research Annual Conference. She has also served as a reviewer for Psychology & Marketing. Outside of teaching and research, Dr. Donnadieu Bórquez enjoys engaging with the arts, whether through reading, watching plays/musicals, or crafting.

Veronica Y. Estala-Gutierrez
Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling and Special Education

Dr. Estala-Gutierrez joins UTEP with a research focus on employment barriers for hispanic/Latinx with disabilities and limited English proficiency. She earned a Ph.D. in rehabilitation counselor education from the University of Wisconsin Madison, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the UTEP. She is a certified rehabilitation counselor and has certificates from the University of North Texas in Job Skills Training, Job Coaching/Placement, and Supported Employment services. Her vocational experience includes working as an adult vocational rehabilitation counselor and a transition vocational rehabilitation youth counselor. She has also worked as an early intervention specialist for children with disabilities from ages 0-5 and was project coordinator with Aliviane Behavioral Health. She is currently the principal investigator for the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (VRTAC-QE) grant that provides training and increases the competencies and skills for state vocational rehabilitation agencies and community rehabilitation agencies on the quality of employment outcomes for Hispanics with disabilities. She also currently serves on the advisory committee of the Purchasing from People with Disabilities Program, also known as the Works Wonders Program for the state of Texas.

Priscila Silva Grijó Farani
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical ScienceS

Dr.Farani joins the faculty in the UTEP School of Pharmacy after serving as a postdoctoral researcher at the UTEP Department of Biology. Dr. Farani earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the Oswaldo Institute in Brazil, and an M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a B.Sc. in Pharmacy from Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Her expertise is in tropical infectious diseases, immunology, and integrative multi-omics. Her research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions and discovering novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neglected tropical diseases, with a particular emphasis on Chagas disease. She has contributed to numerous high-impact studies, including pioneering work on the role of microRNAs in Chagas cardiomyopathy, the development of molecular diagnostic tools to improve disease detection, and the creation of the GlycoImmunoArray (GIA) platform to monitor immune responses and treatment efficacy in Chagas chemotherapy follow-up. Dr. Farani also plays a coordinating role in the NIH-funded TESEO clinical trial, a multinational effort to advance diagnostics and treatment for Chagas disease. A strong advocate for professional development and collaboration, Dr. Farani founded the UTEP Postdoctoral Association and served as its chair for over a year. She also co-chaired the 2025 Gordon Research Seminar on Tropical Infectious Diseases and is a review dditor for Frontiers in Microbiology. Her teaching experience spans courses in biochemistry, pharmacology, and professional development seminars. She has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom have received top presentation awards and gone on to prestigious institutions such as Brown University. She is an active member of the American Society for Microbiology, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and the American Heart Association. She is committed to advancing health equity through translational research, innovative diagnostics, and dedicated student mentorship.

Robert E. Ferguson II
Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Ferguson returns to his alma mater after serving as a research scientist at the Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories at Purdue University. His research focuses on combustion and energetic materials, with additional interests in in-situ resource utilization, machine learning applications for energetic materials, and green propellants. He earned his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in mechanical engineering from UTEP. In 2021, his work on green monopropellant combustion earned him the Distinguished Paper award in the Spray, Droplet, and Supercritical Combustion colloquium at the 38th International Symposium on Combustion. While at Purdue, Dr. Ferguson’s research addressed the characterization of novel fuel grains, prediction of detonation velocity using machine learning, and fire suppression of lithium-ion batteries in thermal runaway. In addition to his research contributions, he has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students in both mechanical and aerospace engineering. He is a member of The Combustion Institute.

Munan Gong
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

Dr. Gong joins UTEP from the Center for Astrochemical Studies in Garching, Germany, where she completed postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physica. Dr. Gong is a theoretical and computational astrophysicist whose research aims to understand the physical processes behind star and planet formation. She uses numerical simulations to model the chemistry and dynamics of the interstellar medium. She has developed chemical networks and computational codes that enable the integration of complex chemistry with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, contributing to widely used methods for calibrating molecular gas mass in the Milky Way and beyond. Her work connects directly with observations from telescopes such as ALMA, NOEMA and JWST. She is a contributor to the development of the MHD code Athena++ and the TIGRESS-NCR galactic disk simulations. In addition to her research, she has taught undergraduate-level courses in physics and math, and mentored graduate students across institutions. Actively engaged in the scientific community, she serves as a referee for leading journals such as Nature Astronomy and The Astrophysical Journal and has contributed to multiple seminar series and conference organizing committees.

Tomas Horak
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering

Dr. Horak joins UTEP from the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), where he served as an associate professor, chair of Department of Logistics and Transportation Management and vice dean for international relations. He spent four semesters as a visiting professor at UTEP, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Civil Engineering. His teaching and research interests include transportation, demand-responsive transit, logistics, electric vehicles and smart cities. He earned his Ph.D. at CTU, where he developed a collaborative model between high-speed rail and air transportation. In addition to his administrative duties at CTU, he led two EU Horizon grants on last mile logistics and sustainable city mobility. Dr. Horak is an enthusiastic supporter of international collaboration in higher education, as demonstrated by two dual master’s degree programs he developed in partnership with UTEP colleagues, as well as a study abroad program for UTEP and CTU students.

Niamat Ullah Ibne Hossain
Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering

Dr. Hossain comes to UTEP from Arkansas State University, where he was an assistant professor in the Engineering Management Systems Department. His research interests lie at the intersection of systems engineering and artificial intelligence, with a focus on improving the resilience, sustainability, and risk management of critical infrastructures. He has contributed to research projects funded by the FAA, NSF, DOD, industry partners, and research labs. Dr. Hossain earned a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Mississippi State University, an M.B.A. from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh and a post graduate certification in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. As a faculty member, Dr. Hossain is committed to fostering an inclusive academic environment where students from diverse backgrounds can engage in meaningful dialogue on teaching and research. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the GRITS Scholarship, IISE Innovation Design Award, IEOM Best Paper Award (Doctoral Category), J.R. Ron Walsh Best Research Paper Award, and Purdue’s Trailblazers in Engineering Fellowship. He has also received multiple travel grants and fellowships such as the PFPP Graduate Teaching Fellowship, MSU, and NSF Travel Grant. Dr. Hossain participates in IISE, INCOSE, ASEM, and INFORMS, contributing to the advancement of his fields.

Lily J. Jackson
Assistant Professor, Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences

Dr. Jackson joins UTEP with a strong background in Earth and energy resources, as well as the sedimentary record of tectonics, landscape evolution, and environmental change. She earned her Ph.D. in geological sciences from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, and holds a B.S. in geosciences from the University of Arizona. Dr. Jackson worked for the energy company Equinor before returning to academia as a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Wyoming. Most recently, she was an associate research professional in the Center for Economic Geology Research at the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources focusing on critical minerals, subsurface storage, and hydrocarbons in and around Wyoming. Dr. Jackson served as an associate editor for Geological Magazine and is an active member of the Geological Society of America (GSA), serving on management boards for several GSA committees and scientific divisions over the last decade. She is currently the 2nd Vice Chair of GSA’s Energy Geology Division.

Nan Jiang
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science

Dr. Jiang joins UTEP from Purdue University, where he completed his Ph.D. in computer science. His research explores the integration of Neuro-Symbolic AI, automated reasoning, and scientific discovery, particularly through symbolic regression, deep reinforcement learning, and Monte Carlo methods. His teaching emphasizes courses in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data mining, with a strong commitment to inclusive and ethically grounded education. At Purdue, he developed and taught an innovative course titled Artificial Intelligence Basics, designed to engage diverse student populations in foundational and cutting-edge machine learning concepts. Dr. Jiang’s work has been published in premier conferences and journals, including AAAI, IJCAI, JMLR, and EMNLP. He received student scholarships from AAAI in 2024 and 2025. He is an active member of the ACM, SIAM, and AAAI. In his free time, Dr. Jiang enjoys exploring outdoor activities such as hiking, BBQ, and running.

Neda Mohammadi Jouzdani
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Dr. Jouzdani joins UTEP from North Carolina AT&T State University, where she served as an assistant professor. Her research focuses on functional data analysis, stochastic processes, and time series analysis, particularly in the spectral domain. She has worked at the interface between functional data analysis, frequency domain time series analysis, and Statistical Inference for (Itô) diffusion-modeled random processes. Recently, Dr. Jouzdani has worked on deep learning methods for Functional Data Analysis in the spectral domain. ential equations, and deep learning methods for functional data analysis. Dr. Jouzdani earned a Ph.D. in statistics, an M.S. in mathematical sciences, and a B.S. in statistics – all from Isfahan University of Technology, in Iran. Dr. Jouzdani completed postdoctoral research at Colorado State University and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausan, in Switzerland.

Jeeseop Kim
Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Kim joins UTEP from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) where he served as a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering. His research interests span robotics in collaborative tasks, robot bipedal/quadrupedal locomotion, hybrid dynamical systems, under-actuated systems, optimization-based control techniques, whole-body planning and control, safety-critical control, human-robot interaction, and intelligent decision-making. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, his M.S. in Intelligence and Information (major in robotics), and his B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Seoul National University. His awards and recognitions include the ASME Dynamic Systems & Control Division (DSCD) Rudolf Kalman Best Paper Award and IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) Outstanding Paper Award. He is an active member of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and IEEE Control Systems Society. Outside of academia, he enjoys hiking, biking, golf, and watching movies.

Yong Je Kim
Assistant Professor,Department of Civil Engineering

Dr. Kim joins UTEP from Lamar University, where he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research centers on spatio-temporal geohazard mapping, hazard prediction, and infrastructure monitoring by leveraging remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), artificial intelligence, and advanced field sensing technologies such as InSAR, LiDAR, CubeSat imagery, and drones. Dr. Kim’s interdisciplinary work addresses pressing challenges related to landslides, subsidence, and the resilience of critical infrastructure. He has authored peer-reviewed journal articles, presented his research at major conferences including ASCE Geo-Congress, and collaborated with partners such as the USGS, NOAA, USACE, and TxDOT. Dr. Kim is dedicated to mentoring graduate and undergraduate students and fostering innovation through interdisciplinary research and education at UTEP. He is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Korean Geotechnical Society of North America (KGS-NA). Dr. Kim earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida and both his M.S. and B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His goal is to build a nationally recognized research group and contribute to the advancement of civil engineering.

Hee Soo Kim
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Finance

Dr. Kim is an empirical macroeconomist with an interest in studying the macroeconomic effects of climate change using time-series analysis. Her recent research has focused on establishing empirical evidence on how weather fluctuations affect key macroeconomic outcomes such as RGDP growth, unemployment, and inflation. One of her projects, which investigates the impact of severe weather shocks on the US macroeconomy over the past sixty years, was published in the American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics. She earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Indiana University (IU), and an M.S. in Statistics and B.A. in Economics (summa cum laude) from Ewha Womans University in South Korea. While at IU, Dr. Kim received the Instructor Award in Excellence in Teaching, the Lloyd Orr Dissertation Fellowship, and the Graduate Top-up Fellowship. As a doctoral student, Dr. Kim gained professional experience through a summer internship at the International Monetary Fund and by serving as a referee for academic journals. Outside of academia, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and traveling.

Rina Koyani
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Science

Dr. Koyani joins the UTEP faculty after serving as a research scientist associate at the UTEP School of Pharmacy. She is a biomedical researcher and educator whose work focuses on identifying and characterizing therapeutic targets for hormone-dependent cancers and developing engineered drug molecules and bionanoreactors for targeted cancer therapy. Her interdisciplinary research integrates molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, bioinformatics, bionanotechnology, and drug delivery. With over 12 years of international research experience and a strong foundation in public health, Dr. Koyani aims to bring a translational perspective to her work—bridging molecular discoveries with potential population-level impact. Dr. Koyani earned a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Centre at Houston; a Ph.D. in Botany and Biotechnology from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, India; a Master of Science in Environmental Science from H. North Gujarat University, Gujarat, India; and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Saurashtra University, Gujarat, India. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in biology, biotechnology, and bionanotechnology and has guided more than 30 undergraduate and graduate students, fostering a collaborative and inclusive research environment that emphasizes inquiry-based learning and critical thinking. In addition to her research leadership, Dr. Koyani has contributed to curriculum innovation by designing and teaching interdisciplinary courses, such as Bionanosystems for Drug Delivery, that bridge fundamental science with emerging technologies. Outside of work, Dr. Koyani enjoys yoga, exercising, outdoor activities, and music, and is an avid plant lover who finds joy in gardening.

Diego Langarica Corgoba
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Langarica joins UTEP with a research background in control theory, power systems, power electronics, energy conversion, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. Before joining the UTEP faculty, he served as program coordinator of the Electronics Engineering program at the School of Sciences at the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He previously held a position as a research professor at the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of San Luis Potosi, where he participated in the project “Utilization of Renewable Energy in Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicles.” Dr. Langarica earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Paris-Sud 11 (now Paris-Saclay), France; a master's in electronic engineering with a specialization in automatic control at the National Center for Technological Research and Development (CENIDET); and a bachelor’s in electronics engineering from the Technological Institute of Veracruz, Mexico. He is currently a Level I member of the Mexican National System of Researchers (SECIHTI) and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is also an active member of the IEEE Power Electronics Society and the IEEE Power & Energy Society. In addition, in 2024, he received the San Luis Potosí Award for Science, Technology, and Innovation in the category of Young Researcher in Engineering Sciences. Dr. Langarica is also engaged in industry-funded research projects related to power converter systems. He has supervised and mentored over a dozen master’s and doctoral level students. in the areas of energy conversion and automatic control.

Alberto Lopez
Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing Management and Supply Chain

Dr. Lopez joins UTEP from Ipsos GmbH Hamburg, a global market research company, where he served as an associate insights manager overseeing multinational projects across Europe, North America, and Asia. He has also served as a visiting professor at Esslingen University in Germany; Universidad de Sevilla, Spain; and Trinity University. He earned a Ph.D. in Marketing from Tecnológico de Monterrey, EGADE Business School, where he served as assistant professor of marketing and business analytics. He completed postdoctoral research focusing in data analytics at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His research lies at the intersection of branding and artificial intelligence, exploring how consumers relate to, adopt, and engage with brands and AI-driven technologies. His work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Consumer Behaviour and the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. Dr. Lopez is a member of the Association for Consumer Research and the American Marketing Association.

Alejandra Martínez Blancas
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Dr. Martínez-Blancas joins UTEP from Michigan State University (MSU) where she was a research associate in the Department of Plant Biology. She is a quantitative plant ecologist working at the interface of population and community ecology. Her focus is on understanding the role of species interactions and abiotic factors on diversity maintenance in plant communities. She earned her Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Biological Sciences from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), where she researched the Chihuahuan Desert and Oaxacan grasslands. As a postdoctoral researcher at MSU, she studied the effect of global change factors on diversity maintenance in tall grass prairies and developed theoretical models to study species interactions in perennial plant communities. Her research has been supported by Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT) and twice through a competitive postdoctoral award offered by the Institute of Biodiversity Ecology Evolution and Macrosystems (IBEEM) at Michigan State University. Her work has been published in high impact journals like Ecology and Ecology Letters.

Nikola Milićević
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Dr. Milićević joins UTEP from the Eberly College of Science at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), where he completed postdoctoral research in applied topology and theoretical neuroscience. His research focuses on theoretical neuroscience, topological data analysis, and applied topology, with applications in biology, algebraic topology, machine learning, category theory, commutative algebra, and applied sheaf theory. He earned his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in mathematics from the University of Florida. Prior to joining Penn State, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics at Brown University.

Partha Sarathi Mishra
Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing Management and Supply Chain

Dr. Mishra joins UTEP from Northwestern University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Operations Management from the Kellogg School of Management. His research focuses on how service systems and supply chains adapt to shifts in demand and technology, with particular applications in urban mobility and the post-pandemic retail landscape. He uses a combination of empirical analysis and analytical modeling in his work. His recent projects examine dual-sourcing strategies in transportation and persistent operational changes in quick-service restaurants. Dr. Mishra holds a dual bachelor’s and master's degree in manufacturing and industrial engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. He has mentored several undergraduate research assistants, many of whom have gone on to successfully start careers in industry or have pursued graduate studies. He is an active member of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) and the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS).

Sohail Mohammed
Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Mohammed joins UTEP with a research focus on advanced manufacturing and materials engineering, with expertise in additive manufacturing, ultrasonic processing, cold spray deposition, metal matrix nanocomposites and fatigue & fracture. His work bridges process optimization with microstructural and mechanical characterization, aiming to develop next-generation materials for high-performance applications in space, defense, and energy sectors. Prior to joining UTEP, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Florida International University and earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. Dr. Mohammed has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and holds four US patents, all licensed by a US based defense company. Dr. Mohammed was recently named Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors in recognition of his contributions to innovation and technology commercialization. He is also a CMMI Panel Fellow with the National Science Foundation and actively participates in professional societies including TMS and ASM International. At UTEP, he looks forward to establishing a collaborative research lab, mentoring students, and advancing interdisciplinary research in additive manufacturing and material processing.

Adel Ahmadi Nadi
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Dr. Nadi joins UTEP from the University of Waterloo (UW) and McGill University, where he conducted postdoctoral research focused on developing statistical and deep learning methodologies to identify optimal treatment regimens in a personalized medicine context, motivated by a large and complex dataset of COPD patients. Prior to this, he completed postdoctoral research at UW, where he developed advanced statistical methods for assessing agreement between measurement systems and designing innovative monitoring techniques for complex streaming data, with applications including clinical and commercial wearable device comparisons, surgeon and hospital performance evaluations, and high-frequency data quality inspections. His interdisciplinary research lies at the intersection of data science, industrial statistics, and biostatistics. His primary research interests include real-time process monitoring in statistical quality control and dynamic treatment regimes in personalized medicine. He earned his Ph.D. in Statistics from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran, and was honored with the “Star of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad” award, recognizing him among the top 1% of graduate students at FUM. Since February 2022, Dr. Nadi has served as an international chair member of the International Chair in Data Science and Explainable Artificial Intelligence, hosted by Dong-A University in Vietnam, where his mission is to help develop a roadmap from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, with a focus on theoretically and computationally robust techniques in data science and explainable artificial intelligence.

Benjamin J. Padilla
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Dr. Padilla joins UTEP from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, where he led a highly collaborative applied research program focused on the ecology, conservation, and management of furbearers, large carnivores, and ungulates for the state’s wildlife management agency. Prior to his time in Oregon, Dr. Padilla worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Calgary and Indiana University of Pennsylvania studying caribou and elk. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, where he studied the landscape level drivers of species communities. Dr. Padilla’s research interests center on understanding the mechanistic drivers of wildlife population dynamics, space use and distribution, and ecosystem dynamics with an aim at improving wildlife conservation and management and working to reintegrate human and natural systems. Dr. Padilla’s strong quantitative foundation has allowed him to work on a variety of species and ecosystems, from barren-ground caribou and black-tailed deer to island foxes and fishers. When he isn’t working you can find Dr. Padilla somewhere in a wild place or reading a good book, preferably both at once!

Katherine Reid
Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Security Studies

Dr. Reid joins UTEP from Florida State University (FSU), where she earned a Ph.D. from the Askew School of Public Administration, as well as a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs. Her research focuses on terrorism policy, the rise of new domestic terror groups, and the processes of radicalization and deradicalization. Her work has been published in Deviant Behavior and presented at national conferences, including the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. At FSU, Dr. Reid contributed to the Emergency Management and Homeland Security program, assisted with the Disaster Intelligence Analysis Laboratory, and served as a teaching assistant for courses on terrorism and national security. She is a member of the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) and is passionate about teaching courses on terrorism and emerging threats to homeland security.

Brandon James Render
Assistant Professor, Department of History

Dr. Render joins UTEP from the University of Utah, where he served as an assistant professor in the Department of History. His research examines Black Americans' history of ideas and his teaching focuses on United States history, post-1945 social and intellectual movements, and the Black intellectual tradition. Dr. Render's first book, Colorblind Universities: The Making and Unmaking of Race in Higher Education, positions the civil rights and Black Power era as a set of social movements that fundamentally reshaped the role of race in the United States. It is currently under contract with the University of North Carolina Press. His research has received support from a number of institutions, such as Marquette University, the John Hope Franklin Center, The Gilder Lehrman Institute, and the New York Public Library. He has also published essays and a peer-reviewed article in The Carryall, Washington Post, and the Journal of Civil and Human Rights. When he's not writing or completing research, Dr. Render enjoys writing and recording music, filmmaking, and traveling with his wife, Murphy.

Cal J. Rising
Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Rising joins the UTEP from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Naval Center for Space Technology, where they served as a Research Aerospace Engineer. At NRL, Dr. Rising led computational investigations into the performance and fundamental fluid mechanics of hypersonic propulsion systems. Their work encompassed a broad range of topics, including enhanced fuel–air mixing, combustion stability in supersonic regimes, inlet unstart dynamics, reduced-order modeling for hypersonic vehicle performance, and the application of high-order discontinuous Galerkin methods to compressible, chemically reacting flows. Prior to NRL, Dr. Rising earned a Ph.D. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida, with research focused on vortex dynamics in turbulent reacting flows and tomographic diagnostics for combustion systems. Their contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the NRL Alan Berman Research Publication Award and the George H. Markstein Best Paper Award from the Eastern States Section of The Combustion Institute. Dr. Rising is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and serves as a regular reviewer for journals and conferences in fluid dynamics, combustion, and related aerospace disciplines.

Priscila De Paula Silva
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. de Paula Silva joins UTEP from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMassD), where she earned her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering and M.S. in Computer Engineering. She also holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Brazil. Dr. de Paula Silva’s research focuses on reliability and resilience engineering, applying advanced statistical and machine learning methods to predict performance and identify optimal strategies to enhance the functionality of critical systems under adversarial scenarios, including AI and cyber-physical systems. While at UMassD, she received the 2nd Best Student Paper Award at the 2022 Reliability and Maintainability Symposium and the Best Poster Award at the 2024 Prognostics and Health Management Society Conference. She also earned the 2025 UMassD’s Research Recognition Award and won 1st Place in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition. In 2024, Priscila co-chaired the first Workshop on Resilience Engineering in Computer Systems, held in conjunction with the 13th Latin-American Symposium on Dependable and Secure Computing, in Brazil. She has contributed to research proposals focused on resilience modeling for cyber and autonomous systems, which have been funded by government agencies such as the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Air Force. As a first-generation college student, she is committed to helping underrepresented groups excel in STEM.

César Adrián Terrazas-Nájera
Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Terrazas, a UTEP alum, joins the faculty at the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering starting Fall 2025, after serving as managing director of AconityUS, Inc., the North American branch of Aconity3D, a German company specializing in laser-based metal additive manufacturing (3D printing). He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from UTEP in 2014, with a concentration in metal 3D printing and material characterization. His career spans roles as an educator, researcher, and entrepreneur, including serving as VP of Engineering for Addaero Manufacturing LLC, a 3D manufacturing service provider in Connecticut. From 2016 to 2021, Dr. Terrazas served as research faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UTEP, where he advanced research in metal additive manufacturing. He brings this expertise and industry experience to his new faculty role, continuing to bridge innovation, application, and education in 3D manufacturing.

Levi Johnson
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy & Movement Sciences

Dr. Johnson joins the UTEP faculty after serving as a visiting assistant clinical professor in the UTEP Department of Physical Therapy & Movement Sciences. He has been an outpatient physical therapist, a clinic director, and director of rehabilitation in various settings. He earned both his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from UTEP. As director of rehabilitation at a local physical therapy clinic, he oversaw an Air Force human performance team managing injuries of fighter pilots at Holloman Air Force Base. He was also a clinical mentor and faculty for the inaugural cohort of the Paseo del Norte Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency. He is an ABPTS Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. His area of expertise is cervical and lumbar injury and pain. He has a background in coaching multiple sports including powerlifting, weightlifting, Brazilian jiu Jitsu and swimming.

Kayla Maki Ortiz
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Sciences

Dr. Maki Ortiz joins UTEP from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas where she was an Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, MI, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. She completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI, followed by a PGY-2 Infectious Diseases Residency at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. She is also a Board-Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (BCIDP). While at UTEP, Dr. Maki Ortiz will primarily teach P4 students in the School of Pharmacy who are on rotations at University Medical Center (UMC). Her research interests include infectious diseases, with a primary focus on antimicrobial stewardship, antimicrobial pharmacotherapy, public health, and pharmacy education. Dr. Maki Ortiz is an active member of the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy. Outside of academia, she enjoys running, hiking, playing soccer, music, and spending time with her family.

Katherine Reyes Brooks
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy & Movement Sciences

Dr. Reyes-Brooks serves as a faculty member in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and is a doctoral candidate in the College of Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Health Science Program. Her research focuses on Parkinson’s disease and neurorehabilitation, emphasizing interventions that enhance movement, balance, and gait while incorporating enjoyable, engaging activities for individuals with Parkinson’s. She integrates UTEP DPT students into community experiences, connecting academic learning with the human experience side of physical therapy. Dr. Reyes-Brooks is the co-founder of Move Therapy Services and Rock Steady Boxing El Paso, offering specialized physical therapy and fitness programs for people with Parkinson’s and movement disorders. She also manages the Sun City Parkinson’s Support Group for east El Paso, facilitating education and peer connection. A member of the APTA and TPTA, she is a Fellow of the TPTA Tom Waugh Leadership Development Program.

Carina Salazar
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Sciences

Dr. Salazar returns to the UTEP School of Pharmacy, where she previously served as a clinical instructor. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy in San Antonio and holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from UTEP. Dr. Salazar completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency with the UTEP School of Pharmacy in collaboration with Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, Inc in 2024. She received the 2023 American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation Incentive Grant to expand pharmacy services for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) during her time as a resident. Dr. Salazar completed research on prescribing patterns for acute uncomplicated cystitis during her time as clinical instructor which led her to develop an antimicrobial stewardship program at her clinic site. Her interests include chronic disease state management for diabetes and anticoagulation, HIV care, public health, community outreach, and preceptorship. She is a member of the American Pharmacists Association and American Academy of HIV Medicine. In her free time, Dr. Salazar enjoys running 5Ks, attending concerts, and traveling.

Ciara Spencer
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy & Movement Sciences

Dr. Spencer is a proud alumna of UTEP's Doctor of Physical Therapy program and a board-certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). She brings more than six years of outpatient pediatric experience to her academic role. Dr. Spencer has served as an adjunct faculty member at UTEP since 2021 and is excited to transition into a full-time appointment. Her teaching interests include pediatric physical therapy, cardiopulmonary management in infants and children, and the clinical application of biophysical agents. She is also active in professional service, currently serving as Secretary of the Greater El Paso District (GEPD) of the Texas Physical Therapy Association. Dr. Spencer is passionate about advancing the profession through high-quality education, mentorship, and service.

Georgina Barrera
Clinical Instructor, Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences

Ms. Barrera is a UTEP alum with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science – both in speech-language pathology (SLP). She has worked in a variety of settings, including inpatient rehab, sub-acute hospital, nursing home, school setting, outpatient pediatric clinic and pediatric home health. While working in the outpatient clinic setting, Ms. Barrera worked as the therapy director and later became a partner in the business. She eventually became the sole owner of Villa Children's Therapy, which provided both outpatient clinic and home health therapy services to the children of El Paso. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and served as president of the El Paso Speech-Language and Hearing Association (EPSHA). She mentored many SLP graduates and supervised graduate students throughout her career. She is inspired by the enthusiasm and energy of new clinicians and looks forward to sharing her experience and knowledge with the next generation of speech-language pathologists.

Katherine Kaycraft
Clinical Instructor, Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences

Ms. Haycraft is a dedicated speech-language pathologist with experience in pediatric outpatient, acute care, and home health settings. Her clinical background ranges from assessing swallow function in pediatric and geriatric populations to utilizing speech-generating devices with and without gaze-tracking technology. She specializes in the rehabilitation of feeding disorders, including picky and aversive eaters, employing the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) feeding protocol. She is also certified in the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI), which aids in reducing hospital stays. Her commitment extends to treating speech and language disorders using various communication systems (e.g., speech-generating devices, Picture Exchange Communication System [PECS]). Beyond direct patient care, she is actively involved with the El Paso Speech and Hearing Association, where she has served in finance roles. She has also mentored a first-year clinical student as well as graduate and undergraduate students from various universities and through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Ms. Haycraft holds certifications in ADHD-CCSP, Kinesio Taping for Swallowing Disorders, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), reflecting her dedication to continuous professional growth and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Belen Torres
Clinical Instructor, College of Nursing

Ms. Torres, a UTEP alumna, is a registered nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a local hospital. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from UTEP. She began her nursing career during the COVID-19 pandemic, working directly with patients diagnosed with the virus. Following the pandemic, she transitioned to the medical-surgical/oncology floor. Throughout her career, Ms. Torres has frequently worked with students from UTEP, Texas Tech University, and El Paso Community College, during their clinical rotations. She is a member of National Nurses United, where she serves as a union representative, helping nurses understand their rights and navigate hospital policies. She is passionate about El Paso, UTEP, education, and the nursing profession.

Yahell Zùñiga
Clinical Instructor, Department of Social Work

Ms. Zúñiga, a UTEP graduate, joins the College of Health Sciences faculty after serving as a licensed clinical social worker at Project Vida, where she conducted psychosocial assessments and provided evidence-based, bilingual therapy to children and families. Her research interests include family dynamics, early attachment, and nurturing parenting. Ms. Zúñiga has served as an adjunct professor at UTEP and brings more than nine years of graduate-level teaching experience and nearly 20 years of experience in the areas of children and adolescent mental health, early childhood intervention, children with disabilities, family court services, clinical counseling, and clinical supervision. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work from UTEP and a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver.

Alejandro Muñoz Mendieta
Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Marketing Management and Supply Chain

Mr. Alejandro Muñoz Mendieta is an experienced executive with expertise in strategy, corporate development, finance, and operations across the financial, technology, and logistics/transportation industries. He is the co-founder and managing partner of No Border Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund based in Texas that seeks to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystems of the Southwest and Mountain regions while promoting cross-border innovation. Previously, he served as CFO of Higo, a Silicon Valley–backed start-up specializing in payment services for small businesses in Mexico and freelancers worldwide. Prior to that, he was Deputy Strategy Director at Grupo México Transportes, where he managed the operating plan for Mexico’s largest railway network. He also worked as a Senior Strategy Associate at Bloomberg L.P., advising Michael Bloomberg on product and go-to-market strategy, organizational design, organic and inorganic growth, and competitive insights. Mr. Muñoz Mendieta began his career at J.P. Morgan’s Investment Bank, where he contributed to more than 100 debt financings in technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT), including Facebook’s debt financing concurrent with its IPO. He has also consulted for fintech startups in Mexico and worked at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C., supporting negotiations of the USMCA treaty (formerly NAFTA). At UTEP, he serves as an Entrepreneurship Professor of Practice in the Woody L. Hunt College of Business, where he is helping to develop the college’s entrepreneurship program. He also serves as Vice President of the Hunt College of Business Alumni Association, is a member of the Borderplex Alliance Task Force for Economic Development, and participates in Progress321. Mr. Muñoz Mendieta holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Rayven Armijo
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Theatre and Dance

Rayven Laticia Armijo is an artist-scholar whose research and teaching center on dance pedagogy, decolonial aesthetics, and embodied knowledge within Chicanx, Indigenous, and diasporic communities. She teaches contemporary dance, Broadway jazz, and house, integrating critical theory with studio practice. Her choreography, such as Génesis a LA Revelation and CÓSMICA LLUVIA, explores spiritual and cultural memory through movement. Rayven holds an MFA in Choreography from UCLA, where her thesis, Waldeen: The Embodiment of Mestizaje, examined Mexican modern dance through a political and historical lens. She is the co-creator of the blog Folklorsista, which highlights embodied research and borderland storytelling. Her recent work includes leading interdisciplinary workshops and performances for ANGF and UTEP. Rayven is a member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and collaborates with local arts organizations to expand access to culturally rooted movement education.

Ivan Renteria
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Renteria-Marquez joins the UTEP faculty after serving as a research assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, as well as a research associate in the Aerospace Center at UTEP. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UTEP. His doctoral research primarily focuses on developing models for piezoelectric traveling wave rotary ultrasonic motors using the Finite Volume Method. As a research professor, he worked on the development of factory digital twins for manufacturing facilities in the aerospace, medical, automotive, food, and energy management sectors. Dr. Renteria and his team received the Department of Defense 2019 Mentor-Protégé Nunn-Perry Award, recognizing excellence in the DOD Mentor Protégé Program. His research work also includes contributions to the advancement of digital engineering infrastructures for aeronautic products through the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Teamcenter and space mission design.

Stephanie Strauss
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Art

Dr. Strauss joins the UTEP faculty following her appointment as an American Council of Learned Societies' H. and T. King Fellow of Ancient American Art and Culture. Her research focuses on the intersection of hieroglyphic inscription and elite visual culture across ancient Mesoamerica. Her pedagogical interests include centering the non-Western canon in art historical discourse and expanding classroom boundaries through community experience. Dr. Strauss served as a Fellow of Pre-Columbian Studies at Harvard University’s Dumbarton Oaks from 2019–2020. She has taught global art history, archaeology of the ancient Americas, and Mesoamerican epigraphy at the University of St. Thomas, the Savannah College of Art and Design, Southwestern University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Strauss completed her B.A. in Anthropology and Latin American Studies at Yale University, her M.A. in Anthropology at George Washington University, and her Ph.D. in Art History at UT-Austin through the Harrington Doctoral Fellowship.

Cauam Ferreira Cardoso
Professor of Research, Institute for Applied AI Innovation (AAII)

Dr. Cauam Ferreira Cardoso is the executive director of the Institute for Applied AI Innovation (AAII) at UTEP, where he leads the Institute’s strategic vision, operations, and partnerships. He is responsible for turning frontier AI research into market-ready solutions, building cross-sector alliances that drive competitiveness, resilience, and measurable impact. Before launching AAII, Dr. Cardoso served as director of strategic initiatives and global applied research at Visa, where he led enterprise-wide consumer insights and built strategic partnerships focused on innovation in emerging markets. He previously held roles at Facebook, driving innovation and research for new product development, and at Albertsons Companies, leading research and growth initiatives. In parallel, he has advised startups across industries, guiding product strategy, go-to-market design, and sustainable scale. With a career spanning five continents, Dr. Cardoso brings deep expertise in deploying technology for economic transformation. His work has included high-impact engagements with MIT, the World Bank, USAID, and multiple UN agencies, combining technical innovation with policy insight. Dr. Cardoso earned his PhD in international development from MIT, specializing in technological change and innovation. During his career, he has received several honors, including the MIT Presidential Fellowship and the MIT Goodwin Medal for Excellence in Teaching. His current focus is on bridging the gap between research and application—positioning AI and advanced technologies as engines of innovation for the public and private sectors alike.

Amar Gupta
distinguished Professor of Research, Institute for Applied AI Innovation (AAII)

Dr. Gupta joins the UTEP community of researchers through a shared appointment at the UTEP Institute for Applied AI Innovation (AAII) and MIT, where he leads research activities at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in nucleating several technologies that are in broad use today, including AI-based automated reading and processing of bank cheques, clipart, PC-based presentation graphics, and the first microcomputer-based image database system. His current focus is on artificial intelligence, 24-Hour Knowledge Factory, telemedicine, and global health, as well as underlying issues of quality and reliability in these fast-evolving areas. He has held various appointments at MIT over the course of more than 35 years. These roles include serving as founding co-director of the Productivity from Information Technology Initiative, associate director of the International Financial Services Research Center, and allied positions at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He also served as director of the Research Program on Communications Policy at the School of Engineering. From 2012 to 2015, Dr. Gupta served as dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University. Prior to this, he served as the Thomas R. Brown Endowed Professor of Management and Technology and a tenured professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Arizona (U of A). In 2011, Dr. Gupta was recognized with the U of A Eller College of Management Best Teacher Award. He has served as an advisor to multiple agencies of the United Nations and has published 12 books. Dr. Gupta earned a Ph.D. in computer science, an M.S. in management from MIT, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He is an elected Life Fellow of IEEE.

Joseph John Roth
Associate Professor of Research; Associate Vice President for National Security Programs and Classified Research, 
Division of Research & Innovation

Mr. Roth joins the UTEP community of researchers as associate vice president for national security programs and classified research, where he will lead efforts to grow a world-class research and innovation enterprise focused on space, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and national security. His expertise includes disruptive innovation, executive leadership, defense strategy, program management, systems development, and building impactful public-private-academic partnerships. A retired U.S. Space Force Colonel, Mr. Roth concluded his 28-year career as director of the Innovation and Prototyping Acquisition Delta and commander of Space Systems Command Detachment 1 at Kirtland AFB. He led over 740 personnel across four sites and managed a $3.8B portfolio delivering advanced capabilities to the Space Force and national security community. His leadership experience spans the Pentagon, National Reconnaissance Office, NATO, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Space Systems Command. He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati, Regis University and the Naval Postgraduate School.

Michael McGee
Associate Professor of Research, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. McGee joins UTEP from the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, where he served as an adjunct senior policy researcher, conducting studies on civilian and military aviation, defense, and security issues for the U.S. Department of Defense and other government agencies. His research specializes in autonomous systems and counter-autonomous technologies. Dr. McGee is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who served primarily as an F-16 pilot. His military career included multiple combat and command tours, including command of an expeditionary group in combat. He also spent four years as an instructor pilot in the F-16 division of the Air Force's Fighter Weapons School. In civilian aviation, Dr. McGee has held FAA certifications as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII), and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI). He also served as President of an FAA-certified Part 135 Air Carrier.

Md Ariful Ahsan
Associate Professor of Research, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Ahsan has been promoted to a research faculty position at the UTEP Aerospace Center under the Regents’ Research Excellence Program, following three years of dedicated service as a research associate at the same center. His research primarily focuses on AI-assisted and structure-property-function relationship-guided design and discovery of advanced, high-performance functional materials for sensing, space mining and space/clean energy technologies. Before joining the Center, he worked as a postdoctoral scientist with Nobel Laureate Professor John B. Goodenough at UT Austin. Dr. Ahsan earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from UTEP, where he received the best Ph.D. Academic and Research Excellence Award. He holds a master's degree in chemistry from Tuskegee University and a bachelor's degree in applied chemistry and chemical engineering from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dr. Ahsan has extensive teaching experience, having served as an assistant instructor and teaching assistant at UTEP and Tuskegee University, respectively. His contributions to education include mentoring several undergraduate and graduate students and providing significant service in laboratory and classroom settings. Dr. Ahsan has authored over 50 research articles in prestigious journals, including Journal of the American Chemical Society, Advanced Energy Materials, Green Chemistry, Angewandte Chemie, Chemical Society Reviews, and Small, among others. He also holds several patents. His work has received more than 4100 citations, with an h-index of 38 and an i10-index of 49, reflecting a significant impact in the field of advanced materials. Dr. Ahsan's professional achievements include being ranked among the top 2% of most-cited researchers worldwide in 2022 and 2023 by Stanford University. Dr. Ahsan also served as a Specialist in the United States Army Reserve and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal during AIT. He enjoys playing, reading, and spending quality time with his family during his free time.

Tadesse M. Abegaz
Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr. Abegaz joins UTEP from Ohio State University where he served as a postdoctoral associate. His research focuses on pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, outcomes research, medication safety and effectiveness, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and the application of real-world data and machine learning in healthcare. Dr. Abegaz has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and has received more than 3,500 citations. He earned his doctoral degree in Pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research from Florida A&M University and previously served as an instructor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Gondar in Ethiopia. Dr. Abegaz is an active member of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). He is passionate about improving pharmaceutical care through data-driven research.

Binh Chi Bui
Assistant Professor of Research, Center for Education Research & Policy Studies (CERPS)

Dr. Bui joins UTEP from Johns Hopkins University, where he was a STEM Entrepreneurship Postdoctoral Fellow. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Houston (2023), an M.A. in Educational Studies from KU Leuven (2008), and a B.A. in Teacher Education from Can Tho University (2003). While Dr. Bui's primary expertise is quantitative, he also conducts mixed-methods research as a scholar at the Institute for Critical Quantitative, Computational, and Mixed Methods (ICQCM). His research interests include college access, academic success, and employment/entrepreneurship with particular attention to STEM fields. Dr. Bui has delivered invited talks on quasi-experimental research and student success at universities both in the United States and abroad, such as the National University of Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. His recent awards include the Best Empirical Paper at the 2025 Diana International Research Conference and the Best Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation Paper at the 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. He is an active member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

José Eduardo Cabrero Castro
Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Public Health Sciences

Dr. Cabrero Castro joins UTEP from the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Sealy Center on Aging, where he completed a postdoctoral fellowship. His research examines how early- and mid-life socioeconomic conditions, migration, and health care access shape cognitive aging and dementia among Mexican-origin and other diverse older populations. He previously led national quality-improvement and health-economics initiatives as Patient Safety Deputy Director and Childhood Cancer Deputy Director at Mexico’s Ministry of Health, and later as Head of Health Economics at the Mexican Institute of Social Security. Dr. Cabrero Castro received an Alzheimer’s Disease RCMAR pilot award from the University of Southern California, serves on the editorial board of Innovation in Aging, has authored more than ten peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and has been recognized at international conferences. He is a member of the Population Association of America and the Gerontological Society of America.

Yinuo Du
Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Computer Science

Dr. Du earned her Ph.D. from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where she conducted interdisciplinary research integrating game theory, reinforcement learning, and human factors. While at CMU, Dr. Du received the Graduate Presidential Fellowship. Her work aims to enhance human and AI decision-making in cybersecurity and has been featured in leading journals, including the Journal of Cybersecurity, Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Human, and ACM Transactions on Societal Computing. Supported by ARL-CRA and MURI-CATCH, she actively collaborates with academia and industry experts. She is the secretary of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society's Cyber Technical Group and is also an active member of Women in Cybersecurity.

Carol Figueroa
Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Computer Science

Dr. Figueroa joins UTEP after completing an industrial Ph.D., a collaboration between Aix-Marseille University in France and Furhat Robotics in Sweden. Her doctorate was part of the Conversational Brains network, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network funded by the European Commission. During her doctoral studies, she focused on generating and modeling backchannels for conversational agents, with particular emphasis on prosody. Building on her expertise in the prosody of English backchannels, her research at UTEP will investigate the prosodic patterns of conversational Spanish and their practical applications. She looks forward to mentoring students in the Department of Computer Science who are interested in the intersections of linguistics, speech, and computer science. Before pursuing her Ph.D., Dr. Figueroa gained industry experience in speech technology at both large companies and start-ups, including Oben, Amazon, and Apple. She earned a master’s degree in speech and language processing from the University of Edinburgh and holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in linguistics and the other in computer science, from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Dr. Figueroa is a member of the International Speech Communication Association. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, learning new languages, knitting, swimming, training in group fitness classes, and exploring new restaurants with friends.

Kushantha Pradeep Kumara Withanage
Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Physics

Dr. Withanage joins the UTEP faculty after completing his four-year postdoctoral studies in the UTEP Department of Physics. His research focuses on developing and applying accurate and efficient electronic structure methods, with particular emphasis on self-interaction correction (SIC) in density functional theory using the Fermi–Löwdin orbital (FLO) method. He earned his Ph.D. in Science of Advanced Materials from Central Michigan University, where his work centered on precise electronic structure calculations for atoms, molecules, and transition metal systems. Dr. Withanage has authored numerous publications in leading journals published by the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the American Physical Society (APS), and has presented his work at national conferences, including the APS March Meeting. He is also proficient in scientific programming and computational modeling. Dr. Withanage is a member of the American Physical Society and Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honor society.

Karla D. Llanes
Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Pharmaceutical Science

Dr. Llanes joins UTEP after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She received a Ph.D. in the area of health psychology at UTEP. During her doctoral training, she worked for A Smoke Free Paso del Norte, a regional initiative targeting tobacco control in west Texas, southern New Mexico, and Juarez, Mexico. She has also taught several statistics courses and motivation and emotion courses at UTEP. Her research interests are in behavioral change interventions, health communication, and decision-making processes in the context of health-related decisions (e.g., vaccination decisions, cannabis use, and tobacco use). Her goal is to identify judgment biases that distort risk communications and risk perceptions and, eventually, impact individuals' decisions to engage in health-threatening and health-promoting behaviors. Her research focuses on drug use predictors, including individuals’ motivation for initiating and continuing drug use.

Chin-Yih Lin
Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering

Dr. Chin-Yih Lin is a Assistant Professor of Research in UTEP’s IMSE department, developing AI-driven frameworks for semiconductor intelligent manufacturing. His research combines digital twins, Bayesian optimization, AI, and time-series foundation models to enable process optimization and predictive quality control in fabrication environments. Before UTEP, he was a Research Specialist at National Cheng Kung University, managing AI-enabled semiconductor workflow projects, and a Staff Specialist at Infineon Technologies, leading virtual metrology and machine learning initiatives. He has authored 25 IEEE journal papers (12 as lead author), 12 IEEE conference papers, 6 IEEE textbook chapters, and holds 7 U.S. patents (6 as lead inventor). He received the 2025 Taiwan National Invention Award (Silver Medal) and ranked fifth worldwide (2014–2023) by Scopus for contributions to semiconductor manufacturing. He is a member of the IEEE Robotics & Automation Society and the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society, and he reviews for IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering.

Yoh Yamamoto
Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Physics

Dr. Yamamoto is a computational physicist with expertise in condensed matter physics. He earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech and completed postdoctoral research at UTEP. His research focuses on computer simulations of condensed matter systems and quantum chemistry, aiming to refine theoretical frameworks for predicting chemical properties. Dr. Yamamoto develops electronic structure software to enhance accessibility for researchers while exploring materials for nanoelectronics. His interests also encompass the use of GPU computing and machine learning techniques to advance material science research. Dr. Yamamoto has published significant contributions in prestigious journals, including the Journal of Chemical Physics and Nano Letters. He is dedicated to mentoring emerging scientists and is an active member of the American Physical Society and the National Postdoctoral Association, as well as an alumni member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Golden Key.

Abbas Abbasov
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Center for Education Research & Policy Studies (CERPS)

Dr. Abbasov joins UTEP after serving as the Director of Institutional Research and Strategy Planning as well as teaching and supervising master’s students in the educational management program at ADA University in Baku, Azerbaijan. As a scholar-practitioner, he studies higher education administration and management through a comparative lens. Dr. Abbasov completed his Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education and an M.A. in Higher and Postsecondary Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is passionate about conducting impactful research on system-level and organizational factors enabling student access and success. Throughout his career, Dr. Abbasov has examined branch campus initiatives in the post-Soviet region, educational philanthropy in Azerbaijan, digital diplomacy in Australia, along with other projects. His research has appeared in the Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education and Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education. He holds a BA in International Relations from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.

Abhilash Aditya
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Aditya is an innovative engineer and scientist with a research focus on pioneering advancements in additive manufacturing for electronics and biomedical applications. The primary focus of his post-doctoral work is the hybrid 3D printing of electronic circuits, antennas, and meta-optics using dielectric materials. His broader research interests include creating microneedle drug delivery systems and optimizing the 3D printing of high-viscosity materials. Among his key accomplishments, Dr. Aditya was one of the first to practically demonstrate intercontinental, IoT-enabled 3D printing. In the biomedical and telemedicine fields, he has successfully fabricated collagen-based microneedles for drug delivery and developed novel systems using 3D printers to create CBD-infused foods. Dr. Aditya earned a Ph.D. in material science and engineering and a Master of Science in manufacturing engineering from UTEP, and a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering from JSS Academy of Technical Education in India.

Jehu Narh Apaflo
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Kinesiology

Dr. Apaflo is a medical laboratory scientist with research expertise in metabolism, exercise physiology, and type 2 diabetes. He earned his Ph.D. from the UTEP Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (HIS) program, where he worked on an NIH R01-funded project investigating the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on glycemic control and metabolic health. He holds degrees from Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (MS Biology) and the University of Ghana (BSc Medical Laboratory Science). Jehu’s research interest focuses on exploring early biomarkers for diabetes and the mechanisms of lipotoxicity-induced insulin resistance. He has published six manuscripts, presented abstracts at over 10 regional and national conferences, and received five research presentation/manuscript awards. He is also a recipient of the UTEP Dodson Research Grant and the Texas American College of Sports Medicine’s Student Research Development Award. Outside research, he enjoys gospel music, playing piano, and watching documentaries.

Alice Eunjung Lee
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Center for Education Research & Policy Studies (CERPS)

Dr. Lee joins UTEP from the University of Arizona (UA), where she earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education. Her research explores how institutional policies, pedagogical models, and student support systems can be reimagined to improve student success. Her dissertation, which received the Marshall Foundation Dissertation Award, examined how culturally responsive STEM courses shape the experiences of minoritized students. Her work has been published in Review of Higher Education, Journal of First-Generation Student Success, and International Journal of Educational Development. At UA, she supported federally funded projects aimed at improving retention and graduation for first-generation and Hispanic students. She also consults for the Society of Women Engineers, supporting instructional design and evaluation for the Women of Color in Engineering Workforce Retention Institute. She is a member of the American Educational Research Association, Association for the Study of Higher Education, and American College Personnel Association. She enjoys hiking and exploring new cafés.

Debabrata Mandal
Postdoctoral Fellow,Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Mandal joins UTEP from Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel, where he served as a research associate in the Nanotechnology Center. He also held an appointment as a senior scientist at Gujarat Fluorochemicals EV in India. He earned a Ph.D. in energy storage from the School of Nanoscience and Technology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and an M.Tech. in nanoscience and technology from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra. His research and teaching interests include energy storage devices, Li/Na-ion batteries, and supercapacitor sensor systems. Dr. Mandal is a life member of the Solid State Ionics Society and the Materials Chemistry Society.

David Paz
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences

Dr. David Paz is a developmental and genetic biologist specializing in the characterization of molecular and cellular mechanisms of genetic mutations found in birth defects. He earned his Ph.D. in Biosciences under the mentorship of Dr. Anita M. Quintana at UTEP. His research focused on the characterization of brain phenotypes caused by a mutation in HCFC1gene using the Zebrafish model. His work has provided new insights into how specific mutations in different locations in a gene can alter normal brain development. Dr. Paz has received seven funding awards during his career. His work involves collaboration on multiple projects to explore the impact of mutations in abnormal facial development, red blood cell development, and brain development. He has been selected to multiple short talks to present at the Society of Developmental Biology conference where he remains an active member. Dr. Paz contributes to his community by participating in the career fair at La Fe Preparatory school, sharing his scientific knowledge and passion for identifying important mechanisms in birth defects that can be implemented in clinical studies.

Ubaldo Robles
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Robles has a research background in 3D printing and electromagnetics. He is experienced in the design, manufacturing, and testing of 3D printed high frequency circuits and advanced electromagnetic devices, including metamaterials and photonic crystals. Dr. Robles, entrepreneur at heart, led a business team to win Best Business Plan in 2015 to commercialize metamaterials. He is also recognized as the first in the world to print 3D hybrid electronics in one process. Prior to his postdoctoral appointment at UTEP, Dr. Robles served as an EM Lab principal engineer at the UTEP College of Engineering. He earned his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in electrical engineering at UTEP.

Juan Carlos Silva
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences

Dr. Silva is a research scholar with a focus on cancer immunotherapy and the development of therapeutic antibodies, particularly targeting tumor-associated receptors such as VEGFR2 and MC4R. He employs molecular biology, immunology, and in vivo models to develop monoclonal antibodies that block tumor growth and angiogenesis. Dr. Silva earned a Ph.D. in Biosciences at UTEP, with a focus on immunopathogenesis and vaccine development. He holds a bachelor's in chemistry and a master's in molecular biology from the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (UACJ). His recent work integrates metronomic treatments and translational immunotherapy to explore novel approaches for treating cancer. Dr. Silva is a member of the American Association of Immunologists and the American Association for Cancer Research. During his time at UTEP, Dr. Silva mentored students in experimental design and data interpretation, guiding them to present at symposiums hosted by the Campus Office of Undergraduate Research Initiatives and AACR, while promoting diversity in STEM.

Kaiyi Wen
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of economics and Finance

Dr. Wen is an applied economist specializing in environmental and health economics, with a focus on how non-chemical environmental hazards, —such as road noise and light pollution—impact mental health and social welfare. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from Binghamton University, where his research used restricted national survey and spatial data to explore the mental health effects of traffic and light pollution, redlining’s long-term environmental consequences, and infant health disparities. His work has been presented at major conferences including AEA, AERE, and SEA. Dr. Wen has received multiple fellowships and served as a referee for academic journals and professional conferences. In addition to his research, he has taught principles of microeconomics and assisted in graduate-level econometrics and industrial organization. Outside academia, Dr. Wen enjoys hiking, traveling, and cooking. He is a member of the American Economic Association, the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, and the Chinese Economists Society.

Manuel Aranda
Lecturer, Department of Military Science

Captain Manuel Aranda joins the UTEP faculty with experience spaning 20 years of service to the US Army and Department of Defense, including deployments to Iraq (Army) and Afghanistan (DOD contractor). He comes from the Chicago area where he served as the operations officer for a Psychological Operations Battalion where he oversaw the day-to-day operations and managing an annual budget of $500,000 to support training, mobilizations and mission readiness across subordinate companies throughout the mid-west and east coast. Previous roles included detachment commander, executive officer, and platoon leader, with background in tactical planning, logistics, personnel management, and leadership development. He has led large-scale training operations that led to the deployment of Psychological Operations Soldiers across the globe. He currently holds a B.S. in criminal justice from the University of Texas Pan American.

John Huguley
Lecturer, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science

Mr. Huguley is a medical laboratory scientist at the Hospitals of Providence with training in clinical chemistry and immunohematology. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from UTEP in 2020 and holds national certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in environmental health at UT Houston. His research interests focus on environmental heat reduction methods, including the use of evapotranspiration and strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect. He also studies the effectiveness of shelterbelt tree formations in reducing the prevalence and severity of seasonal sandstorms in the southwestern United States, particularly in west Texas and eastern New Mexico. In addition to his clinical work, Mr. Huguley conducted undergraduate research in organic chemistry at UTEP under Dr. Luis Echegoyen, synthesizing fullerenes for potential use as therapeutic drug delivery vehicles. He has also served as an adjunct instructor at UTEP, teaching courses in clinical hematology, chemistry, medical ethics, and medical terminology.

Shu-Chien Yang
visiting Lecturer, Department of Chicano Studies, Languages, and Linguistics

Ms. Yang joins UTEP from the University of Arizona (U of A), where she earned a Master of Arts in East Asian Studies and worked as a graduate teaching assistant in the Chinese program. Her research focuses on sociolinguistics in Chinese, exploring how multifaceted language learning enhances communication and cultural interaction within the Sinophone world and beyond. She is passionate about empowering both educators and students to engage meaningfully with Mandarin Chinese and its culture through innovative teaching methodologies. She attained a bachelor's degree in Italian and Japanese from the University of Leeds, UK. Since 2017, she has taught Mandarin Chinese across diverse cultural contexts in Nicaragua, Taiwan, and the United States. She has received teaching fellowships from Claflin University and Allegheny College for her dedication to language education. Prior to her career in academia, Ms. Yang gained professional experience in procurement and international trade in Taiwan’s business sector.

Yueying He
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing, Management and Supply Chain

Dr. He joins UTEP with a research background in brand visual design, consumer information processing, human-robot collaboration, and ESG strategy. She earned a Ph.D. in marketing from Oklahoma State University, where she also served as an instructor for marketing research. She also holds a master's degree in tourism management from Sun Yat-sen University and a bachelor's degree in tourism management from Hainan University both in China. Her work has been published in business journals including the Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Hospitality Management, and Journal of Travel Research. Dr. He is an active member of the American Marketing Association (AMA), Academy of Marketing Science (AMS), and American Psychological Association (APA). She serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for multiple marketing journals and conferences.

La'Toya Bigelow
Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy & Movement Sciences

Dr. Bigelow joins the UTEP faculty with nine years of clinical experience in sports, outpatient orthopedics, and concussion rehabilitation. She is primarily interested in examining risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries as well as the long-term effects of concussion injuries in athletes. Dr. Bigelow earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy and ScD from Texas Tech University, and a B.A.in biomedical science from Texas A&M University. She is also a member of the orthopedic section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Outside of work, Dr. Bigelow enjoys reading, traveling, and training for strongman competitions.

Sandra Aguirre-Covarrubias
Adjunct Faculty, Leadership and Community Engagement Program

Dr. Aguirre-Covarrubias rejoins UTEP with a research background in the underrepresentation of female graduate engineering students. She earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from UTEP, a master’s degree in educational administration from New Mexico State University, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UTEP. She has worked in multiple administrative capacities serving students of diverse ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds at El Paso Community College and UTEP. She has taught Organizational Theory and Behavior for the Leadership and Community Engagement Program and Community College and Higher Education Law courses for the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations at UTEP. She is a member of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Georgina Antillón
Adjunct Faculty, Leadership and Community Engagement Program

With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Ms. Antillon currently serves as director of student testing at UTEP, where she leads strategic initiatives that strengthen student learning and institutional effectiveness. Her professional interests include leadership development, student success, and cross-functional collaboration. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded major enrollment and assessment projects, implemented innovative communication systems, and contributed to international recruitment strategies, including the Mexican Student Recruitment Strategic Plan. Her previous roles include director of the Enrollment Services Center and admissions counselor III, where she developed comprehensive training programs and operational handbooks to enhance efficiency and staff development. An active member of the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and the National College Testing Association, she remains engaged in advancing best practices in the field. She looks forward to bringing this expertise into the classroom, fostering student growth through real-world insights and interactive learning.

Monica Ionescu
Adjunct Faculty, University Honors Program

Monica M. Ionescu serves as Program Manager for the University Honors Program at The University of Texas at El Paso, overseeing more than 900 honors students across all colleges. She has worked in higher education for over nine years, leading initiatives within the Honors Program in recruitment, budget management, student development, strategic planning, and engagement. As an adjunct professor, Ms. Ionescu teaches LEAD 1300: Introduction to Leadership. An alumna of UTEP, Ms. Ionescu earned her BBA in Finance in 2005 and completed her Master of Science in Management and Leadership at WGU in 2023. She also holds a certification with honors in Financial Markets from Yale. Ms. Ionescu is the author of Unleashing Inner Strength: Navigating Life’s Challenges, Healing Trauma, and Embracing Resilience (2023). The book was published in Spanish in 2025. A former member of the National Collegiate Honors Council, she hosted the Texas Honors Deans Meeting in 2024. Drawing on 20 years of business experience, she founded her own company, Nova Botanicals, in 2025.

Annalisa Perez
Adjunct Faculty, Leadership and Community Engagement Program

Dr. Perez joins the UTEP faculty as an adjunct instructor with an emphasis on team-based leadership. She also serves as an assistant professor of research at the UTEP CREATE Center, where her work focuses on effective communication, particularly in the contexts of leadership and engineering. She mentors graduate students in doctoral research, writing, and dissertation development, and supports undergraduate students through academic and professional growth opportunities. Dr. Perez was recognized with the “Best Team Teaching Award” from the Notre Dame Experiential Classroom for her innovative use of environmental dynamics and communication strategies. An active member of the American Management Association and ASEE leadership organizations, she brings expertise that spans research, consulting, and practice. She holds a J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, with a certificate in mediation and training in legal and law enforcement negotiations, as well as a Ph.D. in ESE. Her professional portfolio includes consulting in legal, national security, and environmental affairs. Outside of academia, she enjoys music, working puzzles, making quilts, and the Far Side comics.

Carla Rosete
Adjunct Faculty, Leadership and Community Engagement Program

Mrs. Rosete is a dedicated higher education leader at UTEP, where she focuses on advancing global engagement, community outreach, and student success. Her teaching and learning interests include mentoring first-year and international students, promoting service-learning, and fostering leadership development through experiential programs. With over a decade of experience, Mrs. Rosete has spearheaded cross-border initiatives, built partnerships with local and international organizations, and led impactful events that strengthen health equity along the U.S.-Mexico border. She is an active member of professional organizations that support community engagement and higher education leadership. She earned an M.A. in Leadership Studies with a concentration in Public Administration and a B.B.A in Management with a concentration in Human Resources, both from UTEP. In her downtime, Carla enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising, traveling, and caring for her two beloved dogs.

Sandra Aguirre-Covarrubias
Adjunct Faculty, Leadership and Community Engagement Program

Dr. Aguirre-Covarrubias rejoins UTEP with a research background in the underrepresentation of female graduate engineering students. She earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from UTEP, a master’s degree in educational administration from New Mexico State University, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UTEP. She has worked in multiple administrative capacities serving students of diverse ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds at El Paso Community College and UTEP. She has taught Organizational Theory and Behavior for the Leadership and Community Engagement Program and Community College and Higher Education Law courses for the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations at UTEP. She is a member of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Miguel Hernandez
Adjunct Faculty, Leadership Studies Programs

Miguel Hernandez serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Leadership and Community Engagement at The University of Texas at El Paso, where he teaches Introduction to Leadership (LEAD 1300). He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and brings extensive, practice-based experience in executive leadership, public administration, and organizational operations to the classroom. Miguel has more than a decade of combined leadership experience within public sector organizations, including over six years in an executive director role and additional senior leadership positions in municipal and community development environments. He has also served as a senior policy advisor at the county level, collaborating with local, state, and federal stakeholders on policy development and governance. His professional background also includes experience in financial services, where he obtained financial lending certification and supported organizational financial growth through lending initiatives and community-based financial literacy efforts. He currently oversees operations within a mobile imaging and diagnostic environment, and integrates these diverse leadership experiences into a student-centered, real-world approach to leadership Education.