 "Photo: Daniel Flores/The Pan American")
The University of Texas-Pan American greeted its eighth president, Robert Nelsen, and his wife Jody, in true Valley-style and tradition Wednesday: with a blast of mariachi music and welcoming gritos.
The president-designate was escorted down a red carpet twice, once on the south side of the Student Union for the university’s welcome, and the second time on the south entrance of the ITT 2 building for his community debut. During the former he was flanked to his right by his wife, the executive vice president of finance and administration at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and to his left by UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa.
Trailing behind were System staff and System Board of Regents member and Academic Affairs committee chair Janeice Longoria, who introduced Nelsen at each of the events.
“The Board of Regents immediately recognized that he was the right person at the right time for the job,” Longoria said. The Regent told the nearly filled Student Union Theater that Nelsen had a commanding presence, was energetic and had strong enthusiasm for the people of the Valley during his interview with the Regents.
Longoria even joked about Nelsen’s current one-year tenure as associate vice president of academic affairs at TAMUCC, calling it an “unfortunate hiatus from the UT System.”
Previous to his current job he was vice provost at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he had also been an English teacher for 18 years.
When she mentioned it to the community members, Nelsen jokingly took his hands to his head and shook it as if to say “never again.” To that a couple of community members shouted, “welcome home!”
Nelsen told both crowds that he came from a very small valley in Montana where there weren’t very many opportunities, but that now he’s come to a much larger Valley where there are many more chances for opportunity.
“We are going to work together, mano y mano, to make this Valley an even better place,” he said.
The new leader said that he wanted to be president of the university because of the students and their environment.
“(UTPA) is in the middle of the biggest lab for education in the United States,” he said. “Collaboration and cooperation will be the road of our future.”
Nelsen emphasized to distinguished community members at the later ceremony that many new partnerships must be forged. He gave examples of partnerships with the local school districts, South Texas College, economic developers, and the mothers and fathers of students.
The Valley star-studded community event saw the likes of STC president Shirley Reed, Edinburg Mayor Richard Cortez, former Congressman Kike De La Garza, State Rep.
Aaron Pena, former Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board member Bob Shepard. A number of school district superintendents, UTPA Foundation members, and several alumni were also present.
Earlier in the day Nelsen had lunch with several students at the university’s cafeteria. Freshman political science major Anna Mariah Garcia was one of those chosen to dine with the incoming president, who was said to have enjoyed a vegan plate.
“He was really trying to get to know the students,” she said. Nelsen went student by student and asked about their majors and what they wanted to pursue for their career.
“He showed a lot of determination and enthusiasm about coming to UTPA and wanting to learn about the students,” Garcia said.
She added that Nelsen also talked with them about how he’s learned from his previous experiences and how he can bring them here.
“I like him,” she said. “He’s got a lot of good goals for the university.”
Nelsen will take office Jan. 1, and will be counseled by Charles “Chuck” Sorber who will serve as his transition aide till mid to late January. Sorber has served as interim president since February; former president Blandina “Bambi” Cardenas retired on Jan. 30 after serving for four and a half years.
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