Alumni Profile: Becky Rojo

Becky Rojo, a proud Texas State alumna, grew up in the San Marcos and New Braunfels area, surrounded by a rich family legacy. Her great-grandmother sold tacos and tortillas to Texas State students, including former President Lyndon B. Johnson. From a young age, Becky admired the university and told her father it was where she wanted to study.

Inspired by her grandfather, Dr. Daniel Rojo—the first Hispanic physician in the area—Becky developed a deep passion for serving underserved communities. Her strong ties to San Marcos and her family’s history made Texas State the perfect place to pursue her education.

While at Texas State, Rojo stayed connected to the community she had known since childhood, joining various Bible studies that felt like family. She fondly remembers walking around the square, eating Manske Rolls, and watching the night parade from the library before football games.

In 1988, Becky earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a specialization in early education. She began her career as an elementary teacher in South San Antonio ISD before returning to Texas State, where she earned a Master of Education in 1991, specializing in curriculum instruction for gifted and talented students.

While teaching in South San Antonio, Rojo took on the challenge of writing grants, despite having no prior experience. She successfully secured funding for a program called “Intergenerational Family Literacy.”

Through this grant, she helped parents—many of whom spoke English as a second language—learn computer skills to apply for jobs and improve their literacy. Meanwhile, their children engaged in science and math lessons in the next room. Thanks to the grant, the program was offered at no cost to families.

Becky’s greatest passion was instilling a love for reading in children. She continued teaching for many years, even returning to San Marcos in the late ’90s to teach at Dezavala Elementary, where she had a perfect view of the Texas State campus.

After 30 years in education, she retired in 2014 but wasn’t ready to stop giving back. She took on a role with the YMCA of Greater San Antonio as a director of after-school care, driven by her continued dedication to the neighborhoods and schools where she grew up.

Becky’s message to college students: “Everything you experience in college has a purpose—you just may not see it yet.”