Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
For more than three decades, South Texas College faculty Ricardo and Abigail Rodriguez, Ed.D., have mentored generations of students while building a life together.
What began as two young educators saying yes to a growing institution became the founding of STC’s Medical Assistant Technology and Pharmacy Technology programs and the expansion of health care training across the Rio Grande Valley.
“I have been with the college for more than 30 years. I started in 1993, even before it was officially established,” said Abigail, 57. “A couple of years later, my husband joined me and we have been here ever since. It has been a wonderful experience. STC has given us more than we ever imagined.”
Abigail was born and raised in Ohio before moving to the RGV as a teenager. Determined to pursue a medical career, she earned bachelor’s degrees in Pre-med Biology and Physician Assistant Studies.
It was during her college years at the former University of Texas-Pan American, now the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), that she met Ricardo, 60, in 1991 while working as a teaching assistant.
Ricardo, an Edinburg native and Biology major with a minor in Chemistry, was still discovering his professional path.
“I saw her walking out of the teaching assistant office and that’s when I first laid eyes on her,” he said. “I was determined to get to know her, and our lives were never the same.”
Referring to themselves as “college sweethearts,” the couple married in 1995.
Neither initially set out to become career educators, but both found themselves drawn to the classroom. Abigail began teaching Medical Terminology and other health courses at STC in 1993, and Ricardo joined her in 1996.
“As a teaching assistant, I discovered a passion for the classroom, but I was also committed to health care,” Abigail said. “I was at a crossroads until a friend encouraged me to combine the two. To this day, I love seeing students master new skills.”
Their dedication would soon lead to one of the biggest challenges of their careers.
In the late 1990s, STC administrators asked a pivotal question: What programs did the community need?”
Spending several years in the classroom helped Abigail understand the gaps.
“At the time, health care programs were limited to Emergency Medical Services, Nursing, Patient Care and Medical Information,” she said. “When I was asked what the college needed, I suggested Medical Assistant Technology. I had worked as a medical assistant in college and knew there was a need.”
Pharmacy Technology soon entered the conversation as well; an idea Ricardo had been considering.
Together, the couple began researching both programs, visiting colleges out of town, studying curriculum models and surveying workforce demand.
After months of research and proposal development, both programs were approved by the STC Board and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Pharmacy Technology launched in the fall of 1999, followed by Medical Assistant Technology in the spring of 2000. Ricardo led the pharmacy program, while Abigail guided the medical assistant program from its first cohort of seven students.
“We started with only seven students, and over the years we grew to 80 in practicum at one point,” she said. “Today, I still serve as coordinator for the program and I just love it. There is nothing better than watching students grow and step into their careers.”
As accreditation standards for Pharmacy Technology evolved and required a licensed pharmacist to oversee the pharmacy program, Ricardo transitioned into another division. He now teaches within the Education program, continuing his work with students across the institution.
“I’m proud to say that in nearly 30 years I’ve taught at every STC campus, from Weslaco to Starr County,” he said. “My favorite part is connecting with students. I tell them, ‘I sat where you sit.’ Many arrive facing challenges, and our responsibility is to understand their circumstances and help them move forward.”
Over the years, as the college has grown, so have they. Ricardo earned a master’s degree in Education in 2021, while Abigail completed a master’s degree in Management before achieving her longtime goal of becoming a doctor by earning a doctorate in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education in 2023.
But their proudest accomplishments extend beyond the classroom: raising two children while building their careers.
In a full-circle moment, both their children attended and graduated from STC. Their son earned an associate degree in Business Management before completing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Technology while their daughter earned an associate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
“STC has been a blessing to our family,” Abigail said “It has allowed us to grow as individuals and as professionals. It has given us a life.”
Today, the couple is just a few years away from retirement, hoping to finish their careers side by side at the institution where their journey began.
They are also grandparents to two young grandchildren, a new chapter that brings renewed energy and perspective.
“I could retire already, but we want to do it together,” Ricardo said. “The fire is still there. I don’t ever want to stop teaching, but sometimes the body reminds you it’s been a long journey.”
And long after their final class is dismissed, the programs they built and the students they mentored will continue the work they began.
“I just hope the programs we built continue to grow,” she said. “We poured so much into establishing them and I want to see them keep serving students long after we’re gone.”
For more information on STC’s Health Science Professions programs visit nah.southtexascollege.edu/ or call 956-872-3226.
