School of Behavioral Health Sciences welcomes students

The newly established UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences, the seventh school for the university, welcomed its inaugural class for the Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences program this week.

The first class includes three students, and the new school is expected to enroll 80 for fall 2026. From a research coordinator at UTHealth Houston to a young woman following her passion of research and brain health, here are the stories of two of the students ready to embark on a transformative journey that will enhance mental health care and behavioral health innovation in Texas.

Ana Ruiz 

When Ana Cristina Ruiz began her career at the UTHealth Houston Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC) in 2018, she was just stepping into the world of psychiatric research as a risk assistant, overseeing two small projects. Seven years later, she has seen her passion for research grow beyond what she imagined as one of the top research coordinators in her department and part of the first class of UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences. 

Today, Ruiz manages 18 studies and several quality improvement projects that help shape the future of mental health care. Her work is deeply personal. 

“I feel really invested in what we do here,” she said. “We’re helping patients, developing quality research, and providing opportunities for professional development and growth.”

At both HCPC and the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UTHealth Houston, she’s a member of research teams exploring the root causes of mental illness and testing innovative treatments. Because the hospitals serve as safety nets, many patients gain access to leading-edge treatments through clinical trials that otherwise would be out of reach. “I like that it gives them an opportunity for treatments they may not get if they weren’t in these trials,” Ruiz said.

As a member of the inaugural class at UTHealth Houston’s newest school, Ruiz is part of a community of students committed to advancing behavioral health. For her, it’s not just about research; it’s about making a tangible difference for patients and their families while shaping the future of care.

Valeria Arredondo

Valeria Arredondo, 22, was expected to follow in the steps of her two cousins and enter medical school. She even spent her first three years at the University of St. Thomas as a premed student. But when it came time to make a decision, she decided to follow her heart into research. As a result, she is one of the first four students entering the School of Behavioral Health Sciences.

Born in Houston and raised in Pasadena, Arredondo is a candidate for the Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences program at the new school. She graduated from St. Thomas last fall with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience and then turned an eye toward master’s degree programs.

After volunteering to help put on a career day at St. Thomas, she met Gabriel R. Fries, PhD, assistant professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. She was immediately interested in attending the new school.

“Dr. Fries spoke about the research he does and the school’s aim to build on his studies, and it was exactly the kind of research I would like to do. In particular, I am interested in Alzheimer’s research in under-researched communities and understanding why there is such a big gap among different groups,” Arredondo said. Fries is one of the program’s faculty.

Arredondo said she has always been interested in the human mind and is curious to know how things like genetics and the microbiome come into play. The degree will explore how the central nervous system shapes human behavior at different life stages, including examining health, disease, and development.

“I like that the program combines clinical work and lab work. That was very different from other master’s degree programs that I was seeing,” she said. “I like being able to interact with patients and take their samples or data and see what happens with them.”

She credits her mother, Juana Gallardo, and Crystal Tran, PhD, associate professor and chair of psychology at the University of St. Thomas, for helping her make her dream possible.

“To me, they were the two pillars that gave me support and guidance when I made my decision to pursue research,” Arredondo said. “I would not be in this position if it were not for them.”