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Research Pillars

UTSA Publications and resources

• UTSA College of Engineering & Integrated Design Roadpiece
• UTSA Catalyst a publication of the College of Sciences
• Matrix AI
• Sombrilla Magazine (utsa.edu)
• International Student Guide
• Cyber Range and Cyber Training Programs - UTSA Business
• San Antonio Higher Education Landscape presentation, UTSA highlight
• UTSA at a glance presentation

Lisa J. Montoya, PhD 

Vice Provost, Global Initiatives & Sr. International Officer 

Lisa.Montoya@utsa.edu 

Phone (210) 458-7211

Home | Global Initiatives | UTSA | University of Texas at San Antonio

Lisa Montoya, PhD has served as Vice Provost for Global Initiatives and SIO at the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) since 2018.  She works in higher education and the international arena to open educational opportunities.  As Vice Provost, Montoya oversees a team of 20 professionals who manage international agreements, study abroad, support for international students and scholars, English Language Programs, and global learning programs.    

Montoya works across the university to promote global research and academic collaborations and inclusive global opportunities for all students. She has led the effort to establish international dual degrees across campus, grown international research collaborations, overseen the revitalization of the English as a second language program, co-authored an international graduate recruitment plan, and expanded global learning opportunities for students both at home and abroad including an immersive, local language summer academy.   

Montoya has also served in the Alvarez College of Business as Associate Dean for International Programs and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.  She was a recipient of the Patrick J. Clynes Excellence Award and named the Best Undergraduate Professor for the Department of Entrepreneurship and Technology Management.  She received the President's Distinguished Achievement Award and the UTSA Richard S. Howe Excellence in Service Award.  

Montoya serves on the Operating Council of the Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC) and on the Executive Committee of the Commission for International Initiatives (CII) of the Association of Public Land Grant Universities (APLU). She also serves on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio–Mexico Friends Council (SAMFCO). She was previously a Board Chair of the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio.  

She received a PhD from Washington University in St. Louis, a Masters from Arizona State University and a BA from the University of Denver.  

Ambika Mathur, Ph.D.

Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and Dean of The Graduate School
Distinguished Professor

ambika.mathur@utsa.edu 

Phone (210) 458-6878

Graduate School at UTSA

Ambika Mathur is Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She is deeply committed to the advancement of all aspects of training for high school, undergraduate, medical, master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral trainees.  

She is nationally recognized for establishing programs to enhance professional and career development opportunities for doctoral students, and reporting on career outcomes of doctoral alumni. She served as Principal Investigator for one of only ten Broadening Experience in Scientific Training grant from the NIH. Recognizing the importance of competency-based transferrable skillsets needed by graduate students to succeed in careers across all job sectors, she created a micro-credentialing program that awards digital badges to showcase acquisition of skills. This program was highly valued by students, employers and research advisors alike, since it readily demonstrated mastery of those skills. She was the first permanent director of the combined M.D./Ph.D. combined degree program, and the founding director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at her previous institution (Wayne State University). She also started the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at her current institution, UTSA. Ambika is a tireless advocate of holistic admission on campus and contributed to the national discussion to promote diversity and inclusion across the spectrum of training, serving as Principal Investigator of over $25 million NIH-funded programs.  

A cancer immunologist by training, Ambika has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and several other agencies for research in cancer immunology, the immunological basis for complementary and alternative medicine interventions in pediatric populations, and has over 120 research publications. Altogether she has been awarded over $30 million in grant funding for cancer research and for research training. She is Professor in the departments of Biology and Chemistry at UTSA. Ambika is also a published author of a medical mystery suspense thriller and a series of books for children. 

Dhireesha Kudithipudi, PhD

Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

dhireesha.kudithipudi@utsa.edu

210-458-8539

 Home | Matrix: UTSA AI Consortium for Human Well-Being

In Fall 2019, Dhireesha started as a Robert F McDermott Endowed Chair in Engineering and professor with joint appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is also the founding Director of the MATRIX AI Consortium for Human Well-Being. Before that, she has enjoyed 13 years working at Rochester Institute of Technology as a Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering, Graduate Program Chair, and founding director of the Center for Human-Aware AI (CHAI).

Dhireesha received her Ph.D. from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is interested in designing the next-generation AI systems that can solve problems similar to humans in the most energy efficient way. Her team has been paving a path for bio-inspired AI systems and accelerators over the past decade. Her current research interests are in neuromorphic computing, brain-inspired algorithms, novel computing substrates (eg: memristors), energy efficient machine intelligence, and AI accelerators. She leads large multi-million dollar research programs in AI, that are supported by AFRL, NSF, DARPA, industries and foundations. She is invited panelist at multiple DOD, DOE, & AFOSR roundtables on topics related to Neuromorphic Computing.

She is an advocate for advancing AI systems R&D, where she has previously worked with NY state policymakers on AI, Bipartisan policy for AI R&D investment, and was an invited speaker in Capitol Hill roundtable discussions about the impact of AI on workforce. She also consults for startup firms in AI.

Dhireesha is passionate about diversifying the AI pipeline, where she has held outreach for young women and underrepresented students. led the Google CS4HS workshop for 3 years, where Google education outreach recognized it as an exemplary site. She is currently leading the AMD WIT Foundation sponsored Project Lovelace: Advancing women in AI career pathways. For her broader efforts in the community, she has been recognized as the Rochester Technology women of the Year in 2018 and Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship for Women in HigherEd.

Saugata Datta, PhD

Distinguished Professor of Hydrogeology and Chair in the department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

saugata.datta@utsa.edu

 210-458-4752 

IWRSP (utsa.edu) | Research Profile

Dr. Saugata Datta is currently Hammond Distinguished Professor of Hydrogeology and Chair in the department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr Datta is also the founding director of the Institute of Water Research Sustainability and Policy @ UTSA. He received his B.S. in Geological Sciences from Presidency College and M.S. in Geology from University of Calcutta in India. He earned his second MS in Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering from Queens University in Canada, and PhD in Earth Sciences from University of Western Ontario in Canada in 2001.