Month: March 2018

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) professor and author Octavio Quintanilla, PhD, has been named San Antonio Poet Laureate for 2018-2020, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the City of San Antonio announced Tuesday, March 20.

The mayor and the city’s Department of Arts and Culture will host a public investiture ceremony in City Council chambers on April 3, 2018, to make the official appointment.

“What an honor to represent my city as Poet Laureate and promote poetry as part of its constitution,” said Quintanilla, assistant professor of English, who teaches literature and creative writing in the Master of Arts/Master of Fine Arts (MA/MFA) program. “It was a surprise. I didn’t expect it.”

A native of Harlingen, Texas who lived in Mexico until the age of nine, Quintanilla has taught at OLLU since 2013. He is the author of the poetry collection, “If I Go Missing.” His works have been published in or are scheduled to appear in such journals as “Salamander,” “RHINO,” “Alaska Quarterly Review,” “Pilgrimage” and “The Texas Observer.”

“I have promoted poetry and the literary arts since I arrived in San Antonio,” Quintanilla said. “I will continue to do so by visiting schools, participating in literary events and supporting writers in the community as much as I can. My passion is not just reading and writing poetry, but also getting it in the hands of people as much as possible.”

Quintanilla joins previous San Antonio Poet Laureates Carmen Tafolla (2012-2014), Laurie Ann Guerrero (2014-2016) and Jenny Browne (2016-2018) in a role designed to generate interest and preserve the art of poetry. Tafolla, Guerrero and Browne have gone on to become State Poets Laureate of Texas.

“As a world-class city, San Antonio supports and fosters its creative and artistic communities — especially the many individuals who have committed their lives and work to preserving our city’s cultural legacy,” Nirenberg said. “Octavio is one of those committed individuals, and the City of San Antonio is proud to have him serve as our new Poet Laureate and promote the importance of literary arts in the community.”

In April, the City of San Antonio will join communities across the country in celebrating National Poetry Month. More information on the San Antonio Poet Laureate program and National Poetry Month can be found at www.GetCreativeSanAntonio.com.

The Office of Academic Affairs announced the following faculty promotions and tenure for 2018:

• Michelle Avila, CPA, Accounting – promotion to associate professor
• Denise Carnes, MA, CCC-SLP, Communication Disorders – promotion to associate clinical professor
• Maureen “Mo” Cuevas, PhD, LCSW, Social Work – promotion to full professor
• Phyllis Duncan, PhD, Leadership Studies – promotion to full professor
• Elizabeth Dyer, PhD, Music – promotion to associate professor
• Deborah Healy, PsyD – promotion to associate professor with tenure
• Patricia Kimes, Med, CCC-SLP, Communication Disorders – promotion to associate clinical professor
• Yvette Lozano, MA, CCC-SLP, Communication Disorders – promotion to associate clinical professor
• Rosa Martinez, MS, CCC-SLP, Communication Disorders – promotion to associate clinical professor
• Cynthia Medina, MSW, Social Work – promotion to associate professor
• Teresita Munguia, PhD, Chemistry – promotion to associate professor with tenure
• Octavio Quintanilla, PhD, English – promotion to associate professor
• Wallis Sanborn, PhD, English – promotion to associate professor
• Deborah Vasquez, MFA, Art – promotion to associate professor

OLLU staff, faculty and students are invited to attend the annual Health and Wellness Fair, Wednesday, March 28, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. in Chapel Auditorium.

During the fair, participants will be able to receive screening for blood pressure, vision, glucose, body mass index (BMI), and strength testing. Attendees can also get information on fitness, wellness, nutrition, financial health and work/life balance.

For more information, contact Diana Ramos, employee benefits manager at dramos@ollusa.edu or 210-434-6711, ext. 3920.

OLLU’s vOLLUnteer Unity Council (VUC) will be hosting its annual vOLLUnteer IMPACT, a university-wide service event, April 7, 2018, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. There are 90 volunteer slots available for OLLU students and employees to help make an impact on San Antonio’s West Side. Volunteers will be divided up to help at different nonprofit agencies:

• Book Buddies
• St. PJ’s Children’s Home
• American Sunrise
• Guadalupe Community Center

Volunteers will be sorting books, painting, doing yardwork, sorting donations, and office work for these nonprofit organizations. Those who wish to participate in this volunteer project should visit the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism in Worden School, Room 23, email vuc@ollusa.edu or call 210-431-3990 to sign up.

vOLLUnteer IMPACT is an official event of San Antonio’s Tricentennial Serve 300 initiative.

The OLLU University Choir, directed by Dr. Elizabeth Dyer, will be performing with Musica Sacra San Antonio at the choral concert: Encounters,” April 8, at 5 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower.

The concert will feature the music of Renaissance composer, John Taverner, and contemporary composer, John Tavener.

Taverner’s “Dum transisset Sabbatum” and Tavener’s “Ikon of Light” will be performed. The “Dum transisset” is a large-scale, a-cappella piece about The Three Marys as they encounter the empty tomb of Jesus. “Ikon of Light” is a mystical setting of a Greek text by 10^th century Orthodox monk St. Symeon, featuring spectacular chordal soundscapes mixed with Byzantine chant.

The concert will be directed by OLLU music faculty member and director of the Providence Singers (CDP), Dr. Owen Duggan.

The event is free and open to the public.