As Cristian Moran walks the commencement stage at Freeman Coliseum today, he will do more than celebrate a personal milestone. As Texas A&M University–San Antonio’s honorary 20,000th graduate, Moran stands as a symbol of the thousands of Jaguars who preceded him and have transformed their lives through higher education since the University opened in 2009.
For Moran, a first-generation student raised in a working-class immigrant family, the moment represents years of hard work, dedication, and overcoming the odds. Originally from Houston, Moran grew up watching his family and relatives work in construction. His parents, who each completed only the fourth grade, built a life for their children through long hours, grit, and sacrifice. By age nine, Cristian was on job sites with them.
“Painting, sheetrock, carpentry, cement—pretty much everything,” he said.
But by his senior year of high school, Moran realized he wanted something different. Encouraged by his family and teachers, he researched colleges and started at A&M–San Antonio in 2021, drawn to the University’s close-knit community and affordability.
As a first-generation student, the transition wasn’t always easy. During his first semester, he experienced loneliness, imposter syndrome, and the pressure of navigating the University without family guidance.
“Things got very lonely,” he said. “You start questioning if you belong. That’s where mentors, advisors, and friends made all the difference.”
Moran started as a political science major, with a desire to use advocacy and social justice to improve communities and people’s lives. But after speaking with an advisor, he realized he could pursue these same goals using technology.
He switched to computer information systems—a decision that changed the entire trajectory of his academic life.
“I didn’t want to lose my passion for social justice,” he said. “Then I realized I could use data and computation to create impact.”
Soon after, he joined a research project with Dr. Gongbo Liang, assistant professor of computer science. Together, they applied AI to analyze traffic-fatality patterns across San Antonio communities, identifying factors that disproportionately affect underserved neighborhoods.
The project helped Moran win first place in the undergraduate poster competition at A&M–San Antonio’s 10th Annual Student Research Symposium in 2024. That recognition, he said, confirmed he had found his path.
“After that, I could see myself doing research at a very high level,” he said.
During his time at the University, Moran worked on several innovative research projects, presented at national conferences, and co-authored peer-reviewed publications.
“For an undergraduate, his initiative, maturity, and professionalism were exceptional,” Liang said.
Outside the research lab, Moran built a reputation as a leader committed to helping others. He served as a fellow in the Achievement Initiative for Minority Males and an officer in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. He also helped develop initiatives that support underrepresented students in the STEM field.
“Cristian is a significant leader and community advocate,” said John Edward De La Rosa, assistant director of First Year Academic Advising. “His mentorship and outreach reflect both his character and his ability to lead with purpose and empathy.”
As the University’s 20,000th graduate, Moran embodies the persistence and aspiration of thousands of Jaguars who have completed degrees while balancing jobs, families, and responsibilities. His story is indicative of so many others who are using education to reshape their lives. His story reflects every Jaguar who has walked the commencement stage—and the thousands more yet to come.
“The 20,000th graduate is more than a number — it represents lives changed and futures opened across South Texas. The Board of Regents is proud to celebrate this milestone and the students who made it possible,” said Texas A&M University System Regent John Bellinger.
Moran graduates with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer and Information Sciences. In the coming months, he plans to apply to Ph.D. programs and continue the research momentum he’s built.
His long-term dream is to serve as a senior researcher at a major computing institution, contributing to projects that improve lives nationwide.
But ultimately, he hopes to return to Houston.
“I want to take my skills back to the communities that raised me,” he said. “I want kids who grew up like me to see what’s possible.”