| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Cristina Villalobos, a professor and associate |
|
|
dean of the College of Sciences at The University of Texas Rio |
|
|
Grande Valley, is the recipient of a 2020 Presidential Award for |
|
|
Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The award is one of the highest national honors |
|
|
given to educators who have dedicated themselves to the academic |
|
|
and professional development of our future STEM leaders, |
|
|
particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in |
|
|
STEM fields; to be selected for the award is a coveted and highly |
|
|
prestigious achievement, and this year, Dr. Villalobos was one of |
|
|
only 12 individuals nationwide to earn the accolade; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A native of Donna and a first-generation college |
|
|
graduate, Dr. Cristina Villalobos received her bachelor's degree |
|
|
in mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin and her Ph.D. |
|
|
in computational and applied mathematics from Rice University; she |
|
|
has more than 18 years of experience in higher education, and she |
|
|
currently holds the Myles and Sylvia Aaronson Endowed Professorship |
|
|
at UTRGV, where she is founding director of the Center of Excellence |
|
|
in STEM Education; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Working alongside program coordinator Idalia Mejia, |
|
|
Dr. Villalobos leads the Center of Excellence in STEM Education in |
|
|
supporting and providing resources to students who are pursuing |
|
|
careers in STEM fields; one of the center's goals is to increase the |
|
|
number of STEM graduates, especially those from minority groups, |
|
|
and it has hosted planetarium visits and other hands-on activities |
|
|
that have helped promote interest and engagement in STEM among |
|
|
thousands of local K-12 students; Dr. Villalobos has been |
|
|
recognized for her commitment to increasing minority |
|
|
representation in STEM, and she has served on several committees |
|
|
and advisory boards dedicated to this mission, including the board |
|
|
of directors of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics |
|
|
and Native Americans in Science; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Through her outstanding work at UTRGV, Dr. Cristina |
|
|
Villalobos is helping to prepare young Texans to be part of a |
|
|
diverse workforce that will be at the forefront of technology, |
|
|
research, and innovation, and she may indeed reflect with pride on |
|
|
this well-deserved recognition; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Cristina Villalobos on her |
|
|
receipt of a 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, |
|
|
Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring and extend to her sincere |
|
|
best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Dr. Villalobos as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Canales |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 377 was adopted by the House on March |
|
|
25, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |