University Alumnus Earns Recognition as One of the Top 40 Mass Transit Professionals in the Nation
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Master of Public Administration graduate Rosa Ena Villarreal has received a national recognition as one of the “Top 40 under 40” Mass Transit Professionals in the country for her service and accomplishments as the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority Managing Director of Operations.
Villarreal oversees transportation, mobility management, eligibility, vehicle maintenance, facilities maintenance, and materials management. During her first year as Director of Transportation, Villarreal solved staffing issues, which are faced by many transit agencies throughout the country. She revitalized the recruiting methods, processes, screening, and interview processes. She then updated the training process to include a mentoring program, matching newly-hired employees with members of the executive staff.
Villarreal graduated from Texas A&M- Corpus Christi with an MPA in May 2013. She completed her capstone thesis on “Rider and User Evaluation of CCRTA Wheelchair Securement Systems on Fixed-Route Buses.” Villarreal concluded that the effectiveness and safety of the wheelchair securement system could be improved with additional training because of the growing size of motorized wheelchairs and the increasing population of people with disabilities.
