When Passion Meets Flexibility: Anthony Montes Nieves Spotlight

Anthony is the first graduate of the 100% online Geography and Environmental Sustainability program.

Like many things in life, learning is rarely a linear process. You’ll advance and challenge yourself. And sometimes you’ll have to pivot.

Originally an electrical engineer major when entering college right after high school, Anthony Montes Nieves always loved learning about technical topics in school. He also knew he wanted to make a difference. He’d already transferred to UT San Antonio and spent a year in classes on campus. But after his sophomore year, he realized his heart wasn’t in it.

That’s when he decided to pivot and change his trajectory.

A New Beginning

While he wanted to pursue something he was passionate about, Anthony also wanted to be practical. He was looking for a program that would fit his entire life, not just his academic goals. After all, he was already working to support himself and had a busy life.

“I needed a program that could accommodate my constantly changing work schedule without having to push back my graduation date for financial reasons,” said Anthony.

That’s when he found UT San Antonio Online’s Geography and Environmental Sustainability program. The degree encompassed everything he was looking for – a program that included technical skills and would allow him to make a difference. But, also important, it was a flexible program that kept him on track for graduation.

Anthony loved that he had due dates each week without class meeting times. He knows it would have been much harder to maintain a work-life-school balance if he had to plan around specific class times.

“Rather than having to be in lectures, I could do coursework during my free time around my work hours,” added Anthony. “This not only ensured I stayed on top of all my academic requirements while employed, but I was also able to have relaxing self-care weekends.”

The Right Timing

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. While UT San Antonio already had a solid Geography and Environmental Sustainability program when Anthony was looking for a new degree, the fully online version was about to launch. Anthony loved that he’d be able to learn the same material as his on-campus classmates. But he could still study on his schedule.

Anthony was excited to have flexibility, but he was equally looking forward to expanding the technical skills he’d gained studying engineering. He has loved the hands-on learning process that comes with the UT San Antonio Online Geography and Environmental Sustainability program.

“I knew this program was the right fit because it not only met my immediate needs, but it also served as a steppingstone toward my plan of returning to UT San Antonio for a master’s degree in Urban Planning,” he shared.

“I’ve acquired knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) principles through my hands-on work with ArcGIS and R programming language, which are industry-standard tools.”

The Support He Needed

Working full time and going to school full time can be exhausting, but having support can make a world of difference. And it did for Anthony. His family and friends encouraged him and kept him motivated when he was overwhelmed.

But that wasn’t what surprised him. He knew his family and friends would be there for him. With the program being 100% online, Anthony wasn’t sure what kind of support he would receive from the program.

“What stood out most was the accessibility and support from the faculty and advising staff,” said Anthony. “Being in a new and growing program can sometimes feel uncertain, but my professors and academic advisor were incredibly responsive and genuinely invested in my success. They ensured that my online experience was a smooth and guided journey.”

Looking to the Future

It’s all coming full circle. As Anthony prepares to become the first graduate of the fully online Geography and Environmental Sustainability program this semester, he knows he made the right decision when he changed his plans.

Anthony was drawn to the Geography and Environmental Sustainability program’s focus on sustainability because it connected to his passion of understanding how communities are built and how they interact with the environment.

But he’s not done learning yet. He has big plans to give back to this city he’s come to love, and he’s just getting started.

“The skills I developed through my program make me a more competitive candidate for positions in my field of career, and I plan to work as an Environmental Compliance Specialist or GIS Technician/Analyst,” shared Anthony. “I intend to use the knowledge I acquired from this program to pursue a master’s degree in Urban Planning, which will help me become an urban planner for our wonderful city of San Antonio.”