Welcome to UTSA P20 Pathways to Education Research
Training Program

For more information about our program, please contact us:

The University of Texas at San Antonio, with a grant (R305B210028) from the National Center for Education Research (NCER) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education, is providing support for the IES Educational Research Training Program: UTSA P20 Pathways to Education Research.

The training program is primarily housed within the UTSA Department of Interdisciplinary Teaching and includes faculty and students from across disciplines who are conducting Educational Science research.

Since 2016, the IES Educational Research Training Program: UTSA P20 Pathways to Education Research (IES UTSA Pathways) has been developing a pipeline of young and talented interdisciplinary researchers who bring fresh ideas, approaches, and perspectives to addressing the issues and challenges of inequalities that exist in educational experiences, transitions, and outcomes from PK through graduate school.

UTSA Pathways supports undergraduate students for doctoral studies in education research across disciplines through its education research training program.  The training program provides fellows with: (1) the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of P-20 pipeline issues; (2) an introduction to education research and scientific methods; (3) meaningful opportunities to participate in education research studies; and (4) professional development and mentoring leading to doctoral studies.

We are currently recruiting undergraduate juniors to be part of our 2023-24 UTSA IES Pathways Cohort.

Important Deadlines

Final Deadline Extension

October 4, 2024

Program Starting Date

October 2024

Our Fellows
Stacy Carrizales
Stacy Carrizales

Stacy Helena Carrizales is a third-year student at The University of Texas at San Antonio where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. She is an active member of the Honors College, the Russian Club, and serves as an IES Pathways fellow.
Stacy plans to pursue a Ph.D. with the aim of influencing educational research and policies to improve learning environments.

BIOGRAPHY
Ashanti Cook
Ashanti Cook

Ashanti Cook is a First-Generation Senior who is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Wellness at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a part of the NSLS and Psi Chi Honor Society.

Ashanti also has an Associates of Arts in Early Childhood Education from NLC. In her future, she aspires to get her Ph.D in Psychology to become a Clinical Psychologist. She aspires to help people of color with their mental well-being. Growing up she did not see a lot of people around her getting help so she wants to be one of the people who helps others.

BIOGRAPHY
Sofia Hernandez
Sofia Hernandez

Sofia Hernandez is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Computer Science with a concentration in cybersecurity at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a member of the Honors College at UTSA and is an IES Pathways Fellow. She is currently conducting research in engineering education under Dr. Alex Mejia. This research identifies marginalized standards upheld by the engineering community and observes their effects on aspiring Latino/a/x engineers in both academic and professional settings.

BIOGRAPHY
Dante Lopez
Dante Lopez

is a first-generation third-year Latino student at University of Texas at San Antonio, currently majoring In microbiology and immunology, since he was a kid, he was drawn to science, this curiosity grew to a point that he decided to follow a degree that focus in the little world that lives inside and all around us, he believes microbes are one of the most interesting organisms in the world and the information and applications of them are endless.

BIOGRAPHY
Erika Monzon
Erika Monzon

I am a proud first-generation Mexican American and I am a third-year student in the College of Science and College of Health, Community, and Policy because I’m majoring in both Neuroscience and Psychology to pursue a doctorate in Neuropsychology. I am a research assistant at the Wicha lab working with Dr. Nicole Wicha and Dr. Amandine Grenier to further understand how the human brain processes language using behavioral and brain imaging techniques.

BIOGRAPHY
Arianna Morales-Garza
Arianna Morales-Garza

Arianna Morales-Garza is a senior at The University of Texas at San Antonio pursuing a Bachelor’s in Sociology at the College for Health, Community, and Policy. She received an AA in psychology in 2016 from NWVCC before becoming a stay-at-home mom. She returned to school in the Fall of 2022 at UTSA as a psychology major but refocused her sights on sociology. She developed a desire for research and addressing health disparities on both a micro- and macro-level with a focus on sexual health education reform.

BIOGRAPHY
Clarissa Moreno
Clarissa Moreno

Clarissa Moreno is a proud Hispanic born and raised on the southside of San Antonio. She is currently attending the University of Texas at San Antonio and is an active fellow in the UTSA IES Pathways Program. Clarissa is completing her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary studies for early childhood education with a concentration in ESL. She will be conducting research that will identify how to measure the impact of quality education in Math and Science in ELLS.

BIOGRAPHY
Christina Ndayisenga
Christina Ndayisenga

is a first generation third year student at The University of Texas at San Antonio studying biology. She is part of the IES pathways program and is pursuing research in educating holistic practices to underprivileged people. She is an honors student and taking an independent research class on the medicinal benefits of honey. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies she plans to apply for graduate school to further her studies in biology and medicine to pursue a career as a researcher.

BIOGRAPHY
Desiree Salazar
Desiree Salazar

is an IES Pathway Fellow at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Desiree is a Psychology major with a minor in civic engagement. She has a focus on the success of military families and the military child. Desiree is focused on enhancing the quality of academic achievement and identity for all military families. She is experienced in school-age education on military bases in San Antonio Texas.

BIOGRAPHY
Vaibhavi Sunkara
Vaibhavi Sunkara

is a member of the KLESSE College of Engineering and Integrated Design at The University of Texas at San Antonio. She is currently a junior pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering. She is Indian, and her hometown is San Antonio, Texas. Vaibhavi is also a member of the UTSA Honors College as well as a IES Pathways fellow. She is interested in medicine and hopes to pursue a career as a physician one day. She wants to combine engineering and healthcare to improve patient care.

BIOGRAPHY
Layla Villareal
Layla Villareal

is a passionate individual who identifies as a lifelong learner and seeks to create positive change through public policy. She is obtaining a BA in both political science and public administration & policy with a minor in civic engagement from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Layla is a Corpus Christi native and a member of the UTSA Honors College. She is proud to be a Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar, Dell Scholar, and UTSA Terry Scholar. Currently, Layla serves as the director of service for the Terry Scholar Student Organization and on the UTSA President’s Student Advisory Council.

BIOGRAPHY
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