Check out the latest edition of the FitCampus newsletter packed with updates to help you stay active, inspired, and connected! Whether you’re a fitness regular or just getting started, there’s something for everyone this week.
Here’s what you can expect:
OLLU will host a Faculty Benefits Fair on Wednesday, August 13 in Main Building, Room 311 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Annual benefits enrollment provides benefit-eligible employees the opportunity to start, change or end benefits, which become effective Oct. 1, 2025. The exception is medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, which begin Sept. 1, 2025.
All eligible employees MUST enroll online to continue/change benefits. Current benefits will not roll over.
Detailed information on how to enroll via new app will be announced soon. Employees will need to adhere to the following deadlines.
University Professional Development Days will advance learning opportunities and support professional growth for our OLLU community. Faculty and Staff in San Antonio are asked to attend in-person to allow a rich community engagement. Some Day 3 concurrent sessions will include a hybrid option for Houston and RGV participation.
Attendance Required:
All San Antonio-based faculty and staff are expected to attend the first day of the conference in person unless excused by their supervisor. Division leaders should use discretion to determine the needs of their areas and who can attend the conference. Division leaders may consider rotating schedules to allow most staff to attend at least part of the conference.
Schedule:
Updated Full schedule and program details are available using the link below. The schedule will continue to be updated as needed.
Note: New Faculty Orientation and adjunct orientation events are not included on this website, presenters and attendees have been invited to those events separately.
Important Links:
Our Lady of the Lake University is proud to be featured in the July 4 issue of Today’s Catholic newspaper. This special spotlight includes a reflective article by Dr. Jessica González Uhlig, OLLU’s Vice President for Institutional Enrollment, who explores the powerful legacy of our university’s founder, Blessed John Martin Moye.
We invite you to read the full article and reflect on how the mission and values of Blessed John Martin Moye are being lived out across our campus. The article appears on page 14 of the publication and serves as a reminder that Moye’s spirit is not just a part of our past—it’s alive and thriving in the OLLU community every day.
Exciting News! 🍔📲
Grubhub is coming to Our Lady of the Lake University!
Students, faculty, and staff will soon be able to order food from campus dining locations and participating off-campus restaurants — all through the Grubhub app.
Whether you’re studying late, in between classes, or just craving your favorite meal, convenience is now just a tap away!
Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to launch.
Get ready to skip the line and order ahead — Grubhub @ OLLU is almost here!
Dr. Apolonio Trejo, assistant professor of bilingual education at Our Lady of the Lake University, continues to shine a spotlight on a critical educational equity issue: the underrepresentation of Hispanic English learners in gifted and talented programs.
Since his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Trejo has been deeply committed to researching how systemic barriers often prevent bilingual students from being properly identified and supported as gifted. His expertise recently garnered national attention when he was recognized by Monserrat Garibay, former Deputy Secretary and Director of the Office of English Language Acquisition under President Joe Biden.
Dr. Trejo’s research centers on the unique cognitive advantages of bilingual students, particularly their ability to code-switch and translanguage, which are often misunderstood or overlooked in traditional assessments of giftedness.
“When you start translanguaging, you have learned to manipulate both languages—Spanish and English—and not all students can do that,” Dr. Trejo explained. “That’s when you start getting all this Spanglish, where students make up their own words, because they’re using their entire brain. Not all gifted or high-achievers can do that.”
He advocates for a broader definition of giftedness—one that recognizes cultural and linguistic assets rather than viewing them as deficits. His work encourages educators to see the rich linguistic repertoires of English learners as signs of advanced cognitive development, not obstacles to be remediated.
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has officially partnered with Laredo College (LC) to launch a bold new transfer agreement aimed at expanding access to affordable, high-quality bachelor’s degree pathways for students in South Texas.
On June 26, 2025, leaders from both institutions gathered at the Sueltenfuss Library on OLLU’s San Antonio campus to commemorate the signing of this landmark agreement. The event brought together trustees, faculty and staff, members of the Congregation of Divine Providence, and special guests from the Laredo community for a celebration of collaboration, access, and educational opportunity.
The agreement paves the way for qualifying Laredo College students to transfer into OLLU’s undergraduate programs with streamlined credit evaluations, automatic admission into designated majors, and personalized advising support. Students will also benefit from scholarship opportunities and ongoing guidance throughout their academic journey.
“This agreement is more than a memorandum,” said Dr. Abel A. Chávez, President of OLLU. “It is a shared declaration of purpose. Together, Laredo College and OLLU are clearing pathways, removing barriers, and accelerating access to four-year degrees for students who will go on to lead, serve, and transform our communities of San Antonio, South Texas, and beyond.”
Designed to serve first-generation and underrepresented students, the partnership reflects both institutions’ commitment to equity and student success. By addressing common transfer challenges—like credit loss, limited advising, and financial roadblocks—the agreement creates a smoother transition for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
“It is an honor to see both of our great institutions come together for the success of our students,” said Dr. Minita Ramírez, President of Laredo College. “This partnership with Our Lady of the Lake University will open more doors for our students that will lead them to become great leaders in our communities, throughout the South Texas region, and the nation. When we empower our students and remove obstacles, we also clear a route to graduation and their dream career.”
As Texas continues to invest in building a skilled and educated workforce, this agreement aligns with state goals to increase educational attainment and economic mobility. OLLU, as a Hispanic-Serving Institution founded in 1895, remains committed to mission-driven partnerships that uplift students and communities through higher education.
Our Lady of the Lake University was proudly represented this week at the 5th International Single Session Therapy Conference, hosted by Northwestern University in Chicago. The conference brought together leading researchers, practitioners, and scholars from around the world to explore the evolving landscape of single session psychotherapy (SST)—a brief, client-centered approach to mental health care.
OLLU’s team included both graduate students and faculty presenters from the university’s psychology and counseling programs, highlighting the university’s academic excellence and research-driven approach to therapy.
Dr. Monte Bobele
Their presentations explored innovative applications of single session therapy and its benefits in diverse, real-world contexts—particularly among underserved populations. Faculty members such as Dr. Monte Bobele and Dr. Monica Sesma have been instrumental in advancing OLLU’s contributions to this international conversation on brief therapy models.
