New Faculty: Dr. Maria Romero-Ramirez

The fall semester of 2011 at Texas A&M International University started off with some new changes and employing of new university faculty. The newest addition to the Psychology department is Assistant Professor Dr. Maria Romero –Ramirez.

Dr.  Maria Romero-Ramirez is from the Rio Grande Valley area and was born and raised in Donna, Texas. Upon graduating high school she attended the University of Texas-Pan America and received a Bachelors and Masters degree in Psychology. Psychology was always an interest to Dr.Romero-Ramirez, and it was something she decided to do a very long time ago. "I always knew psychology was my passion and what I wanted to invest essentially 12 years or more of my life into my academic career," says Dr. Romero-Ramirez.

  After receiving her Bachelors and Masters, Dr. Romero –Ramirez continued her education to pursue a Doctoral degree. She left to Madison, Wisconsin, where she received her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Psychology.  Dr. Romero-Ramirez's college experience is similar to that of most TAMIU students, late nights at the computer lab and library, a lot of studying, and trying to balance work and school.

 Prior to joining TAMIU she taught at California State University in Fresno, California. Currently this semester Dr. Romero-Ramirez teaches Psychology of Aging and the Counseling Practicum Internship in the graduate program.  Under the graduate program she is a counseling supervisor for students wanting to be counselors and interested in getting their degree in Counseling Psychology.

Dr. Romero-Ramirez is very enthusiastic about joining the Dustdevils and says thus far she has had good experiences with faculty and students. The TAMIU/Laredo culture is much like her home and she is adjusting very well. Her expectation for this school year is for her students to gain something they did not have prior to entering her class. She also wants to continue writing and plans on finishing up her writing projects in order to get them published in journals.

 Dr. Romero-Ramirez believes there is a shortage of Spanish speaking bilingual therapists and psychologists in the field of psychology. Her advice to students interested in the field of psychology is to continue to their studies and keep at. "It's a long road but it's worth traveling, you're going to feel a great sense of accomplishment," says Dr. Romero-Ramirez.  

 (For more information you may contact Karla Olmos at karla.olmos@dusty.tamiu.edu)