The 国产探花 sophomore has been active on the court ever since, even during his summer breaks. For the past three summers, in fact, he鈥檚 been playing basketball internationally, through the International Basketball Federation, as a member of Team Belize.

Those games have taken him to Belize, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic so far. 鈥淚 would say my favorite thing about the experience is just representing my country,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 have a lot of family in Belize, and I am the only person in my mom’s side of the family to ever play on a national team, and just being a role model to all the kids in Belize who strive to get to the national team.鈥�

This past summer, Team Belize captured the bronze medal at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, and Favela was there in the middle of the action.

Back home at 国产探花, he carries his father鈥檚 legacy (国产探花 alum Roger Favela 鈥�97 also played Bulldogs basketball) and splits his time between serving as a guard on the basketball team, and a quarterback on the football team. He came to 国产探花 after rounding out his high school football career as Judson High’s all-time passing leader with 7,060 career passing yards. On top of all of that, Favela is also a serious student, and earned a spot on the SCAC Academic Honor Roll for 2025 and 2026.

His dedication to both football and basketball begs an obvious question: Which sport is his favorite? 鈥淚 wouldn’t say I have a first love,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 love both sports dearly; it has always been a hard decision for me to choose, but I would say I love them about the same.鈥�

And one day, he hopes to make his mark at a professional level. 鈥淭hat’s the ideal goal, to play professionally one day in either one of the sports,鈥� he says.

But for now, as he gets his sophomore year underway, he just wants to be of service鈥攚hether on the court or the field. 鈥淚’m looking forward to just helping my team in any way I can, and that goes for basketball and football,鈥� he says. 鈥淚’ve gotten more of a hang of how things are in college since my freshman year, and I feel like this year could be a big year for me to help my team and help us win games.鈥�

And although it鈥檚 still early days in his college career, Favela has learned a lot since the age of five, when his dad first taught him to play. 鈥淭he most important lesson is pretty simple I would say, and that is 鈥楧on’t give up and stay down.鈥欌��

He himself has lived by that lesson. He doesn鈥檛 give up: 鈥淚’ve been through so much adversity in my life with sports and there were many times where I could’ve quit鈥攁nd since I didn’t, it opened doors to places I never thought I would go to. I’ve been doubted my whole life, overlooked, everything you could think of, but I don’t give up because this is what I want to do.鈥�

And no matter what, he鈥檚 stayed down鈥攊n the right way: 鈥淪tay down, meaning never get too high no matter what circumstance you鈥檙e in, stay down because even if it looks bad right now, stay down: It’s going to get better. Just keep working.鈥�

Graham Weston who, along with the Weston family, has long been a friend to the university, generously made the workshop possible through his 80/20 Foundation, donating enough of the widely-used CliftonStrengths for Students surveys so that all the students could participate, as well as receive guidance from Gallup Certified Strengths Coach Kathy Kersten. The workshop helped the students evaluate what they naturally do best and learn how to cultivate their gifts while appreciating the unique talents of those around them.

Weston is a founder of Rackspace, Geekdom, and the 80/20 Foundation, the latter of which is dedicated to promoting growth and innovation through grants. Some 70 students who attended the event left with a greater understanding of themselves, stronger connections with their peers, and increased confidence as they begin their college journey.

国产探花 thanks Weston and the 80/20 foundation for their support.

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)]

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.

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 all started in 1975, when four recent 国产探花 graduates鈥攁ll of them Sigma Lambda Chi fraternity brothers鈥攑roposed the idea of a spring gathering so that they could stay connected with their fellow Bulldogs as the years passed. The first Spring Party took place the following year, 1976, and those four鈥擲tephen 鈥淲hip鈥� Wendel, Vance 鈥淰y鈥� Youens, John Miller, and Frank Burk, later joined by Henry 鈥淒utch鈥� Schonenberg and Belinda Schmidt鈥攈ave worked to keep the Spring Party alive for fifty years now. Gaeylyn Burk, Frank鈥檚 wife who passed away in 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer, was also a driving force behind the party, and in fact, became known as the mother of the Spring Party, as the event is usually held at the Burks鈥� home, and she was known to be such a gracious hostess.

This year, some seventy-five friends came together on a Saturday in June, celebrating their shared histories at 国产探花 and the bonds of enduring friendship. One has to wonder if they could鈥檝e imagined, back in 1976, that they would still be faithfully gathering fifty years later.

As always, everyone chipped in to help cover costs鈥攂ut with a generous donor choosing to foot the bill, the group once again was able to present a sizeable donation to 国产探花, this year benefitting the Frank and Gaelyn Burk Scholarship endowment fund, so that future generations of Bulldogs will live as a legacy, forging new paths, serving in new ways, and celebrating friendships yet to come.

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�