Tag: Dr. Abel Chavez

Convocation set for tomorrow

The official opening of the academic year for faculty and staff begins tomorrow with Convocation. It will take place at 10:30 a.m. in Thiry Auditorium.

Convocation will include a special presentation from Sister Rose Kruppa, CDP, the new superior general of the Congregation of Divine Providence, the university’s sponsoring order. In addition, there will be addresses from Board of Trustees Chair Paul Olivier, Faculty Assembly President Dr. Wallis Sanborn, Staff Assembly President Sabrina Zertuche and Student Government Association President Rachel Dziuba. President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, PhD, will present the final address as he lays out his plans and vision for the academic year.

Convocation will be followed by lunch which will be served in Chapel Auditorium.

Saints Golf Classic a big success

The Seventh Annual Saints Golf Classic was a huge success. Held at the Golf Club of Texas – San Antonio, the tournament attracted a sold-out capacity of players and drew the largest support from corporate and individual sponsors to date.

OLLU President Abel Chávez played a round himself. The new OLLU drumline, cheerleaders and dance team attended the event and posed with Dr. Chávez for photos. The Saints Golf Classic supports OLLU Athletics, helping to ensure the athletic and academic success of student-athletes.

Abel Chávez assumes role as OLLU’s 10th President today

Abel A. Chávez, PhD, steps into history today as the 10th President of Our Lady of the Lake University. A native of Denver, Colo., Dr. Chávez is the first Latino to lead OLLU since it opened in 1896 as an academy for girls.

On Thursday, July 14, OLLU recognized a transition in leadership during a ceremony in Sacred Heart Chapel. Dr. Chávez received authority and responsibilities from Diane E. Melby, EdD, OLLU’s 9th President and now President emeritus.

A first-generation, first-in-family, son of immigrants and bilingual administrator and academic, Dr. Chávez is an integrative leader and learner. He has served in multiple roles in and beyond higher education. 

Last Thursday, Dr. Chávez thanked the OLLU community for the opportunity to lead. Afterward, he visited the Convent and attended a farewell reception for Dr. Melby in Chapel Auditorium. 

Dr. Chávez will take a consolidated tour of campus this morning. Marketing and Communications will post images on social media.

OLLU community invited to reception for President Chávez on July 29

Students, faculty and staff are invited to a program and reception welcoming OLLU President Abel Chávez into the Presidents for Latino Success Network, an event that will be held in the Sueltenfuss Library on July 29 at 3 p.m.

Co-hosted by Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President of Texas A&M-San Antonio, Sarita E. Brown, President of Excelencia in Education and Taylor Eighmie, President of the University of Texas at San Antonio, the two-hour event is a celebration.

Dr. Chávez has chosen to join Presidents for Latino Student Success (P4LSS), a diverse group of college and university presidents and chancellors who have committed to making their schools learning environments where Latinos can thrive. 

To RSVP to the event, click here. 

For questions, contact AcademicAffairs@ollusa.edu.

Transition ceremony and farewell celebration set for July 14

The OLLU community is invited to a transition ceremony and farewell reception for President Diane E. Melby on July 14.

The event will begin in Sacred Heart Chapel at 1 p.m. Dr. Melby will transition presidential responsibilities to Dr. Abel Chávez, OLLU’s 10th president, during the special ceremony.

During the event, there also will be a special presentation for the transition of the Convent Building from the Congregation of Divine Providence to the care of the university.  

Following the ceremony, there will be a farewell reception in Chapel Auditorium for Dr. Melby.

Offices can close during the ceremony and reception to allow employees to attend.

The ceremony will be livestreamed on the University Ministry Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ollu.ministry

OLLU announces hiring of 10th president

Our Lady of the Lake University’s 10th president will be Abel Antonio Chávez, PhD, a successful leader with a unique blend of higher education, business, engineering and global research experience. 

He will begin his work at OLLU on July 16, following eight years at Western Colorado University where he is currently serving as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success and previously serving as Dean of Graduate Studies.

Dr. Chávez possesses a wealth of experience in higher education and business. An Associate Professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability, he has served Western Colorado as Dean of Graduate Studies and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Before entering academia, Dr. Chávez founded a consulting company in Denver and worked as an engineer in a Denver suburb. 

He is no stranger to Texas. In the early 2000s, Dr. Chávez served as a project manager for Anheuser-Busch in Houston and Dow Chemical in Freeport. He also served an international business residency in Beijing and Singapore before transitioning to the higher education field.

“Dr. Chávez brings a record of outstanding leadership in higher education to Our Lady of the Lake University,” said Paul Olivier, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “He also brings strong business skills and great experience. He is the right person to move OLLU forward.”