EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Nine outstanding students have been competitively selected to participate in the Mellon Fellowship as part of the Humanities Collaborative at El Paso Community College (EPCC) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
EPCC said this immersive, high-impact fellowship bridges the two institutions and provides transformative academic and professional experiences.
The 2025-2026 Mellon Fellows are:
- Jaime Sparks
- Paola Dominguez
- Ivy Marie Gonzalez
- Miriam Hernandez
- Cristian Pariente Avila
- Rudy Madrid
- Pedro Ceniceros
- Selena Valadez
- Jesus Briseno
These fellows will work closely with their faculty mentors on research, humanities-related projects, and community engagement throughout the academic year, according to EPCC.
Professor mentors include:
- Dr. Melissa Esmacher
- Dr. Manuela Gomez
- Isadora Jackson
- Dr. Melissa Gurrola
- Dr. Miguel Juarez
- Jose Martinez
- Danielle McGill
- Lizzie Ochoa
- Mauricio Rodriguez
“The Humanities Collaborative at EPCC-UTEP provides transformative educational experiences for students,” Margie Nelson Rodríguez, EPCC professor of English and co-principal investigator of the grant, said. “Students get paid to research, to engage with the community, and to communicate purposefully. Our students gain a true education by learning to think critically and to care passionately.”
EPCC said this fellowship supports students academically and professionally, especially as they prepare to transfer to UTEP.
“I think this helps students transition easier, and I love that we have support at both campuses,” EPCC English major Valadez, who plans to attend UTEP this fall, said.
Hernandez, an EPCC music major, echoed this support as she prepares to pursue music at UTEP.
“We do a lot of performances at EPCC, and the smaller classes make instructors feel more attentive,” Hernandez said. “It has helped me get over my stage fright. I’m really excited to start this fellowship,” she said.
Briseno, who is studying education and plans to enter UTEP’s teacher residency program, said, “It’s been good. I’ve been taking advantage of the many resources at EPCC. This fellowship was recommended to me, and I’m very excited to be part of it.”
The Humanities Collaborative at EPCC-UTEP was launched in 2017 through a major grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
EPCC said the program fosters collaboration between the two institutions to strengthen humanities education, research, and career pathways.
“With over $3.9 million awarded to EPCC and UTEP, the Collaborative is the only major regional initiative specifically supporting humanities majors, transfer success, and professional development,” read the news release by EPCC.
Key program highlights include the following, according to EPCC:
- Over 100 student fellows and 50 faculty fellows served since inception
- 92%+ student transfer and completion rate
- Paid research internships and mentorship across disciplines such as English, history, philosophy, and languages
- Support throughout the transfer process to UTEP
- Opportunities for adjunct and full-time faculty in arts, humanities, and communication
EPCC said the program is led by EPCC co-principal investigators Margie Nelson Rodríguez and Jorge Gomez, with UTEP principal investigator Dr. Yolanda Leyva and program manager Vincent Martinez.
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