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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Cristina Villalobos, a professor and associate |
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dean of the College of Sciences at The University of Texas Rio |
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Grande Valley, is the recipient of a 2020 Presidential Award for |
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Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring; and |
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WHEREAS, The award is one of the highest national honors |
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given to educators who have dedicated themselves to the academic |
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and professional development of our future STEM leaders, |
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particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in |
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STEM fields; to be selected for the award is a coveted and highly |
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prestigious achievement, and this year, Dr. Villalobos was one of |
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only 12 individuals nationwide to earn the accolade; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Donna and a first-generation college |
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graduate, Dr. Cristina Villalobos received her bachelor's degree |
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in mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin and her Ph.D. |
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in computational and applied mathematics from Rice University; she |
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has more than 18 years of experience in higher education, and she |
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currently holds the Myles and Sylvia Aaronson Endowed Professorship |
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at UTRGV, where she is founding director of the Center of Excellence |
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in STEM Education; and |
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WHEREAS, Working alongside program coordinator Idalia Mejia, |
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Dr. Villalobos leads the Center of Excellence in STEM Education in |
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supporting and providing resources to students who are pursuing |
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careers in STEM fields; one of the center's goals is to increase the |
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number of STEM graduates, especially those from minority groups, |
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and it has hosted planetarium visits and other hands-on activities |
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that have helped promote interest and engagement in STEM among |
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thousands of local K-12 students; Dr. Villalobos has been |
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recognized for her commitment to increasing minority |
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representation in STEM, and she has served on several committees |
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and advisory boards dedicated to this mission, including the board |
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of directors of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics |
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and Native Americans in Science; and |
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WHEREAS, Through her outstanding work at UTRGV, Dr. Cristina |
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Villalobos is helping to prepare young Texans to be part of a |
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diverse workforce that will be at the forefront of technology, |
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research, and innovation, and she may indeed reflect with pride on |
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this well-deserved recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Cristina Villalobos on her |
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receipt of a 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, |
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Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring and extend to her sincere |
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best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Villalobos as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |