UTRGV Department of Psychological Science

10/08/2026

🧠 Mental Health Awareness Week is about more than raising awareness. It’s about breaking the silence, reducing stigma, and building a supportive community.

This week, Dr. Bermio-Gonzalez shares the importance of having open conversations about mental health, supporting one another, and recognizing that seeking help is a sign of strength.

She also highlights practical self-care and coping strategies, reminding us that taking care of our mental well-being doesn’t always have to be expensive. Sometimes, simple, low-cost or free activities can make a difference in how we manage stress and support our emotional well-being.

💚 Now we want to hear from you! What are some healthy coping strategies or self-care activities you use to manage stress? Share your favorites in the comments and help others discover new ways to prioritize their mental health!

Remember, mental health matters, and no one should have to struggle alone.

Need support?
UTRGV Vaquero Crisis Hotline: 665-5555
988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

10/02/2026

Thinking about a PhD in Clinical Psychology? 👀🧠

Hear directly from our UTRGV Clinical Psychology PhD students as they share what they’ve gained from the program and the advice they have for future applicants.

If you’re considering a PhD in Clinical Psychology and looking for opportunities in doctoral training, psychological research, and clinical psychology, learn more about the UTRGV Clinical Psychology PhD Program.

🎓 Applications are now open!
📅 Application deadline: January 6
🔗 Apply at http://utrgv.edu/gradapply

Want to hear more about the program? Stay tuned for more posts with tips as you prepare for graduate school. 🤠🧡

09/18/2026

Welcome to the UTRGV Department of Psychological Science! 🧡🧠

We are excited to welcome our newest faculty members, Ms. Amberly Vela and Dr. Melissa Briones Zamora, who join us as Lecturers. We are happy to have you as part of our Psychology familia and look forward to a great year together!

Please join us in giving them a warm welcome! 👋

08/25/2026

IT’S TODAY! IT’S TODAY! 🧠🧡
It’s officially UTRGV Day of Giving, and today YOU can make a difference for the Department of Psychological Science! 🤠
Every gift, no matter the size, directly supports our Psychology community and helps create meaningful opportunities for our students, faculty, and department.
Whether you’re a student, alum, faculty or staff member, friend, or supporter of Psychology, today is your chance to help us keep learning, researching, growing, and making an impact. 🧠✨
🧡 Make a difference for UTRGV Psychology today:�https://donate.utrgv.edu/2026-day-of-giving/?a=13668224

08/21/2026

08/16/2026

Still need one more class for Fall 2026? 🍂🧠

Explore our Psychology electives and find one that fits your interests (and your schedule 👀).

From body image and animal welfare to controversial topics and hands-on internship experience, there’s something for everyone!

Which one are you taking? Drop it in the comments! 🧡

08/13/2026

🎉 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭!

We are excited to introduce the newest group of students in our 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 (𝐀𝐁𝐀) 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 as they begin their journey at UTRGV.

Interested in joining the program? 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕!

For more information about the program and application process, contact 𝐃𝐫. 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐳𝐚, 𝐀𝐁𝐀 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫, at 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞.𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐳𝐚𝟎𝟏@𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐠𝐯.𝐞𝐝𝐮.

🤠 We look forward to seeing all that this cohort accomplishes and welcoming our next group of Vaqueros!

08/12/2026

🧠🧡 Support UTRGV Psychology this Day of Giving!

UTRGV Day of Giving is August 25, and we’re inviting our Psychology community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends, and supporters, to help us continue creating meaningful opportunities within our department.

When you choose to give to the UTRGV Department of Psychological Science, your support stays within our department and directly benefits our students, our faculty, and our people. Every gift, no matter the size, can help support the incredible work happening here, from student learning and research to professional development and new opportunities to grow, discover, and succeed. 🧠✨

We’re incredibly proud of everything our Psychology community accomplishes, and with your support, we can keep those opportunities growing.

🤠 Help us invest in the future of UTRGV Psychology and the people who make our department so special.

🧡 Give today: https://donate.utrgv.edu/2026-day-of-giving/?a=13668224

05/13/2026

We are incredibly proud to celebrate our very own Dr. Marcus Galle, Lecturer III in the Department of Psychological Science at UTRGV, on receiving the Faculty Impact Award in Teaching. 🎉🏆

Dr. Galle’s dedication to his students, passion for teaching, and commitment to making psychology meaningful and engaging continue to leave a lasting impact in and beyond the classroom. 📚✨ We are grateful for the care, enthusiasm, and excellence he brings to our department and university community every day.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Galle on this well-deserved recognition. 👏🧠

05/01/2026

🎉 Exciting news from UTRGV Department of Psychological Science!
Dr. Cecilia Montiel-Nava and her team have been awarded $650,088 from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Autism Grant Program to expand access to autism support services in the Rio Grande Valley.

The project, "Comparative Delivery Model of Skills Training for Diverse Populations," will evaluate scalable delivery formats of the WHO's Caregiver Skills Training (CST) — a free, evidence-based program that helps parents and caregivers support children ages 2–9 with autism spectrum disorder or developmental concerns in everyday settings.

The RGV is a predominantly Latino, Spanish-speaking, and underserved region, and this project builds on our team's prior work culturally and linguistically adapting the CST program for Spanish-speaking families. The research will run through March 2028.

Congratulations to Dr. Montiel-Nava and co-investigators Drs. Valeria Yllades, Maria Montenegro, Christelle Garza, and Valerie Neeley! 👏