Giovanna D’Ambra will be working as the Senior Program Coordinator in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences coordinating all aspects of graduate program administration, which encompasses the Ph.D. programs, the Doctor of Medical Physics (DMP) program, seven M.S. programs, and two certificate programs.

She will also assist in coordinating the annual GSBS Commencement Ceremony and Convocation Ceremony and Picnic.

Giovanna was born and mostly raised in Galveston, TX. Her family is originally from Sicily, Italy and her adolescent years were spent living in Acitrezza, a small town along the Mediterranean coast. She was a college student at Texas State University-San Marcos, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Bachelor of Arts in History.

During her time as a college student at Texas State, she was employed as a supplemental instructor for history introductory courses, where she offered tutoring sessions to fellow students.

This ultimately led to an interest in education and following graduation, Giovanna taught middle school social studies in Hays CISD. She later returned to her hometown in Galveston and decided to use her teaching background at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in 2012.

She had the opportunity to serve as a Special Programs Coordinator in the School of Medicine, where she coordinated Year 1 medical courses, Gross Anatomy and Radiology (GAR) and Pathobiology and Host Defenses (Ph.D.). She later had the opportunity to work in the UTMB Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where she served as the Recruitment Coordinator.

Giovanna was responsible for coordinating all aspects of student recruitment visits, the GSBS Curriculum Committee, and the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program, as well as managing the school’s social media accounts.

She recently relocated to San Antonio to join her husband, Marcos. Having been a member of UTMB’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, she knew she wanted to continue her professional career supporting faculty, staff, and students in the Graduate School at UT Health San Antonio and is excited to be part of the team.

Giovanna and her husband enjoy exploring San Antonio as much as possible, especially the various hiking trails in the area. During her free time, she also enjoys visiting family and friends and spending time with her dog Chloe.