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Dr. Saldivar is a native of Elsa, Texas, and has spent the last 20 years assisting first-year students as they transition to the university. He is an experienced facilitator and public speaker and has experience working with a variety of audiences including students, faculty, and parents. Dr. Saldivar holds a BA and MA from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from UT Austin.

Mr. Jaime Mancha is a native Texan, born and raised in Hidalgo County in deep south Texas. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he earned a B.A. in Communication and a Master’s degree in Counseling & Guidance from The University of Texas – Pan American with a focus in School Counseling, and is currently completing a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Mr. Mancha’s scholarly areas of interest include issues impacting first-generation students of color and accessibility for college students with disabilities. He has over 20 years of combined experience in K-12 and higher education and is currently a lecturer in the Learning Framework Program at UTRGV. Outside of his work, he enjoys spending time with his wonderful family, which includes his wife, Lisa, and their kids: Michael, Victoria, Anthony and Ryan.

Dr. Dagoberto Eli Ramirez is a native from Roma, Texas, and is in his 41st year working in the Pre-K – 20 setting, serving as a middle school teacher, school district content area coordinator, and university instructor at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Dr. Ramirez also worked as a regional service center specialist, state and national grant reader and writer, and independent education consultant. In his current primary role at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), Dr. Ramirez works with first-year students (many of them from first-generation, second-language, and low-socioeconomic backgrounds), helping them transition into, adjust to, and succeed in their college experience. Dr. Ramirez earned a B.A. in English and History from Pan American University, and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Texas Pan-American.