Fernanda Gonzalez
UTRGV Provost Luis Zayas poses for a photo in his office
On June 1, Luis Zayas, who has a doctorate in developmental psychology, was appointed as the new provost of UTRGV. Zayas has worked in higher education for more than 10 years. He tells us what his journey was to get to UTRGV.
Originally from Coamo, Puerto Rico, Zayas’ father was in the military. He recalls regularly moving between states and even countries until his globetrotting days came to an end when he began his studies in Economics at Manhattan College in New York City.
According to Zayas, his career in social work has everything to do with his parents’ influence, and their “givingness.”
“My parents were always available to our neighbors and helped out,” he said “My mother had extra food we offered to the neighbors. I could see these back and forth. (6.30) I saw that, the servingness, that they [were] social servants.”
Zayas said that his father was the one that encouraged him to pursue higher education. He is the first one in his family to go to college.
Zayas expressed his family is very close. He said the main reason for that is due to his mother having his brothers and him pray the rosary every night.
“Every evening my mom would have all six of kids, climb up on the bed and we would pray the rosary together,” he said. “It was not just a religious event but it was a bonding event for the family. I am not religious anymore, never was really, but it was the social event, it was the evening prayer that really kept us close.”
He identifies himself as a very quiet and shy person. He is a good listener.
“I don’t think others see that,” Zayas said. “I work very hard to make sure that I engage socially and professionally, but I think that at the core, I am pretty much a person that prefers to be by himself. I am a good listener.”
He said his listening helped him in his job as a dean at Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin.
“Instead of spending all my time pitching the school, I spent more time asking [donors] about themselves and in building those relationships,” Zayas said. “Oftentimes they became donors, and generous ones.”
Sharon Brennan is the Director of Faculty Affairs at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at UT Austin. She was Dr. Zayas’ assistant and recalls her experiences working with him.
“He is awesome,” Brennan said. “Very laid-back, easygoing, funny; like we had our own meetings just with each other, once we came back to the office, we had one on one just to go over the day and we’ve been cracking up.”
Ruben Parra-Cardona, is a professor and the dean for Global Engagement at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at UT Austin. He spoke about Dr. Zayas’ attitude and way of thinking.
“He is extraordinary,” Parra-Cardona said. “He is brilliant so that’s the first thing you say ‘oh my god this guy is thinking 3000 miles per hour.’ He is a risk-taker, an out of the box thinker. The way he implemented his scholarship, the way he designed, implemented and disseminated his scholarship tells you about the leadership he has.”
During his time at UT Austin, Zayas learned the importance of public higher education in America. He expressed pride in his overseeing of the diversification of the graduate programs while at UT Austin. The School of Social Work illustrated diversity not only in racial and ethnicities, but geographically as well.
As the new Provost and Vice president for Academic affairs Zayas oversees all academic matters including faculty and student success.
Zayas said he wants students to persevere in their studies, and trust that they have something to offer to the world.
“There are going to be times when you are challenged as a student,” Zayas said. “And you say ‘Oh my god, should I be here? I need to leave, Oh this is going to take so long, it’s four years of my life.’ Don’t lose hope, persevere, you are smart, you didn’t get here on a fluke. This is particular for the undergrad, you were admitted here because you have something to offer the world. Don’t lose sight of that. I want every student to know that they can make it, they can succeed here.”
This is Fernanda Gonzalez for Vaquero Radio.
