As a new school year gets underway, teachers across the nation are back in their classrooms, offering everything from lessons to hugs, from encouragement to discipline, and let鈥檚 face it: They don鈥檛 always get the credit they deserve. But 国产探花 alum Katie Gawlik had only been teaching for two years when her campus celebrated her outstanding work as an educator by naming her Rookie of the Year for 2026.

鈥淏eing named Rookie of the Year is significant to me because it recognized the hard work, growth, and dedication I put into my first years of teaching,鈥� said Gawlik. 鈥淚t was especially meaningful because Tradition Elementary is where I student taught and where I have grown so much as an educator.鈥�

After graduating from 国产探花 in 2024, Gawlik found an enduring home at Tradition鈥攐ne of East Central ISD鈥檚 elementary schools on the outskirts of San Antonio鈥攚here she鈥檚 now beginning her third year of teaching second grade.

She credits 国产探花 with giving her a sound footing on which to build her career. 鈥淚 think 国产探花鈥檚 education program stands out because the smaller setting allowed me to build deep connections with my professors and peers,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 felt comfortable asking questions, taking risks, and growing as both a student and future educator.鈥�

And she鈥檒l soon be back on campus at 国产探花 to take part in a one-day conference for future educators, in connection with this year鈥檚 Krost Symposium, which is centered around the science of learning. Gawlik will join fellow alumni working in the field of education to share some of what she鈥檚 learned since graduating, presenting her talk 鈥淚nspired to Teach: Driven to Grow.鈥�

鈥淢y biggest piece of advice for future educators is to never stop learning and growing. You don鈥檛 have to have everything figured out right away,鈥� she said. 鈥淒o not be afraid to ask questions, take risks, learn from your mistakes, and remember why you chose to teach in the first place. Teaching will not always be easy, but it is so rewarding.鈥�

Those rewards come in many forms for Gawlik鈥攆rom having a positive impact students, to being recognized for hard work, to forming relationships with the little ones who come into her classroom every day. 鈥淭he highlight of my day as an elementary school teacher is hugging my students when they walk in each morning,鈥� Gawlik says. 鈥淓very day is a fresh start and a new opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference in these kids鈥� lives.鈥�

Back in the spring of 2024, 国产探花 organized its own chapter of the society, naming it Alpha Mu Psi, and less than two years later, the national branch had taken notice. Alpha Mu Psi won a Best Chapter Award for 2024鈥�25. And now, only a year later, history is repeating itself: Alpha Mu Psi has been named a Best Chapter once again for 2025鈥�26.

鈥淭o graduate and know that the work I along with my peers and advisor put in will continue to benefit future students is something I am incredibly proud of,鈥� said 国产探花 alum Allegra Negrete 鈥�26, who graduated in May with a degree in political science. Negrete served as president of Alpha Mu Psi from 2024 to 2026. 鈥淚 am glad that our organization has been recognized, and I hope that it continues to grow and be recognized in the future.鈥�

Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, assistant professor of political science at 国产探花, serves as faculty advisor to the organization.

鈥淧rofessor O’Brochta should be recognized for his extraordinary leadership and dedication to the students who are members of the chapter,鈥� said Dr. Tanya B. Schwarz, executive director of Pi Sigma Alpha. 

Alpha Mu Psi is one of six chapters based at institutions similar in size to 国产探花 to be honored with a Best Chapter distinction, out of over 830 Pi Sigma Alpha chapters across the nation. Pi Sigma Alpha鈥檚 overarching mission is to stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science鈥攚hich perfectly complements Alpha Mu Psi鈥檚 goals of recognizing students for their outstanding achievement in political science and providing members with scholarship, networking, and publication opportunities. 鈥淲e were impressed with the chapter鈥檚 achievements in developing activities promoting undergraduate research, especially given the significant challenges faculty and students around the country continue to face,鈥� said Schwarz.

Alpha Mu Psi works closely in conjunction with 国产探花鈥檚 student-led CIVIC (Creating InVolved Individuals and Communities) Club. Both organizations are dedicated to strengthening a sense of community among students, providing resources for vocational discernment and career development, and recognizing exceptional student work.

Qualifying for membership in Pi Sigma Alpha at 国产探花 entails demonstrating academic excellence in political science, sociology, and geography courses while maintaining a high overall grade point average. Membership carries with it the benefits of belonging to a national organization, along with scholarship and professional development opportunities.

鈥淢embership in Pi Sigma Alpha is our highest academic honor in political science, sociology, and geography,鈥� said O鈥橞rochta. 鈥淎s a result, our departments pay the financial costs of joining so that students join for free. We want all students who meet the requirements to be recognized and to be able to join without hesitation.鈥�

To learn more about 国产探花鈥檚 political science program and its award-winning chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, click here.

国产探花 alum Jennifer Biry is having a full-circle moment.

Soon after crossing the stage at 国产探花, having earned her degree in business administration, she went to work for telecommunications giant AT&T. She worked there for more than two decades, climbing ranks before eventually moving on to other opportunities at Warner Media and then McAfee.

But this year, she鈥檚 returned to her old stomping grounds at AT&T鈥攖his time around as Deputy CFO. And come January, she鈥檒l transition into the role of Senior Executive Vice President and CFO. 鈥淭he company helped shape my career, and I’m excited to bring back the cross-industry perspective and expertise I’ve learned along the way to help lead the next chapter,鈥� Biry says.  鈥淲hen I joined the company out of college, I never imagined I would one day return to AT&T as its future CFO.鈥�

But it makes sense, when you think about the broad range of knowledge Biry has collected over the course of her career thus far. She knows AT&T because she worked her way through it.  鈥淥ver the years, I was fortunate to take on roles across finance, strategy, operations, and media, and each one gave me a deeper understanding of how the business operates鈥攁nd more importantly, how decisions create long-term value for customers, employees, and shareholders.鈥�

From where she鈥檚 standing now, she can look over her career and clearly see the first big break. 鈥淓arly in my career at AT&T, I was asked to support the BellSouth and Cingular merger,鈥� she recalls. 

Some readers will remember Cingular, an American mobile phone company. It was owned by AT&T and BellSouth, but after the two companies became one, it was fully owned by AT&T. And Biry was right in the middle of that acquisition.

“Growth comes from saying yes to the uncomfortable. Some of the best opportunities are the ones that feel a little bigger than you鈥檙e ready for.鈥�

鈥淚 was one of the younger members of the team, and it was a tremendous opportunity that gave me exposure to a high-stakes transaction, insight into different parts of the business, and the ability to interact with leaders I wouldn鈥檛 have otherwise worked with so early in my career,鈥� she says. 鈥淟ooking back, that experience was pivotal. It broadened my perspective and accelerated my development as a leader. It also reinforced what I learned at 国产探花: Growth comes from saying yes to the uncomfortable. Some of the best opportunities are the ones that feel a little bigger than you鈥檙e ready for.鈥�

Sound advice for up-and-coming Bulldogs鈥攁nd pretty much everyone, no matter what phase of their careers they are in. But Biry is a strong believer in supporting and encouraging the next generation of leaders. To that end, she has a few words of advice for current students: 鈥淭ake full advantage of the opportunities you have in front of you today. My career has been built on a strong foundation that started with the quality of education I received at 国产探花,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I believe that a true difference maker is 国产探花鈥檚 focus on giving its students access to professors who bring real-world business experience into the classroom. It鈥檚 an incredible advantage to learn from people who have navigated the challenges and opportunities you are studying, and who can connect lessons with practical business situations.鈥�

 Biry says 国产探花鈥檚 smaller-sized classes are a great asset, because they allow professors to really lean in and influence the careers of their students. 鈥淚n fact, it was one of my professors, Ron Huntsman, who encouraged me to pursue accounting,鈥� she adds. 鈥淗e thought that my passion for business combined with a solid understanding of the financial statements would be a unique and valuable combination. That advice ended up putting me on a path that shaped the rest of my career and ultimately led me to where I am today.鈥�

She鈥檚 still connected to her alma mater鈥攆or example, she鈥檚 served on the university鈥檚 Executive Advisory Council for the Business Department, now called the Business Advisory Council. She鈥檚 also the recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award.

And she still carries with her the most important lessons she learned back in her undergrad days. Among those lessons: Growth happens when you鈥檙e willing to step outside of your comfort zone. 鈥淢y time at 国产探花 gave me a strong business foundation, but more importantly, it taught me how to stay curious, ask questions, and keep learning,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I started my career, I was solely focused on 鈥榗limbing the corporate ladder,鈥� but I soon learned to think of my trajectory as a lattice rather than a ladder. The roles that helped me grow the most were often the ones that stretched me in new directions鈥攁nd many weren鈥檛 promotions. That mindset of embracing new experiences and continuous learning is something I still rely on every day.鈥�

Alongside those lessons, there are fond memories of her undergrad years鈥攏ot necessarily of a specific event, but more about the sense of community that permeates the 国产探花 campus. 鈥湽交� is a place where people genuinely invest in one another’s success,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he relationships I built with classmates, professors, and mentors had a lasting impact on me and helped shape the person and leader I’ve become. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed connected to the university over the years and why I’m so passionate about giving back to current students.鈥�

It鈥檚 hard to believe鈥攃onsidering where 国产探花 alum Erika Gonzales 鈥�22 is now鈥攖hat she actually never intended to become a nurse.

Where she is now: working in the ER at University Health in San Antonio, about to enter a highly elite training program for forensic nurses. Where she was back in college: studying biology and English, growing an appreciation for communication and the power of stories.

鈥淚 had no intention of becoming a nurse,鈥� she admits. 鈥淢uch less working in critical care or emergency medicine. I always imagined myself behind the scenes, doing research and trying to understand the why behind the human experience. I thought my purpose was to understand people. I eventually realized my purpose was to walk alongside them.鈥�

Once she earned her degree in biology and English at Our Lady of the Lake University, she went on to study applied medical anthropology at the University of North Texas, which she says helped her gain a better understanding of culture, health inequities, and human experience. All of that, believe it or not, paved Gonzales鈥檚 path to nursing. 鈥淟ooking back, I realized those disciplines weren’t separate at all,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey were all preparing me for the kind of nurse I wanted to become. Nursing became the place where all those passions intersected.鈥�

That intersection brought her to 国产探花, where she pursued her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at 国产探花鈥檚 New Braunfels campus. But what truly brought her to the field of nursing was life itself. 鈥淭he biggest turning point wasn’t in a classroom . . . it was in my own life.鈥�

Turning Point

Gonzales watched her mother navigate a heart condition, and later, was with her uncle during his final moments after a battle with cancer. 鈥淭hose experiences changed the way I viewed health care. I realized that two people could have the same diagnosis but experience care very differently because of their life experiences, culture, support systems, and access to resources,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 realized my family’s experiences weren’t unique; they reflected the realities faced by many individuals from minority and underserved communities.鈥�

That marked the turning point. That was when Gonzales realized she wanted to do more than study the disparities that exist in our culture. She wanted to help change them.

鈥淧eople sometimes describe my path as winding, but I see it as cumulative,鈥� she says. 鈥淓very degree gave me another lens through which to understand people.鈥� Nursing, she explains, offers the privilege of walking beside people with compassion during life鈥檚 most difficult moments. 鈥淚 don’t see my education as a series of detours. I see it as the foundation that continues to shape the nurse I am today.鈥�

That nurse works in trauma care, in emergency rooms, facing what most of us would consider some of the hardest moments in human existence. And as she moves into forensic nursing, she鈥檒l take a step further, helping victims of abuse, neglect, violence, and assault, partnering with the legal system, and offering the truest kind of advocacy: She will not only care for victims; she will also stand up for them through her work.

鈥淲hat motivates me isn’t the complexity of the work; it’s the opportunity to preserve dignity, empower patients, and ensure they feel seen, respected, and heard during some of the most difficult moments,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hile people often describe this work as requiring courage, I’ve come to see it as an opportunity to meet people with compassion during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.鈥�

Gonzales鈥檚 passion for advocacy has guided much of her career. For example, she helped establish her hospital’s Bereavement Committee, developing the Legacy Box initiative for grieving families of adult patients. She organized a hospital-wide Bereavement Conference, and now teaches trauma-informed care to postgraduate residents and critical care nurse fellows. 鈥淭hose experiences have reinforced my belief that healing extends beyond treating physical injuries. It also means honoring a person’s story. For me, forensic nursing isn’t a departure from my career; it’s the natural continuation of it.鈥�

Influences in Nursing School

And her years at 国产探花 helped her get here. She notes the genuine caring of the faculty, and specifically recalls three professors who changed the course of her career and left a lasting impression. The first: Dr. Sabrina Koog. 鈥淒uring my junior year, when I was struggling in one of my nursing courses, Dr. Koog met me at a local taqueria to study because she knew it was an environment where I felt comfortable and could focus,鈥� Gonzales recalls. 鈥淚t wasn’t just about reviewing content; it was about meeting me where I was and reminding me that I wasn’t alone.鈥�

Then there was Dr. Elizabeth Garcia. 鈥淟ater, after I failed one of Dr. Garcia’s courses, I seriously questioned whether I belonged in nursing,鈥� says Gonzales. 鈥淚nstead of letting that be the end of my story, she invited me to meet with her privately. She saw potential in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself. That conversation changed the way I saw myself. It reminded me that one setback doesn’t define who you are or what you’re capable of becoming.鈥�

And finally, there was Dr. Wendi Gines. 鈥淒r. Gines challenged me in a different way,鈥� says Gonzales. 鈥淪he encouraged me to become comfortable with being uncomfortable; to embrace uncertainty, trust the process, and move forward even when I didn’t feel completely ready. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career, from trauma critical care to the emergency department, and now as I pursue forensic nursing.鈥�

Gonzales says that those three, 鈥渁long with so many others at 国产探花, didn’t just teach me how to become a nurse; they modeled what it means to walk alongside someone through moments of uncertainty. Their example continues to shape how I care for patients, mentor colleagues, and invest in the next generation of health care professionals. I hope that, in some small way, I can offer others the same compassion, encouragement, and belief that they so generously offered me.鈥�

A Healing Presence

That鈥檚 exactly what Gonzales does on a daily basis for her patients. 鈥淔or me, the most gratifying part of nursing isn’t any single procedure, diagnosis, or clinical success,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚t’s the privilege to be present for some of the most significant moments in another person’s life. Whether it’s celebrating a patient’s recovery, helping someone navigate an unexpected diagnosis, or supporting a family through the loss of a loved one, I’ve learned that the moments people remember most are often the human ones. They may not remember every intervention we performed, but they remember how we made them feel.鈥�

Gonzales says that healing doesn鈥檛 always look like one would expect. 鈥淪ometimes healing means helping someone feel safe. Sometimes it means giving a family the space to say goodbye. Sometimes it simply means making sure a person feels less alone.

鈥淥ne phrase that has stayed with me throughout my career is: Science tells us how to care for people; compassion reminds us why. That balance is what I strive for every day. Every patient has a story, and while I may only be part of one chapter, I hope it’s one in which they felt seen, respected, and genuinely cared for.鈥�

One way she demonstrates compassion for her patients is through curiosity. 鈥淓arly in my career, I thought becoming a better nurse meant learning more procedures, memorizing more medications, and having the right clinical answers,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hile those things are essential, I’ve learned that some of the best nursing happens when we slow down long enough to become curious about the person in front of us. I’ve learned that asking, 鈥榃hat happened to this person?鈥� can be just as important as asking, 鈥榃hat’s wrong?鈥� That lesson continues to shape the way I care for every patient I meet. It reinforces my belief that science tells us how to care for people, but curiosity and compassion remind us why.鈥�

The Vocation of Lutheran Higher Education (VLHE) conference has long featured engaging presentations on topics that impact university and student life. For the first time in recent memory, student voices were directly included in the conference with sophomore English and theology double major Emma Bohmann and junior communication studies and political science double major Andie Lozano-Lomeli presenting a session alongside Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, the Hugo & Georgia Gibson Endowed Assistant Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science.

The path toward being invited to present their session titled 鈥淪ustaining Campus as a Civic Community鈥� started last fall when O鈥橞rochta organized a civic engagement and faith perspectives conference at 国产探花 (/news/a-meeting-of-minds-civic-engagement-and-faith-perspectives-conference). Lozano-Lomeli presented at the conference on her scholarship on civic engagement, and Bohmann contributed a reflection on her experience attending the conference that was later published in a special volume of Intersections on the conference that O鈥橞rochta edited (/news/finding-intersections-tlu-contributes-to-necu-magazine).

After the special issue was published, one of the conference organizers, Rev. Dr. Colleen Windham-Hughes, reached out to O鈥橞rochta to invite him to present at the VLHE conference. 鈥淚 immediately wanted to invite Andie and Emma to present with me because the presentation topic focuses on students-as-partners in developing democratic decision-making on campus that then leads to civic engagement off campus,鈥� O鈥橞rochta said. Thanks to Windham-Hughes鈥檚 enthusiasm at the co-created presentation and the support of the Brandes Fund for Religious Activities, the group traveled to Minneapolis and presented the session twice.

The presentation began with a theological framework for holistic Christian civic engagement based on a model that Bohmann learned about in a congregational context. 鈥淭he model is called 鈥榰pward, inward, and outward,鈥� and the point is that each piece represents an area in which an individual may be involved in their life: upward describes interactions with the Divine, inward with close community (such as family, friends, and congregation), and outward with larger civic community,鈥� Bohmann said.

Bohmann then connected the model to the college campus context, specifically NECU (Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities) institutions. 鈥淔irst, while many institutions place a strong emphasis on one of the three areas, the model is more productive when all three areas work in conjunction with the other two. That means that whatever is discovered in spiritual education must also be translated well to the inward communities and outward civic spaces. Second, each area of the model must be fully reflective of the students-as-partners approach (which includes both a clear invitation for participation and an ongoing accompaniment through the co-creation process) so that each student feels a sense of buy-in. Essentially, each step of the ladder must be democratic in nature. Finally, we suggest that the model most naturally flows from the top-down; when spiritual engagement inspires a call to civic action, students feel the need to discuss and deliberate about this vision with peers and mentors in close-knit community, and at that point they may feel empowered to implement this vision in their on- or off-campus civic community.鈥�

Lozano-Lomeli then led the application section, where she provided examples from 国产探花 and invited the audience to brainstorm in small groups what it meant to include students-as-partners in cultivating on-campus civic engagement. 鈥淢any participants said that Emma and I presenting positively contributed to the learning atmosphere, making it so ideas being presented could not only be conceptualized through the lens of students, but also applied. This is why the presentation was so successful, as I felt universities had the opportunity to consider students-as-partners in a civic space through the lens of civic engagement, while listening to actual students present the idea,鈥� Lozano-Lomeli said.

Both students reflected on their experience after the presentation. Bohmann said, 鈥淎s I begin to spend the next three years of my undergraduate career discovering which context of ministry it is in which I am best fit to work, I found exposure to the high concentration of ministers from many diverse ELCA institutions to be an invaluable part of understanding my vocational path. Further, much of what we heard faculty and staff from other colleges and universities express was reflective of issues that we also experience and often see as unique to 国产探花. So, simply hearing that these pain points and concerns are not, in fact, unique means that they are also not unsupported or unsolvable. This also, I believe, created a renewed sense of responsibility for students, faculty, and staff at 国产探花; if we benefit from a common understanding of Lutheran identity in being a member of NECU, we must also take action steps to ensure that our Lutheran identity is recognizable and valued.鈥�

鈥淭he conference served as a reminder that 国产探花 is a Lutheran institution, and we are better off for it,鈥� Lozano-Lomeli said. 鈥淥ne frame that served me was seeing Lutheran values as an opportunity to embrace key features like vocational education and the insistence of inclusion on our campus. Having the time to discern my vocation with my peers and professors shifted my focus and gave me clarity on what it means to be an advocate and to intentionally practice advocacy. Dr. O鈥橞rochta chose to include Emma and me to be in this space, and that inclusion reflects the idea of students-as-partners, making our existence in the space an immediate example to other institutions on how to apply the concept. This opportunity can be reflected across our university, and I look forward to seeing students intentionally being included as partners.鈥�

So when it came time to choose which college to attend, 国产探花 was a seamless fit for Hiner. She chose communications and media studies as her major and enjoyed the small class sizes, the dedication of her professors, and the chance to explore her faith鈥攁ll the while soaking in the liberal arts curriculum, which would provide the foundation for her career. 鈥淭he coursework made me a more well-rounded person and professional, someone who can see the big picture,鈥� she says. And those small classes? They boosted her faith in herself. 鈥淏eyond academics, 国产探花 gave me exceptional access to campus leaders, which gave me the confidence to hold my own in a room with senior business leaders.鈥�

The Liberal Arts Mindset

Hiner鈥檚 undergrad years equipped her well for a very rewarding career journey鈥攁nd she says the liberal arts mindset remains a valuable asset in today鈥檚 job market. 鈥淎t a time when everyone is becoming so specialized, this education gives you a broad, inclusive perspective. In a corporate environment, that translates into what I call 鈥榚nterprise thinking鈥欌�攚hich means taking all functions and teams into consideration as you create solutions for the total business.鈥�

Hiner had watched for years as her father cultivated long-term relationships with his students, so she sought that same attention and enduring collaboration with her own professors. 鈥淔ast forward to today, the same is true with the leaders and co-workers that I interact with every day,鈥� she says. 鈥湽交� is special because of the students, faculty, and staff. In the same way, people are what drives a company鈥檚 culture and makes it unique.鈥�

Hiner knows a thing or two about company culture. Since graduating, she鈥檚 held positions that have allowed her to transform corporate communications over a wide range of companies鈥攖he most recent of which is Illumina, an American biotechnology company.

But to understand what led her there, let鈥檚 rewind a bit, back to Hiner鈥檚 professional goals in her college days. 鈥淢y favorite class at 国产探花 was mass communications,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淔or a brief period, I thought I wanted to work in broadcast news. After an internship at a local news desk and a brief stint in radio, I found my professional home in corporate communications. In the early days of my career, it became clear that those first few jobs were not going to be my long-term path. I鈥檓 thankful that they helped me understand more about what I liked and what I was best at.鈥�

Finding Her Voice

She wrapped up her degree in 1992 and headed out into the field, working her way through her first jobs, moving across the country to be where the opportunities were. Then came her first big break: a position with Lucent Technologies. 鈥淎t the time, the telecommunications company was a giant, with over 200,000 employees across the globe, and a Wall Street darling,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was my first formal corporate communications role and the first time I directly supported an executive. It was so daunting! Mentors within the company helped me find my voice and, over time, I gained the courage to use that voice.鈥�

Unfortunately, Lucent fell on hard times, eventually merging with another company and finally being acquired by yet another. 鈥淭imes were good, until they weren鈥檛,鈥� says Hiner. 鈥淭he company faced a downturn and quite literally couldn’t keep the lights on. I was still diligently working when a senior leader shared one of life鈥檚 most important lessons: knowing when to stick it out and knowing when to move on to the next opportunity. That experience also taught me the importance of transparency. It also taught me that character towers above corporate politics.鈥�

Just like she did in college, Hiner packed up every lesson she鈥檇 learned and took them with her as she moved forward in her career鈥攁nd she used the experience at Lucent to her advantage. 鈥淭hroughout my career I have been drawn to companies that are in the midst of deep transformation or change,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or example, I joined Capital One as they were transitioning from a credit card company into a bank. My team built, from scratch, the communications structure for the new banking business. The same holds true for my current role at Illumina. I joined when the company had an entirely new C-suite and a communications strategy that needed a full and global refresh. That blank slate gave me a massive voice to shape the next era of Illumina鈥檚 communications.鈥�

The Path to Illumina

On the journey toward Illumina, Hiner worked at companies like Citigroup, AMD, and Lumen Technologies. She crisscrossed the country, basing in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, and now, California. But looking over the whole of her experience thus far, Hiner can see the common threads that run through all these positions, and the important lessons that she鈥檚 learned: 鈥淥ne, change is constant鈥攅mbrace it! Two, everyone has a story, and it鈥檚 the honor of a communicator to share that story. Three, transparency is key. Transparency drives trust with your employees and confidence with your audience.鈥�

鈥淥ne, change is constant鈥攅mbrace it! Two, everyone has a story, and it鈥檚 the honor of a communicator to share that story. Three, transparency is key. Transparency drives trust with your employees and confidence with your audience.鈥�

Today, as head of communications at Illumina in San Diego, Hiner finds that she still loves the work. 鈥淚 believe that communications is the best job in corporate,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hy? Because we get to make connections and tell stories. When done well, we move market perception, help sales teams drive revenue, position our senior leaders in fantastic media moments, ensure employees are engaged, protect the company brand, and so much more.鈥�

Illumina is on the cutting edge of the development of DNA sequencing systems. It works with companies worldwide to provide next-generation genetic analysis tools so that scientists can read and study genetic material to understand disease and lead the way toward advances in medicine. And it鈥檚 Hiner鈥檚 job to get the word out, all the while keeping the lines of communication ever open within the company as well.

鈥淢y role at Illumina puts me at the center of an industry-leading biotech company,鈥� she says. 鈥淚llumina is working to improve human health with DNA sequencing. Illumina鈥檚 life science solutions advance cancer research, diagnose genetic disease, track infectious disease, and so much more. My role encompasses internal, external, and social media communications as well as the company鈥檚 employee experience, community relations, and philanthropic efforts. There鈥檚 honestly not one thing I love most . . . because I love it all.鈥�

But that doesn鈥檛 mean there aren鈥檛 challenges. 鈥淥f course, there are parts of this job that are not so easy,鈥� Hiner admits. 鈥淲hen the company faces challenges, the communications team makes sure that we are sharing a transparent story that keeps confidence in the company. If the press gets a story wrong, we need to correct it. If there is a lawsuit halfway around the world, we have to address it. We also work as a global team, which is fantastic, but those 4 a.m. calls with our colleagues in China mean I will need a lot of extra caffeine that morning! That said, every difficult day is in service of a mission to improve lives . . . well . . . that is bigger than any tough moment.鈥�

国产探花 Memories

And even though there are a lot of miles between Seguin and San Diego, Hiner still carries those 国产探花 memories with her wherever she goes. Picking out a favorite from among the years she spent on campus鈥攚hether from her childhood or her college days鈥攊sn鈥檛 easy. 鈥淎s a professor’s kid, I have 23 years of 国产探花/campus memories to choose from,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think about my summer job lifeguarding at Mabee pool. And getting a C in the intro to psychology class taught by my own dad! We still argue about that grade. Probably my favorite memory would be July 4^th potlucks with all of the professors and their families at Dr. Giesber鈥檚 property. The backyard was banked against the Guadalupe River, and it was a time where the amazing faculty and staff really came together as a family.鈥�

Really, all of those memories boil down to one thing. 鈥淏ottom line, my favorite memories have been and will continue to be about the people. Across 国产探花鈥檚 social media and communication platforms鈥攜ou can see the quality and caliber of the talent this university is sending out into the world. It鈥檚 impressive and I feel very fortunate to count myself as a fellow grad. 国产探花 is such an incredible place and I鈥檓 grateful to have spent so many years involved with the school.鈥�

The seminar, which took place earlier this month in Indianapolis, Indiana, offered an opportunity for full-time faculty members to examine the interrelationship of the study of vocation and calling with the academic fields of theology and religious studies, exploring implications for research, teaching, and service to the institution.

“At 国产探花, the notion of vocation shapes how we talk about career, service, lifelong learning, personal growth, and the common good.”

鈥淭he idea of vocation or calling, which has deep roots in the Lutheran tradition, is closely connected to everything we do at 国产探花,鈥� said Hughes. 鈥淭his dimension of our mission emphasizes that all of us鈥攕tudents, faculty, staff鈥攁re called to use our unique gifts and talents for the good of the world. At 国产探花, the notion of vocation shapes how we talk about career, service, lifelong learning, personal growth, and the common good. Vocation reminds us of the infinite worth of every member of our community and calls us to support each other in cultivating a sense of purpose in every facet of our lives.鈥�

Seminar discussions covered a range of activities that can enhance vocational exploration in undergraduate education. The primary focus of the seminar extended beyond classroom applications to include research, writing, and institutional leadership on the topic of vocation.

鈥淥ver nearly two decades, NetVUE has made a huge impact at colleges and universities across the country by renewing and enriching reflection on vocation,鈥� said Hughes. 鈥淚t was an honor to participate in this summer鈥檚 seminar for theology and religion faculty. We prepared for the seminar with hefty amounts of reading and writing, which complexified my understanding of vocation and nurtured my own vocational reflection. I learned so much from the other faculty members in the seminar, who came from diverse institutions and backgrounds but shared a common commitment to fostering vocational reflection in their students and themselves. What I learned through this experience will shape my teaching at 国产探花 for many semesters to come.鈥�  

Every year, Phi Theta Kappa鈥攁n honor society for students attending associate degree-granting colleges鈥攏ames select universities across the nation to its Transfer Honor Roll, which has become a national benchmark for transfer excellence. This year, 275 four-year colleges and universities were named, and for the seventh consecutive year, 国产探花 made the cut.

鈥淎t 国产探花, we are honored to be recognized as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Roll, as it reassures our goal in aligning with PTK’s mission to recognize and promote student academic achievement,鈥� said 国产探花 Vice President for Enrollment Alecia McCain. 鈥淲e are focused on providing transfer students with a personalized transition to 国产探花, which will allow the students to understand the transferability of courses and strength of academic scholarships.鈥�

The honor roll was created to recognize institutions that demonstrate exceptional success in creating pathways that help community college transfer students earn their bachelor鈥檚 degrees. PTK assesses colleges across five different dimensions which influence the success of transfer students, including student success outcomes, financial support, and campus engagement.

鈥淭his recognition is about much more than transfer agreements,鈥� said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, president and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. 鈥淪uccessful transfer happens when institutions intentionally design policies, practices, and campus cultures that help students thrive after they arrive. These colleges have demonstrated that transfer student success is not accidental. It is a strategic priority.鈥�

This story begins with the dream that Garcia had held since she was a teenager: to become a nurse. It was a dream she shared with her mom, who couldn鈥檛 pursue that goal for herself due to financial hardship. So Garcia was dreaming for two, and the fact that she found herself struggling in nursing school must鈥檝e felt like something incredibly important was slipping from her grasp.

Back in high school, the idea of pursuing a degree in nursing butted up against the harsh realities of the cost of higher education鈥攁nd the cycle that Garcia鈥檚 mother had dealt with threatened to repeat itself. 鈥淲e knew that we couldn鈥檛 afford it for me either, so it was not something we discussed at home,鈥� Garcia says, looking back.

But then, things changed. 鈥淒uring my high school years, two teachers came into my life who believed in me, invested their time in me, and helped me find a way.鈥� Those teachers must鈥檝e seen the potential in young Garcia. For one thing, she was an A student. For another, she was a hard worker. 鈥淏efore I knew it, I had earned enough money in scholarships to help pay for nursing school. I believe God sent them to me. These two educators taught me many things, but most importantly, they taught me what faculty support should look like.鈥�

So she entered nursing school, ready to break the cycle and pursue the dream, but the difficulty faced by anyone aspiring to become a nurse was compounded, ironically, by some of her professors. 鈥淚 was always a 4.0 student in high school, so I thought nursing school would be a breeze,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was not. I really struggled and most of my nursing professors were not supportive or encouraging. One professor regularly reminded me how close I was to failing each semester.鈥�

Yet instead of giving up, Garcia decided to turn that struggle into a promise. 鈥淚 prayed constantly, asking God to help me graduate. I promised Him that if He carried me through, I would one day devote myself to helping struggling nursing students like I had been. I wanted students to have a positive nursing school experience, rather than the one I experienced.鈥�

Putting the Promise into Play

You鈥檝e probably already figured out that Garcia persevered. She successfully weathered nursing school鈥攂ut she didn鈥檛 stop there. After earning her associate鈥檚 degree, she went on to pursue her bachelor鈥檚 as a registered nurse, and then her master鈥檚 in nursing education.

In 2020, after years in the field, she came to 国产探花, true to her promise, and began offering a hand up to aspiring nurses. 鈥淪o here I am, having come full circle, and God has me in a position to do just that.鈥�

She became to her students the kind of teacher she herself had needed back in nursing school. Clearly, she takes great joy in that. 鈥淚 love watching students succeed, especially those who have the odds stacked against them,鈥� she says. 鈥淪eeing them overcome challenges and realize they are capable of becoming excellent nurses is incredibly rewarding.鈥�

Garcia is humbled by her role. 鈥淚 believe God allows me to be part of those moments, and it is an honor to encourage students as they discover that they are capable of far more than they imagined. Completing a nursing degree can change the trajectory of not only their lives, but the lives of their families for generations. Being part of that journey is one of my greatest blessings and one of my personal ministries.鈥�

A New Challenge

So there Garcia was, not only a registered nurse herself, but a teacher to other nurses; not only the bearer of the dream she shared with her mother, but a person in a position to help others rise to meet their own goals.

But there was still room to grow鈥攁nd there were still hurdles to clear.

鈥淚 dreamed of obtaining a doctorate but didn鈥檛 feel it was financially possible,鈥� Garcia says. 鈥淢y husband and I prayed about this for years. In January of 2023 we got serious about making a decision and started looking at schools and comparing prices. Again, I felt defeated looking at the costs.鈥�

But all of that was about to change. 国产探花 was launching its first doctoral program鈥攁 doctor of education degree鈥攁nd looking for a few outstanding individuals to join the first cohort. 鈥淕od came through once again,鈥� Garcia says. 鈥淗e laid this opportunity in my lap. In February 2023, I received an email that notified me that 国产探花 would be covering my tuition at 100 percent. I cried. Getting my doctorate was the missing puzzle piece that was going to allow me to continue doing the work I promised God that I would do. I saw it as God equipping me with the knowledge and credentials to continue the work He had called me to do.鈥�

In May, Garcia, in the presence of her family, professors, fellow students, and colleagues, made yet another dream come true鈥攁nd saw yet another prayer answered.

She says the 国产探花 EdD is set apart from other such programs by its emphasis on personalized attention. 鈥淢y professors began as instructors but became trusted mentors. They genuinely cared about me as a person, not simply as another student on the roster. Dr. Pe帽aranda鈥檚 leadership, along with Dr. Bollinger and the rest of the faculty, set the tone for an exceptional program. They created a culture where students were challenged academically while also being supported personally.鈥�

So this spring鈥攁 lifetime away from those years of struggle in nursing school鈥攁 triumphant Garcia earned her doctorate. And as it worked out, her own young son donned cap and gown right along with her鈥攊n his case because he had just completed kindergarten. He will grow up within a new cycle, one forged by his mother, and by her mother . . .  And he will carry that legacy and, no doubt, have dreams of his own鈥攁long with the courage to make them come true.  

We鈥檙e sending a huge Bulldog round of applause to 国产探花 alum and U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, who recently received the San Antonio Bar Association Joe Frazier Brown Sr. Award of Excellence. According to SABA, 鈥淭his well-deserved recognition honors his exceptional service, distinguished leadership and unwavering commitment to the legal profession. His contributions have made a lasting impact on the legal community, making him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious award.鈥�

Biery, who earned his BA at 国产探花 in 1970, was president of the student body and played varsity basketball during his undergrad years. He then attended law school at SMU, earning his Juris Doctor in 1973. He has served as a member of the 国产探花 Board of Regents and Corporation Board.

His career is marked by many awards and distinctions, and 国产探花 sends warmest congratulations for this latest achievement!