Amber Galvan is the Athletic Academic coordinator at Texas A&M University Texarkana (TAMUT). Galvan, who is going on year 8 at her position at the school, has seen many changes since she first arrived. She has witnessed the construction of the soccer field, the Building for Academics and Student Services, and The Patterson Center as well as the addition of nine athletic programs. Galvan started her teaching career in Hobbs, New Mexico where she taught special education, and where she met her husband, Michael Galvan.
Amber and Michael have been happily married for years, and have had the pleasure of working alongside each other at TAMUT and The University of the Southwest. Michael, who is the athletic director (AD) at TAMUT, was offered the job after his success at Southwest. This move opened the door for Amber to step in as Athletic Academic Coordinator, and for the idea of athletics to be a part of TAMUT. Amber and Michael, although the titles they have are important, are viewed by most students on campus as motherly and fatherly figures. When asked about this Galvan commented, “There has to be a sense of trust, the students here on campus, those are somebody’s kids and I think you have to love on them when they need it, but also have to be able to have the tough conversations and help guide them as well.”
As an Academic Advisor of the student athletes of TAMUT, Galvans main job is to make sure that all the student athletes are eligible to play and to make sure they stay on top of their school work throughout the year. She is busy throughout the entire school year, whether she is making schedules for students, helping with the recruiting process, dealing with transfers, or just helping with events around campus, she is always involved and doing something throughout the course of the year. She hopes that the University continues to grow and improve as it has her whole stint at the school. When asked about the addition of new programs like football, cheer, and band, Galvan jokingly commented “when that day comes, they are gonna need more than one of me.”
The desire to keep pushing and elevating students to do well not only in school, but life after school is a big driving force that keeps Amber rooted in her job. Amber said that there is no rush for her to leave, or look for other job opportunities, because she is comfortable where she is and feels that she is doing what she is meant to be doing.