MARÍA DÍAZ
Weslaco,TX
Summary
Reliable, well-organized, and detailed-oriented candidate leveraging 5 years of experience in higher education helping students achieve their educational goals. Versed in case-management, student advising, coordinating projects, and student events with successfully proven track record of resolving student affairs in a professional and efficient manner. I am seeking to utilize these skills and experiences to streamline the admission process and enhance productivity within the department. Through strategic planning, and effective communication, I aim to cultivate a seamless experience for both applicants and staff, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the admissions process at South Texas College.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Academic Advisor
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX
12.2023 - Current
- Mentor perspective students on career choices and identify academic goals.
- Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
- Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.
- Monitor each student’s academic progress to ensure good standing.
- Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
- Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
- Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment, admissions, and enrollment activities.
- Presented students with information and resources to promote academic progress and empowered students to take responsibility for academic success.
- Collaborated with probationary students to implement academic plans, leading to higher GPAs and retention.
- Advised students on course selection, pathways and career options.
- Reviewed and interpreted placement and other standardized test scores.
- Assisted students in completing appropriate forms for financial aid and financing processes.
- Evaluated transfer credits from other institutions and determined how they would apply towards a degree program.
- Collaborated with faculty members to ensure that students were meeting all necessary prerequisites for courses.
Texas Work Advisor II
Texas Health & Human Services Commission
McAllen, TX
07.2022 - 12.2023
- Perform routine eligibility determinations for social services programs.
- Interview clients, document current information gathered, determine benefits, and verify case data.
- Work under moderate supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.
- Explain program benefits, requirements, rights of appeal, and fair hearings to clients.
- Establish priorities according to relative importance and deadlines.
- Identify discrepancies and conflicting information provided by the clients.
- Set goals and manage time efficiently.
Program Specialist
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX
04.2021 - 03.2022
- Collect, compile, and analyze data related to program activities, outcomes, and participant demographics to assess program effectiveness and inform decision-making.
- Provide support and guidance to students participating in program activities, including advising, mentoring, and connecting them with resources and opportunities for academic and personal development.
- Provide administrative support to program directors, faculty, and staff, including scheduling meetings, maintaining records, preparing reports, and managing correspondence.
- Coordinate and support various programs and initiatives within the department, ensuring smooth implementation and adherence to program goals and objectives.
- Plan, organize, and execute events such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and outreach activities to support the program's mission and objectives.
- Enter student data in CRM Software System and handle daily database maintenance.
Student Project Associate
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX
11.2018 - 04.2021
- Assist in grant writing, proposal development, and grant management activities, including preparing funding applications, progress reports, and grant-related documentation.
- Draft the Senior Countdown proposal and facilitated team communications to ensure project deliverables within all proposed deadlines.
- Collaborate with other project team members, including faculty, staff, and other student associates, to achieve project goals and deliverables. Participate in team meetings and contribute ideas and insights.
- Using CRM software, organize and maintain project-related data and documentation, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance with relevant regulations and policies.
- Assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of projects within the department or research group, ensuring that project objectives are met on time and within budget.
Education
Master of Arts - Experimental Psychology, BCBA
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX12-2021
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Minor in Sociology
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX12-2016
Skills
- Empathy
- Punctuality
- Solution-oriented
- Diversity and inclusion
- Bilingual: English & Spanish
- Diplomacy and conflict resolution abilities
- Customer service, and interpersonal communication
- Team-player able to balance collaborative and independent work
- Computer proficiency using Teams, Zooms, One Drive, MS Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, EAB Navigate, Banner, Ellucian DegreeWorks, Perceptive Content, Webfocus, Campus Nexus (CRM) for Higher Education
Work History
- Academic Advisor, UTRGV, Edinburg TX: 12/2023 to current (full-time)
- Texas Work Advisor II, HHSC, McAllen TX: 06/2022 to 12/2023 (full-time)
- Program Specialist, UTRGV, Edinburg TX: 04/2021 to 03/2022 (full-time)
- Sales Associate, Anime Boom, McAllen TX: 03/2020 to 07/2020 (part-time) (seasonal)
- Student Project Associate, UTRGV, Edinburg TX: 11/2018 to 03/2021 (full-time)
- Behavior Interventionist, The Behavioral Effect, McAllen TX: 11/2018 to 05/2019 (part-time)
- Youth Summer Camp Instructor, Boys & Girls Club, McAllen TX: 05/2018 to 08/2018 (full-time) (seasonal)
- Work Study, UTRGV, Edinburg TX: 06/2013 to 12/2015 (part-time)
- Hostess, KOBE Sushi Hibachi Bar, Mission TX: 01/2013 to 06/2013 (part-time)
Volunteer Experience
- President: Applied Behavior Analysis Research Society - Fall 2018 to Spring 2019
- Vice-President: Mental Health Matters at UTRGV - Fall 2018
- Interventionist: Autism Services Program at UTRGV - Spring to Fall 2017
- Fundraising Assistant: Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology at UTRGV - Fall 2016
- Public Relations Officer: Psychology Club at UTRGV - Fall 2015 to Spring 2016
- Volunteer: Strides for Fany/Ascensos por Fany - Summer 2015 to Present
- High School Coordinator: Minority Affairs Council at UTPA - Spring 2014
- Jr. Staff: Summer Camps at Boys & Girls Club of America - Summer 2009 to Summer 2011
References
Hector Ramon Pena | Professional Counseling & Therapy Counselor
PSJA School District, and Boys & Girls Club in Weslaco
hrpena2544@gmail.com
(956) 376-9692
- - - - - - - - - -
Jerome Wiggings | Career Advisor
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
jerome.wiggins01@utrgv.edu
(202) 910-2361
- - - - - - - - - -
Jose Flores | Academic Advisor
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
jose.flores29@utrgv.edu
(956) 208-8262
Timeline
Academic Advisor
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
12.2023 - Current
Texas Work Advisor II
Texas Health & Human Services Commission
07.2022 - 12.2023
Program Specialist
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
04.2021 - 03.2022
Student Project Associate
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
11.2018 - 04.2021
Master of Arts - Experimental Psychology, BCBA
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Minor in Sociology
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
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