Author: OLLUNewsletter

Dr. Stacy Ybarra Evans, Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Our Lady of the Lake University, has received multiple national invitations recognizing her leadership in the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education.

This July, Dr. Evans will attend the Google AI Educator Series: CTL Academy in New York City, an invitation-only professional development program that brings together directors of teaching and learning centers and faculty development leaders from across the country. Hosted by Google for Education in partnership with ISTE+ASCD, the academy focuses on advancing AI literacy, supporting faculty, and developing campus strategies for the ethical and effective use of AI. Participants will explore topics including AI policy, academic integrity, curriculum redesign, digital trust, and responsible implementation before returning to their institutions with tools to lead AI professional development.

In addition to the Google Academy, Dr. Evans will serve as a featured panelist at Building Blackboard Together 2026 (BbT26) in Dallas. Her session, “Exploring the Threat of AI Agents: Pedagogy, Technology, and Security,” will examine how the emergence of agentic AI is transforming academic integrity and assessment. Joining national experts from Blackboard and the University of Phoenix, Dr. Evans will discuss strategies for combining pedagogy, technology, and security to foster authentic student learning and prepare institutions for the future of AI in education.

Dr. Evans has also been invited to participate in the Strategic Leadership Summit, an exclusive gathering of higher education leaders held in conjunction with BbT26. The summit convenes institutional leaders and industry experts to discuss innovative approaches to improving student outcomes, supporting faculty, and advancing institutional effectiveness.

These prestigious invitations reflect OLLU’s growing national presence in the evolving field of artificial intelligence and underscore the University’s commitment to preparing faculty to use emerging technologies responsibly, ethically, and equitably. Through the Center for Teaching Excellence, Dr. Evans will bring back new knowledge, resources, and best practices to support faculty development and enhance student learning across the University.

Dr. Evans expressed her appreciation to Candace de León-Zepeda, Ph.D., Dean of Academics and Associate Provost, for her continued support and for providing the opportunity to represent OLLU on the national stage.

Our Lady of the Lake University is participating in the CPS Energy Demand Response Program, an initiative that rewards the University for reducing electricity use during periods of peak energy demand. Every time we meet the program’s energy reduction goals, OLLU can earn incentive dollars that are reinvested back into the University.

During our last demand response event, we came just shy of the 50% participation threshold, reaching just under 49%. We’re close—but we need everyone’s help to cross the finish line.

When you receive the next Informacast notification announcing a demand response event, please do your part by:

• Turning off lights when they’re not needed.
• Powering down computers, monitors, printers, and other electronics when possible.
• Unplugging chargers and small appliances.
• Reducing unnecessary energy use until the event ends.

Every action counts. A few simple steps taken across campus can make a significant impact, helping OLLU meet the participation threshold and earn funds that benefit our campus community.

Keep an eye out for the next Informacast alert—and when it arrives, power down to help OLLU give back. Together, we can make every watt count.

Our Lady of the Lake University will welcome Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) on Wednesday, July 22, as the Sueltenfuss Library hosts one of 10 Community Conversations and Open House events focused on the proposed downtown arena district and future home of the San Antonio Spurs.

The event is open to the public and offers an opportunity for residents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to learn about the project, ask questions, and provide feedback that will help shape the planning and design of the proposed district.

Guests are encouraged to arrive at 6:30 p.m. to explore informational displays, meet members of the project team, and enjoy light refreshments. A project presentation will begin at 7 p.m., followed by interactive activities and small-group community discussions where attendees can share ideas and feedback.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, July 22
• Location: Sueltenfuss Library, Our Lady of the Lake University, 411 S.W. 24th Street
• 6:30–7 p.m.: Open House, displays, refreshments, and meet the project team
• 7 p.m.: Project update and presentation
• 7:15 p.m.: Community conversations and interactive activities

Whether you’re interested in the future of downtown San Antonio, the Spurs, or community development, your voice can help shape this important project. Community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the conversation.

OLLU’s Fall 2026 enrollment has grown to 1,410 students as we continue working toward our goal of 1,800. Every new student strengthens our university, advances our mission, and creates new opportunities to transform lives through education.

As we celebrate reaching this latest milestone, remember that every student counts. Whether you’re in our internal enrollment challenge or helping recruit the next generation of Saints, every action, conversation, referral, and connection makes a difference.

Reaching our enrollment goal is a shared effort across the OLLU community. From welcoming prospective students and their families to sharing your OLLU story, supporting recruitment events, or providing exceptional service to current and future Saints, your contributions help build momentum and inspire confidence in the OLLU experience.

Together, we can continue growing our community one student at a time. Every student matters. Every effort brings us closer to our goal.

Thank you for your continued commitment to OLLU and for helping us build a stronger future for our Saints.

Our Lady of the Lake University has launched a new series of 30-second television commercials highlighting some of the University’s most innovative and exciting initiatives, including Lake Express, OLLU’s first-in-Texas three-year bachelor’s degree pathway, and the launch of women’s flag football.

The campaign began airing two weeks ago and is strategically scheduled to continue throughout the FIFA World Cup broadcasts, reaching viewers during one of the world’s most-watched sporting events. By aligning the campaign with World Cup programming, OLLU is expanding its visibility among prospective students, families, alumni, and the broader community.

The television spots showcase OLLU’s commitment to innovation, affordability, and opportunity. Viewers will learn about Lake Express, which allows students to earn an accredited bachelor’s degree in just three years, as well as the University’s historic addition of women’s flag football, making OLLU the first private university in Texas and the first college in San Antonio to offer scholarships for the rapidly growing sport.

The campaign is airing across multiple broadcast times during World Cup coverage, providing repeated exposure throughout the tournament and reinforcing OLLU’s position as a university that is creating new pathways for student success.

Members of the OLLU community are invited to view a sneak peek of the new television spots and watch for them during upcoming World Cup broadcasts.

Sneak Peek: (Now Get In The Game – English) (Es Tu Momento Entra Al Juego – Espanol)

TV Air Times: (See schedule below.)

The Office of Institutional Advancement has released the 2025–2026 OLLU Investment Report, a new publication that highlights the transformative impact of philanthropy, student success, and institutional achievements while strengthening connections with alumni, donors, and community partners.

Designed as a strategic stewardship piece, the report highlights how donor investments have transformed the lives of students while advancing the university’s mission of education, service, and social mobility. Through compelling stories, institutional milestones, and measurable outcomes, the publication showcases the accomplishments made possible during the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

The report features key university achievements, including national rankings, student success metrics, innovative academic initiatives such as the Lake Express three-year bachelor’s degree and the No-Cost Master’s Program, the launch of women’s flag football, workforce readiness initiatives, scholarship investments, and transformational gifts that continue to expand opportunities for OLLU students. It also highlights the university’s ongoing commitment to serving first-generation and Hispanic students while creating lasting impact across South Texas.

More than a summary of accomplishments, the OLLU Investment Report demonstrates how every philanthropic investment contributes to student success, strengthens communities, and advances opportunity. It serves as both a reflection on a year of meaningful progress and an invitation for alumni, donors, and friends to continue investing in the future of OLLU.

The 2025–2026 OLLU Investment Report will be shared with alumni, donors, and partners as part of the university’s ongoing commitment to transparency, stewardship, and celebrating the collective impact of the OLLU community.

OLLU’s Fall 2026 enrollment has reached 1,386 students as we continue working toward our goal of 1,800. Every new student represents an opportunity to strengthen our university, expand our impact, and fulfill our mission of transforming lives through education.

Achieving this goal is a shared responsibility across the entire OLLU community. Whether you are welcoming prospective students and their families, sharing your OLLU experience, supporting recruitment events, or providing exceptional service to current and future Saints, your efforts make a meaningful difference.

As we move through the enrollment cycle, every conversation, referral, and positive interaction contributes to our momentum. Together, we can continue building on our progress, reaching more students, and creating opportunities for future Saints to join the OLLU family.

Thank you for your continued commitment to OLLU and for helping us move closer to our Fall 2026 enrollment goal.