A. Mario Rios Jr., M.A.
Senior Lecturer, Communication
Contact
Bio
A. Mario Rios Jr. has a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Texas State University in San Marcos, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and an Associates of Arts degree in Radio/TV/Film from Austin Community College.
Rios has worked in the broadcast and print media for more than 20 years. He has worked at a number of newspaper and television stations, including six years as a photojournalist at KENS TV. Some of the big stories he has covered were Persian Gulf War 1 (Texas troops deployed), the Oklahoma City Bombing, the Selena Murder, the Branch Davidian Trial, and Pope John Paul and President Bill Clinton’s visit to Denver.
Besides being a communications professor here at UTSA, Rios is the current Public Relations & Marketing Specialist for the San Antonio Independent School District.
In the last decade, he has worked as an educator — a mass media teacher and UIL director at Southwest High School. He also served as the Public Relations Director for Edgewood ISD.
Rios also owns and operates RIO Video Productions. RIO is a video production company that specializes in producing high quality video presentations for marketing, events, training, legal, property, and news/feature documentaries.
Rios is a winner of an Emmy Award for television news production provided by the National Television Academy of Arts & Sciences. He has won several awards, including the Educator for Excellence Award by the San Antonio Education Partnership, the National Advisor Award by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, and Teacher of the Game by the San Antonio Spurs. Rios also has been named the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers for seven of the last 10 years and has won the National Minority Advisor Award by the American Society of Newspaper Educators.
Rios has coached students to the UIL State Journalism tournament for six straight years between 1999 and 2005, including winning the Class 5A state championship in UIL Journalism in 2001.
Rios’ passion is video production, education, media, journalism, public relations, and helping the at risk student population.
Teaching
- Commercial Publications
Degrees
- M.A. in Mass Communications, Texas State University (2004)
- B.A. in Political Science / Communications, University of Texas at San Antonio (1995)
- A.A. in Radio, TV and Film, Austin Community College (1986)
Honors and Awards
Presentations
Grants, Patents and Clinical Trials
Publications
- SAISD Human Resources Bus Driver Ads,” M. Rios, San Antonio TV & Radio, 2013
- “San Antonio ISD District Convocation,” M. Rios, SAISD Media, 2012.
- “Around the District with Dr. Duron”/New Tech HS (Marketing), M. Rios, SAISD Media, 2011
