Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) academic leaders Candace de León-Zepeda, Ph.D., Dean of Academics and Associate Provost, and Valerie A. Martínez, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History and University College Coordinator, have been selected to participate in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) prestigious VOLARÉ Institute, a national initiative designed to strengthen research capacity at Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs). Teresita Munguia, Ph.D., Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Chemistry, will serve as the Lead Administrator.
The selection recognizes OLLU’s growing commitment to building a stronger research enterprise and places Drs. De León-Zepeda, Martínez and Munguia among a competitive cohort of higher education professionals focused on expanding institutional research capabilities. Their applications stood out among a competitive group of candidates selected to advance research initiatives at their respective institutions.
OLLU President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D., praised the academic leaders for earning the opportunity.
“When I think about the future of OLLU, I think about leaders like Candace, Valerie and Teresita; scholars and practitioners who hold the tradition of our founding Sisters in one hand and the demands of a rapidly changing higher education landscape in the other. Their selection for the HACU VOLARÉ Institute will help us prepare our university for tomorrow. Our best days are ahead.”
VOLARÉ — Visioning, Organizing, Leading, and Advancing the Research Enterprise — provides participants with research capacity-building activities, mentorship and strategic support aimed at strengthening their skills and their institutions’ ability to compete for funding and elevate their research enterprise.
For OLLU, participation offers an opportunity to develop a systematic framework for strengthening the University’s research enterprise while receiving guidance from experienced mentors and collaborating with colleagues from institutions across the country.
The Institute emphasizes developing and implementing systematic research enterprise frameworks; creating communities of practice and regional consortia that allow institutions to share resources and expertise; and piloting new strategies that can support sustainable research growth.
Participants also gain tools to assess existing research capabilities, identify areas for growth and develop actionable strategies for strengthening research administration and infrastructure. The program is designed to increase institutional competitiveness for research funding while broadening participation in STEM and cultivating a more diverse research workforce.
Through their participation, Drs. de León-Zepeda, Martínez and Munguia will help position OLLU to identify institutional research needs, develop an action plan and explore strategies that can expand opportunities for faculty, students and collaborative research.
Additional details about OLLU’s research enterprise project developed through the VOLARÉ Institute will be shared as the initiative progresses.