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Project Enhance is a three year grant funded project in the Department of Rehabilitation at The University of Texas-Pan American. Funding is provided by the US Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education. The goal of Project Enhance is to work with disability support offices on university and college campuses to ensure that no student is left behind as they pursue their postsecondary education. Project Enhance is committed to the full inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education. The project offers professional and assistive technology consultations, diversity training, and needs assessments to predominantly Hispanic Serving Institutions of higher learning. Through this project faculty, administrators and staff learn how to effectively include students with disabilities in all activities.
We welcome you to contact our staff for more information on what we can offer.
Amber Feist, MS, CRC
Project Assistant - Project Enhance/Proyecto
Mejorando
(956) 292-7403
 Amber
Feist is the Project Assistant for Project Enhance/Proyecto Mejorando at
The University of Texas Pan American. Her experience includes working as an
assistant to the lab coordinator and as a counselor intern for the
Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Amber has also
assisted the Department of Rehabilitation as a research assistant and
graduate assistant. Amber received her undergraduate degree in psychology
from North Dakota State University, along with a major in sociology and
minor in women's studies. Amber is a nationally Certified Rehabilitation
Counselor. |
Marie
Yvette Flores, MS, CRC
Training Coordinator
(956) 292-7406
 Marie Yvette Flores
is the training coordinator for Project
Enhance/Proyecto Mejorando at The University of Texas-Pan American. She has
presented for Project Enhance at various national and state conferences
including those of the Association on Higher Education and Disability
(AHEAD), California State University-Northridge Assistive Technology
Conference (CSUN), National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation
Counselors (NAMRC), National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE), and
the Texas RehabAction Network (TRAN). In addition, Yvette has been a
Lecturer with the Department of Rehabilitation for the last four years where
she has supervised undergraduate students completing their practicum field
experience. Her previous professional experience includes working with
mental health, substance abuse, and low vision and blindness populations.
Yvette received her undergraduate degree in Rehabilitative Services
with a Concentration in Addictions Studies and her graduate degree in
Rehabilitation Counseling from UTPA. She is a nationally Certified
Rehabilitation Counselor. |
Marla
Hinojosa
Secretary/Project Enhance
(956) 292-7408
 Marla
Hinojosa is the Secretary for Project Enhance at the University of Texas
Pan American. Marla has quite a bit of experience working as a
secretary. She recently began working for Project Enhance in August
2004. |
Sylvia
M. Jackson, MS, CRC
Project Coordinator
(956) 316-7024
 Sylvia
M. Jackson is the coordinator for Project Enhance/Proyecto Mejorando with the
Department of Rehabilitation at The University of Texas-Pan American. She
served 8 1/2 years as a vocational counselor for the Texas Rehabilitation
Commission. She was one of two counselors who developed return to work programs
in the Rio Grande Valley. Recipients of her training include the City of
Brownsville which employs over 500 employees and H.E.B. Grocery Stores. Sylvia
also has experience working with transitioning high school students to
postsecondary institutions and to the world of work. Sylvia received her
undergraduate degree in Rehabilitative Services and her graduate degree in
Rehabilitation Counseling from UTPA. Sylvia is a nationally Certified
Rehabilitation Counselor. |
Bruce Reed,
Ph.D., CRC, CVE
Professor and Chair in the Department of Rehabilitation at
The University of Texas - Pan American
(956) 316-7038
 Bruce
J. Reed, PhD, is a Professor and Chair in the Department of
Rehabilitation at The University of Texas – Pan American. He has been at
UTPA for the past 11 years. Dr. Reed has held an interest in services for
students with disabilities ever since he served as a graduate assistant in a
DSS office. His professional interests include assistive technology,
employment of people with disabilities, assessment, and grant writing.
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Hector
Requenez, MS, CRC
AT Lab Coordinator
(956) 292-7409
 Hector
Requenez is the AT Lab Coordinator for Project Enhance/ Proyecto Mejorando
at The University of Texas – Pan American. He earned a Master of Science degree
in Rehabilitation Counseling from The University of Texas - Pan American. His
AT lab experience includes working as a Lab Assistant at the UTPA computer labs
and at the Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL). He also served as
an independent consultant on assistive technology. During his time at VAIL,
Hector worked as a certified Social Security Benefits Counselor. He was born
with a physical disability and has life long experience utilizing assistive
technology. Much of the knowledge acquired in this field results from his day
to day activities and from the numerous research projects he was involved in
while attaining his masters degree. |
Rene Requenez,
BS
Web Designer
 Rene
Requenez graduated in 1998 with BS in Rehabilitative Services.
When he is not busy designing websites, working with graphics, or learning
how to use some of the latest applications, you can find him enjoying his
favorite past time -- watching movies! During the past ten years, Rene
has actively involved in matters dealing with assistive technology and has
evaluated numerous AT products from numerous developers. He is
actively involved with Microsoft as a beta tester and has done contract work
for the software giant in matters dealing with accessibility. He is
proficient at using numerous software products, including Adobe Photoshop
7.0, Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional, Microsoft Word XP, and Microsoft
FrontPage XP. |
