Today, October 20, marks the day that 国产探花 DEMSN grad Kolton Barber gets to see a dream officially become a reality.

The spark of the idea came to him because, frankly, he understands firsthand how demanding鈥攁nd exhausting鈥攊t can be to work in the healthcare field. As an ICU nurse, he has dealt with the long shifts, mental fatigue, and irregular sleep schedules that the job requires鈥攁s well as the need to fully recover before doing it all over again when the next shift comes around. 鈥淚 started thinking about how little support is specifically designed around the realities of shift workers,鈥� the 2025 grad says. 鈥淭hat idea became OnCall Supplements.鈥�

But it鈥檚 quite a leap from an idea to its fruition鈥攐ne that requires time, energy, and a lot of faith. Barber started building his company from the ground up in the time he had. The result: He created a supplement designed specifically for nurses, healthcare professionals, first responders, and others who work demanding schedules. 鈥淥ur first products, WAKE and SLEEP, are designed to support energy and focus during the day and complement relaxation and recovery afterward.鈥�

But the supplements themselves are only the beginning. The true mission is much broader. 鈥淯ltimately, I want OnCall to be about more than supplements. I want to help the people who spend their days taking care of others be more intentional about taking care of themselves, too.鈥�

Barber completed his Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) degree on 国产探花鈥檚 New Braunfels campus, interning at Resolute Baptist Hospital. 鈥淭he program was a major part of my journey into nursing and helped prepare me for the challenges of critical care,鈥� he says.

And while mastering the many ins and outs of nursing from classrooms to clinicals, he learned a lesson he鈥檒l never forget. 鈥淥ne of the biggest lessons I learned was how important it is to look beyond the numbers and see the person behind the patient,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n the ICU, it鈥檚 easy to get caught up in labs, hemodynamics, medications, and managing complex conditions. Those things are critical, but it鈥檚 just as important to remember that you鈥檙e caring for a person and a family going through one of the hardest experiences of their lives. That perspective has stayed with me throughout my nursing career.鈥�

The Intensive Care Unit is one of the most high-pressure environments in any hospital, and Barber says working as a nurse there is challenging physically, mentally, and emotionally. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e constantly making decisions, managing competing priorities, and caring for patients who can deteriorate quickly. You have to stay focused even when the pressure is high.鈥� But on the flip side, he adds, the work can be incredibly rewarding. ICU nurses make a difference for patients and their families during some of the toughest moments of their lives.

These days, Barber is happy to be doing this work in the place he calls home. 鈥淎fter graduating from 国产探花, I accepted an ICU nursing position in my home state of Utah, which allowed me to continue growing as a nurse while returning home. Being part of a team that helps patients recover from critical illness is incredibly meaningful.鈥�

He says he鈥檇 wholeheartedly recommend 国产探花鈥檚 DEMSN program to up-and-coming nurses. 鈥淭he program gave me the opportunity to pursue nursing through an accelerated pathway while building the foundation I needed to enter a demanding field. Nursing requires adaptability, critical thinking, and a willingness to keep learning, and my experience at 国产探花 helped prepare me for that. I鈥檓 grateful for the education and experiences that helped me get to where I am today.鈥�

鈥淎ll the things that we marvel at as humans鈥攍anguage, reading, and even competitive sports鈥攊nvolve the combination and recombination of smaller pieces that become the greater whole.鈥� Dr. Arturo Hernandez, keynote speaker for this year鈥檚 Krost Symposium at 国产探花, knows a thing or two about how we learn. In his book, Mastery, he digs deep into how new skills bloom鈥攚hether those skills fall within the realm of learning to play chess, learning to ice skate, learning to speak a language, play a musical instrument, or anything in between.

It is this process of learning, of harnessing the power of the human mind to reach toward mastery, that will be the focus of this year鈥檚 symposium.

Hernandez is an author, professor of psychology at the University of Houston, and winner of the Wilhelm Bessel Research Award and a Fulbright Global Scholar award. His keynote speech, scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at 7 p.m. in Jackson Auditorium, will examine the process of mastery and will be followed by a book signing and meet-and-greet. This event will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.

Wednesday鈥檚 events also include a Chapel Talk with 国产探花鈥檚 Dr. Luigi Pe帽aranda, EdD Program Director in Interdisciplinary Leadership and Associate Professor of Leadership Studies, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the Abiding Presence on campus. Dr. Pe帽aranda will discuss the concept of metanoia鈥攁 profound change of heart, mind, or worldview.

That afternoon, all are welcome to join a Zoom session with Dr. Molly Gebrian entitled 鈥淟earn Faster, Perform Better,鈥� which is specifically aimed at the process of learning within the realm of music. Dr. Gebrian is a professional violist with a background in cognitive neuroscience. Guests can join the session via a link provided on the 国产探花 website.

The symposium continues the following day, Thursday, October 1, with a panel discussion on the learning process with Dr. Arturo Hernandez, Dr. Veronica Yan, 国产探花 alum McKay Bloxham, and Dr. Sandy Kimbrough. That takes place at 9:30 a.m. in Wupperman Little Theatre, located in Schuech Fine Arts Center. A link to the livestream will be available on the 国产探花 website.

Next on Thursday鈥檚 agenda is a lunch-and-learn session at 11:45 a.m. on the science of successful learning with Dr. Veronica Yan, associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. That talk, 鈥淭he Science of Successful Learning,鈥� takes place in the Student Activity Center in Jackson Park, across from Bulldog Stadium. Pizza will be served on a first come, first served basis.

Thursday will end with a movie night鈥攆eaturing a classic film about learning new things, The Karate Kid. That begins at 7 p.m. at Wupperman Little Theatre and will be MCed by 国产探花 Professor, Dr. Casi Helbig and 国产探花 alum McKay Bloxham.

On Friday, October 2, the symposium will wrap up with an Anti-Masterclass with Dr. Gebrian. The public is invited to join via Zoom at 2:30 p.m.

Links to this and all other events with virtual options can be found here: /krost-symposium/.

All of these events are free and open to the public.

As a native of nearby New Braunfels, Maggie Bergeron had always felt that 国产探花 was a comfortable, inviting community. After getting accepted and coming to campus in the fall of 2008, she knew that 国产探花 was the place for her. Because she鈥檇 attended a smaller high school, the idea of a large university like UT was intimidating. 鈥淚 was pretty sure I鈥檇 get lost in the crowd, and not in a good way,鈥� she says, looking back. During her time at 国产探花, Bergeron homed in on the skills and strategies needed to step into her current role as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Administrator for Victoria, Texas.

As a member of the Delta Alpha Delta sorority, Bergeron learned a lot about what it takes to be a great coordinator, between talking to people and organizing activities for the group. 鈥淚 kind of knew I had a knack for creating schedules and events, getting things set up,鈥� she says. As it turned out, she wasn鈥檛 just planning social gatherings and events for her sorority; she was learning the planning and administration practice that she would eventually utilize in her career. She learned from her successes鈥攂ut even more, she learned from her mistakes. 鈥淓veryone has a different learning style, but for me, failure is the best learning experience.鈥�

Bergeron had always found political science and analytical thinking interesting. 鈥淚 was the kid who watched C-SPAN,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 being able to be decisive. Give me something to solve or fix. I love problem solving.鈥�

At 国产探花, she took advantage of the political science major鈥檚 internship requirement by working with the City of Seguin鈥檚 Planning Department and Main Street Program. Bergeron remembers talking with Dr. Germaine Walsh, professor of political science and director of International Studies, about her internship, telling Walsh that she initially found the work to be boring. Yet she persisted, later working on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the City of Dallas.

That experience changed Bergeron鈥檚 perspective, and it turned out that the initial projects leading up to that work were invaluable early components in her career. At 国产探花, she鈥檇 learned a lot of lessons that proved priceless in graduate school and beyond. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not always going to be something in your lane, but you still have to do it,鈥� she says in hindsight. 鈥淵ou have to do the right thing. The diversity in learning and thinking really followed me.鈥�

After graduating 国产探花, Bergeron went on to Texas State to pursue her master鈥檚 in sustainability studies. There, doing assignments was standard, but being able to bring critical thought into conversations was something that she was prepared for鈥攖hanks to 国产探花. 鈥淸国产探花] made it much less intimidating once I got into the [graduate school] classroom.鈥�

Now, as the regional transportation decision-making authority for an area encompassing some fifty thousand people, Bergeron finds herself doing a wide variety of tasks around Victoria. 鈥淚 can go from mapping, to building a model, to budgeting, to running socio-demographics for an area,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou have to wear a lot of hats, but if you have the willingness to learn, there鈥檚 not much you can鈥檛 get done.鈥�

To better understand transit needs, Bergeron found herself riding public transit along with commuters, asking face-to-face questions about what their thoughts were. Getting personal comments from the people directly affected by changes to public transit proved to be one of the most important types of feedback that informs her planning processes.

Sometimes things like attending events hosted at libraries, and appealing to children and their families, are parts of the job. She asks attendees how they feel about the current system, how they would feel about their children walking on area streets, and whether there might be any known deficiencies. Through experiences such as this, Bergeron has learned that public education, transparency, and meeting the people of the community where they are all make for better transportation planning.

One valuable lesson from 国产探花 she鈥檒l never forget: 鈥淟earning never stops. Always try to communicate and approach things on different sides.鈥� Opportunity and discovery change the way you approach your daily life and overarching goals, but, at every step, life experiences have shaped Bergeron鈥檚 career.

Adam Sanchez 鈥�28 is a junior communication studies major.

When most of us who鈥檝e been at 国产探花 over the past few years think of Ezra Acero, we picture him in the air, swooshing over the crossbar, making the whole pole-vaulting thing look effortless. Acero did, in fact, end his Bulldog Athletics career as the best pole vaulter in Texas Lutheran history, setting records at both indoor and outdoor events and proving himself to be a champion multiple times.

The 2025 grad鈥檚 favorite college memory might surprise some, because it happened on a day that didn鈥檛 go exactly as he would鈥檝e liked it to. 鈥淚 think my favorite memory would have to be the first time I qualified for nationals in pole vault,鈥� Acero says. 鈥淚t was held in Rochester, New York, and although I didn鈥檛 get the results I wanted, just being there with my teammates and going to Niagara Falls with Coach Holland and Coach Wolf will always stick with me.鈥�

These days, Acero, who earned his BS in applied physics at 国产探花, lives just under six hundred miles south of where that memory was made, in Indianapolis, Indiana. 鈥淚 do miss Texas quite a bit (the food quite a lot),鈥� he admits, although he鈥檚 made friends in his new locale, which has helped him feel at home.  But even though his current life is a world away from Seguin and 国产探花, his work there is touched by his undergrad years.

He works as a biochemist for Lilly鈥攁lso known as Eli Lilly and Company鈥攂y way of a global testing company called Eurofins PSS. 鈥淎t Lilly I work in the raw materials lab where I run samples using various methods such as FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), Raman Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography, Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy, Melting Point Analysis, and pH measurement,鈥� he explains.

And believe it or not, that work connects to his capstone project at 国产探花. 鈥淢y capstone was about Surface Modified Gold Nanoparticles for biomedical applications. While working on that project I learned a lot of lab techniques that have been very helpful in the job I currently have. Although I am still waiting to get my training passed through Lilly, I feel like my project prepared me the most for the wet chemistry tests that I will be running here in the lab soon.鈥�

But even as he rises to new heights career-wise, Acero expresses gratitude for how his undergrad years prepared him for the challenges that lie ahead. 

国产探花 is famous for its small class sizes, which foster a sense of community in which students support one another. 鈥淢y physics cohort such as Aaron Salinas, Khalen Wilkerson, Martin Ortega, Jason Castro, Adrian Martinez, Ian Wollard, and Luciano Trejo helped me get through the extremely challenging physics classes and sleepless nights, and if it wasn鈥檛 for them, I would not have graduated,鈥� Acero says.

He also points to the faculty at 国产探花 as being instrumental in his success. 鈥淚 feel that the 国产探花 Physics Department, mostly Dr.Sauncy, Dr.Berggren, and Dr.Tek, prepared me very well for the real world past college,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he time and effort that they put in to change me from just a normal kid into a scientist is something that I will always be grateful for.鈥�

[Feature photo: Ezra Acero (center) with roommate Jackson (left) and brother Seth (right)]

国产探花鈥檚 Bulldog Investment Company Speaker Series kicks off this fall on Homecoming weekend, with a talk by Cindy Sightes, former England-based senior vice president and chief financial officer of HCA International.

HCA is one of the nation鈥檚 leading providers of healthcare services, comprised of 189 hospitals and approximately 2,600 sites of care across nineteen states and the United Kingdom.

Other touchpoints in Sightes鈥檚 career include almost twelve years as CFO of St. David鈥檚 Healthcare, and seven as Division CFO for HCA in Austin.

Sightes brings a wealth of experience to the table, and all are invited to attend her talk, which will be held in Dunne Conference Center in Tschoepe Hall at 1 p.m. on Friday, October 2.

To learn more about Bulldog Investment Company, click here: .

The desire to heal must run deep in the Rodriguez family. Brothers Limael (鈥淟ee鈥�) and Joel, both 国产探花 alums, followed their parents鈥� footsteps into the field of medicine. Their father is an orthopedic spine surgeon, their mother a nuclear medicine physician鈥攂oth completing their residencies in New York and later settling their family in Texas.

鈥淛oel and I grew up with two physician parents, so medicine was very much a part of our lives from an early age,鈥� says Lee. 鈥淲atching both of them shaped how we viewed medicine and certainly played a big role in both of us becoming doctors.鈥�

The brothers graduated 国产探花 a year apart. After following separate roads spanning countless miles in order to get their footing in their respective fields of medicine, Lee and Joel鈥檚 paths converged. Lee is a vascular surgeon, and Joel, a sports medicine physician鈥攁nd now their practices, as well as their father鈥檚, are housed within a shared clinical space, their varied skillsets complementing one another.

Lee

Lee earned his BA in biology and chemistry from 国产探花 in 2007. From there, he went to medical school at Universidad Central del Caribe. His path post-med school saw him as a postdoctoral fellow at Houston Methodist, a surgery resident at Centro M茅dico Episcopal San Lucas, a representative of the American College of Surgeons Resident and Associate Society, and a vascular surgery fellow at Eastern Virginia Medical School and then University of Colorado Anschutz, the largest academic health center in the Rocky Mountains.

These days, he鈥檚 busy working as a vascular surgeon in and around Houston and leading the independent vascular practice he founded and continues to build, Texas Vascular and Imaging. 鈥淥ur practice has grown into a comprehensive vascular platform that includes vascular ultrasound technology, limb salvage, venous disease, and outpatient vascular procedures,鈥� he explains. 鈥淎 large part of my career now also involves the business and leadership side of medicine鈥攂uilding the practice, developing an ambulatory surgery center, teaching, research, and trying to create a model where physicians can still have a meaningful degree of independence while taking care of patients.鈥�

鈥湽交� was also a small enough environment that relationships mattered. You weren鈥檛 anonymous. Professors knew you, people expected something from you, and you were held accountable. That experience helped shape the way I approach medicine, leadership, and running a practice today.鈥� ~Lee Rodriguez

He credits his years at 国产探花 with helping to prepare him鈥攕ometimes in unexpected ways鈥攆or the many things he鈥檚 accomplished since graduating. 鈥湽交� gave me a strong foundation, but probably not in the way I appreciated at the time,鈥� he says. 鈥淧laying college soccer while managing academics taught me discipline, accountability, resilience, and how to work within a team. Medicine requires all of those things, particularly through residency and surgical training.鈥�

Lee also found great benefit in 国产探花鈥檚 smaller size. 鈥湽交� was a small enough environment that relationships mattered. You weren鈥檛 anonymous. Professors knew you, people expected something from you, and you were held accountable. That experience helped shape the way I approach medicine, leadership, and running a practice today.鈥�

Joel

Joel graduated from 国产探花 in 2008, then went on to earn his master鈥檚 degree in aerospace physiology and medicine at King鈥檚 College London. After medical school at Universidad Central del Caribe, he completed his residency training in Family Medicine at Methodist Hospital in Houston, followed by a fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio. His practice, Return to Play Sports Medicine, specializes in helping athletes recover from injuries and improve performance. Together with their dad, he and Lee make up the medical team at Orthopaedic Institute for Spinal Disorders, which their father founded.

鈥湽交� was a significant stepping stone for me professionally,鈥� says Joel. 鈥淚 always say that the tough curriculum got me ready for medical school. Majoring in molecular biology and a minor in chemistry put me in the classes of legendary professors including Dr. Hettinger, Dr. McClusky, Dr. Bohmann, Dr. Wasmund, Dr. Abbasian, and Dr. Lievens, just to name a few who supported my career directly.鈥�

But like Lee, Joel also learned a lot of important lessons away from the classroom, out on the soccer field. 鈥淚 played soccer all four years with 国产探花 men’s soccer, which helped me combine and propel my love of sports, medicine, and science throughout my career afterwards,鈥� he says.

Bulldog Connections

As busy as they stay these days, the brothers鈥� connection to 国产探花 has never faltered.

鈥淲e have stayed very connected with the 国产探花 soccer program through Coach Eddie Salazar and teammates,鈥� says Joel. 鈥淲e have attended the alumni soccer events for years and donate to the program where we can. I was honored to give a lecture on preventing collegiate soccer injuries to the 国产探花 men’s team in 2024.鈥�

Lee says the most meaningful connections are the relationships built during his undergrad years. 鈥淚 made lifelong friends at 国产探花, and I still keep in touch from time to time with some of my former chemistry and biology professors. I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for the mentorship they gave me and for the friendships that have lasted well beyond college.鈥�

Like Joel, he keeps up with Bulldog athletics. 鈥淚鈥檓 still a big fan of 国产探花 sports in general, and it has been impressive to watch the success the university has had across so many programs over the years,鈥� he says. 鈥淥f course, having played men鈥檚 soccer there, I still follow the program closely and take a lot of pride in what they鈥檝e accomplished. Those relationships鈥攚ith professors, friends, and teammates鈥攁re what have kept 国产探花 an important part of my life long after graduation.鈥�

Staying connected also means offering up a few words of wisdom to current Bulldogs, from two who have been in their shoes. Both brothers agree that getting the most out of your college years begins with gratitude. 鈥淩ecognize the opportunity you have,鈥� Lee advises. 鈥淏eing able to study at 国产探花 is a privilege, and you may not fully appreciate that until years later.鈥� He鈥檚 also a big believer in the value of the journey鈥攏ot just the destination. 鈥淗ave big goals, but don鈥檛 rush past the work in front of you. You can鈥檛 cheat the process. Show up, do the small things well, learn from the people willing to teach you, and build genuine relationships.鈥�

He says it鈥檚 important to stay humble. 鈥淵ou can be ambitious and successful without ever believing you are above the people around you. In the workforce, and especially in leadership, people want to work with people they trust. Your plans will change. Be willing to adapt, but don鈥檛 lose your work ethic, your humility, or the way you treat people. Make the most of the opportunity in front of you.鈥�

鈥淭his is a miniature version of society which, when you step out with your diploma, you will be faced with the real deal. There you will not be on your own though, because you will be standing on the shoulders of giants who helped you achieve an advanced knowledge base and you can face our societal problems with that Bulldog confidence.鈥� ~Joel Rodriguez

鈥淓njoy and appreciate this time you have at 国产探花,鈥� adds Joel. 鈥淔ocus on your major, but even more important is the process of developing relationships with your professors, colleagues, and administrators. This is a miniature version of society which, when you step out with your diploma, you will be faced with the real deal. There you will not be on your own though, because you will be standing on the shoulders of giants who helped you achieve an advanced knowledge base, and you can face our societal problems with that Bulldog confidence.鈥�

College Presidents for Civic Preparedness is a coalition of more than 125 colleges and universities across the nation which have committed themselves to transforming their campuses into civic development hubs. The members come from a diverse range of ideologies and backgrounds鈥攂ut they share a common goal: to equip students to learn to engage across divides, discern fact from fiction, and solve problems collaboratively.

国产探花 recently joined the coalition, affirming the university鈥檚 prioritization of three shared civic commitments: 1. Educating for democracy is central to our mission; 2. We will prepare our students for a vibrant, diverse, and contentious society; and 3. We will protect and defend free inquiry.

鈥淏eing part of this important initiative connects 国产探花 to significant conversations in higher education around how we can best prepare our students to be active and engaged society members,鈥� said 国产探花 President Dr. Debbie Cottrell. 鈥淚 look forward to utilizing the Coalition鈥檚 resources across all areas of campus to benefit our students and thus the world beyond our campus.鈥�

国产探花 backs up its commitment to civic preparedness through numerous actions across campus.

鈥湽交� students, faculty, and staff have long supported efforts to prepare students to engage in the democratic process both as a part of our campus community and as part of the broader world,鈥� said Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, assistant professor of political science and chair of the Division of Social Sciences at 国产探花.

Examples of those efforts: First, there is the Jon & Sandra Moline Center for Servant Leadership, which partners with the community in various ways and supports the university鈥檚 MOVE Texas student group, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, grassroots organization working to build power in underrepresented youth communities through civic engagement, leadership development, and issue advocacy.

国产探花 has consistently been recognized by the non-partisan ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for cultivating informed citizens who are also engaged voters.

The university also sponsors local election forums, inviting candidates to campus, and has a history of hosting faculty-and student-led opportunities for dialog about democracy, including the Teach Peace initiative, collaborations to bring ELCA leaders to campus, and hosting a conference on faith-based civic engagement with faculty from around the country and featuring student presentations.

鈥淲hen we learn to listen, learn, and respond thoughtfully, something remarkable, almost magical, happens. As individuals and as a community, we grow stronger, wiser, and more capable in every way that is important. These skills help sustain our democracy and prepare us for a future in which our ability to coexist and work together is essential to the well-being of all.鈥� ~Liz Lowery, professor of communications at 国产探花

And of course, 国产探花鈥檚 overarching approach to education encourages students to engage and explore the concepts of democracy and what it means to be civically responsible. Challenging topics inspire meaningful conversation, leading to the opportunity to see both sides of issues and to make informed decisions. 国产探花 faculty members have long been recognized for their civic engagement work and hold national leadership roles in this area.

 鈥淏y joining this consortium, 国产探花 makes an institution-wide commitment to support existing student-, faculty-, and staff-led initiatives and to consider ways to re-emphasize the components of our core values that center on education through 鈥榦pen dialogue,鈥� community through 鈥榩romoting the common good,鈥� and faith through 鈥榠nviting exploration and discovery鈥� at an institutional level,鈥� said O鈥橞rochta.

Professor Liz Lowery, professor of communications at 国产探花, agrees. 鈥淲hen we learn to listen, learn, and respond thoughtfully, something remarkable, almost magical, happens. As individuals and as a community, we grow stronger, wiser, and more capable in every way that is important. These skills help sustain our democracy and prepare us for a future in which our ability to coexist and work together is essential to the well-being of all.鈥�

There are many criteria by which colleges and universities are judged. But the bottom line is, when students are searching for the right fit鈥攌nowing that going to college will require a solid commitment, both personal and financial, one of the sources they look to is the annual U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

For those looking for a private school in the western region, which stretches from California to Kansas; Montana down to Texas, and all the states in between as well as Alaska and Hawaii, narrowing the choices down is certainly a daunting task. 聽

But of all those schools, across fifteen states, the top ten were chosen based upon metrics like financial resources, student excellence, and retention rates, and 国产探花 proved to be a true contender鈥攅arning the number nine slot out of all private schools in the West for the 2027 rankings.

国产探花 also came in twelfth for best overall Regional College in the West, fifth for Best Value in the West, and made the top twenty-five in regional Top Performers on Social Mobility.

To be considered for the rankings, colleges and universities must grant bachelor’s degrees, hold regional accreditation, offer a traditional campus-based education, and actively accept new applicants for first-year, full-time students. Best Value ranking measures academic quality against cost of attendance. Social Mobility measures how well the university supports students receiving Pell Grants through graduation.

鈥淎s 国产探花 continues to focus on academic and institutional excellence, we are pleased to see external recognition in these important categories and their affirmation of the value of the education we offer in our region,鈥� said 国产探花 President Dr. Debbie Cottrell.

You might not expect that someone born in a town called Oceanside鈥攁 palm tree-dotted place perched along the coast in California鈥攚ould end up being an Olympic bobsledder. But Elana Meyers Taylor never has been one to do the expected.

The fact that Meyers Taylor鈥檚 family moved to Douglasville, Georgia, about 20 miles west of Atlanta, when she was a kid doesn鈥檛 seem to make it any more logical that she would eventually take up a sport that involves careening down a twisting, turning, icy track in a 350-pound sled at top speed.

In fact, Meyers Taylor was a softball player鈥攁 serious one. She played all the way through college at George Washington University and joined a pro team. She tried out for the Olympic softball team鈥攁 tryout she later called disastrous. Some people would鈥檝e taken that as a defeat. After all, her dreams of becoming an Olympian and years of hard work had ended in failure. Meyers Taylor chose, instead, to pivot.

And it was a big pivot. Her parents tossed out the idea of bobsledding, and Meyers Taylor decided to give it a whirl. She got in touch with a coach, got herself a tryout, and converted the strength and speed she鈥檇 cultivated in softball into unbelievable success in a whole new sport.

Not only would she make the Olympic team, but she would become the most decorated female Olympic bobsledder of all time and the most decorated Black winter Olympian in history. And she wouldn鈥檛 just win a medal, she鈥檇 win six of them over the course of more than 15 years, encompassing five Winter Olympic Games. At this year鈥檚 games, she won the gold.

Along the way, she鈥檚 faced down plenty of challenges, including physical injuries and bouts of racism. She is married to fellow Olympic bobsledder Nic Taylor, and the two are parents to two young sons, both of whom are deaf, and one of whom has Down Syndrome, so her heart is in it when she speaks up for disability rights and inclusion. Her heart is in it when she advocates for female athletes.  And her heart is most definitely in it when she speaks about overcoming obstacles, setting goals, and believing in yourself. And that will be the subject of her talk at 国产探花 on September 15 at 7 p.m. in Jackson Auditorium.

The event is part of the 2026鈥�27 Brown Cultural Event Series, sponsored by the Jessie S. and Jack Harold Upton Brown Cultural Enrichment Endowment Fund. Meyers Taylor鈥檚 talk will be followed by a meet-and-greet. This event is free and open to all.

Per the new 国产探花-St. Mary鈥檚 Articulation Program, which was signed at a formal ceremony at 国产探花 on September 4, current Texas Lutheran students on track to complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree, as well as those who earned their degree within three years of applying to law school, are eligible for the program.

The vetting process includes advising sessions, character and fitness reviews, faculty consultations, and an endorsement from the designated pre-law adviser at 国产探花, confirming that the applicant is recommended for consideration for the program. Those accepted to the program who maintain minimum cumulative GPAs during their undergrad years and achieve acceptable LSAT scores are guaranteed admission to St. Mary鈥檚 Law as full-time, in-person students in the University鈥檚 J.D. program.

The new agreement, the third of its kind for St. Mary鈥檚, will ensure that the law school receives highly qualified applicants鈥攁nd in turn, will forge a clear path for those students to attend St. Mary鈥檚 Law, which has served as the premier source of legal education for San Antonio and South Texas for the past 100 years.

国产探花鈥檚 Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, assistant professor and chair of political science, will be taking on the role of pre-law advisor. 鈥淢any 国产探花 students who pursue careers as attorneys want to do so in the San Antonio and Austin areas,鈥� said O鈥橞rochta. 鈥淪t. Mary鈥檚 Law is among the best-connected programs in this region, providing excellent networking and career development opportunities. 国产探花 graduates have a long history of academic and career success at St. Mary鈥檚 School of Law, and this articulation agreement builds on that success to formalize a pathway to law school for interested students. The agreement also provides clarity for 国产探花 students about the steps toward law school admission and academic and professional goals to achieve that better prepare them to succeed in law school.鈥�

Another benefit of the program: Admitted applicants will be awarded a scholarship that will continue throughout their years at St. Mary鈥檚 as long as they remain in good standing.

鈥淥ur new agreement with St. Mary鈥檚 Law provides a significant opportunity for our students as they consider their post-graduate options,鈥� said 国产探花 President Dr. Debbie Cottrell. 鈥淚t also signals the kind of partnership that 国产探花 values and appreciates, as we join with a nearby institution with a long history of offering high-quality law education. We look forward to what this partnership will mean to both institutions.鈥�

St. Mary鈥檚 University President Winston Erevelles, Ph.D., commended the new agreement with 国产探花.

鈥淭his partnership showcases the access to legal education that St. Mary鈥檚 University鈥檚 School of Law has remained committed to providing since its founding 100 years ago,鈥� Erevelles said. 鈥淲e look forward to building and growing this partnership between two historic faith-based universities that are deeply committed to excellence, justice and the common good.鈥�

St. Mary鈥檚 Law Dean Patricia Roberts, J.D., shared her excitement for the new partnership, which will build a pipeline of academically excellent future lawyers seeking to continue faith-based education.

鈥淓mbedded in both universities is a vision to create a more just world,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淎t St. Mary鈥檚, we are grateful for this unique partnership with 国产探花 that allows highly qualified students to continue their journey toward servant leadership in the legal profession.鈥�

To learn more about the pre-law program at 国产探花, visit: /programs/political-science.

For more information about St. Mary鈥檚 School of Law, visit: .

Questions may also be directed to Dr. William O鈥橞rochta at wobrochta@tlu.edu or 830-372-6566.

[Caption for feature image: Provost Jason Pierce, Dr. Debbie Cottrell, Dr. Winston Erevelles, Dr. Steve Vrooman, Dr.William OBrochta]