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Mike Pitcher is the Director of Academic Technologies at the University of Texas at El Paso. He has had experience in learning in both a traditional university program as well as the new online learning model, which he utilizes in his current position consulting with faculty about the design of new learning experiences. His experience in technology and teaching started in 1993 as a student lab technician and has continued to expand and grow over the years, both technically as well as pedagogically. Currently he works in one of the most technically outstanding buildings in the region where he provides support to students, faculty, and staff in implementing technology inside and outside the classroom, researching new engineering education strategies as well as the technologies to support the 21st century classroom (online and face to face). He also has assisted both the campus as well as the local community in developing technology programs that highlight student skills development in ways that engage and attract individuals towards STEAM and STEM fields by showcasing how those skills impact the current project in real-world ways that people can understand and be involved in. As part of a university that is focused on supporting the 21st century student demographic he continues to innovate and research on how we can design new methods of learning to educate both our students and communities on how STEM and STEAM make up a large part of that vision and our future.

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Professor of Engineering Education and Leadership, Undergraduate Program Director in the Department of Engineering and Leadership at UTEP, Director of the Center for Research in Engineering & Technology Education in the College of Engineering, and Provost Faculty Fellow in the Center for Faculty Leadership and Development at The University of Texas at El Paso.

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Pedro worked in the manufacturing industry as a Quality Control Engineer for some years before acquiring his current position as an Instructional Technologist at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). For over eleven years in this role, he has worked with a team of managers that oversee various learning environments and systems in the Academic Technologies Department at UTEP. He leads a group of more than 30 multidisciplinary student employees that help support a wide range of technologies for classrooms and other learning spaces, including videoconferencing rooms.
In addition to teaching a Foundations of Engineering course, Pedro also provides technology training on Mac OS X, CISCO networking and various other technology topics. He also enjoys the role of social media coordinator for Academic Technologies to showcase the department’s services and the dedicated students and staff members who work there. Pedro received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering with a concentration in Engineering Education from UTEP.

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Celena Arreola graduated on May 13, 2017 with Bachelors of Science in Engineering Leadership at the University of Texas at El Paso with a concentration in Mathematics and Civil Engineering. She has been actively involved within the Department of Engineering Education & Leadership as a recruitment leader and administrative assistant. Currently she serves as the president of the American Society for Engineering Education student chapter and is a research team leader in the Center for Research in Engineering and Technology Education where she focuses on the success of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics of two post-secondary educational institutions based in El Paso.

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Mr. Hugo Gomez works as an Instructional Technologist at the University of Texas at El Paso, he is focused on expanding the professional and technical skill sets of our students and faculty community to better prepare them for the world of technology today and tomorrow. He works alongside a wide assortment of students, faculty and staff on campus to make sure their technology toolsets are up to date. Furthermore, Hugo provides workshops to over half of the student population at UTEP and as such, has been instrumental in providing the behind the scenes support to all these courses. Mr. Gomez also collaborates in the Learning Lab team to explore and implement new educational strategies in the classroom. Mr. Gomez has a Masters Degree in Engineering Education from The University of Texas at El Paso. He has participated in the UTEACH summer program as a Technology Instructor in which he provided workshops on website design, movie creation and computer networking. In addition, Mr. Gomez teaches UNIV1301 Foundations of Engineering, were students learn academic, personal and engineering skills, among many other abilities that help them understand their opportunities and responsibilities as engineering students.

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Mr. Hector Lugo works as a Student Technology Success Coordinator at The University of Texas at El Paso. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He is currently enrolled as a Master of Science with a Major in Electrical Engineering.
His motivation and passion pushes him into research in wireless communication, especially in Bluetooth Low Energy and Near Field Communication as well as building projects and fostering innovation with faculty and staff members. As part of the Learning Environments division, the idea to develop, oversee and assess engaging students to expand their knowledge and creativity by innovating new technologies application for Engineering Education is currently under way to engage the university and the community.
Concluding, Mr. Lugo’s ambition is to encourage students to focus in science, technology and engineer abilities in order to expand their professional potential.

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Randy Anaya, Instructional Technologist at the University of Texas at El Paso. Received a BFA in Graphic Design with a minor in Multimedia design from the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Received a BA in Media Advertising at UTEP and is currently enrolled as a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on the use of art and technology in teaching and learning.
Randy works on research and development of applying the creative process to workshops, trainings and student engagement. Currently doing extensive research and deployment of emerging technologies to redefine the classroom, mentoring and excellence through student interaction.

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Diane is a passionate educator and proponent for K-12 engineering education and the education of future teachers. She is a professor in the College of Education at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from UTEP and is presently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Southern California (May, 2019).

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I was born to a farm family in the panhandle of Oklahoma. I graduated from Liberal High School in Liberal, Kansas in 2011. I attended the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma starting with a major in Psychology. As I furthered my studies, my interest in helping people remained, but my focus shifted. I changed my major from Psychology to Family Life Education. I left school and worked in a Preschool setting for a couple of years before realizing that I was not passionate about my work. I moved to El Paso, Texas and was offered an Administrative position at a non-profit organization, LIMBS International. A team that took a Bio-medical engineering project and used affordable technology to fit amputees in developing countries. Due to a significant project closing, the LIMBS International Board could not justify a full-time position for me. One of the Board members is the department Chair for Engineering Leadership at UTEP and offered me a part-time front desk position. During my time in the department, I was assigned to assist the Department Advisor during the advising process. I became very interested in my job and discovered a great need for students needing help and the limited time that the department professors had. I approached the Department Advisor and offered to come work with him with my primary focus being on advising. I am now taking on more of a leadership role in advising by sharpening my skills and learning more of how I can help students reach their goals while making the lives of the professors easier.

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America Fernandez is an undergraduate student majoring in Engineering Leadership at The University of Texas at El Paso with interest in Engineering Education. Her college career began with a compelling drive to succeed as an engineering major. Academic experiences she has participated include an engineering education internship at Berekuso, Ghana and the authorship of a published paper presented at the Frontiers in Education conference. America is currently working with the Center for Research in Engineering and Technology Education as a Research and Development Specialist focusing on advising procedures. She currently serves as the President in the American Society of Engineering Educators Student Chapter at UTEP.

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Helen Geller is the Program Manager for the STEMGROW grant, funded by the Department of Education at the University of Texas at El Paso.

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Luis C. Jimenez is an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science at The University of Texas at El Paso with interest in Cyber Security. He is currently working with the Center for Research in Engineering and Technology Education as a Research and Development Specialist with an emphasis in technology implementation in the STEAM curriculum. Luis has been an active volunteer with organizations that try to help the community through engineering and technology and that try to foster the interest of the younger generation in STEM fields.

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Jennifer Arreola is pursuing a Bachelors in Engineering Leadership with a concentration in Environmental Engineering. She plans on working for the protection of human health and ecosystem. She believes that as an engineer the ability to understand not only the problem but other issues such as political, business and social are necessary to approach this new generation.

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Andrea A. Duenez is a senior at the University of Texas at El Paso majoring in Engineering Leadership with a focus in Electrical Engineering. Andrea plans to graduate in December of 2018. In her free time, Andrea enjoys learning from and assisting sound engineers at her local place of worship, watching basketball, and exploring the outdoors.

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Karla Ayala is currently an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso. Karla strives to get a concentration in Computer Engineering to be at the forefront on the integration of hardware and software for future technologies that can better enhance the user experience.

Currently she is an undergraduate Support Assistant at the Under Graduate Learning Center in UTEP; where Karla serves as the Gaia Maker Space training team-lead, providing software training to classes as well as one-on-one trainings with students on various software that involve 3D printing, CAD/CAM Design, media production and web services, while also providing technological support to students and faculty with the UGLC’s building and technology infrastructure for events and classes. Karla is also a part of the Tech-E program which exposes k-12 students to a range of emerging technologies through Project-Based Learning opportunities that prepares them for future career and degree choices in STEAM.

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