Real Impact stories spotlight the real difference people, programs and partnerships – across the system – make on the state’s economic, social and cultural well-being. For more, meet Dr. Hopkins.
Rafael O. Tinoco shares a consistent message with students in Mexico interested in heading north.
“These students have the same or even better instruction and materials than many in the United States. They should feel confident exploring the University of Illinois System. They are as prepared as anyone else,” the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) civil engineering associate professor said.
“They have the skills they need.”
Tinoco is active in the Illinois Mexican & Mexican-American Students (I-MMÁS) initiative. The U of I System created I-MMÁS in 2021 in part to help increase Mexican student enrollment at its three universities. Academic and research partnerships with universities, government agencies, and private industry in Mexico round out its key components.
“Increasing the Mexican student population would mean more diverse perspectives and experiences on our campus,” said Lucia Vazquez, University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) associate vice chancellor for research and innovation. “I-MMÁS has already played a vital role in fostering collaborations between our faculty and researchers at Mexican universities
“I-MMÁS has the potential for impact beyond academics. In the longer term, it can also bring about a positive economic change in Mexico for participating institutions and the surrounding communities.”
Midwest meets Mexico
I-MMÁS founder, director, and UIUC professor Elvira de Mejía recruited Tinoco.
“When I-MMÁS started, we invited faculty, staff, and students to join the group. Rafael became an active friend of I-MMÁS,” de Mejía said. “He is an excellent role model for many students and professionals.”
Tinoco kicked his role model skills into high gear last month.
He joined de Mejía and Vazquez at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM) to spotlight the system’s education and research opportunities. La Fiesta de las Ciencias y las Humanidades (Festival of Science and Humanities) welcomed high school and college students, faculty members, families, and more.
“It was an important event for us to be at, to have a presence,” Tinoco said.
Visiting UNAM holds special meaning for Tinoco. He received his bachelor’s degree there in 2005.
UNAM is the largest university in Latin America. Through I-MMÁS, the U of I System opened its first office in Mexico City there in September 2022.
Hands-on learning
During biology professor Vazquez’s experiment at the UNAM event, participants extracted DNA, the plant’s genetic material, from strawberries. They added alcohol and soap, making bits of DNA float to each beaker’s surface.
“We had so much interest in our hands-on experiment,” Tinoco said. “They had fun making a mess while increasing their interest in science.”
The students inquired about U of I System universities. They were curious about admissions, scholarships, and culture.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the many questions from prospective students, both undergraduate and graduate,” Vazquez said. “They were excited to learn about the unique goals of I-MMÁS, as well as the academic exchange and research opportunities available at the system’s three universities.”
That was the point. Tinoco’s perspective enhanced the experience.
“They loved talking with Rafael because he understood the culture and the concerns the students might have coming to Illinois,” de Mejía said.
Building a career
Still, strawberries aren’t typically part of Tinoco’s work.
His focus is environmental hydraulics. The discipline helps ensure human-made infrastructure doesn’t harm species in natural waterways.
“I started my studies wanting to design and build bridges. But when I started learning about hydraulics, I realized water was much more fun,” Tinoco said. “Being able to participate in a groundwater project in a northern Mexico desert got me even more interested.”
The professor leading that project encouraged Tinoco to apply for graduate school in the United States. A friend suggested Cornell University. The gorges and waterfalls in Ithaca, New York, made Cornell a solid prospect. A professor who responded in Spanish about opportunities for joining his research team clinched Tinoco’s decision. With a sense of belonging and drive to achieve, he completed his master’s and doctorate work there.
After stints in Spain and back at Cornell, Tinoco joined the UIUC faculty in 2015.
In the hydrosystems lab there, researchers use equipment to replicate how water flow creates dunes on the bottom of the ocean. They see how different dam designs create safer conditions for boats and the people on them. They explore how rivers evolve and change over time.
“Studying in another country completely changes how you see things. Even if it’s just for a few weeks or for a semester, Mexican students’ experiences at University of Illinois System universities can be life-changing,” Tinoco said.
The University of Illinois System prioritizing the relationship with Mexico and its people is just part of what makes us Altogether Extraordinary. To share your story idea, please message lmabry@uillinois.edu.
