Author: OLLUNewsletter

Reminder: University Summer Hours Begin May 18

Summer University Hours – Effective May 18 – August 7, 2026

Monday – Thursday – 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday – 8:30 a.m. – Noon

Summer Holidays

May 25 – Memorial Day
June 19 – Juneteenth
July 3 – Independence Day (Observed)

In accordance with the Summer Hours policy (AD-HR-PO-049), official university office hours from May 18, 2026, through Aug. 7, 2026, will be Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

All full-time employees are expected to work 40 hours each week, or in alignment with their employment agreement if they typically work fewer than 40 hours. Employees are also required to take a minimum 30-minute unpaid lunch break on full days. Department heads will provide final approval of each employee’s schedule to ensure appropriate office coverage and that university needs are met.

Some departments are exempt from the Summer Hours Policy and will remain open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer. These offices are:

  • Undergraduate Admissions Office
  • Graduate Admissions Office
  • Registrar’s Office
  • Financial Aid Office
  • Student Business Office

Summer holidays for 2026 include Memorial Day on May 25, Juneteenth on June 19, and the Independence Day observance on July 3. Faculty and staff are also asked to avoid scheduling planned leave between Monday, Aug. 10, and Wednesday, Sept. 2, unless special circumstances are approved through the appropriate division leadership.

OLLU Students and Faculty Represent at Sigma Zeta National Convention

Thirteen OLLU students in Biology and Environmental Science and Sustainability, along with three Biology faculty members, traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, from March 25–29 to attend the 2026 National Convention of the Sigma Zeta Science and Mathematics Honor Society, hosted by Marian University and the University of Indianapolis.

All thirteen students in attendance served on a Sigma Zeta convention committee and eight of the students delivered either poster or oral presentations. The trip gave students the opportunity to share their work, connect with undergraduates and professors from other institutions, and take part in the broader national scientific community.

In addition, Prof Adam Bynum was elected as President of Sigma Zeta and will serve in that role on the Sigma Zeta National Executive Board in 2026-2027.

Students:

  • Adriana Figueroa
  • Alondra Garcia
  • Nevelle Garcia
  • Raquel Velazquez
  • Zulma Juarez
  • Michaela Mendez
  • Bethany Garr
  • Catherine Blood
  • Madison Perez
  • Tracy Cabrera
  • Karis Alcoser
  • Valerie Morales
  • Marlia De Jesus

Professors:

  • Dr. Jim Hall
  • Prof. Adam Bynum
  • Dr. Chloe Lash


Saints Have Stellar Performance At Bobcat Invite & Texas Relays

The Our Lady of the Lake Saints women’s track and field continued its outdoor season with a competitive two-meet stretch, opening at the Texas Relays before returning to action at the Bobcat Invitational.

At the Texas Relays in Austin, the Saints were led by freshman Alex Wells, who posted a time of 12.11 in the 100 meters against a deep collegiate field. In the distance events, senior Liliana Hernandez turned in a top-10 finish in the 1500 meters, placing eighth in 4:59.59.

OLLU also saw solid relay performances, highlighted by the 4×100-meter relay team of Nataley Doka, Wells, Sa’Nya Auguste, and Jadae Freeman, which ran 49.01 in preliminary competition. The 4×800-meter relay squad of Monica Sanchez, Mia Curiel, Hernandez, and Madison Perez added a 10th-place finish with a time of 9:36.30.

In the field events, Lawren Tanner delivered one of the team’s top marks of the meet, placing 12th in the long jump with a leap of 5.57 meters (18-3.25). Jeslynn Flores also competed in the high jump.

The Saints carried that experience into the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, where they produced a number of steady performances across multiple event groups. Samantha Solis led the team in the 100 meters with a time of 13.63, while Morghan Neely and Brianna Rodriguez competed in the 200 meters, posting times of 26.00 and 28.33, respectively.

Rodriguez returned in the 400 meters with a time of 1:03.74, while freshman Sadie Romero led the team in the open 400 with a 59.08 performance. In the middle-distance events, Daylah Vega and Claudia Lopez recorded times of 2:31.41 and 2:33.29 in the 800 meters.

The Saints showed depth in the 1500 meters, led by Mia Curiel‘s 4:58.07, followed closely by Zaddie Santacruz (5:01.54) and Vega (5:10.31). Leilani Leza and Lopez rounded out the group with times of 5:24.34 and 5:35.47, respectively.

Kymberli Cavazos represented OLLU in the hurdles, running 18.25 in the 100-meter hurdles and 1:11.33 in the 400-meter hurdles.

OLLU Baseball Closes Series Strong with 11-2 Statement Win

Our Lady of the Lake put together a resilient and competitive series against Louisiana Christian, closing it out with an emphatic performance that highlighted the Saints offensive firepower, pitching depth, and ability to respond to adversity.

The series opened as a pitcher’s duel, with the Saints held to three hits despite a perfect day at the plate from Benjamyn Hovda, who accounted for all of OLLU’s offense. Even in a 3-0 setback, the Saints remained within striking distance throughout, thanks to a steady outing from Donovan Gamez and key defensive plays, including a momentum-shifting double play turned by the infield. The result did not reflect the competitiveness of the Saints, who showed discipline and flashes of offensive potential.

That potential came to life in the second game, as OLLU’s lineup delivered a breakout performance with 15 hits. Jack Kalisky paced the offense with four hits, while Drew Saucedo and Aiden Gonzalez each contributed multi-hit efforts to keep pressure on Louisiana Christian pitching. Jacob Cueva drove in two runs, and the Saints consistently created opportunities through aggressive baserunning and situational execution, including multiple sacrifice bunts that kept innings alive. Despite the offensive surge, the game turned on a late swing from Louisiana Christian, but OLLU’s ability to adjust and produce at a high level was evident.

The Saints saved their most complete performance for the finale, erupting for 11 runs on 15 hits in a commanding victory. Saucedo set the tone at the top of the lineup, reaching base consistently and scoring three times, while Kalisky continued his dominant series with four more hits and three RBIs. Joshua Milton delivered a key extra-base hit and drove in two runs, and both Diego Zuniga and Cueva added two RBIs apiece as the lineup produced from top to bottom. Hovda remained a catalyst, contributing multiple hits, driving in a run, and applying pressure on the basepaths.

On the mound, Noah Ferraro anchored the Saints with a strong six-inning performance, limiting Louisiana Christian to just one run while navigating traffic with composure. Xavior Salazar and Nolan Nicholson combined to close out the game effectively, preserving the lead and securing the series finale with confidence.

Defensively, the Saints backed their pitching staff with consistent execution, turning multiple double plays throughout the series and showing strong communication across the infield. The combination of timely defense and relentless offense in the final game underscored the team’s growth over the course of the series.

OLLU Faculty Member Honored as Professor of the Year

Our Lady of the Lake University proudly celebrates Dr. Bernadette Hassan Solorzano, who has been named Professor of the Year by the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (TAMFT).

This prestigious award recognizes a faculty member actively teaching in higher education who demonstrates excellence in preparing students for compassionate, ethical, and high-quality professional practice in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Solorzano was nominated in recognition of her outstanding mentorship, clinical supervision, and lasting impact on generations of future therapists.

Through her dedication to teaching, mentorship, and student development, Dr. Solorzano exemplifies OLLU’s mission of service, leadership, and community impact. Her work continues to shape professionals who serve families with compassion, excellence, and integrity.

Dr. Solorzano was formally recognized during the TAMFT Business Meeting and Luncheon on April 10, 2026, at the Tremont House in Galveston, Texas.

Congratulations to Dr. Solorzano on this well-deserved honor, and thank you for your continued commitment to advancing the field of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Message from the President

Monday, April 13, 2026

Dear OLLU Community,

Late last Friday afternoon I was distracted during my daughter’s softball game as the starting lineup was being called. In my hand was my phone, rotated horizontally, displaying on the screen the final moments of Artemis II splashdown.

The Artemis II mission was personally meaningful for several reasons, including the togetherness of the mission, the present global opportunity for kinship, dignity, and respect, and because Yvonne Villegas-Aguilera played an important role in this mission. Yvonne is a 2002 OLLUmna who during her time at OLLU was a McNair Scholar and deeply involved with campus ministry. Yvonne is the Deputy Chief Engineer responsible for the design and manufacturing of the propulsion system used in the same Orion spacecraft that splashed down Friday following the 10-day 695,000 mile mission. Friday afternoon the inner curious kid watched attentively, the mechanical engineer calculated, and the proud university president couldn’t stop thinking about the opportunities that await our students with their OLLU degree, all while thanking Yvonne and our OLLU community who made it possible for her. I am so inspired by our ongoing conversations and possibilities for our emerging unique definition of Focused Differentiation at OLLU.

Each of you is actively engaged in what Focused Differentiation will become for us. Yvonne’s success is not accidental, on the contrary, it is the result of focus, discipline, and alignment. Aligning mission, clarity, and execution will only scale outcomes like Yvonne’s.

Our institutional data reinforces the urgency of this work. We have experienced market share erosion in an increasingly competitive and constrained landscape. In Spring 2026, approximately 80% of our undergraduate semester credit hours are concentrated in just 31% of our academic programs. At the graduate level, 80% of semester credit hours are concentrated in just 19% of programs. Our students are already signaling where demand is strongest and where OLLU’s strengths resonate most clearly.

Focused Differentiation now requires that we swiftly clarify two dimensions: our narrow target market, and our unique differentiators. The sum will concentrate our efforts where we can make the greatest difference. We will sharpen our focus. We will align our energy. And we will commit to becoming distinctive in the areas where our mission and strengths will change the livelihoods of our graduates.

It is the work we are doing for our students, our legacy, together by responding to meet the needs of the time.

I am grateful to you for the opportunity of a lifetime to serve our students.

With prayer and gratitude,

Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D.
President

OLLU Alum Julian S. Garcia Publishes First Novel

Julian S. Garcia, a 1975 graduate of Our Lady of the Lake College, has published his first novel, When VIAztlan Was the Rage. Garcia studied sociology and bilingual education at OLLU and is now adding fiction to a long record of published writing.

Garcia is a regular Op-Ed contributor for the San Antonio Express-News, San Francisco Chronicle and other Hearst publications. His work has also appeared on the Texas State Historical Association website.

The ebook edition of When VIAztlan Was the Rage has been published by Tiltwood Press, with a paperback edition expected in summer 2026. The book cover describes the novel as “a novel of writers, rebellion, and literary awakening.”

A literary novel exploring the vibrant history of the ViAztlan International journal in the 1980s, captures the creative energy, cultural rivalries, and artistic voices that shaped San Antonio’s West Side and connected local writers to an international literary movement.

This accomplishment highlights the continued impact of OLLU alumni in literature, journalism and public thought.

You may obtain this e-novel on Amazon here.