This story is part of a series highlighting the university’s outstanding graduates crossing the stage on May 16.
Diego Barron has always had a love for video games. He has pictured himself with a job in the industry since childhood, hoping to recreate the impact of some of the games that first sparked his interest in game design.
“I think I had design in my mind since I was very young in elementary school, and I wanted to do something related to games,” Barron said. “I just didn’t know what yet.”
Fast forward several years, and Barron is one step closer to making that dream job a reality. This May, he will become one of the first students to graduate from UT San Antonio’s game design program.
Introduced in 2024, the game design program is one of over a dozen academic concentrations available within the multidisciplinary studies bachelor’s degree. Offered through University College, the degree blends both technical and creative aspects of game design and gives students a strong foundation in computer science and programming fundamentals and in art, design and communication principles.
“The game design courses helped me build and strengthen my portfolio and creative skill set, including coding and game design, while deepening my understanding of what goes into developing a game,” Barron said.
The program’s cross-disciplinary curriculum prepares students like Barron to enter the growing game sector in a variety of roles, from animation and writing to user experience and interface design.
Students even learn how music production and sound design are integrated into games. This gave Barron, a multi-instrumentalist who began playing music in middle school, an opportunity to utilize his music background by adding original songs to his video game projects.
“The courses also allowed me to explore other aspects of game development, such as music production, 3D modeling and storytelling,” Barron said. “Over the years, creating music has also helped me learn how to structure compositions and better visualize how audio enhances the overall experience in the games I develop.”
Outside of academics, building a community in a new city was a key part of Barron’s college experience. After moving from El Paso to attend UT San Antonio, Barron branched out by participating in various extracurricular activities and clubs, including the Game Developers Student Club and a running club on campus.
Barron was also selected as a member of the President’s Student Advisory Council — a group that offers recommendations and insights into the student experience through regular dialogues with UT San Antonio’s president — and the University College Student Advisory Council, where student representatives provide their feedback and perspectives to the dean of the college.
Both groups play an essential role in creating an open dialogue between students, university administration and faculty, and help shape initiatives that benefit all UT San Antonio students.
In addition to these roles, Barron also worked as a University College Student Ambassador, where he served as a peer mentor and supported his fellow students as they navigated their own journeys at the university.
“Being part of the team encouraged me to explore the campus more and become familiar with the resources and events available,” Barron said. “Over time, it also led to meaningful connections, and I built close friendships with my fellow ambassadors.”
Following graduation, Barron plans to pursue a career in the game design field where he can grow the skills he gained while earning his degree.
“My goal is to work with a collaborative and welcoming team that allows me creative freedom to showcase my abilities, and continue developing as a designer,” Barron said.
