Dr Stephanie Zepeda, OLLU Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Houston MS Psychology Program, was selected to serve as an expert panelist for the Delphi study for the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Category: Employee News
Professor González featured in Austin solo exhibit
Suzy González, OLLU Visiting Assistant Professor of Visual and New Media Arts, is featured in a solo exhibition, “Plantcestors,” at the Austin Public Library Gallery. It will be on view until Jan. 12. It will travel to the San Antonio Public Library Gallery in February 2025, with more work included.
Welcome new Director of Assessment and Accreditation
Please help us welcome our new Director of Assessment and Accreditation, Dr. Liliana Gutierrez to the OLLU community.
Dr. Gutierrez has a rich background in higher education, bringing 25 years of experience and expertise in institutions, administration, assessment, and accreditation. She has held positions at St. Philip’s College (SPC), The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). With a B.A. in English from California State University, Los Angeles, and both an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from UTSA, her research focuses on underrepresented and non-traditional students, particularly the influence of parents’ education on children’s aspirations. She also enjoys teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the Alamo Colleges District. Additionally, she serves as Vice-President for Student Parents Empowered, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that student parents in Texas have the support and resources needed to succeed in post-secondary education.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Gutierrez has been married for 19 years and is a mother to two daughters, aged 17 and 11. She is dedicated to being a role model for her girls and enjoys family time, outdoor activities, and jewelry making.
Dr. Healy takes part in 50th anniversary celebration for APA Minority Fellowship Program
Dr. Deborah Healy, Professor of Psychology and Program Chair, recently took part in the 50th anniversary celebration of the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program (MFP). The celebration took place Oct. 10 at the Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.
The MFP is focused on training diverse professionals who are committed to serving communities of color. The MFP has led to a notable impact on the behavioral health field and the mental health outcomes and life experiences of marginalized communities across the nation and the world. Over the past 50 years, MFP has trained over 2,300 fellows. MFP alumni have gone on to make significant achievements in their professional careers. Several OLLU students have been MFP fellows.
‘Walk with a Counselor’ takes place on Fridays in October
October is ‘Exercise is Medicine on Campus Month.’ In recognition, Counseling and Wellness Services will be hosting ‘Walk with a Therapist-Mindful Movement’ for faculty and staff every Friday in October. Join Counseling and Wellness for a 30-minute walk, focusing on mindfulness practice as we move our bodies.
Meet at 1 p.m. at the entrance to Walter Student Service Building (Metz side) to start the walk. Please wear comfortable shoes.
New pharmacy care services manager for OLLU group medical participants
Effective Oct. 1, 2024, OLLU group medical participants have a new pharmacy care services manager that is administered by UMR. Participants will receive new ID cards with the new Group number and new BIN information of the new pharmacy provider through UMR. Below is important Optum RX prescription information group medical participants will need to provide to the pharmacy on or after Oct. 1, 2024.
Professor Friesenhahn’s poetry featured in “San Antonio Review”
Two poems written by Dr. Jacob Friesenhahn, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, were published in “San Antonio Review,” Volume 7.1, Fall 2024. The poem “Bird Island” is about the island, formerly full of egrets, in Elmendorf Lake, next to the OLLU campus. The poem “two grackles” was awarded the Editor’s Pick for Poetry for the Fall 2024 issue of “San Antonio Review.” Links to both poems are below:
Two Grackles · San Antonio Review (Volume 7.1 | Fall 2024) (sareview.org)
Bird Island · San Antonio Review (Volume 7.1 | Fall 2024) (sareview.org)
Chartwells presents loyalty card for faculty and staff
Faculty and staff who purchase five lunch meals in the Saint’s Café can receive a sixth meal free through a new 2024 Loyalty Card program. The card is available in the Executive Vice President/Chief of Staff’s Office in Moye Hall, Room 110. Additional cards are available if you complete a card.
Several employees have asked if they can donate their free meal to a student once they have completed a card. Faculty and staff can donate the free meal either by giving their completed card to a student of their choice or by turning it into the Student Affairs Office in Moye Hall, Room 103.
Review list of Employee Service Award honorees
The listing below includes names and years of service of full-time employees whom Human Resources records show as being eligible to receive the 2024 Service Awards. Honorees will be recognized during the 11 a.m. Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 12 in Sacred Heart Chapel. Employees must have completed full-time service in increments of five years beginning with the 10-year mark and continuing in 2024 to be eligible to receive the Service Award. Faculty and Staff Honorees will be recognized immediately following the Mass.
Faculty and staff employees who believe they are eligible to receive a Service Award for full-time service years at OLLU, but do not see their name on the list, should contact Human Resources as soon as possible via email at mbecerra15@ollusa.edu.
Eligible Service Award recipients for 2024
| Employee Name | TITLE | Service Years |
| Murtha, Paul M. | General Maintenance Technician | 35 |
| Gonzalez, Mateo | Grounds/General Maintenance Supervisor | 35 |
| Green, Mark T. | Professor of Leadership Studies | 30 |
| Garcia, Evelyn A. | Accounts Payable Assistant | 25 |
| Glasscock, Darrell R. | Director of Facilities | 20 |
| Garza, Carmen C. | Academic Advising Counselor | 20 |
| Flores, Esmeralda M. | Director of Financial Aid | 20 |
| Findley, Teresa E. | Payroll Assistant | 20 |
| Winney, Kathryn M. | Associate Professor of Accounting | 15 |
| O’Donnell, Kristin L. | Professor of Psychology | 15 |
| Munguia, Teresita | Associate Provost | 15 |
| Lozano, Yvette M. | Clinical Professor | 15 |
| Kubena, Jiletta L. | Department Chair/Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice | 15 |
| Dinh-Camarillo, Linda T. | Library Operations Manager | 15 |
| Watts, John H. | Professor, Business Administration | 10 |
| Rodriguez, Maria | Housekeeper | 10 |
| Quinones, Michael V. | Network Manager – Engineer | 10 |
| Munoz, Robert | Police Lieutenant | 10 |
| Maurer, Alycia D. | Associate Dean/Department Chair & Associate Professor of Education | 10 |
| Martinez, Guadalupe M. | Housekeeper | 10 |
| Komara, Kirsten | Academic Center for Excellence Director | 10 |
| Hernandez, Reyna R. | Custodian | 10 |
| Healy, Deborah A. | Department Chair/Professor of Psychology | 10 |
| Garza, Gina M. | Senior Processing Specialist- CRM Operations | 10 |
| Deperez, Claudia | Housekeeper | 10 |
| Cuevas, Maureen C. | Professor of Social Work | 10 |
| Clark, Vanessa G. | Associate Dean/Department Chair & Professor, CISS | 10 |
| Allen, Jeffrey | Director of Infrastructure Services | 10 |
| Aguilar, Antonio | General Maintenance Worker | 10 |
Faculty open enrollment deadline is Wednesday
The Benefits Open Enrollment deadline for faculty to start, change or end benefits is this Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 11:59 p.m. No changes will be accepted after the deadline.
Faculty can enroll via Saints Connect>Self-Service>Employee>Benefits.