O鈥橞rochta is the Hugo and Georgia Gibson Endowed Assistant Professor and chair of political science at 国产探花. He is also director of Professional Development for the American Political Science Association Civic Engagement Section.

He volunteers on a weekly basis as a bicycle mechanic and is on the board of Community Cycles Seguin, and seeks to find ways of building connections between the local community and the university. O鈥橞rochta continually demonstrates dedication to helping his students become engaged citizens and community problem-solvers, merging lessons taught in the classroom with meaningful real-world impact.

鈥淭his recognition is a testament to the effort, engagement, and partnership with so many students who collaborate with me to apply political science theories and methods to address urgent and practical challenges both on our campus and in our community鈥� said O鈥橞rochta. 鈥淚 am grateful for the opportunity to accompany them in this part of their vocation, and I appreciate Dr. Steve Boehm, Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Germaine Walsh, Professor of Political Science, who have helped to make this work possible.鈥�

The local excitement will continue on September 16, when the six Rising Stars will be recognized at the Seguin Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet, and two will be named Top Rising Stars based on their professional leadership and community impact scores.

国产探花 sends warmest congratulations to Dr. O鈥橞rochta, who is always a star in our book!

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�  

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.  

This year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淏eyond Walls, For the Common Good: Lutheran Higher Education and Civic Responsibility,鈥� challenged participants to step beyond the worldly walls of campus, culture, and comfort in order to rediscover how the core values of faith and sharing 鈥済ood news鈥� shapes our shared responsibility for the world鈥攁 timely discussion in an age marked by polarization, inequality, and public distrust.

Representing 国产探花 at the conference were Director of International Education Charla Bailey, Director of Counseling and Accommodation Services Sarah Westerfield, and Associate Professor of Psychology and Social Sciences Division Chair Dr. Beth Woods. Attending on behalf of the President鈥檚 Cabinet were Campus Pastor and Director of Community Engagement and Mission Rev. Dr. Wes Cain, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Chris Mueller, and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Steve Vrooman.聽Meanwhile, Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, along with students Emma Bohmann (sophomore, English studies, theology) and Andie Lozano-Lomeli (junior, communications studies, political science) took part as well, as they were invited by conference organizers to present a session based upon their work, entitled 鈥淪ustaining Campus as a Civic Community.鈥� Their presentation offered conference attendees insight into how a clear focus on Lutheran values can invite all students into an on-campus civic community in a lasting way.

鈥淚 am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the VLHE Conference with such a strong group of colleagues and students,鈥� said Westerfield. 鈥淚 am invigorated by the call to engage in moral discernment and service as a campus community.鈥�

This year marked the thirty-first anniversary of the conference, which featured keynote speakers Dr. Anthony Bateza, associate professor and department chair at St. Olaf College; Jon Pahl, author and professor at United Lutheran Seminary; and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, president of Augustana University.

鈥淭he VLHE conference provided a wonderful opportunity to meet colleagues from sister Lutheran universities, to learn about their study abroad programs, and discuss how we can collaborate to send more students abroad,鈥� said Bailey. 鈥淢ore broadly, I appreciated hearing about how we can all work together to be more resilient in these changing times.鈥�

Eby will be discussing the 国产探花 nursing programs as well as the field of nursing in general and its current climate in the region.  

BHFSA provides grants to numerous nonprofits every year鈥攊ncluding 国产探花鈥檚 nursing programs. The foundation鈥檚 Together for Good podcast offers area nonprofit, church, and community leaders a space to share information about health-related topics, services, and opportunities.

For those who miss the live broadcast of Eby鈥檚 interview, the episode, along with a library of others, will be available for listening on streaming platforms the following week or at the podcast website right here: .

Pillars of the Community are chosen for their commitment to philanthropy, historic preservation, and community leadership. Hoffmann, who joined the 国产探花 faculty in 1997, has taught history and geography and directed the SISE program鈥攁nd even after leaving the classroom, has continued to work at 国产探花 as a grant writer, now serving as the director of foundation and government relations for the university.

A resident of New Braunfels for more than four decades, Hoffmann has done extensive research on the German population who settled in the area and is an expert on the history of the city鈥攂ut she was also chosen as a Community Pillar because of the host of volunteer opportunities she鈥檚 taken on through the years, both within New Braunfels and beyond. Hoffmann has served organizations like the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest, the Mid-Texas Symphony, the American Cancer Society, New Braunfels Utilities, and Headwaters at the Comal鈥攁nd has been a member and leader of too many boards to count.

But even considering all of this, Hoffmann said she was surprised by the recognition. 鈥淚t is an honor to be singled out as a New Braunfels Community Pillar for it is my joy to serve others,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y hope is that I can inspire others, especially past, present, and future 国产探花 students, to get involved in making their community a better place. It is certainly what I urged my students to do during all my years of teaching at the university.鈥�

国产探花 sends many congratulations to Dr. Hoffmann!

Read the full article in the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung right .

[Photo credit: Lauren Hearron, assistant managing editor and magazine editor, New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.]

国产探花鈥檚 Dr. Ariadne De Villa, associate professor of Spanish, had an eventful spring.

First, she was featured as one of Passion Vista magazine鈥檚 鈥淲omen Leaders to Look Up To in 2026鈥� for her contributions to academia, language and cross-cultural education, and the advancement of thoughtful, informed leadership practices.

鈥淚 am thrilled and deeply honored to be featured for leading with language and shaping futures through education,鈥� said De Villa. 鈥淭his recognition is a testament to the passion, dedication, and purpose that drives my work every day. Being included among remarkable women who are making a positive impact and shaping the future is both humbling and inspiring. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Passion Vista team for this honor and to everyone who has supported me on this journey. Here’s to continuing to learn, grow, and make a meaningful difference.鈥�

De Villa topped off her spring with a trip to Bangkok, Thailand, where she was selected as a Visionary and Legacy Speaker to present 鈥淩edefining Influence Through the Power of Language鈥� at the 2026 Global Leadership and Legacy Conclave. While there, she was presented with the Medal of Honour and recognized as a World Peace and Diplomacy Organisation International Peace Ambassador for Education & Cultural Diplomacy.

De Villa said she was honored by the recognition and the opportunity to represent 国产探花 on a global platform dedicated to education, cultural understanding, and peace.

鈥淲hen language opens a door for someone, it doesn’t just change their education, it changes how they see the world, and how the world sees them,鈥� she said.

Click below to read the article in Passion Vista magazine: