UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship

539 graduates. One extraordinary day.

To every student who crossed the stage this May 16th - this moment belongs to you. The late nights, the hard calls, the relentless drive to see it through. The Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship is proud to call you one of our own.

To Dr. Giorgio Gotti and every faculty and staff member who poured their expertise and time into this graduating class - thank you for holding the standard high and helping our students rise to meet it.

And to the families, friends, and loved ones who showed up - in every sense of the word - this diploma has your name on it too. You believed when it was hard. You sacrificed when it mattered. Today is yours as much as theirs.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. Go make us proud.

That’s a wrap on another incredible semester at RCVCOBE! Our students have shown exactly what it means to be a future leader in business. We're sure the summer has a ton in store: perhaps it involves a prestigious internship, starting a new full-time role, or simply taking a well-deserved break from the books. Overall, we couldn't be prouder of your hard work.

A few wishes for our RCVCOBE community this summer:
Recharge, take the time to rest and reset for the journey ahead.
Stay safe, in case you have plans of traveling abroad or even local, keep safety a priority.
Stay connected, keep building those networks and checking in with your peers!

To our returning students: We can’t wait to see the energy and ideas you bring back to campus in the fall.
To our recent graduates: Go out and show the world what an RCVCOBE education can do!

Have a safe, happy, and productive summer, Vaqueros!

A new chapter of excellence has begun. Yesterday, we gathered to celebrate over 50 graduates from the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship as they crossed the stage at our Hooding Ceremony!

From our MACC, MSBA, MSHRM, MSGTM, and MBA programs, these individuals have proven their dedication to the craft of business. We also want to recognize the families and mentors whose unwavering support made this milestone possible.

The Significance of the Hood is rooted in 14th-century academic tradition, the hooding ceremony is more than just a ritual; it is a formal recognition of a student’s transition into a "master" of their field. The vibrant colors worn today signify the specific discipline mastered and the institution that helped forge that expertise.

To our newest RCVCOBE alumni: You carry the weight of this tradition with you. We are honored to call you our own and can’t wait to see the legacy you build!

Last week, we concluded our French Crash Course Pilot Program to prepare students for their upcoming summer study-abroad programs! Associate Professor Suzanne Lalonde facilitated the sessions, using café and restaurant role-plays to build conversational confidence for all participants. Student Heidy Briz, heading to Italy for international marketing, found the immersive instruction highly motivating and was glad to have met peers within the same program. We thank the Dean’s Office for providing this learning opportunity to our students ready to embark on global adventures!

An unforgettable evening dedicated to the next generation of accounting leaders! We gathered with students, faculty, and distinguished guests to celebrate academic excellence and professional growth. A true highlight of the night was the presentation of thousands of dollars in scholarships to our brilliant accounting students, marking a significant investment in their futures. We extend our deepest gratitude to the UTRGV School of Accountancy and the Dean’s Office for their steadfast commitment to student success.

Congratulations to Jose Hernandez Limas for being recognized as the Graduate Student Leader of the Year by the Center for Student Involvement. As an MBA student and the President of the Graduate Business Leaders of America (GBLA) at RCVCOBE, Jose has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to professional development, networking, and community service. We thank Jose for his outstanding leadership: under his guidance, the GBLA continues to provide vital opportunities for graduate students to connect with business leaders and sharpen their executive skills.

Congratulations to the 2026 Vackar Student Scholars on the successful completion of their research presentations! We are proud of this cohort's dedication to pushing the boundaries of student research. A huge thank you to the faculty mentors, the Vackar family, and everyone who stopped by to support these future industry leaders. We look forward to seeing where these scholars take their talent next!

A night of growth and gratitude! Our RCVCOBE Spring Gala was a beautiful tribute to the dedication and impact of our student organizations. We loved coming together to recognize the incredible work taking place across campus and celebrating the vibrant community our students build every day. Thanks to everyone for making it an unforgettable evening of celebration!

We are delighted to share a significant new study in the RCVCOBE CBESt Border Business Briefs titled “Occupations, Wages, and Artificial Intelligence in the Rio Grande Valley”. Co-authored by our own Economics faculty, Drs. Maroula Khraiche, Elisa Taveras Pena, and Jean-Baptiste Tondji, this brief offers a deep dive into the region's labor market dynamics.

By analyzing worker data alongside O*NET skill requirements, the researchers map out how local occupations and wages intersect with the rising tide of AI-driven transformation, providing a clear-eyed look at the risks and opportunities unique to the RGV. The study shows that while AI exposure is higher in some well-paid, information-intensive roles, the RGV's most in-demand jobs, particularly in healthcare and education, currently show lower susceptibility to these technological shifts. Crucially, it is argued that AI exposure should not be equated simply with job loss, but rather a reorganization of tasks that puts a premium on human adaptability. Through these insights, our professors emphasize that continued investment in high-level reasoning, communication, and digital capabilities will be essential to ensuring our regional workforce remains resilient and ready for the future of work.