Tag: George Williams

New Provost arrives in June, joins newly structured leadership team 

Alan Silva, PhD, will assume the position of Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs in June, bringing more than two decades of executive experience in higher education. He most recently served as Provost and Executive Vice President at Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Silva joins a newly structured leadership team that includes Executive Vice President/Chief of Staff George Williams, PhD, Vice President for Advancement Victoria Pineda, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs Alycia Maurer, PhD, and Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs Vanessa Clark, PhD.

Like Dr. Silva, Pineda starts in June and arrives with a wealth of experience, most recently as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in El Paso. A Certified Fundraising Executive, she has been responsible for more than $75.1 million in individual donations at various universities and nonprofits.

A self-described “cradle Catholic,” Dr. Silva grew up with a strong faith, studied the lives of popes and thought he might become a priest. “The Catholic roots of Our Lady of the Lake University are very important to me,” he said. “This is my third Catholic institution.” 

His previous school, Marian University, was founded by the Sisters of St. Francis. He also served as Provost and Executive Vice President at St. Catherine University, a school in St. Paul, Minnesota, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. 

“I have a great fondness for the charism of the Sisters and what they’ve done to create great institutions of higher education,” he said.

A former English professor, Dr. Silva is an avid reader of literature and poetry. He is a film enthusiast, enjoys live theater and is passionate about sports, especially basketball.

He is excited to start at OLLU.

“I want to lean in very strongly into the Catholic and Hispanic parts of this institution,” he said. “I want to build new programs. I want to strengthen existing academic programs so that students and faculty can flourish at OLLU.”

Adelante Training and Development Conference starts Wednesday

The second annual Adelante Training and Development Conference starts Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. and concludes on Thursday.

“The Difference You Make”
The theme for this year’s conference will focus on the tremendous impact OLLU employees have on our students.

Breakfast Tacos, Welcome and Prayer:
The morning will kick off with breakfast tacos, a welcome from President Abel Chávez and a Prayer Ritual.

Morning Keynote Workshop:
Service Excellence presented by Trellis Strategies
Trellis recently conducted a survey and focus groups with OLLU students to tailor the workshop to the OLLU experience. Trellis will share how every member of the staff contributes to service excellence. Whether you are working directly with students, or your work is more behind the scenes, this presentation is for you.

Afternoon Concurrent Sessions:
Afternoon concurrent sessions will focus on a variety of topics, including technology uses and refreshers, campus safety, student engagement and retention, human resources policies and procedures, and self-care.

View schedule below. View session topics and descriptions on the Staff Assembly SharePoint site.

Closing Reception:
A wine and cheese reception hosted by Dr. George Williams will close out the first day.

Attendance Required:
All San Antonio-based staff are expected to attend the first day of the conference in person unless excused by their supervisor. Division leaders should use discretion to determine the needs of their areas and who can attend the conference.

Division leaders may consider rotating schedules to allow most staff to attend at least part of the conference.

The second day of the conference is optional. Staff should check with their supervisor for approval to attend the second day.

Faculty are welcome to attend the conference, as well.

OLLU-Houston, Zschool Join Forces for Global Impact

Academic institutions are on the rise in growing partnerships with big firms to help foster change in the corporate sector and help drive enrollment back to the institutions that keep academia on the rise. OLLU and Zschool recently united in a groundbreaking partnership. Their shared vision: to shape the future of executive education, empowering leaders from companies worldwide with unparalleled insights and capabilities.

By integrating OLLU’s tradition-rich approach with Zschool’s program offerings and curriculum innovations, the collaboration aims to offer students an experience that balances timeless principles with modern business solutions. The executive education program is being launched in Houston and will later expand to OLLU’s other regions. Emphasis will be placed on digital transformation, ethical leadership, global strategy, and sustainable business practices, all tailored to address the multifaceted challenges of today’s corporate landscape.

“This collaboration represents our renewed commitment to global education by expanding our portfolio to include executive training,” said George Williams, PhD, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “It’s an exciting fusion of faith, tradition, innovation, and real-world business acumen. We’re excited to launch this partnership in the Greater Houston region.”

Dr. Sarit Levy, Chief Learning Officer for Zschool, echoed Dr. Williams’ sentiment, “By harnessing the profound expertise of OLLU and the innovative spirit of Zschool, we’re setting new standards for executive education. Together, we’re building an ecosystem where tradition meets the future.”

This landmark partnership promises not just top-notch quality, but a reimagined executive education experience tailored for the 21st century. As OLLU and Zschool embark on this journey, Fortune companies can expect a transformative, holistic approach to leadership and decision-making, heralding a new era of growth, empowerment, and success.

According to Associate Provost Dr. Jared Montoya, “OLLU hasn’t traditionally had a lot of formal opportunities to provide executive training, so this partnership opens that door. The courses we offer through Zschool will also help us grow our enrollment by creating pipelines to our academic programs.”

Houston is the fourth largest city and lauded as the nation’s most diverse city. It ranks No. 2 in the nation with 25 Fortune 500 headquarters, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area with 24. Currently, OLLU-Houston is working with Zschool to create an Advisory Group of professionals who will support the executive training program.

The first course being offered is Customer Experience. Future offerings will include Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and Women in Leadership.

For more information about the current course, visit execed.ollusa.edu. To learn more about the partnership, contact Jamina Scippio-McFadden, Executive Director of OLLU- Houston. Also, view the video announcement featuring Drs. Williams, Levy, and Montoya in the next Academic Affairs newsletter.

OLLU-Houston holds annual fall Blessing Ceremony

Working collaboratively to accomplish goals was the focus of the third annual Blessing Ceremony that launched the new academic year at OLLU-Houston on Sept. 16.

Dozens of students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and community members attended the event during a break between morning and afternoon classes. 

The Office of Mission and Ministry, under the leadership of Vice President Gloria Urrabazo, worked with the #TeamOLLUHouston on the program, which included different experiences for those who attended.

This year’s program participants included George Williams, PhD, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Jared Montoya, PhD, Associate Provost for Graduate and Online Programs. Dr. Williams offered reflections about the power of hope, determination, and perseverance inspired through faith. 

“We have to consider the whole person when supporting our students,” said Gloria Goode, Houston’s Student Success Coordinator. She continued, “Our students are balancing graduate school, work, family, and other obligations. Our goal is to emphasize how together we can help them navigate their program.”