Biography

Nicholas Balderas is the Regional Security Operations Center (RSOC) Coordinator within Information Security at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Prior to this role, he served as an Instructional Technology Support Specialist with UTRGV's Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology (COLTT), where he supported faculty in the effective integration of instructional technologies and emerging artificial intelligence tools to enhance teaching and learning.

Nicholas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas–Pan American and a Master of Science in Computer Science from UTRGV. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the Curriculum and Instruction–Educational Technology program at UTRGV, where his academic interests intersect with artificial intelligence, instructional innovation, cybersecurity, and higher education technology.

As an aspiring higher education technology professional, Nicholas is committed to advancing the thoughtful use of emerging technologies through research, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. He has presented at regional and national conferences, including D2L Fusion, and the Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS) 2026 Best Practices Showcase, where he shares practical approaches to generative AI, instructional design, and digital transformation in higher education. He is passionate about fostering collaboration across academic and information security communities to support institutional innovation and student success.