Investing in faculty at every career stage is not just an investment in individual faculty members — it’s an investment in the institution’s future success and continuous improvement. Gain insight into the steps that The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) took to design and implement programs that promote professional evolution while giving faculty a clear path to success at their institution. See how they identified and invested in the resources necessary to benefit both their faculty and their institution.
Why attend? We’ll explore best practices on:
This webinar is presented in partnership with The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Dr. Cinthya M. Saavedra is a distinguished academic and leader at UTRGV. Dr. Saavedra is the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and previously held several other leadership positions, including Director for Mexican American Studies, Director for the School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement, and Associate Dean for Faculty Success in the College of Liberal Arts. Her research interests focus on Chicana/Latina feminist epistemology in educational research. Throughout her career, Dr. Saavedra has made significant contributions to the field of education, particularly in the areas of Chicana feminist educational research. She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University, College Station.
Dr. Robert Dearth joined Faculty Affairs as the Associate Vice Provost after serving as the inaugural director of UTRGV’s School for Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences in the College of Sciences and in prior leadership positions such as the chair of Biology, interim chair of Chemistry, and Director of Engaged Scholarship and Learning. In his various leadership roles, he has strived to improve processes and implement programmatic initiatives to enhance student and faculty success. His extensive dedication to leadership and collaboration allows him to impact the greater UTRGV faculty through tailored, transformative, and effective faculty and leadership programming. Dr. Dearth has extensive experience as a scientist and program director, receiving over $2 million as a Principal Investigator (and over $450,000.00 as Co-PI) from state and federal funding agencies. Dr. Dearth received his PhD with a focus in neuroendocrinology from Texas A&M University, College Station.
Maggie Cronn serves as the Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at UTRGV. Since joining UTRGV in 2021, Maggie has maximized efficiency and overall effectiveness through her oversight of faculty systems, policies, and processes, as well as her prior management of all aspects of faculty success programming. Maggie is an intentional leader, bringing a unique perspective to the Faculty Affairs team as she holds a Master of Arts in Student Affairs from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where she previously worked in undergraduate and graduate enrollment management for over a decade. She is also ABD in Nebraska’s doctoral program for Educational Leadership & Higher Education.
