UTSA PREP
PREP TEAM
OUR STRONG FOUNDATION
For over 40 years, the UTSA Pre-freshman Engineering Program (PREP) has empowered young students to believe in themselves by experiencing interesting and challenging STEM content. PREP, founded by UTSA Professor Emeritus, Dr. Manuel Berriozábal, a life-long champion of mathematics education and student success, has demonstrated powerful impact on the academic and professional direction of thousands of participants. PREP is designed to offer culturally relevant, research-based instruction in mathematics, physical science, engineering design and problem solving. Our goal is reach a broad range of young learners, particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds or low-income households.
While the hallmark of PREP continues to consist of highly-engaging summer classes for 6th-12th grade students, we are expanding our efforts to establish professional development opportunities for locally based K-12 teachers and providing STEM engagement activities for younger students. With consistent support and motivation at home, generous donors (Drs. Mathur and Kamat; and others) and initiatives like PREP, we can support the ideals of social mobility and equity, creating a professional workforce that closely aligns with the diversity of the entire community.
OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO DR. MANNY AND MRS. MÁRIA BERRIOZÁBAL FOR THEIR SHARED INSIGHT AND WISDOM AS WE GUIDE THE PREP PROGRAM SO THAT IT MAY CONTINUE MOTIVATING AND PREPARING THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. LEADERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE The PREP leadership team proudly contributes to the program’s continuing success by remaining engaged with key community partners, updating curriculum, and designing innovative learning experiences.
ARACELI MARTINEZ ORTIZ, PH.D.
PREP DIRECTOR
Dr. Araceli Martinez Ortiz is a leading voice in engineering education. Born in Mexico City and raised in Detroit, she excelled at math and science, and participated in multiple summers of the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), a program similar in approach to PREP. Dr. Ortiz became a first- generation college student at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering where she received a Bachelors degree in industrial engineering. She earned her Ph.D. in engineering education at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Dr. Ortiz spent 15 years in industry as an engineer and engineering manager followed by a teaching and administrative career in K-12 STEM education. She has been a university professor for more than ten years and is now the UTSA Microsoft President’s Endowed Professor of Engineering Education and the Director of PREP.
GABRIELA GOMEZ, ED.D.
CURRICULUM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
YDANIA MEDINA-PEZZAT, DHSc.PREP PREP ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Dr. Ydania Medina-Pezzat is an educator with years of experience serving as a mentor, professor, administrator,
and conference speaker. With a passion for equity, she has successfully launched new educational programs and community partnerships that provide access to learning
opportunities to all students, especially those from underserved areas of San Antonio.
Dr. Medina-Pezzat earned a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Texas Pan American.
She also holds a doctorate degree in Health Sciences with
an emphasis in Leadership and Organizational Behavior from A.T. Still University
MIA DE LEON
SENIOR EVENTS COORDINATOR
Dr. Gabriela Gomez is a San Antonio native with a bachelor’s degree in biology and secondary education, an M.Ed. in C&I with a focus in integrated science, and an Ed.D. in higher education administration. After 13 years as a high school science teacher and holding
various teacher leadership positions, she transitioned into higher education. Dr. Gomez began teaching C&I courses at UTSA, followed by her current position in PREP. As a former PREP
student, she is grateful for the opportunity to contribute her expertise and continue to give students the opportunity she was once offered.
Mia de Leon is originally from Corpus Christi, Texas. She completed her undergraduate degree from Texas State University in December 2015 where she majored in Public
Administration with a minor in Diversity studies. Here, she became committed to serving the community. After a career in the San Antonio event world, Mia achieved her goal of working
for a university. While she is new to the PREP team, she has worked for UTSA for five years.
UTSA KCEID and COEHD:
The Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and the College of Education
and Human Development partner to support the UTSA PREP program.
The mission of the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design is to identify and
solve grand challenges where humanity intersects the physical world. The vision is to cultivate a lively,
diverse and resilient community where new knowledge and innovative solutions are developed through
exploration and research that substantially improve lives in our local area and around the globe.The
Klesse College focuses on identifying and solving grand challenges where humanity intersects the
physical world. It serves as an incubator for academic research and inquiry across disparate, yet
complimentary, academic fields that work cohesively to improve the world around us. Recognized as a
leader for social mobility, cultural diversity and equity of opportunity, our students are challenged to
leverage their unique skills and perspectives in hands-on, experiential learning opportunities preparing
them to excel in the workplace. Link: https://klesse.utsa.edu/
The College of Education and Health Development’s mission is to be an international model for
developing inclusive, transformative leaders guided by principles of community, integrity,
equity, excellence, diversity, scholarship and service. The college will have a critical impact on
the realization of human and community potential through its leadership in education, health
and wellness, human development and policy studies. All programs of study include a focus on
developing competencies for working effectively in multicultural and cross-national contexts.
Link: https://education.utsa.edu/about/mission-and-vision.html
