The Secret to Transforming the Texas Workforce

San Antonio is known for the Alamo, the Spurs and incredible Mexican cuisine — but a lesser-known fact is how San Antonio’s largest university, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), is producing professional talent at a head-spinning rate.

UTSA's growth is evident in the 7,000+ graduates it produces each year. Remarkably, 88% of UTSA alumni opt to remain in Texas, where they are eagerly sought after by employers in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Their talents not only address crucial workforce shortages but also underscore UTSA's pivotal role in shaping Texas' professional landscape.

What’s the secret formula? It all comes down to aligning Texas’ top industries with degree programs and providing experiences that prepare career-ready graduates.

Transforming Texas into a Cyber Powerhouse

The need for skilled professionals in data science, cybersecurity and AI is growing, and UTSA has emerged as an educational leader in these fields with its School of Data Science and newly announced college in AI, cyber, computing and data science. Students currently enrolled in these future-forward programs have a plethora of professional development opportunities with university collaborators like the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Secret Service, Army Research Lab and the Rochester Institute of Technology, to name a few.

Cameron Nguyen ‘19 is already making strides in the industry as a Software Engineer with Google. He had internships at H-E-B and USAA during his time at UTSA and credits these types of experiential learning opportunities as a reason for his success.

“The coursework was essential for my current role, but the education outside of the classroom was just as important,” says Cameron. “These projects helped me practice some of the techniques that I’ve needed in my career.”

UTSA boasts well over 3,200 alumni already employed in data science, cyber and AI jobs, and with over 6,000 students anticipated to be enrolled in UTSA’s new college of AI when it opens in 2025, UTSA is leading Texas towards bold industry advancements sure to bring more national attention.

Boosting Texas’ Business & Financial Sectors 

Through the Alvarez College of Business, UTSA is funneling top talent into the region’s largest financial firms, including USAA, Frost Bank, Broadway Bank, Jefferson Bank and Lonestar Capital Bank. UTSA has more than 27,000 alumni working in the business and finance industries, fueling Texas' professional workforce with savvy talent like Carly Schneider '23.

With two internships at Victory Capital Management under her belt, Carly used her real-world experience to her advantage, solidifying her spot at the company before she graduated.

“A significant aspect of my education was the practical approach taken in many advanced courses, moving beyond textbooks to focus on real-world applications,” says Carly, now a Product Owner on Victory Capital’s data and analytics team. “This approach equipped me with the ability to think creatively and find innovative solutions to complex problems.”

By cultivating professionals poised for successful careers in finance and related fields, UTSA is bolstering Texas' prominence in this sector, rivaling the industry’s employment hubs of New York and California.

Tackling Texas' Teacher Shortage

UTSA is playing a leadership role in educating the next generation of Texas teachers, with the College of Education & Human Development graduating over 500 education majors annually. Even more eye-opening, the university has graduated 30,000+ educators into the workforce over its 50+ year history. UTSA’s focus on real-world learning opportunities means these future educators are getting hands-on experience and mentorship from seasoned professionals in 37 school districts around Bexar County and beyond.

Through these collaborative partnerships, UTSA is elevating educators like Maria Wilhelm ’23 to new heights.

"The professors at UTSA prepare students—especially those who want to be school educators and administrators like me—to learn how to analyze, challenge, and improve systems that affect us and our diverse classrooms," says Maria, a teacher at Northside Independent School District and PhD candidate in Educational Leadership.

Through UTSA, educators like Maria are using their passion for learning to empower the state’s youth, fueling the next generation forward.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

>> Visit Talent for Texas for more on how UTSA is transforming the state’s workforce

>> Download the Brief: UTSA's Exclusive Formula for Producing Talent for Texas