Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has been ranked No. 5 in Texas for its Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) master’s program by MastersInCounseling.org in its Best MFT Master’s Programs in Texas for 2027 guide. This marks the second time in five years that OLLU has earned this distinction.
The ranking recognizes OLLU’s Master of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Of the 13 Texas institutions included in the guide, OLLU is one of only five whose programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), the gold standard for MFT program accreditation.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our faculty and our commitment to preparing professionals who serve with both clinical skill and compassion,” said OLLU President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D. “Our students learn to recognize the strengths within individuals and families and to respect the cultures and experiences that shape their lives. They carry that preparation into communities where their work can strengthen relationships, support healing and make a lasting difference.”
OLLU’s 60-credit-hour program emphasizes cultural and linguistic competence, ethical practice, and strengths-based psychotherapy. Students gain practical experience through supervised clinical training at OLLU’s Community Counseling Service and approved community sites.
While classes at the main San Antonio campus are held in the evenings Monday through Thursday, classes in Houston follow a cohort model, with most meetings held on alternating Saturdays. These flexible structures appeal to working adults. The COAMFTE-accredited specialization provides a foundation for pursuing licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas.
The program also offers training opportunities at satellite locations, including Houston and the Rio Grande Valley, as well as a certificate that supports students who speak Spanish and serve Spanish-speaking populations.
The program has a 100% graduation rate, with more than 90% of graduates achieving licensure and employment. Graduates work in private practice, nonprofits, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other community settings.
OLLU’s Jersig Center will bring hands-on learning and communication awareness to campus on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in recognition of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month.
Clinical and academic staff will join members of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) from 12:30–1:30 p.m. in the Renaissance Parlor near the main entrance. Students, faculty and staff are invited to explore communication systems and AAC equipment through demonstrations and hands-on activities.
AAC includes techniques and tools that supplement or replace spoken communication, such as picture boards and electronic devices. These approaches help individuals express their thoughts, needs and ideas when spoken language is limited or unavailable.
For students, the event offers an opportunity to connect classroom concepts with practical tools, learn alongside clinical and academic professionals, and develop a deeper understanding of communication accessibility. Participation also gives student organizers an opportunity to practice explaining their field and advocating for inclusive communication.
The collaboration highlights the connection between OLLU’s academic programs, clinical expertise and student engagement. By making specialized knowledge accessible to the broader campus community, the event supports the University’s commitment to service and inclusion while showcasing how professional preparation can address community needs.
Stop by to ask questions, explore AAC equipment and celebrate the many effective ways people communicate.
From turning old T-shirts into toys for shelter dogs to planting a native garden, Our Lady of the Lake University’s Make A Difference Week offers Saints opportunities to care for their neighbors—and the environment—Oct. 19–24.
Coordinated by the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism (CSLV), the week combines donation drives, creative projects and hands-on service reflecting OLLU’s core values of community and service. Last year, 70 participants took part in the university’s activities. This year, organizers hope more than 100 Saints will get involved.
“Service is a part of the fabric and everyday life of this University,” said Dr. Jesse Harasta, director of the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism. “But sometimes having a special week to call out service helps us remember and refresh our commitment to service.”
OLLU’s observance expands on the spirit of national Make A Difference Day, which falls on Oct. 24 this year. Established in 1992, the initiative encourages volunteers of all ages to address community needs. Its national reach has included three million volunteers participating in the 2011 observance, according to Points of Light.
At OLLU, that spirit means responding to needs close to campus. Harasta noted that the university’s understanding of community includes children at the neighboring school, people needing warm clothing or food, and the ecological community surrounding campus.
Donate Throughout the Week
Saints can contribute through three collection efforts:
Nonperishable food: Canned and dried foods will be collected Monday–Saturday for a West Side food pantry. Drop-off locations include Lakeview, Main Building, Saints Café, Worden Building and Sueltenfuss Library.
Books and clothing: Items in good condition will be accepted Monday–Wednesday at the CSLV office in Worden 23 for Wednesday’s swap.
T-shirts: Clean T-shirts in any condition will be accepted Monday–Friday at Worden 23 for the shelter dog toy-making project.
Wednesday, Oct. 21: Share Resources and Creativity
Kappa Delta Chi will sponsor a Book and Clothing Swap from 12:30–1:30 p.m. in Renaissance Parlor. Participants can bring a book or piece of clothing and exchange it for another item. Remaining donations will support public library book sales or a local clothing closet. No registration is required.
OLLU art students will also join Artist-in-Residence Triz Rodríguez to teach children at the neighboring elementary school spray-paint mural techniques in preparation for a larger project in November.
Thursday, Oct. 22: Explore Nature and Support School Neighbors
A Pollinator BioBlitz from 12:30–1:30 p.m. at Elmendorf Lake Park will invite students to use the iNaturalist app to document pollinator species. Presented with TExAS FAST and the Math and Science Department, the activity supports a statewide Texas Parks and Wildlife program. Participants will meet at the gate behind Metz Hall, alongside Casa Caritas.
Later, student volunteers will help operate booths at the neighboring elementary school’s Muertitos Fest from 4–7 p.m., with setup beginning at 2 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23: Give Old T-Shirts a New Purpose
Delta Xi Nu will sponsor Toy Making for Shelter Dogs from 12:30–1:30 p.m. in Renaissance Parlor. Volunteers will cut and transform donated T-shirts into pull toys for shelter dogs in partnership with Pets Alive. No registration is required.
Saturday, Oct. 24: Help Establish the St. Francis Garden
The week concludes with Service Saturday from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at the St. Francis Garden, behind the softball field near Elmendorf Lake Park. Volunteers will transplant native plants, spread mulch and prepare the grounds to help establish the new native garden.
For registration information for the BioBlitz, Muertitos Fest or Service Saturday, contact the CSLV at cslv@ollusa.edu or visit Worden 23.
Our Lady of the Lake University’s Visual and New Media Arts Program invites the campus community to the opening reception for its Second Annual All-Student Juried Exhibition on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 6–8 p.m. in the Main Building’s third-floor gallery.
Juried by Interloper Gallery curator and OLLU Visual Arts Professor Mark Martinez, the exhibition highlights the creative work of 14 OLLU students.
Congratulations to selected artists Sofia Lara, Leo Salas, Fernando Salgado, Bruno Amezaga, Yuri Lynn, Sophie Robles, Annya Ramos, Govanni Rodriguez, Gizelle Barraza, Alma Rodriguez, Madison Couture, Angelés Randall, Dominique Zapata and Sandra Vidal.
The reception offers an opportunity to celebrate these student artists, explore their work and connect with OLLU’s arts community. The exhibition will remain on view through Nov. 10.
Our Lady of the Lake University’s (OLLU) Marketing, Communications, and Engagement Department hosted its annual Social Media Networking Workshop on October 14, bringing together campus representatives to share knowledge, strengthen digital communication skills and build connections with fellow social media managers.
The workshop welcomed 15 departments and offices across the University. The session focused on helping campus partners create engaging, high-quality content while maintaining OLLU’s brand identity and communication standards across social media platforms.
Topics ranged from official social media posting guidelines and brand consistency to capturing quality photos and videos, developing engaging content and networking with other campus social media managers. Attendees also explored how content can inspire, educate, inform, entertain and engage audiences while highlighting the people, programs and experiences that make OLLU unique.
The workshop also featured student perspectives and demonstrations, offering insight into social media content creation and the tools that help bring campus stories to life.
Sharing the Stories That Make OLLU Special
Social media plays an important role in showcasing OLLU’s mission, celebrating student achievements, highlighting faculty and staff contributions, and connecting with current and prospective students, alumni and the broader community. By strengthening collaboration among campus social media managers, OLLU can continue sharing consistent, compelling stories that reflect the University’s identity and impact.
Departments, offices and recognized student organizations interested in starting an official OLLU social media account or seeking guidance on branding and social media standards are encouraged to visit the OLLU Brand Identity Guide on SharePoint.
The Marketing, Communications, and Engagement Department welcomes collaboration and story ideas from across campus. Together, we can highlight the wonderful work happening at OLLU and share the stories that make the Saints community special.
Have a story to share or questions about managing an official social media account? Reach out to the Marketing, Communications, and Engagement Department for guidance and support.
Two second-year Social Work Ph.D. students at OLLU’s Worden School of Social Service have secured a combined $305,000 in grants to support community programs serving children, educators, and families.
Heather Thatcher received a $180,000 grant from Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth to support the Connections and Foster Care Program.
Carmen Thatcher, working with Bexar County ReCAST, received a $125,000 reimbursement grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The award will cover most of the project’s $150,000 cost and fund social and emotional wellness kits for 1,500 elementary school teachers across 48 campuses.
Together, the awards demonstrate how Worden doctoral students are applying their knowledge and professional skills to address community needs. Their work connects advanced social work education with practical initiatives that extend support to children, educators and families.
For OLLU, these accomplishments highlight the contributions of its graduate students beyond the classroom and reinforce the University’s commitment to service and community engagement. They also showcase the Worden School’s role in preparing social work professionals to lead initiatives, secure resources and translate ideas into meaningful community support.
Congratulations to Heather and Carmen for their leadership and dedication to strengthening the communities they serve.
For more student highlights and achievements, and to check out what is happening, visit the Ph.D. Worden Newsletter.
Make your voice heard! Early voting has officially started, and Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is helping students and the San Antonio community get ready to make their voices count.
This year, OLLU partnered with Bexar County to promote voter registration, civic education and student engagement through its Voter Registration and Early Voting Initiative. Led by the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism, the campaign connects students with the resources, information and support they need to participate confidently in the democratic process.
The initiative kicked off in August with registration opportunities during residence hall move-in, the Saints Organization Fair and Community Hour. Additional outreach tied to National Voter Registration Day, Constitution Day and Service Saturday helped encourage participation, with support from community partners including the League of Women Voters and West End Hope in Action.
Through collaboration with Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez’s office, OLLU strengthened its efforts to provide voter registration materials, educational resources and engaging activities that encourage students to get involved.
As an early voting site, OLLU also offers a convenient, familiar location for students, employees and West Side residents to cast their ballots. The university recognizes that busy schedules, unfamiliarity with voting procedures and questions about polling locations can create barriers, so its outreach focuses on making the process more accessible and understandable.
“At OLLU, we believe higher education is about more than preparing students for a career. It’s also about preparing them to become informed, engaged citizens who can positively impact their communities,” said Clarissa Vega, director of Strategic Initiatives and Government Affairs.
Voting is about more than choosing elected officials. Ballot measures and local bond proposals can directly affect public safety, community resources and everyday life.
Now is the time to make a plan, learn about the ballot and get ready to vote!
Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Make it count!
As the Board Chair shared last Friday, I will conclude my service as President of Our Lady of the Lake University on December 31. I will be on campus through October 31, and I leave with deep gratitude and confidence in OLLU’s future, because our university is much stronger today than five years ago and we have begun to tackle the challenges facing communities and higher education.
When I arrived at OLLU nearly five years back, I understood the significance of becoming our University’s 10th president and its first Latino to serve in this capacity. What I could not have understood then was how profoundly this place, its people, and the charism of Divine Providence would shape me.
I came to our university carrying a story that many of our students know well. Son of immigrants, roots in a border town, first in my family. My own educational journey began at a community college before eventually leading me to a doctoral degree and, improbably, to serving OLLU as its president.
At its core, my journey has been about changing a family’s trajectory. About the parents who sacrificed so their child could have an opportunity they did not. About the student balancing academics, the first-generation student trying to decipher a system no one in their family has navigated, and the graduate who walks across the stage knowing the diploma carries far more than the name printed on it.
Over these almost five years, we have asked much of one another. We worked towards restoring financial strength, changed several processes, challenged ourselves to become more disciplined, more accountable, more innovative, to raise our and everyone’s standard, and remain more focused on what today’s students need from us. And together, we have moved OLLU forward.
Indeed, together we strengthened undergraduate retention, and graduation rates, and philanthropic and grant funding. Together, we worked to restore financial strength while navigating extraordinary external challenges. Together we began to realign our academic portfolio around student opportunity and workforce demand. Together we modernized technology and institutional processes. Together we strengthened partnerships throughout San Antonio, South Texas, and beyond. Together we watched our student-athletes win national championships while becoming stronger students in the classroom.
All the while, we remained mission-focused as we created. The Futuro Leaders Scholars Program was a seed for first-generation students because they deserve more than access; they deserve investment, mentorship, and the expectation that they will become leaders. Lake Express is one answer to questions about the cost and value of higher education. We demonstrated that a rigorous bachelor’s degree can be reimagined around the lives and needs of today’s students. We invested in new programs, new partnerships, new technologies, new approaches to student success, and new ways of thinking about what OLLU can become. We did this knowing that not every idea works perfectly the first time. And yet, we kept moving.
And when I say we, I mean it. A president does not retain a student. A president does not teach a class, coach a team, process an application, counsel a student in crisis, raise every dollar, repair buildings, clean classrooms, or make every family feel welcomed.
People do. You did. And you do this every day.
One of the greatest gifts OLLU gave me was a deeper understanding of Providence. That commitment will forever be with me. Providence has taught me that we do not always get to see the entire road before us. Many times through our journeys we are asked instead to discern what is ours to do, to have the courage to do it, and to trust that our work becomes part of something larger than ourselves.
There is work we began that I will not be here to finish; you will. Be carriers of Providence, as we are all temporary stewards of something entrusted to us by those who came before and something we have an obligation to leave stronger for those who come next.
I leave this presidency enormously proud of what we accomplished together, but even more grateful for the people with whom I had the privilege to accomplish it.
Students: never allow where you started to determine where you are permitted to go. Your education belongs to you, but what you do with it can change generations.
Faculty and Staff: thank you for doing the difficult and deeply human work upon which our OLLU depends. Continue asking hard questions, putting students first, and having the courage to change when mission demands it.
Trustees: thank you for the time, wisdom, and care you give OLLU as volunteers. Your commitment to our students and our mission has inspired me, and I am deeply grateful.
Sisters: thank you for trusting me with something you have invested generations building. More importantly, thank you for helping me understand Providence as a way of living.
Entire Community: thank you for allowing this first-generation college student and son of immigrants the extraordinary privilege of becoming President of Our Lady of the Lake University.
There is a question I have increasingly found myself asking students, and you:
¿Qué tipo de ancestro quieres ser? (What kind of ancestor do you want to be?)
Our work is about the OLLU we are preparing for the generations who will come after us.
With the end of Hispanic Heritage Month this week, here are a plethora of factoids recognizing Hispanic culture and OLLU pride!
President Ronald Reagan shaking hands with OLLU Alum Colonel Gil Coronado
• Hispanic Heritage was celebrated for only a week. It was established in 1968 by then President Lyndon B. Johnson as a weeklong celebration. OLLU Alum Gil Coronado changed that in 1988 when President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a full 30-day period.
• What did Hispanics influence?
o Cowboys and Rodeos: Many iconic American cowboy traditions actually originated in Spain and Mexico – including cowboy hats and the rodeo itself! Remember that when the Rodeo comes to San Antonio in February of 2027.
o State names: Although their pronunciation has changed, many U.S. state names are from the Spanish language. Colorado was named for its red color; Montana was named for its mountainous landscape; Nevada for its snow-covered territory; Florida for its flowery vegetation.
o Florida’s recorded history starts in 1513 when Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León arrived in the Easter season and referred to the region as “La Pascua Florida,” (meaning the ‘flowery Easter”)
o The Sandia Mountains in New Mexico were given that name for their color during a sunset. ‘Sandia’ means watermelon in Spanish.
o A Food Takeover: More than 30 years ago, salsa officially overtook ketchup as the top-selling, most popular condiment in the United States.
o Guacamole, or “Guac,” is a word from the Nahuatl term “āhuacamōlli,” which means avocado sauce. ‘Ahuacatl’ meaning avocado, and ‘molli’ meaning sauce. Guacamole is quickly becoming a must-have appetizer.
o The origin of Barbecue comes from the Spanish word, “barbacoa,” which was adopted from Caribbean origins. However, while it’s not a historical fact, San Antonio was the first to offer Barbacoa and Big Red!
o Caesar Salad is not a tribute to a Roman Caesar; it was actually invented in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1920’s
o “Chocolate” comes from the Nahuatl word “chocolātl spoken by Aztecs. They drank chocolate as a bitter, spiced beverage long before it became the sweet chocolate we know today. The cacao beans, where chocolate comes from, were so valuable that Aztecs used them as currency as well as for food.
o Vanilla originated in Mexico and was first cultivated by the Totonac people centuries before it became a global flavoring. So, now, whether you choose chocolate or vanilla, you’ll be choosing a bit of Hispanic culture.
o Maybe by next year, we’ll be proud to report that breakfast tacos have replaced breakfast cereals!
Our Lady of the Lake University will put wellness in motion throughout October as students, faculty and staff take part in Exercise is Medicine® On Campus Month, culminating in a campus-wide President’s Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The President’s Walk, beginning at 9 a.m., will serve as the signature event of OLLU’s monthlong activities and bring the Saints community together for an hour dedicated to movement, wellness and connection.
OLLU President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D., is encouraging students, faculty, staff and administrators across campus to step away from their regular duties and responsibilities from 9-10 a.m. to participate in the walk. The event will also highlight the positive impact physical activity can have on learning, creativity and overall well-being.
Participants can expect a festive atmosphere along the route, with snacks and water, OLLU’s spirit team, student organization stations and motivational and humorous signs, similar to those seen along marathon routes.
The President’s Walk is part of the national Exercise is Medicine On Campus Walking Challenge, which encourages participating campuses to accumulate as many walking or wheelchair miles as possible during an eight-hour period.
OLLU is the only San Antonio university participating in the official Exercise is Medicine On Campus competition.
“Exercise is Medicine Month is an opportunity to bring our entire campus community together around something that directly affects our health and quality of life — movement,” said Dr. Emily Sauers, OLLU Kinesiology Program Head and organizer of OLLU’s Exercise is Medicine activities. “The President’s Walk gives us a chance to come together as Saints, step away from our daily routines and experience firsthand how movement can support our physical health, learning, creativity and overall well-being.”
OLLU has already demonstrated that Saints know how to get moving. During the 2024 EIM Walking Challenge, OLLU placed fifth nationally, with 149 participants logging 343.3 miles.
Other Exercise is Medicine activities throughout October will help build momentum toward the President’s Walk.
On Oct. 13 and 15, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., students in OLLU’s fitness testing courses will conduct cardiovascular risk assessments for faculty, staff and administrators. Organizers are also working with Phil Vargas to explore participation by Next Level Care.
From Oct. 26-30, fitness testing students will offer Exercise is Medicine activities during Community Hour, providing additional opportunities for members of the OLLU community to incorporate movement into their day.
Faculty, staff, students and administrators are encouraged to participate throughout October — and especially to join President Chávez on Oct. 28 — as OLLU works to build on its previous national Walking Challenge success.
