RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque announced on Wednesday the addition of six staff members including Assistant Athletic Trainer LaNiece Brown, Facilities and Equipment Coordinator Jose Castilleja Jr., Academic Success Advisor Denise Jackson, Athletics Graphic Designer Loisa Perez, Ticket Sales and Operations Coordinator Ryela Rodriguez and Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations (Travel) Gricelda Saavedra. 
 
After a terrific 2021-2022 year for UTRGV Athletics that saw new records set in ticket sales, corporate partnerships and philanthropic giving, the new additions will fill crucial roles to continue the momentum for the athletic department and the academic and competitive success of the Vaqueros student-athletes. 
 
LaNiece Brown 
Brown became an Assistant Athletic Trainer with UTRGV Athletics on July 5. She earned her Master of Science in Athletic Training from Rowan University in the spring of 2022. While at Rowan, she spent time as an athletic trainer for various teams, including Rowan's football, track & field, baseball and field hockey programs, as well as high schools in the area. She has experience as a personal trainer and did a summer internship with the New York Jets in 2020. 
 
Brown currently works with the women's basketball, women's tennis and men's golf teams. Her days start early as she helps the women's tennis student-athletes get ready for practice. She sits in on team practices to provide medical coverage and facilitates injury rehabilitation and treatments for student-athletes before and after practices. Brown documents procedures and progress to help keep the Vaqueros at their best for competition. She is detail-oriented, good at communicating, resourceful and quick at decision-making, resulting in her being a top-tier athletic trainer for UTRGV student-athletes. 
 
"My time at UTRGV has been amazing. Being a part of UTRGV Athletics makes me feel like I'm part of a big family that's always making sure that I'm adjusting well and looking out for me. Although the Rio Grande Valley is far from home, I love that the UTRGV family has helped me make the Valley a new home that I love," Brown said. 
 
Jose Castilleja Jr. 
Castilleja will be working with the Events and Facilities Management team as the Facilities and Equipment Coordinator. Castilleja got a bachelor's degree in Exercise Sports Science from Wayland Baptist University and just completed his Master's in Sports Management at UTRGV in the spring of 2022. He is a Rio Grande Valley native and graduate of PSJA North High School. 
 
While at Wayland Baptist, Castilleja was an equipment management assistant and student football coach from 2014-16. He conducted safety measures on football equipment and maintained and distributed equipment and gear, including keeping records and inventory for travel and storage purposes. He's familiar with coordinating home event operations and handling various equipment, and is adept at organization, inventory and working interdepartmentally because of his time at WBU and as an overnight and drugstore general manager at HEB. Castilleja brings good communication and conflict resolution skills and a strong work ethic to UTRGV. 
 
"It feels stimulating to be joining the UTRGV athletics department and I am excited to learn new skills working in my new position," Castilleja said. "I have always loved being around the athletic environment and now I get to pursue a career with UTRGV Athletics to work on off-the-field athletic business." 
 
Denise Jackson 
Jackson is joining the Student Services staff as the Academic Success Advisor. Previously, she was an Academic Success Coach at Texas A&M International, responsible for similar tasks she'll be completing at UTRGV of creating purposeful interactions with student-athletes to individualize educational plans. She's experienced with knowing policies and procedures related to satisfactory academic progress and academic issues. Jackson will be working in the Victory Center, offering guidance, assistance and resources to push the Vaqueros to reach their academic goals. 
 
Jackson is a Rio Grande Valley native and a graduate of McAllen Rowe High School. She received a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from UTRGV in 2019. Her persistence and eagerness to do the best she can by her student-athletes will help her and the Vaqueros she serves be successful. 
 
"I am very excited to be back home at UTRGV and to work closely with our student-athletes. It is an extreme honor and I am ready to help them succeed," Jackson said.  
 
Loisa Perez 
Perez is the new Athletics Graphic Designer and will be working cross-functionally with University Marketing and Communications (UMC). She is a Rio Grande Valley native and graduate of South Texas ISD Health Professions. Perez received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Baylor in Dec. 2018. 
 
While at Baylor, Perez was a graphic design intern, print shop assistant and worked for Institutional Events, which gave her the opportunity to design for a variety of campus events including Baylor football games. As a freelance designer and illustrator, she has designed templates and textile patterns, facilitated the production process for athletic apparel, created illustrations and more for clients in the music and apparel industries. She worked as a graphic designer and production artist for Miami Fitwear in 2021 and was responsible for driving up monthly sales as she designed and directed marketing campaigns that increased traffic to the company's website and social media. 
 
Perez hopes to increase student, alumni and community support at Vaqueros competitions using unique, standout visuals for marketing collateral. Working also with UMC, she's aiming to grow UTRGV's brand nationally and globally. 
 
"I'm feeling incredibly optimistic and humbled to be a part of such a wonderful, tight-knit community that clearly cares immensely about the students at UTRGV," Perez said. "It means the world to me to be given the chance to express myself and share my talent for design within the athletics department, because sports can easily become the face of a university on the national stage. It's so exciting to be surrounded by such a competent, unique and talented group of peers within UTRGV Athletics as well as UMC." 
 
Ryela Rodriguez
Rodriguez joined UTRGV Athletics as the Ticket Sales and Operations Coordinator on May 16. She is responsible for selling and renewing season tickets for the Vaqueros teams and has taken point over volleyball ticketing, facilitating a record 181 volleyball season ticket holders. Volleyball has hosted three crowds of over 1,100 fans through the first six home games. Rodriguez also manages the tickets box office on game days for all UTRGV home events and assists the ticketing team in generating revenue for the department. 
 
Prior to UTRGV, Rodriguez became familiar with the workings of collegiate athletics as an employee at the National Junior College Athletic Association's (NJCAA) National Office and was involved with fan engagement and external operations while earning her degree at Baylor. She is a Rio Grande Valley native and graduate of McAllen Rowe High School. 
 
"My time at UTRGV has been great. I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to work alongside such hardworking and diligent people that only want the best for the department," Rodriguez said. "There are a lot of exciting things happening with UTRGV Athletics and to know that the success that UTRGV has seen is a reflection of each staff member's commitment to the community and the university was something I really wanted to be a part of. It's very special to me that I get to be here during this time of growth and play a small part in what UTRGV Athletics is accomplishing and doing for the Rio Grande Valley." 
 
Gricelda Saavedra
Saavedra has been working with UTRGV, and previously for legacy institution UTPA, for nearly 12 years. She previously served as the Credit Card and Travel Services Manager in the UTRGV Procurement Office and made the transition to athletics to be the Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations (Travel) on June 27.  
 
In her new role, Saavedra works with travel suppliers to ensure team and individual travel needs are fulfilled. She plays a key role in getting the Vaqueros student-athletes, coaches, support staff and administrative staff where they need to be for competitions and official events or occasions. She leads training seminars to get staff familiar with policies and procedures of the business department. Saavedra's comprehensive knowledge of business operations because of her Business Administration degree and her experience in the procurement office made for a smooth transition to the athletics business office. 
 
"Working with the athletic department is about service and making a difference on a daily basis and enjoying the moment and seeing how every action we take helps someone or something. It has been very rewarding," Saavedra said. "I have learned more in-depth about the impact this department and every sport has in the students' college experience and our commitment to the entire Rio Grande Valley community. I am very excited with what has been happening in athletics and how we will continue rallying the Valley." 

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