Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
For South Texas College (STC) Biology faculty member Xiomara Galvan Garcia, science isn’t just a subject to memorize, but a way of understanding the world.
Since joining STC in 2017, Garcia has inspired students to see biology beyond the textbook, connecting classroom concepts to everyday life while helping them build confidence in themselves and their abilities.
“What I enjoy most about teaching biology is showing students that it isn’t just another science course, it’s the study of life itself,” she said. “Every topic we discuss connects to something they experience every day.”
Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Garcia moved to the United States while in elementary school and was raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Today, she holds a master’s degree in Biology with an emphasis in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and proudly considers herself part of the STC family.
“My husband is an STC student, and my two children attend the Mid-Valley Campus Child Development Center,” she said. “We often joke that we’ve become an STC family, and in many ways, that’s exactly what we are.”
Although Biology wasn’t always her favorite subject, Garcia discovered her passion after meeting a professor who challenged her to ask questions and think like a scientist.
“I realized I wanted to pursue research in Biology,” she said. “That curiosity became my passion.”
Her path to becoming an educator wasn’t planned. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Garcia applied for a work-study position expecting to assist in a lab. Instead, she was encouraged to become a teaching assistant, which shaped the rest of her career.
For nearly seven years, Garcia served as a teaching assistant while completing both her degrees, gaining experience and confidence that ultimately led her to the classroom.
After earning her graduate degree, she worked as a lecturer before accepting a faculty position at STC.
“I had a friend who kept telling me how much he loved teaching at STC,” she said. “He talked about the supportive environment, the collaboration among faculty and the sense of community. Everything he told me turned out to be true.”
Today, Garcia says that sense of community is what makes STC unique.
“What makes STC special to me is the sense of family it creates,” she said. “I’ve met faculty, staff and administrators who genuinely care about one another. During some of the most challenging moments in my life, including my maternity leave and when my children were hospitalized, my colleagues stepped in without hesitation. Those relationships are what truly make STC feel like home.”
Inside the classroom, Garcia strives to make Biology relevant and memorable by connecting scientific concepts to real-life experiences.
“When students leave my classroom, I hope they continue seeing biology everywhere,” she said. “Whether they’re watching butterflies pollinate flowers, seeing a cut heal or simply putting food back in the refrigerator, I hope they remember something we talked about in class.”
For Garcia, the most rewarding part of teaching is watching students discover confidence they didn’t know they had.
“I love seeing students who begin the semester intimidated by Biology gradually become confident and curious,” she said. “One of the greatest compliments I can receive is hearing from former students who have become physician assistants, pharmacists, nurses, researchers or physicians and tell me my class helped them get there.”
As Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers continue to grow across the region, Garcia hopes to inspire the next generation of scientists, healthcare professionals and innovators by encouraging them to remain curious and resilient.
“My advice is simple: protect your passion,” she said. “There will always be people who doubt your abilities or tell you your goals are too difficult. Don’t let those voices define your future. Difficult does not mean impossible. Believe in yourself, work hard, ask questions and never stop learning.”
For Garcia, teaching at STC is about much more than Biology. It is about helping students discover confidence, embrace curiosity and realize they are capable of far more than they ever imagined.
For more information on the STC Biology program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/biology/.
