RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday the hiring of Amber Sauceda for the position of development coordinator.
 
Sauceda will help the development team for UTRGV Athletics in a variety of ways, including, supporting the daily operations of the Vaqueros Athletic Fund (VAF), managing donor records, coordinating stewardship and recognition efforts, assisting with premium seating, and help plan and execute donor events and engagement initiatives,
 
"I'm genuinely excited to welcome Amber to our team at such an important time for UTRGV Athletics," Chief of Staff/Associate Athletic Director for Development Eddie Galvan said. "The growth of the Vaqueros Athletic Fund and continued momentum across our programs require a strong, disciplined development operation, and she will be a key part of this next chapter. Beyond the responsibilities of the role, I'm personally excited about the energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism she brings. This position strengthens our foundation and creates even greater capacity to build meaningful relationships with the supporters who believe in our vision. I have no doubt she will make an immediate impact in how we serve our donors and support our student-athletes."
 
Sauceda brings experience from multiple levels of the sports industry, including, the professional, collegiate, and high school levels. Most recently, Sauceda helped as an event team member at the NFL Draft Experience in April 2025. In that role, she participated in the organization and execution of large-scale special events, including sponsor activations, fan engagement areas, and game-day hospitality environments. She also engaged fans across multiple activations and provided customer service for all attendees in a timely manner.
 
"I'm excited to begin this new journey with UTRGV," Sauceda said. "I want to thank [Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics] Chasse Conque and Eddie Galvan. There is something incredible happening here at UTRGV, and I look forward to meeting everyone and becoming a Vaquero!"
 
Prior to her stint at the NFL Draft Experience, Sauceda spent over a year working with the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA). During her time with the THSCA, Sauceda helped execute integrated marketing campaigns, plan and execute events, including but not limited to, the annual THSCA Coaching School, tracked engagement analytics to support campaign performance evaluation and future outreach strategies, and maintained accurate records of the donor and member databases.
 
Prior to the THSCA, Sauceda worked with the Texas State University Bobcat Club as a student worker. In that role, she provided direct support to the development team, created strong relationships with donors and alumni to enhance engagement, and assisted in multiple fundraising, hospitality, and ticketing efforts.
 
Sauceda earned her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Entertainment Management from North Texas in Dec. 2025. Sauceda also earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Texas State University in May 2024.