UT Arlington grad credits mentor as she battles cancer to earn master’s degree

Ana Peredo-Manor has given inspiration to a lot of students over her long career as an academic adviser at UT Arlington.

Now, as she exits into the next chapter of life, she is the recipient of inspiration from one of those students — Aurora Ruvalcaba. In fact, it’s dual encouragement as Ruvalcaba is using the support of her mentor to not only succeed academically, but also physically in her fight against cancer.

“She gave me a new perspective on my role as an adviser and how important it is to connect with the students beyond course curriculum,” Peredo-Manor said.

Peredo-Manor is retiring after 25 years at UTA. She has never missed a graduation, with the one Friday, May 9, being her 72nd and last.

It was also perhaps her most special as she watched Ruvalcaba cross the stage and receive her master’s in architecture. Not only did the 26-year-old Ruvalcaba conquer the academic challenges required to reach her goal, she has thyroid cancer.

“To be here in my last ceremony, to see Aurora finish this — this goal — it’s almost full completion for me as an advisor,” Peredo-Manor said. “It’s extremely emotional on so many levels. I feel pride, peace, fulfillment and joy to see her accomplishment.”

Cancer diagnosis

Ruvalcaba was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2023, just as she was preparing to enter the master’s program. She decided to push forward with her academic plans.

“My doctors and I were hoping to be done with it quick. But as time got closer to the beginning of the school year I decided that cancer cannot interfere with my dream of getting my master’s,” she said. “I knew that I was capable of doing both, and so I went forward with studying for my masters and while fighting cancer.”

Facing a hard battle, she found Peredo-Manor to be more than a mentor. She was a friend, always ready with emotional support and encouragement, reassuring her that she could complete her mission.

“After telling Ana, I felt like I had support from not only my family and friends, but also from the faculty,” Ruvalcaba said. “Throughout my process she would come out of her way to talk to me, ask me how the process was going, and offered for help and support if I ever needed it.

“With her generosity and kind heart, I knew she cared about me and not just my grades.”

Perado-Manor said she never saw a discouraging attitude or sense of defeat from Ruvalcaba.

“I just thought wow, this student is all in. She has a passion for this program. She has a passion for this degree and she’s not going to give up. She’s going to win this battle,” she said.

Fighter from the start

Winning battles is nothing new to Ruvalcaba and her family. She was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, but when she was 3 she moved with her parents and two older sisters to Fort Worth, where she’s lived there since.

“My parents are hard working parents who brought us to the U.S. so we could have a bright and better future than we could have in Mexico,” she said. “My parents, along with my two older sisters, have supported me through everything I set my mind to, which included my cancer diagnosis.

“My father had two sisters who battled with cancer, one with breast cancer and another one who sadly passed away from lymphatic cancer.”

Ruvalcaba also credits her doctors for helping her balance cancer treatments and her studies.

“My doctors have been fully aware that I was doing my masters during the treatments. And thanks to that I was able to balance both of them,” she said. “I let my professors know about the situation and my treatments, and from there we were able to work around the treatments.”

The first semester of her graduate program, Ruvalcaba underwent a total thyroidectomy, along with a large dose of radiation followed by a two-week isolation.

“From there my doctors kept a strong eye on me, as every six months I dealt with smaller doses of radiation and Thyrogen injections - which all fell while I was in school,” she said.

Treatment plan after graduation

And while graduation is over, the fight against her cancer continues. She recently went over with her doctor what the plan is going forward now that her main focus is getting healthy so she can put her degree to its full use.

Within the next two months she will go through a low iodine diet. From there she will receive a pair of Thyrogen injections and a small dose of radiation.

“From there we will make sure that it did not grow onto any other parts of my body, and if it shows as cleared we will move forward to keeping an eye on it every six months, then onto every year,” she said. “Our hope is that we won’t be needing to see each other until every year.”

As for how special this graduation was for herself, who had already gone through a bachelors degree ceremony, she said this one felt completely different and was a testament to others.

“It was a way to show my family and friends how grateful I am for standing by my side through this,” she said. “And it was a way to pave the way for both my nephews that you can do whatever you put your mind to.”

Peredo-Manor said her friend is not only an inspiration to her peers and family, but to anyone facing a battle with cancer.

Ruvalcaba said she has joked with her family about pursuing a doctorate degree, but assures them that tackling the cancer challenge all by itself is her top priority. She does plan to get her license in architecture and is currently searching for a job at an architectural firm.

And, of course, Peredo-Manor will always be there for encouragement and a friendly reminder that she can do it.

“Whenever she enters my mind I send her an email, and whenever we have program events I seek her out to connect,” Peredo-Manor said. “She is always in my prayers for blessings and complete healing.

“I hope that she continues to allow me to connect with her in future milestones, wherever life takes her.”