The Faces Behind the Feed

Scroll through Texas A&M University-San Antonio's Student Life Instagram feed, and you'll find more than event promotions. You'll see students laughing with friends, campus traditions unfolding in real time and trending videos that feel authentic to the Jaguar experience.  

Behind every reel, photo and post is a team of students whose creativity is helping shape how the University connects with its campus community and beyond.  

What started as an effort to better engage students has evolved into one of the University's most recognizable social media presences, driven by a student-led team that understands exactly who they're creating content for — themselves and their peers.  

"Students want to see themselves," said Emily Banda, director of Student Life. "We wanted to make sure our social media reflected that. We don't just highlight events — we highlight our students because everything we do is for them."  

Rather than relying on polished graphics alone, the Student Life team embraces trends, humor and authentic moments that mirror how students naturally communicate online.  

"We know this generation has grown up with social media," Banda said. "Our responsibility is to meet them where they are."  

That strategy has become more than a communications effort. It has become a learning experience for the students behind the camera.  

Graduate assistants Alexa Avila and Priscilla Cazares help lead Student Life's social media presence while mentoring the next generation of student creators. Together, they have transformed the Instagram account into a space where students discover events, organizations and opportunities while seeing firsthand what it means to be a Jaguar.  

"One of the most rewarding parts of creating content for Student Life has been seeing our team come together and grow throughout the process," Alexa said. "We've created an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, stepping outside of their comfort zones and expressing their creativity." 

We know this generation has grown up with social media. Our responsibility is to meet them where they are.

~ Emily Banda 

That collaborative approach has helped students develop more than creative skills.  

For Alexa, the experience revealed that leadership isn't about having every answer.  

"It taught me that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating an environment where others feel comfortable sharing ideas, trying something new and growing in their own confidence," she said. 

Priscilla discovered a passion for mentoring while helping grow the Student Life Instagram account over the past year and a half.  

"What meant the most to me was seeing students actually engage with the content and use it as a way to feel more connected and involved," she said.  

That impact is something Olivia Vielma, a sophomore education major, sees firsthand every time she picks up a camera.  

"The most rewarding part is having the ability to capture moments that students will remember for a lifetime," Olivia said. "Many students come to our events just because they saw a post or a reel." 

Sophomore Danajsa Sims believes the team's work goes beyond creating content.  

"I've seen how a simple post or video can be the reason a student shows up to something, joins an organization or finally feels like they know where they belong on campus," Danajsa said. "It's less like promotion and more like participation in their experience."  

For Banda, those moments affirm the team's approach.  

She recalled hearing from a prospective student during Future Jaguar Day —  an event designed to introduce prospective students to the University — who said Student Life's social media played a role in choosing A&M-San Antonio. 

"Students are seeing the experiences we're creating, and they want to be part of that," Banda said. "That's why we do this work."  

The success of Student Life's social media isn't measured only in views or likes. It's reflected in fuller event spaces, stronger campus traditions and students who arrive already feeling connected before they ever step into a classroom. 

Every reel, trend and photo is about more than creating engaging content. It's about capturing what it means to be a Jaguar and helping others find their place within that story.