Meet the Transition University TEAM

Dr. Mariya Davis,
Principal Investigator

Dr. Mariya Davis is an Associate Professor of Special Education and the Principal Investigator for Transition University, overseeing research and project implementation. Her work and expertise centers on transition to post-school environments for students with disabilities.  Dr. Davis is a proud Army Veteran’s wife and Air Force Mom! In her free time, Dr. Davis likes to paint, garden, cook, and spend time with her family.

Dr. Eric J. López,
Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Eric J. López is a Professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Dr. López has over 20 years of higher education experience & works with underserved communities. Dr. López was an American Council on Education Fellow (2016-2017). His research interests include multicultural assessment, consultation and intervention. Dr. López enjoys gardening, hiking and listening to and playing conjunto and mariachi music.

Dr. Gavin Watts,
Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Gavin Watts is the co-lead of the Transition University Program as well as an Assistant Professor of Special Education at A&M-SA.  Dr. Watts is an avid golfer, bike rider, and in his free time, enjoys camping and exploring the vastness of West Texas.

Felix Flores
Instructional AI/Technology Specialist

Felix Flores Amaya is an Instructional AI/Technology Specialist at Texas A&M University–San Antonio. He supports the integration of AI and technology to enhance academic and career development initiatives, with a focus on digital literacy and workforce readiness. He previously served as a Senior Program Analyst for the City of San Antonio’s workforce development efforts and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity at Texas A&M University–San Antonio.

Contact info:
Email: ffloresamay@tamusa.edu
Office: 210-784-2724

Lauren Huerta, M.Ed.
Transition University Career and Employment Specialist

Ms. Huerta is a recent graduate degree recipient from Texas Tech University and Transition University's Career and Employment Specialist. Some of Ms. Huerta's favorite hobbies include knitting, sewing, spending time with family, and going tubing in the Comal River.

Contact info:
Email: lhuerta@tamusa.edu
Office: 210-784-2723