The Word: UIW Community Newsletter - June 11, 2021

Congratulations to Dr. Ronda Gottlieb, UIW director of Clinical Health on being named this year's San Antonio Express-News Salute to Nurses Best in Class Nurse Practitioner! Dr. Gottlieb has helped lead the University through the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping our UIW community safe. 

Gottlieb is a DNP, APRN, FNP-C who works tirelessly to serve both the UIW and San Antonio communities by providing her time and talent to community organizations in the city. Throughout the pandemic, Gottlieb has gone above and beyond to ensure UIW is abreast of the most recent CDC guidelines, as well as San Antonio-Metro Health protocols, so the University community is kept as safe and healthy as possible. She embodies the Florence Nightingale Pledge, doing everything in her power to maintain and elevate the standard of the nursing profession and dedicating herself to devoted service to human welfare. Gottlieb participates in almost every clinic held by the University, taking on whatever role is needed from leadership to support.  

Dr. Gottlieb has been a member of UIW’s medical response team since January 2020, two months prior to COVID-19 being officially named a pandemic. During this time, she met with all departments on campus and created various task forces, helping the University manage the message to its student and employee communities. Through monitoring all CDC messaging and maintaining a close working relationship with San Antonio-Metro Health, Gottlieb was instrumental in helping UIW pivot to remote work and online learning. Through her efforts of assisting the medical team on campus, UIW’s COVID-19 operations has become the Gold Standard among local colleges and universities. Gottlieb has coordinated with San Antonio-Metro Health and various other health professions schools at UIW to host numerous vaccine clinics for not only the UIW family, but for the San Antonio community with an emphasis on underserved areas of the city. In addition, Gottlieb volunteers her time at the Alamodome, administering vaccines to those in need. 

Dr. Gottlieb is a University of the Incarnate Word alumna, where she earned her DNP and has continued working with the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, helping train future generations of healthcare workers to carry on the University's Mission.

Adam Watkins, professor and program coordinator for 3D Animation and Game Design, has accepted the position of assistant dean of the School of Media and Design (SMD). Watkins began his time at UIW in 2000 developing and leading the Computer Graphic Arts program. Under Watkins’s leadership, the program grew significantly until, ultimately, Watkins, in collaboration with the Computer Graphic Arts faculty, divided the program into two distinct programs—3D Animation and Game Design and Computer Graphic Arts. Watkins continued as coordinator of the 3D Animation and Game Design program, and under his leadership, the program and its students have received national recognition. UIW 3D Animation and Game Design graduates have gone on to work for Sony Pictures, Los Alamos National Laboratory and other prestigious media, cinema and video game production companies.

In his new role, Watkins will assist with faculty mentoring, accreditation efforts, retention and persistence improvements, grant opportunity development, the future move to Founders Hall, and planned growth in SMD. He will continue to serve as the 3D Animation and Game Design program coordinator and will retain faculty status, but will have a reduced teaching load to fulfill his new duties.

Michael Clayton, professor of Graphic Design in the School of Media and Design, chaired and hosted the 16th annual University and College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Education Summit, a national summit for design educators, design department chairpersons, and students.

Held virtually from Tuesday, May 25 through Thursday, May 27, 2021, this three-day conference featured 29 peer-reviewed presentations, panels, and workshops plus nine peer-reviewed poster presentations, and two live keynote presentations.

Under the theme of “Re-”, a prefix meaning again, anew, or back, the summit focused on how design educators have applied this prefix to their courses, their students, their projects, their research, and their personal practice over the past year.

UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine first-year resident, Dr. Tyler King, was recently named the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Resident Scholar. King earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in May and is in his first year of residency at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo. The Texas Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Resident Scholar program recognizes the resident-scholar and helps develop their leadership skills so that they may continue to give back to their specialty and community.

Resident scholars are selected during their first year of residency and will remain in the program throughout the entirety of their residency. They receive $10,000, are paired with a mentor, receive travel funds to attend meetings and will develop a project or presentation that contribute toward the goals of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians or the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation.

UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine faculty are stepping up to serve on various boards, councils and professional committees. Dr. Carol Browne, professor of Osteopathic Medicine, will serve as the president-elect of the Texas Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians for the 2021-2022 year. Browne currently serves as the vice president of organization and as the program chair for their annual conference, held jointly with the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association. Dr. Raul Marin, associate professor of Osteopathic Medicine, will serve as a featured speaker at the conference.

Dr. Linda Solis, assistant professor of Applied Humanities in the School of Osteopathic Medicine, will serve as the chair of the council on Diversity and Equity for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. The Council promotes diversity within the medical profession and provides diversity training for osteopathic physicians. Solis will serve as chair of the Council for two years.

Congratulations to these outstanding UIWSOM faculty members!

UIW Mission and Ministry is now live-streaming Sunday Mass from Our Lady’s Chapel. We invite your participation in one of the following formats:

• In-Person Attendance:  UIW Community members wishing to attend Mass in-person are asked to register for a seat using our new Flocknote app, as well as abide by all safety guidelines put in place for the pandemic, including the health screening via Cardinal Health Check and wearing a mask during the liturgy. Seating is extremely limited due to protocols put in place due to the pandemic. Students receive priority in-person registration at the following links:
  • June 13 – 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • June 20 –12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • June 27 – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
• Virtual Attendance: Those wishing to attend Mass virtually should continue registering through Zoom. The links to RSVP for the livestream Mass are:
  • June 13 – 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Father’s Day (Virtual)
  • June 20 – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Virtual)
  • June 27 – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Virtual)

Our livestream Mass is a hybrid broadcast, bringing both our in-person assembly in Our Lady’s Chapel and online assembly together. Both groups are able to see and hear one another.

"Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is devotion to Jesus Christ Himself, but in the particular ways of meditating on his interior life and on His threefold love — His divine love, His burning love that fed His human will, and His sensible love that affects His interior life.

Christ crucified is the revelation of the Father’s glory. Understanding this splendid revelation fills our hearts with the unique joy of being loved and participating in the salvation of the kingdom. This was the message entrusted by the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, calling us to render love for love, to make amends for the indifference and the coldness of so many hearts, to free our own hearts from egoism and violence. We learn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus what it means to give ourselves to the world."

— Frances Cabrini: Remembering the Journey

For Mother Cabrini, steps, words, movements, thoughts were the field of action in which the Heart of Jesus could work, especially in souls who were open in expectant and faithful love. Joyful intimacy with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an abundant communion of love, is available to everyone. Those who love Jesus are happy when He is loved by others, but at the same time, they desire their own love to grow.

Let us pray:

Oh, Sacred Heart of Jesus, may we be patient and persevering in times of desolation, trusting that your love and grace will be ever present. May we be grateful for the gift of your consolation and let it invigorate our faith, our hope, and our love. May we always discern for this “work of your heart” in the light of your good spirit and hold firm in times of discouragement and darkness. We ask this, O Jesus, trusting in your promise. Amen.

Shared from mothercabrini.org.

It's almost Fiesta time, San Antonio! These beautiful UIW Fiesta medals are available now. Purchase one for $10 or two for $15. Medals can be picked up on the UIW Broadway campus or mailed directly to you.

Purchase your UIW Fiesta medals here

Miss Fiesta Calista Burns is a UIW Education student double minoring in Mathematics and Reading. Calista will be featured on billboards across San Antonio as part of UIW's Fiesta celebration throughout Fiesta 2021!

Learn more about Miss Fiesta Calista Burns

This week, UIW GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) launched its apprenticeship program in partnership with the Army Research Office (ARO). This eight-week research program, made possible through the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), will provide mentorship to eight high school students in 11th and 12th grades to teach them time management, public speaking, problem-solving, and data collection skills. Leading the charge are GEMS Head Camp Counselor and Curriculum Coordinator, Calista Burns, GEMS Project Manager and Coordinator, Stephanie Weiss-Lopez, and GEMS Admin and Research Assistant, Elizabeth Parra.

Working alongside UIW's Autonomous Vehicles Systems (AVS) Lab research team, GEMS students will explore various components of mechanical and electrical engineering and have the opportunity to present their findings, work and research at a symposium at the conclusion of the program.

We can't wait to see all that these GEMS accomplish this summer!

San Antonio Express-News: Texas Vista Medical Center expands role as a San Antonio teaching hospital on the South Side

"San Antonio’s Southwest Side will see more medical practitioners this summer as Texas Vista Medical Center partners with the University of Incarnate Word to start a new residency program in internal medicine.

Starting July 1, Texas Vista will welcome its first group of 15 internal medicine doctors for a three-year residency program. Also, a third class of physicians is entering its four-year psychiatry residency program."

Read the full Express-News story

San Antonio Report: Texas Vista to become teaching hospital for UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine

"Graduates from the University of the Incarnate Word’s School of Osteopathic Medicine have a new residency program option just six miles from campus on San Antonio’s South Side.

Texas Vista Medical Center, formerly Southwest General Hospital, announced its new clinical affiliation with the private university and WellMed on Wednesday."

Read the full San Antonio Report story

UIW and the School of Osteopathic Medicine, plus UIWSOM faculty and students pursuing the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree were amply featured in the June edition of Medicine, a publication of the Bexar County Medical Society. Featured stories include:

• “Match Day” (page 14), a story about students and their “match,” the day students learn where they are “matched” for residency.
• “Two Sisters in Medicine: Two Roads Less Traveled, One Goal” (pages 26-27), the story written by and about Chinwe and Nneka Anyanwu, sisters from Nigeria who were both admitted into medical school—Chinwe to UIW and Nneka to Meharry Medical College (Tennessee).
• “A Lawyer Walks into a Medical School” (page 28), John LoCurto, JD, assistant professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Health Policy, writes from his perspective as a lawyer joining the faculty of a medical school.
• “San Antonio Historical Advancements and Developments of Modern Medicine” (page 29), the story of the advancements in science and research in San Antonio, co-authored by first-year UIWSOM student Noor Wadi.
• “Identifying Common Etiologies of Vaccine Hesitance in Texas” (pages 32-33), an article about the field of immunology, the study of immunity, and the development of vaccines, written by Dr. Rebecca Sanchez, assistant professor of Microbiology, and second-year UIWSOM students Omar Caballero and Travis Fenlon.

June edition of Medicine

A call was sent out in early April from the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County to support and assist our community, especially children, veterans, elderly, homeless, and vulnerable populations by filling up a shoebox with basic hygiene and personal care-items such as soap, shampoo, and toothpaste.

The Ettling Center donated close to 100 shoeboxes to United Way, totaling approximately 400 hours of community service earned by UIW students over the past few weeks for the following items donated:

• Adhesive bandages
• Baby wipes
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Soap/body wash
• Deodorant
• Hair comb/brush
• Hand sanitizer
• Toothbrush/toothpaste

Shoebox donations will continue to be accepted throughout the year and can be dropped off at the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership & Sustainability office in the Administration Building 158. Donations will benefit the Cardinals’ Cupboard Food Pantry and other partnering organizations. For more information, please contact us at (210) 283-6423 or ccl@uiwtx.edu.

Learn more about the Shoebox Project

Four students from the Communication Arts Department of the School of Media and Design (SMD) were awarded scholarships from the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ). The students, all active in the Communication Arts media areas, include Antonio Bocanegra II, Victoria Velazquez, Gabrielle Yanez, and Zoe Del Rosario.

Bocanegra, a Communication Arts major concentrating in Multimedia-Production, is operations director for UIWtv. Velazquez, a sociology major, was named “Reporter of the Year” by editors of the Logos, UIW's student-produced newspaper. Yanez, a Communication Arts major concentrating in Multimedia-Journalism, is a contributing writer for the Logos newspaper. Del Rosario, a Communication Arts major concentrating in Multimedia-Journalism, is program director for UIWtv.

The scholarship recipients are among 11 students attending colleges in the region sharing $35,000 awarded by SAAHJ for scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year. UIW had more scholarship recipients than any other area institution.

“SAAHJ is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Latinos and young professionals of all backgrounds pursue careers in journalism and other communications professions,” President Laura Garcia said in a news release. "Each year, the group awards thousands of dollars in scholarships, raised through their annual scholarship and awards gala. Students are recognized at the annual scholarship and awards gala. The gala this year is scheduled for Augus 6 at the Grand Hyatt. Local journalists determine the scholarship recipients based upon both financial need and talent."

The San Antonio Chapter of the America Advertising Federation (AAF-SA) Education Committee awarded three scholarships to UIW Graphic Design students at an event on Tuesday, May 25. A total of $5,000 was awarded to Ruby Filoteo (sophomore), Isabel Morales (freshman) and Trevor Tealor (sophomore). These students were chosen from a pool of applications of advertising and graphic design students from surrounding area colleges and universities.

UIW alumna, Lan Belinky, is making waves in the beauty industry with her company, Boscia. Born and raised in Japan, those roots have inspired her and Boscia's commitment to naturally-made skin-care products for all. A graduate of UIW's Business Marketing program, Belinky has made headlines recently in national outlets such as Odyssey and Forbes.

Read Belinky's Odyssey feature

Read Forbes List of 12 Female Founders To Celebrate

Learn more about Boscia

Due to Belinky's generosity, every Spring 2021 graduate of the University of the Incarnate Word received Boscia hand sanitizer at this year's commencement ceremonies, in an effort to help keep our Cardinals safe.

Thank you, Lan! We are so proud of you and thankful for your ongoing support to the UIW family!

The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) is looking for alumni who majored or minored in Philosophy!

This group of alumni will have conversations with current Philosophy students who might be interested in exploring a similar career path and/or serve as panelists at a professional development workshop for current philosophy majors and minors.

If you are a UIW philosophy alumni interested in volunteering your time in this very special way, please sign up in our Cardinal Connect form and select "classroom presentation" and "career guidance" under areas of interest.

Fill out the Cardinal Connect form

Starting this month, Alumni and Parent Relations is celebrating our Cardinal birthdays in a very special way! Your Alumni Association will hold a birthday raffle each month where alumni with birthdays in that month will have a chance to win a gift from us.

Happy Birthday to all our June Cardinals!

Alumni with June birthdays may enter the raffle here

The UIW Office of Financial Assistance has partnered with ECMC Solutions to provide a more holistic approach to assisting alumni with student loan repayments. If you need help understanding your options once student loan repayments resume on October 1, give a ECMC Solutions counselor a call for free at (877) 331-3262.

The University of the Incarnate Word Athletics department announced the opening of ticket renewals for season ticket holders for the upcoming Fall 2021 football season, featuring five home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, as announced Tuesday morning.

For more information regarding season ticket renewals contact UIW Director of Ticketing Ron Hill at (210)805-3012 or at rohill@uiwtx.edu. Payment plans are available. New season tickets are set to go on sale mid June.

Looking Ahead

UIW is set to host five games this season against Prairie View (Sept. 11), McNeese (Sept. 25), Nicholls (Oct. 16), Houston Baptist (Oct. 30) and Southeastern Louisiana (Nov. 6). The Cardinals head into the season with a new Southland Conference realignment that saw the departure of Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Abilene Christian, Central Arkansas and Lamar.

Heading into the new season, UIW loses just two key players in Chance Main and Tre Wolf. However, the Cardinals will return 10 of their starters from an offense that led the nation in total offensive yards.

Spring 2021 Season In Review

Spring 2021 was a season of firsts for the Cardinal football team with its first-ever season in the spring as it was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team finished 3-3 on the season playing Southland Conference opponents only, defeating ranked opponents Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese. The team also achieved its highest-ever rankings in program history at No. 13 on the Stats Perform FCS top 25 and at No. 15 in the AFCA Coaches poll.

As a team, the Cardinals had one of the top offenses in the nation leading the nation in total offensive yards with 552.3 yards, first in third-down conversions at a rate of 54.2 percent, third in passing offense with 377.2 yards, and third in scoring offense averaging 42.0 points per game.

Over the course of the season, the Cardinals picked up three Player of the Week nods in Ce'Cori Tolds (March 1, special teams), Kevin Brown (March 8, offensive) and Cameron Ward (March 22, offensive). The program capped off the season with Ward being named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, with the team placing a total of 16 on all-conference teams with three on first, five on second, and eight on third team.

Ward also earned the highest honor when he was named the Jerry Rice Award winner, naming him the national freshman of the year at the FCS level on May 3. The freshman set the record for most touchdown passes in a season (24) in just six games, matched a true freshman record four passing touchdowns in a single game in his debut, and set the record for most passing touchdowns in a single game with six, accomplishing that twice.

University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team head coach, Samantha Dabbs Thomas, announced the addition of Colby Arrington and Jesse Earl as assistant coaches on Tuesday.

"I will always be so grateful for Evan Case and Ziva Recek- Blackmon for starting this journey here at UIW with me," said Dabbs Thomas. "They both joined my staff shortly after I took the job and they were a huge part of the growth within this program. Although I am very happy for them both to start the next chapters of their lives they will be dearly missed."

Arrington joins the Cardinals after serving as an assistant coach at Appalachian State for two seasons. Prior to App State, he was an assistant at William & Mary and JMU, his alma mater. In his three years at JMU, he was part of a coaching staff that saw back-to-back CCSA Championships and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Arrington was a member of the nationally-ranked JMU men's club volleyball program for the Dukes.

"Colby has great experience and has had some great mentors along the way," said Dabbs Thomas. "Colby will step into our recruiting coordinator role with a lot of experience and knowledge of what it takes to recruit, he is going to be a huge addition to our staff."

Earl joins the Cardinals from Mercer where she has served as a graduate assistant. As a student-athlete, Earl was a three-year starter and two-year co-captain for the volleyball team at Auburn. She was a stud for the backline setting the multiple program records including career digs per set, career digs, single-season digs per set, single match digs and single-season aces per set. Prior to Auburn, she played one season at Xavier where she was named to the Big East Freshman team.

"Jesse is young and eager to learn," said Dabbs Thomas. "I love seeing former players get into coaching. She's been in our players' shoes before, so she is going to be able to relate to each of them. She played at a high level in the SEC and her competitiveness is going to carry over into our player development."

During the 2021 season, the Cardinals made history when they clinched the final spot in the Southland Conference Tournament, marking the first time since joining the league. UIW sets to make its first true appearance during the upcoming Fall 2021 season.

"I could not be any more excited for my new staff to get here and to hit the recruiting trail this June," said Dabbs Thomas.

Arrington Quote

"A huge thank you to Sam Dabbs Thomas, Angela Lawson, and administration for the opportunity to join the UIW family. I couldn't be more excited to work alongside Sam and Jesse while keeping the momentum from this past spring going. I'm looking forward to being surrounded by a talented group of players and coaches. Go Cardinals!" - Colby Arrington

Earl Quote

"I'm beyond thankful for this opportunity to join Coach Dabbs Thomas and the UIW Volleyball program! She has built a great foundation here over the last few years and I'm excited to be able to contribute to the growth and success of the program. I can't wait to get to San Antonio and get to work! Go Cardinals!" - Jesse Earl

Marissa Watters of the University of the Incarnate Word was named the Southland Conference National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Representative for 2021-22, where she will attend various NCAA Division I SAAC meetings throughout the year.

"Grateful is an understatement," said Watters. "SAAC, (UIW) Athletics, UIW and the Southland Conference have given me so much during my time here and I'm honored to be able to give back to them on a national level."

"When I was given the news, I actually teared up because I knew this was a huge honor for UIW SAAC," Watters said. "Our members work hard to positively impact our Cardinal community and I'm grateful that our institution gets to lead the way for the Southland."

In her role, Watters will represent the Southland alongside 30 other Division I Conference Representatives. These student-athletes work together to best serve and represent all 160,000 NCAA Division I student-athletes. As a group, they help vote on NCAA legislation and create initiatives concerning student-athlete well-being.

"I'm most excited to able to create and implement Division I SAAC initiatives across the nation as well as learn from other institutions in how they continue to ignite and engage their student-athlete population to become the next generation of leaders," said Watters.

Watters is on the women's swimming and diving team and is currently pursuing her master's degree in Sport Management. She is going into her fourth year on SAAC, her third year as SAAC President. As president of SAAC, Watters has been vital in overseeing the committee's strategic plan, constitution, well-being initiatives, service projects, meetings, and communicating with over 50 plus members each year.

This year, with Watter's leadership, some of SAAC's accomplishments include:

• Hosting three Athletics Open Forums
• Leading eight virtual Word Wednesdays
• Collaborating with UTSA to donate $1,500 to the San Antonio Food Bank
• Participating in the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Campaign
• Creating social media giveaways to interact with UIW student population
• Hosting an Amazon Gift Drive to donate 140 gifts to San Antonio ChildSafe
• Donating and creating Cardinal Care Kits for 100 people without homes
• Adopting two elementary children to make their wishes come true
• Celebrating National Student-Athlete Day with donuts and peers
• Learning about Strengths-Based Leadership
• Completing 752 community service hours as a SAAC group
• Aiding in Life Skills initiatives

For more information on UIW SAAC, please contact SAAC Advisor Amanda Pulido at apulido@uiwtx.edu.

Learn more about NCAA SAAC

The University of the Incarnate Word continues to monitor the local, regional and state-wide progression of COVID-19 to inform decisions about safe campus operations. Below you will find links to helpful information regarding UIW's COVID-19 warning indicators, case tracking, safety guidelines and resources for the UIW community. These sites will be updated to reflect changes or new information.

COVID-19 Information Site

COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 Case Updates

Cardinal Flight Plan

Schedule a COVID-19 test on the Broadway campus (students and employees ONLY)

Schedule a COVID-19 test at the UIWSOM campus (open to general public)