UHV staff member named communications chair for state organization
Philip Garza understands what it is like to be a first-time college student because he was a first-generation college graduate himself. Now, he will be able to combine his marketing and recruitment skills and personal experiences in a new role in a state organization.
Garza, the marketing and recruitment director for the University of Houston-Victoria's College of Education & Health Professions, recently was elected as communications chair for the Texas Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals, also known as TxGAP, a state-wide professional organization dedicated to the needs of graduate enrollment professionals in Texas. TxGAP is the official chapter of the National Association for Graduate Enrollment Management, also known as NAGAP.
“I am excited to be the newly elected communications chair for TxGAP,” Garza said. “This work is important, and I take great joy in assisting all students. One of my favorite areas is working with those who are first-generation college students. I can understand the importance of the admissions process and making sure they have all the information that is needed will hopefully make the transition a little easier.”
Garza is a double alumnus of UHV. He graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in 2009 and received his Master of Education in adult and higher education in 2021. He has worked at UHV since 2019, where he works in recruitment and marketing for the college of education and manages marketing and social media for the college. He also works directly with school districts throughout the Crossroads and Houston areas and the state to help build partnerships and help prospective students find the best graduate program for their needs. Garza works with local businesses as well to promote UHV programs to employees who would like to start or finish college.
“We are happy that Philip has been given the opportunity to use his skills in an organization that represents education,” said Rachel Martinez, dean of the UHV College of Education & Health Professions. “Philip does a great job in supporting our students, and I am sure he will use that same energy and drive to help the organization with its goals.”
Garza will serve a two-year term in this role. He joined the organization in 2020 after looking for organizations that pertained to how to best support graduate students and graduate schools, as well as ideas for recruitment efforts at UHV and to network with other universities. Because of the pandemic, Garza wasn’t able to attend a meeting until last year, and liked the organization and the mission so much that he wanted more opportunities to participate and serve.
In this role, he will manage the communications for the organization’s social media and announce current and upcoming events for the group. He also will assist in providing communication for the group’s website and for the group’s summer conference in North Texas. Garza looks forward to attending the conference, which will include speakers who will talk about key topics in higher education including tuition and financial aid assistance. He also looks forward to meeting with others in higher education and learning how different concepts can be applied here at UHV to help current and prospective students.
“I am excited about my part in this board and working with colleagues across the state,” Garza said. “When we work as a team, we can help break down barriers to those who want access to higher education and work toward the betterment of our students.”
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.