University Alumnus Earns Recognition as One of the Top 40 Mass Transit Professionals in the Nation

Posted October 24, 2013

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Master of Public Administration graduate Rosa Ena Villarreal has received a national recognition as one of the “Top 40 under 40” Mass Transit Professionals in the country for her service and accomplishments as the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority Managing Director of Operations.

Villarreal oversees transportation, mobility management, eligibility, vehicle maintenance, facilities maintenance, and materials management. During her first year as Director of Transportation, Villarreal solved staffing issues, which are faced by many transit agencies throughout the country. She revitalized the recruiting methods, processes, screening, and interview processes. She then updated the training process to include a mentoring program, matching newly-hired employees with members of the executive staff.

Villarreal graduated from Texas A&M- Corpus Christi with an MPA in May 2013. She completed her capstone thesis on “Rider and User Evaluation of CCRTA Wheelchair Securement Systems on Fixed-Route Buses.” Villarreal concluded that the effectiveness and safety of the wheelchair securement system could be improved with additional training because of the growing size of motorized wheelchairs and the increasing population of people with disabilities.

alumnus, mass transit, Rosa Ena Villarreal, top 40

Russell Wagner

My name is Russell Wagner and I am the Executive Director of Alumni Relations for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. I am originally from the small town of Shiner, Texas and began attending Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Fall 2004. During my time as a student I was a volunteer tour guide and worked for the Island Waves Student Newspaper. I proudly earned my degree in Media Communication and received a minor in Public Relations in 2008 graduating Summa Cum Laude. I joined the University on a professional level immediately after graduation as an Admissions Counselor and Recruiter. I joined the Division of Institutional Advancement in Fall 2012 as an Alumni & Development Officer for the College of Liberal Arts. I was appointed to Director of Engagement in June 2015. As Director of Engagement, I oversee and implement the University’s alumni relations and engagement efforts with the community to create financial, personnel, and athletic support for the Island University. I also act as the Executive Director of the National Islander Alumni Association, Executive Director of the Young Business Professionals of the Coastal Bend, and oversee the Student Foundation Association, a student philanthropy group at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. I reside in Corpus Christi with my wife, Kelsey. She is an also an alumnae from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s outstanding College of Nursing & Health Sciences Nursing program. She currently works as a Registered Nurse at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. In our spare time we enjoy the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and taking in the unique events that the Coastal Bend has to offer.