Enrique Lerma, UTRGV’s former learning specialist I who helped as an instructor for the High School Equivalency Program, retired on his birthday, Jan. 31, after working for legacy institutions Pan American University, UT Pan American and UTRGV since 1987.
At UTRGV, Lerma was an instructor who helped others attain their GED diploma. He also encouraged students to become voters. Lerma first became involved with the university after deciding to obtain his bachelor’s degree. He wanted more than minimum-wage jobs and to have a better life for his family. At the time, Lerma and his wife, Ana, had their first daughter, Belza.
“I wanted to make a better life for her, too,” he said. “She gave me a lot of incentive.”
PAU was 6 miles down the road from where Lerma lived, so he took advantage of the close location and enrolled in classes in 1979.
After eight years, Lerma completed a bachelor’s degree in political science and minored in English. He said he fell in love with the campus and was lucky to obtain a full-time job with the university.
“At one point, I would say Pan Am was my life,” Lerma said.
His other daughter, UTRGV communication disorders junior Tatiana Lerma, is also adjusting to his retirement. Tatiana shared a memory involving her father from when she was 4 years old. Her mother would drive by the university and point at the building her father worked at. Her mother would tell her, “Look, your dad works there.”
Tatiana said, “[I was] little, all I [could] see [was] the Bronc statue. So, I thought he worked in the Bronc statue.”
Lerma said he retired early at 63 years old to have the opportunity to attend conferences and share his writing methods.
“If you’re working, you [have to] concentrate on your job,” he said. “Now, I’m ready to move on to the next level.”
Lerma will present at an upcoming conference in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday to southeastern U.S. two-year English college professors. He also hopes retiring will allow him to help share his writing techniques with others and to possibly publish. Friends and family told him they were happy about his retirement and congratulated him.
As part of his job, Lerma would present at conferences regarding GED programs about twice a year. He also has plans to collaborate and write a book to teach Composition I students his writing technique.
Retiring is a big change for Lerma.
“I’m used to getting up and going,” he said. “You [have to] be at work; that’s five days a week. Since we have students waiting for us … you always feel, like, you have to be there before them. It’s very different. The routine is over.”
Lerma will continue to work on other side businesses and projects, but will occasionally travel. He will drive to his upcoming Kentucky presentation but is still unsure if he will also travel to New York.
“[I] might continue to New York City because there’s this adult-education program of about 2,000 students that uses my writing technique,” Lerma said.
He also said the students use his technique for ESL and GED purposes.
One of the most rewarding parts of his career at the university was being told by students they attained their GED diploma after his tutoring sessions.
“You could ask him anything and he was always up to date on politics, government, our GED process,” said Aaron Sanchez, a co-worker who is also a learning specialist I. “He was the type of person that cared for the students and their well-being. He would always put their needs ahead of health or anything that was going on in his personal life. He was always very dedicated to this program.”
Sanchez said graduation days were one of his favorite experiences to have shared with Lerma. He also said he was glad he was able to learn from him.
“He really helped me develop as a professional in so many ways that I don’t think I can ever thank him enough,” Sanchez said.
