Aggie Spirit. Valley Roots. Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen

By Chris Ardis

In December 2016, Texas A&M University leaders, dignitaries, and community members gathered at Tres Lagos to break ground on what would become the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM). At the time, the 100 acres of land were a blank canvas of South Texas farmland. Less than a year later, 38 pioneering students began their Aggie journeys in McAllen, and the campus officially opened in August 2018.

Rick Margo, a 1989 Texas A&M graduate and the HECM’s first executive director, was part of that founding team. “Our students are 100% Aggies,” Margo says. “They earn the same diploma, the same Aggie ring, and walk the same graduation stage in College Station. What’s different is they do it while staying close to home, surrounded by their families and their Valley community.”

“Our students are 100% Aggies.”

That founding spirit remains central to the campus identity, even as it grows into a dynamic, forward-looking hub of teaching, service, and research. Today, the campus’s academic focus is guided by Dr. Sandra Hansmann, assistant provost and the academic administrator for the McAllen campus, ensuring that programs, faculty, and student support remain aligned with Texas A&M’s standards—making this campus the only Tier One institution in the region.

Leadership and the Aggie Network

Carrying that vision forward is Ernie Aliseda, who became chief operating officer and associate vice president in 2025, overseeing HECM. A 1988 Texas A&M graduate, Aliseda’s career includes service as a state district judge, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, and general counsel for a major health-care system in the Rio Grande Valley.

“The Aggie core values became the foundation of my career in law, public service, the judiciary, the military, and healthcare,” Aliseda reflects. “At the HECM, we provide students with that same foundation by offering them a Tier One education close to home—one that instills Aggie values and prepares them for leadership in their communities and beyond.”

“The Aggie core values became the foundation of my career.”

No matter how far he travels, Aliseda says, his Aggie ring connects him instantly with others. “That’s the power of the Aggie Network,” he adds, noting that HECM students benefit from joining a family of over half a million Aggies worldwide.

Academic Growth and New Opportunities

Since opening, the campus has grown consistently at 10–15% each year. It now serves more than 500 students across ten start-to-finish undergraduate programs, including engineering, biomedical sciences, construction science, public health, agricultural economics, human resource development, maritime business, education, and, beginning in 2026, nursing.

The new Nursing Education and Research Building—a nearly 61,000-square-foot, $49.9 million facility—will house classrooms, study areas, and a clinical simulation center. The first cohort of nursing students will launch the program in January 2026.

“There is a real need for nurses and other healthcare providers in the Valley,” says Hansmann. “We are building care capacity in Texas. Aggie nurses, public health, and biomedical sciences students are uniquely prepared because we admit holistically and expect them to learn and embody Aggie values—respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service. That shapes the kind of student, and the kind of leader, who graduates from Texas A&M.”

“Aggie students are uniquely prepared.”

Biomedical and public health students learn in state-ofthe-art labs, while engineering majors take on design projects that partner with local industries. Construction science students gain real-world skills in one of the Valley’s fastest-growing sectors, while agricultural economics students study the business side of industries that sustain the region. Education and human resource development majors shape future leaders and build capacity for schools and employers across South Texas.

A Personal, Student-Centered Experience

While Texas A&M in College Station has a student body of more than 70,000, HECM’s small scale is an advantage. “Our largest classroom holds 160 students, but the vast majority of our classes have a 1:12 faculty-to-student ratio,” Aliseda explains. “Students can walk into their professors’ offices, or even into mine, so easily. There is no gatekeeper.”

“There is no gatekeeper to my office.”

This accessibility creates a culture of mentorship. Students often cite close faculty relationships as key to their success. Recent projects have included designing solar-powered water systems, supporting regional health fairs, and contributing to neighborhood cleanups. “These aren’t just resume builders,” Hansmann emphasizes.

Service and Community Engagement

The HECM’s mission goes beyond academics. The campus is deeply tied to the community through initiatives like the Texas A&M Colonias Program, which provides literacy training, job skills, health education, and economic development to families living in colonias along the Texas-Mexico border.

“Our students—especially those in public health—work alongside the Colonias Program to host health fairs, food distributions, and community events,” Aliseda says. “It improves lives, but it also gives our students valuable leadership experience in service.” “They are real opportunities for students to lead and serve.”

“It improves lives—and builds student leaders.”

Internships and partnerships with local hospitals, schools, and businesses are another defining feature. Many HECM students graduate not only with a degree but also with professional experience and community connections that lead directly to jobs.

Traditions with Valley Flair

Like all Aggies, McAllen students take part in time-honored traditions such as the Aggie Ring and walking the stage at Reed Arena. But HECM has also created its own signature events, blending Aggie spirit with South Texas culture.

One of the most popular is the annual Tailgate Pachanga. “It wouldn’t be a pachanga without a community celebration, and it wouldn’t be a tailgate without barbecue and football,” Margo says with a smile. “But it’s also about stewardship, learning, and the culture of the Valley. It’s our way of carrying forward Aggie traditions with a local flair.”

Looking Ahead

With planning underway on two additional buildings, including the Texas A&M AgriLife Rio Grande Valley Research Center, the campus is preparing for its next chapter. These projects are part of a comprehensive master plan that anticipates steady enrollment growth, new academic programs, and expanded research capacity. Future phases will bring additional classrooms, labs, and student spaces to serve the university and the region’s industries.

Hansmann recalls standing in a conference room overlooking the 100-acre site, talking with a colleague about what lies ahead. “Everything is in front of us,” she said. “Everything. And everything is possible.”

“Everything is possible.”