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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Cristina Villalobos, a professor and associate |
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| 6 | 7 | | dean of the College of Sciences at The University of Texas Rio |
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| 7 | 8 | | Grande Valley, is the recipient of a 2020 Presidential Award for |
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| 8 | 9 | | Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The award is one of the highest national honors |
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| 10 | 11 | | given to educators who have dedicated themselves to the academic |
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| 11 | 12 | | and professional development of our future STEM leaders, |
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| 12 | 13 | | particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in |
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| 13 | 14 | | STEM fields; to be selected for the award is a coveted and highly |
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| 14 | 15 | | prestigious achievement, and this year, Dr. Villalobos was one of |
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| 15 | 16 | | only 12 individuals nationwide to earn the accolade; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, A native of Donna and a first-generation college |
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| 17 | 18 | | graduate, Dr. Cristina Villalobos received her bachelor's degree |
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| 18 | 19 | | in mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin and her Ph.D. |
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| 19 | 20 | | in computational and applied mathematics from Rice University; she |
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| 20 | 21 | | has more than 18 years of experience in higher education, and she |
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| 21 | 22 | | currently holds the Myles and Sylvia Aaronson Endowed Professorship |
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| 22 | 23 | | at UTRGV, where she is founding director of the Center of Excellence |
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| 23 | 24 | | in STEM Education; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Working alongside program coordinator Idalia Mejia, |
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| 25 | 26 | | Dr. Villalobos leads the Center of Excellence in STEM Education in |
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| 26 | 27 | | supporting and providing resources to students who are pursuing |
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| 27 | 28 | | careers in STEM fields; one of the center's goals is to increase the |
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| 28 | 29 | | number of STEM graduates, especially those from minority groups, |
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| 29 | 30 | | and it has hosted planetarium visits and other hands-on activities |
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| 30 | 31 | | that have helped promote interest and engagement in STEM among |
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| 31 | 32 | | thousands of local K-12 students; Dr. Villalobos has been |
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| 32 | 33 | | recognized for her commitment to increasing minority |
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| 33 | 34 | | representation in STEM, and she has served on several committees |
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| 34 | 35 | | and advisory boards dedicated to this mission, including the board |
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| 35 | 36 | | of directors of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics |
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| 36 | 37 | | and Native Americans in Science; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Through her outstanding work at UTRGV, Dr. Cristina |
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| 38 | 39 | | Villalobos is helping to prepare young Texans to be part of a |
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| 39 | 40 | | diverse workforce that will be at the forefront of technology, |
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| 40 | 41 | | research, and innovation, and she may indeed reflect with pride on |
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| 41 | 42 | | this well-deserved recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 43 | 44 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Cristina Villalobos on her |
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| 44 | 45 | | receipt of a 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, |
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| 45 | 46 | | Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring and extend to her sincere |
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| 46 | 47 | | best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for Dr. Villalobos as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 49 | 50 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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