UHV News

UHV News

UHV student’s success story featured by state organization

When Jessica Macias graduated from high school, it was a historic moment for her family. Now, the daughter of Mexican immigrants is earning her Specialist in School Psychology at the University of Houston-Victoria, and her story has been featured by a state organization.

Jessica Macias
Jessica Macias

“It’s very exciting to be recognized by a prestigious organization,” the Houston resident said. “I feel grateful to have made it so far in my education, and I’m looking forward to reaching my next goals and becoming a trusted professional in area schools.”

Macias was featured as the October Shining Psychology Graduate Student by the Texas Association of School Psychologists. She is currently interning with the Katy Independent School District and plans to graduate with her specialist degree in May 2025.

Elise Hendricker
Elise Hendricker

“Jessica is a fierce advocate for all students, but especially bilingual Latine students and families,” said Elise Hendricker, program director for UHV’s school psychology program and the faculty member who nominated Macias for the feature. “She wants to use her own experiences as a first-generation student to empower students and build their resilience. Jessica is our NASP Student Leader, the President of our Future School Psychologists Club, and actively presents at state and national conferences. Jessica is the future of our field! I am so proud she is in our program, and she is a great representation of a future female, bilingual, Latine school psychologist.”

Macias was the first in her family to graduate from high school, and seeing the effects of those circumstances on the rest of her family inspired her to work with children in schools and help their families find the resources their children need, she said.

“My brother was diagnosed with ADHD, but he never received accommodations or any kind of plan to help him deal with his struggles in the classroom,” she said. “That’s a problem I’ve been seeing over and over in schools. Parents, especially Latino families or those who speak English as a second language, often aren’t aware that resources are available for their students. I want to be able to step in and help families understand what factors are affecting their children and what resources are available to support them.”

Because of those experiences in her own family and in the families of students she’s helped, Macias plans to focus on working with Spanish-speaking and bilingual families. Eventually, she hopes to train future school psychologists to work in the same area.

When she was looking for a university to pursue her specialist degree, Macias chose UHV because of the ability to take night classes while also working full time. In addition, UHV’s national accreditation with the National Association of School Psychologists will make it easier for her to earn a national certification after she graduates.

One of the most important aspects of being a school psychologist is educating parents on how they can support and advocate for their children, Macias said. Thanks to the education she receives at UHV, Macias hopes to be able to help many more families achieve success.

“Parents are the ultimate stakeholders in their children’s education,” she said. “If there’s a disconnect or barrier in communication due to language or a lack of awareness, that can have a major impact on the children’s ability to succeed. I want to help parents understand what information is available to them and how they can decide the course for their students’ services and programming. Parents know their children better than anyone, and they should have the support to communicate their needs clearly.”

The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.