University Magazine

Magda Talavera

Magda Talavera, a native of Del Rio, Texas, epitomizes the term, servant leader. Magda contributes her leadership style to the example her mother lived out as an elementary school teacher in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, just across the border from Del Rio, and her father, who owned his own business. With extended family in Mexico and across Texas, this small-town girl moved to San Antonio with her immediate family when she was a sophomore in high school. Magda says, “My immigrant mother wanted her children to attend college, and moving gave us more opportunities for higher education.”

Stepping through the doors of John Paul Stephens High School was a defining moment, pushing Magda into the deep waters of uncertainty and transition. True to her call as a leader, Magda thrust herself out of her comfort zone and into the Family Careers Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and Culinary Arts programs, where she shined as a state-level competitor. Magda explains, “This was a great leadership opportunity for me and helped me understand that culinary arts would be a hobby and not a career pathway.” She relied heavily on the support of her Culinary Arts teachers to help her prepare for college by filling out college applications and visiting many of the local colleges, one of which was Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-San Antonio).

With a top 10 percent scholarship award and acceptance into the President’s Leadership Class, Magda was able to keep college affordable for her family. When asked why she chose A&M-San Antonio, Magda says, “because it was close to home. I loved the small class sizes, and it was still growing. It was exactly what I was looking for in a college, and I could be part of the first freshman class.”

This stellar student used her academic experiences to give back to the Jaguar community. She led inside and outside the classroom. Magda presented research alongside faculty member, Dr. John Smith, at the Texas American College of Sports Medicine Conference in Waco, Texas. Their research was published in the International Journal of Exercise Science in March 2020. Magda also led academic research on the development of the Learning Communities Program and led the development of the PAWS Mentorship Program. “Seeing the feedback from the students was very helpful and rewarding,” she says. “I was able to see the impact these programs have on the Jaguar community.”

The aphorism, “a rising tide lifts all boats,” coined by Irish politician Seán Lemass and made popular by John F. Kennedy, is a philosophy that influences Magda’s life. Passionate about volunteering and advocating for equity and access, Magda used her voice helping the Mexican American Student Association on campus and influenced multiple children while volunteering with Kinetic Kids, an organization dedicated to providing physical therapy to children with special needs. Magda says, “Kids are our future, and it is important to develop these children as future servant leaders.”

This kinesiology graduate is once again launching into deep waters after graduation. Magda plans to join the U.S. Air Force as an officer so she can give back to her country. She will continue her dream of becoming a physical therapist and use these skills to serve her follow soldiers. “As an American, I want to give back to my country,” Magda says. She contributes her ability to “raise the tide” to the many hours of the leadership development she received at A&M-San Antonio. As you can see, Magda has lifted many boats in the wake of her service to others and our Jaguar community.