TU CASA TEAM - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Meet the TU CASA TEAM

Dr. Mariya Davis,
Principal Investigator

Dr. Mariya Davis is an Associate Professor of Special Education and the Principal Investigator for TU CASA, 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 TU CASA 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.

Veronica Kallead,
Project Director

Veronica graduated from TAMUSA and has worked in education for over 21 years. She loves exploring different places to visit, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Dominique Vera,
Employment Coordinator

Dominique received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from TAMUSA in 2019. Some of her favorite things to do are to travel, workout, and hike. One of her goals is to visit all the national parks in the United States and eventually around the world.

Joshua Aguilar,
Academic Coordinator

Joshua Aguilar graduated from Texas A&M University in 2018 with a Master of Education degree in Curriculum & Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 2012. He enjoys traveling to different countries, learning about different cultures, cooking up new recipes, and spending time with his family and friends.

Verona Labrador,
Support Specialist

Verona Labrador received her Master’s Degree in Jurisprudence with a Compliance, Business Law and Risk Concentration from St. Mary’s University and is an A&M-SA alumnus. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and being outdoors.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” —Theodore Roosevelt

Victoria Lopez,
Student Success Coach

Victoria is a senior and transfer from San Antonio College. She has an associates in teaching EC-12 special education and is currently working on getting a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies special education generalist EC-6. She wants to be a special education coordinator in the future. Victoria loves the community here at this university and that it feels like a family. She loves to hang out with her family, and friends, listen to music, and to watch anime, Disney, and nickelodeon.

Patricia Garcia,
Student Success Coach

Patricia Garcia is currently a senior and working towards a Bachelors Degree in English with a teaching certification and a Minor in special education. Some of her favorite things to do are spending time with friends, watching new movies, and writing for fun.

Alyssa Leyba,
Student Success Coach

Alyssa is a Senior working on her bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies concentrated in Special Education EC-6. She is expecting to graduate in May 2024. Alyssa loves working with kids and is excited to start teaching next year. She also loves to be with her family and dog, loves reading and to work on arts & crafts in her spare time.

Serena Kallead,
Student Success Coach

Serena is a transfer student from UTSA school of music. She will be graduating in May of 2024 with a bachelor's in multidisciplinary studies with a concentration in education. She loves to watch new girl, cook, and hike.

Dr. Mariya Davis, Principal Investigator Dr. Mariya Davis is an Associate Professor of Special Education and the Principal Investigator for TU CASA, 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 TU CASA 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.
	Veronica Kallead, Project Director Veronica graduated from TAMUSA and has worked in education for over 21 years. She loves exploring different places to visit, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Dominique Vera, Employment Coordinator Dominique received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from TAMUSA in 2019. Some of her favorite things to do are to travel, workout, and hike. One of her goals is to visit all the national parks in the United States and eventually around the world.
	Joshua Aguilar, Academic Coordinator Joshua Aguilar graduated from Texas A&M University in 2018 with a Master of Education degree in Curriculum & Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 2012. He enjoys traveling to different countries, learning about different cultures, cooking up new recipes, and spending time with his family and friends.
Verona Labrador, Support Specialist Verona Labrador received her Master’s Degree in Jurisprudence with a Compliance, Business Law and Risk Concentration from St. Mary’s University and is an A&M-SA alumnus. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and being outdoors. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” —Theodore Roosevelt
	Victoria Lopez, Student Success Coach Victoria is a senior and transfer from San Antonio College. She has an associates in teaching EC-12 special education and is currently working on getting a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies special education generalist EC-6. She wants to be a special education coordinator in the future. Victoria loves the community here at this university and that it feels like a family. She loves to hang out with her family, and friends, listen to music, and to watch anime, Disney, and nickelodeon.
Patricia Garcia, Student Success Coach Patricia Garcia is currently a senior and working towards a Bachelors Degree in English with a teaching certification and a Minor in special education. Some of her favorite things to do are spending time with friends, watching new movies, and writing for fun.
	Alyssa Leyba, Student Success Coach Alyssa is a Senior working on her bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies concentrated in Special Education EC-6. She is expecting to graduate in May 2024. Alyssa loves working with kids and is excited to start teaching next year. She also loves to be with her family and dog, loves reading and to work on arts & crafts in her spare time.
Serena Kallead, Student Success Coach Serena is a transfer student from UTSA school of music. She will be graduating in May of 2024 with a bachelor's in multidisciplinary studies with a concentration in education. She loves to watch new girl, cook, and hike.