The Word: UIW Community Newsletter - September 17, 2021

UIW is proud to announce that it has been ranked in several categories in the 2022 Best Colleges list published by U.S. News and World Report, and is the highest ranked local university on the national list. In addition, the University was named an inaugural recipient of the San Antonio Business Journal's Diversity and Inclusion Awards and for the 13th year, a nationally-recognized "Great College to Work For."

UIW Lands on National “Best Colleges” List 

The University of the Incarnate Word has been ranked in several categories in the recently released Best Colleges list published by U.S. News and World Report. UIW ranked No. 263 on the Best Colleges National list, up nine spots from last year. UIW is the highest ranked local university on the national list. This is just the third year that UIW has been ranked on the national list as opposed to the regional list with many other local universities. 

UIW also ranked at No. 41 in Social Mobility, up three spots from last year, and, for the first time, the publication ranked Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs where UIW came in at No. 183 among national universities. 

“The acknowledgement from U.S. News and World Report underscores the work we are doing in service to our students, our Mission and our community,” says Dr. Thomas M. Evans, UIW president. “Lifting the lives of our students and providing social mobility are central to our Vision for UIW. Additionally, we are exceedingly proud of our efforts to respond to the nation’s growing healthcare needs by preparing highly trained and compassionate nursing professionals ready to make a difference.” 

The Social Mobility category measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. Students receiving these grants demonstrate the greatest financial need and typically come from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, with most money going to students with total family incomes below $20,000. 

The U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges list is now in its 37th year. This year the publication assessed 1,466 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality.  

UIW Makes “Great Colleges to Work For” List 

The University of the Incarnate Word is one of the best universities in the nation to work for, according to a new survey by the “Great Colleges to Work For” program. This marks the 13th year that UIW has been recognized with this designation and the 12th year that the University is named to the publication’s Honor Roll, which recognizes institutions who received top marks in multiple categories. The results, released in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are based on a survey of 196 colleges and universities. The recognition is based on specific best practices and policies. 

“Being honored among the best institutions to work for starts with having the best employees to work with,” says Dr. Thomas M. Evans, UIW president. “We are blessed to have more than 1,000 individuals who have taken to heart our Mission to offer transformational education and prepare concerned and enlightened citizens. UIW faculty and staff are committed to doing everything they can to support our students’ success, and, for that, I am wholeheartedly grateful.” 

UIW won honors in all 10 categories measured by the survey including: 

• Job Satisfaction and Support 
• Compensation and Benefits 
• Professional Development 
• Mission and Pride 
• Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness 
• Confidence in Senior Leadership 
• Faculty and Staff Well-being 
• Shared Governance 
• Faculty Experience 
• Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging 

“This is truly a great accomplishment for UIW,” says Dr. Barbara Aranda-Naranjo, UIW provost. “To be honored with this distinction for 13 years is a testament to the dedication of our employees to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I want to thank each and every one of them for doing their part to not only set high standards, but continually exceed them.” 

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institution questionnaire that captured employment data and workplace policies from each institution, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was the employee feedback. The “Great Colleges to Work For” program is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. 

UIW Honored for Diversity and Inclusion by San Antonio Business Journal

The San Antonio Business Journal (SABJ) has named UIW as one of its first recipients of the publications’ inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Awards. SABJ chose 10 honorees who, they say, have gone above and beyond to bolster diversity, equality, and inclusion efforts in areas including: age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion and socio-economic status. 

Honorees will be recognized at a special event on Oct. 6. 

When your heart beat aligns with the rhythm of Marching Cardinals drum cadences, lights are shining at the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium and the air starts to become a little crisp (hey, this is still South Texas), you know it's almost time for Homecoming at UIW!

Registration for UIW Homecoming is now open! This year, the Department of Alumni and Parent Relations is excited to welcome all of our UIW Alumni back to the Nest for in-person festivities for the first time since 2019. Old and new traditions will be celebrated! All alumni, from from the Incarnate Word College-era to our most recent Cardinal graduates, are welcome to the festivities. This year we also celebrate the Class of 1971 for their 50th Anniversary Class Reunion, which included some of the first gentlemen to graduate from the Incarnate Word family with undergraduate degrees.

Here's a first look at some of the fun-filled events in store at this year's UIW Homecoming!

Nest Fest Block Party

A Homecoming highlight this year will be the Nest Fest Block Party! This year's party is combining two of the most anticipated UIW Homecoming traditions – Nest Fest and Trunk-or-Treat. All UIW Alumni and their families, employees, students and parents are welcome at this outdoor event that will feature live music, food trucks, a beer garden and the annual Trunk-or-Treat Halloween celebration.

RedZone Cardinal Tailgate and Salsa Competition

And don't forget about the RedZone Cardinal Tailgate, now featuring a salsa competition! Come out and enjoy a tailgate, Cardinal Style, as UIW prepares to take down the Houston Baptist Huskies. This family-friendly event is the official gathering place for alumni, parents and friends before the Homecoming game to show off your Cardinal pride, reconnect with fellow alumni and support our student-athletes before they hit the football field! Want to show off your culinary skills at this year's salsa competition? Submit your recipe to alumni@uiwtx.edu for your chance to compete!

Of course, your favorites like Thirsty Thursday, the 50th Reunion Coffee Klatch and Campus Tour, and Homecoming Memorial Mass are all returning this year, too. 

We can't wait to see you back at the corner of Broadway and Hildebrand, alumni! 

Register for UIW Homecoming events here

The UIW Dreeben School of Education (DSE) has reason to celebrate! Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) pass rates have been released, and in the 2020-2021 academic year, 99 percent of DSE students who took the exam received a passing grade. The exams test both content and pedagogy knowledge. Texas law requires that educators pass the appropriate exam to become certified to teach in Texas classrooms.

“I want to start by saying how proud I am of our students for all they have accomplished during these challenging times,” said Dr. Denise Staudt, dean of the Dreeben School of Education. “For the DSE Teacher Education Program to obtain an overall TExES pass rate of 99% for students who completed the exam during the pandemic in the 2020-2021 academic year is quite amazing. I extend my deepest appreciation to all faculty who have contributed their time, effort and energy to accomplish this outstanding pass rate."

DSE students have passed at exceptional rates for the past four years, with each year being at or above 96 percent. The highest pass rate was 100 percent, achieved during the 2017-2018 academic year. The school's pass rate this year is several percentage points above the state-wide average.

Dr. Lucretia M. Fraga (left), associate professor of Teacher Education, and Dr. Susan Hall (right), professor and director of Center for Teaching and Learning, along with Kathy Bottaro (bottom left), director of Instructional Technology Services, co-authored the chapter “Shifting to Online Learning Through Faculty Collaborative Support” in a new book titled  eLearning Engagement in a Transformative Social Learning Environment, recently published by IGI Global. 

This chapter helps document the tremendous efforts that university faculty made in quickly moving courses online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As Hall points out, “When we look back upon it, this move to ‘emergency online instruction’ will likely stand as an important moment in American higher education.”

University faculty members around the globe – many with little or no prior experience in online teaching – quickly learned skills they never thought they would need and salvaged a semester for their students. Moreover, some gained a more enduring interest in online teaching. Commenting on their study, Hall notes how “University of the Incarnate Word faculty showed both adaptability and resilience at a trying time.” 

In the chapter, readers can explore the process of supporting faculty as they moved their classes online during the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes how a range of professional development experiences fostered a sense of community among participants, as well as supported their transitions to online teaching. These virtual communities enabled faculty members both to exchange information and to offer one another peer support. This experience of teaching online also prompted changes in pedagogical practices. Informed by social cognitive theory, the conclusions are supported by survey data as well as case studies.  

“We hope to share with others the amazing work, dedication, and perseverance that came from UIW as we quickly moved to remote teaching during the COVID 19 pandemic,” said Fraga. 

Upon completion of the chapter, they presented “3 Steps to Moving University Courses Online During a Pandemic” at the 2021 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference, a global community of educators using technology to transform teaching and learning through innovative solutions. 

Learn more about the chapter here

Fraga is an associate professor in the Dreeben School of Education. She has worked in the field of instructional technology for over 20 years. She has provided students, faculty and staff professional development training to use technology for instructional purposes. Fraga’s expertise includes pedagogical practices, instructional technology and design, teacher education and professional development of faculty in higher education. 

Hall is a professor in the Dreeben School of Education and the director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. She has special interests in methods of faculty development, early literacy and service learning. Her department supports faculty at UIW in their teaching role by offering workshops, individual consultations and other developmental activities. 

Kathy Bottaro is the director of Instructional Technology, a position she has held since 2018.  As director of Instructional Technology, Bottaro is responsible for training on all academic technology resources, as well as support for multi-media and convergent media projects (e.g., digital media and editing for educational products), for faculty. Bottaro has many years of experience in instructional technology from the K-12 through university level and regularly presents at professional conferences to share her expertise. 

Dr. Halimin Herjanto, professor in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration (HEBSBA), recently had his article “Panic buying: The effect of thinking style and situational ambiguity” published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. This research is co-authored by Dr. Muslim Amin of Taylor University, Malaysia and Dr. Elizabeth Purinton of Marist College, New York.

According to Herjanto, the publication is considered to be one of the most influential and a “must read” journal in the consumer studies context.

Herjanto explains a brief overview of the article:

"At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw unprecedented panic buying behavior. Manufacturers and grocery stores around the world were overwhelmed with the dramatic increase in demand for food, health or sanitation related products. Most scholars have sought to understand this phenomenon through psychological and situational lenses. Our study, however, took a different route by utilizing a cognitive lens, with a specific focus on thinking styles. Groza et al. (2016) maintain that consumers have three different types of thinking styles in their cognitive repertoire, and they utilize the most dominant and suitable style when dealing with certain situations. The three thinking styles are judicative (evaluation-based), executive (compliance-based) and legislative (creative-based). Our model predicted that these different thinking styles and situational ambiguity influence panic buying based on consumers’ perception of risk. We also predicted that the degree of perceived risk that influences panic buying is determined by information overload. The statistical results show that among these three thinking styles, the judicative thinking style is responsible for increasing the degree of perceived risk that leads to panic buying. Individuals in whom judicative thinking became dominant in response to the pandemic were likely to select, analyze and evaluate COVID-19 information very carefully. They were also more likely to view current facts and information as negative and risky and to undertake panic buying as part of their survival instinct. Interestingly, the degree of this perceived risk was also found to be affected by information overload. This study is regarded as one of the first to utilize the cognitive approach amongst COVID-19 research."

Herjanto and his student, Ms. Elizabeth Poole, also published an investigation into the effect of COVID-19 on cruise passenger dissatisfaction in the first Phuket International Tourism Conference proceedings. In addition, Herjanto’s study on the effect of COVID-19 on tourists’ self-protective motivation is under review by the Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism and a further study on second-hand clothes donation behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic is under review by the Journal of Nonprofit and Public Sector Marketing. His latest study "COVID-19 consumer behavior: A systematic review," is now being prepared and finalized for journal publication.

Composer Dr. Kevin Salfen, professor of Music and assistant dean in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, traveled to New York City with a team of performers from San Marcos to put on a new musical work, Stations of Mychal. The group spent the last year creating the new musical to honor the life, ministry and death of Fr. Mychal Judge, the first official victim on 9/11. Fr. Mychal was the chaplain of the New York Fire Department.

The project was chosen to represent the FDNY for the 20-year commemoration of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. They performed Stations of Mychal at St. Francis of Assisi, Fr. Mychal’s church, on Sept.10 and 11.

“To say that it was an honor to participate in this commemoration doesn’t begin to cut it,” said Salfen. “It’s something I will take with me for the rest of my life. We walked with first responders and their families from Mychal’s church to ground zero, and many of those who attended our performance were deeply moved. Several shared with me that the experience of hearing our musical work was healing, even that it allowed them, at last, to grieve.”

The group is performing Stations of Mychal at UIW on Oct. 2, 2021, at 7 p.m. in the Diane Bennack Concert Hall.

Tickets can be reserved here

You were following me when I turned into the H-E-B parking lot.

Closely!

All I could see in my rearview mirror were the four rings of your Audi logo mounted against a wall of gleaming chrome and the slash of white on the hood above it. 

And you followed me just like that as we wove our way up and down the rows of that congested parking lot, looking for a place to settle. But there just weren’t any parking spots. From north to south, east to west, you followed me. Closely!  

“Q8,” I noted on one of our turns. “And new, too! Probably worth what? Three times what my car is worth. Nice! Yet you're still too close!” 

I lost you somewhere on our second pass. I wondered where you went? You likely gave up, or you went into the neighboring lot over by Whataburger with its adjacent Starbucks. I was glad not to have you on my tail! 

I found a spot, about as far away as one can get from the store. I waited patiently for the gentleman to pack and stuff and rearrange his groceries in the trunk and backseat of his car. I want him around the next time I need to pack too much into my small car!  With trunk lid secured and doors closed, he turned with his grocery cart, scanning the horizon for the closest shopping cart return. I put my window down and said I would gladly adopt it if he would let me have his spot. He smiled and carefully slid it between the two neighboring vehicles. 

H-E-B was mayhem! People were scurrying here and there, bumping into one another, angry exchanges, folks leaving their carts in the middle of this aisle or that, searching for whatever it was they were looking for, bawling children confined in altogether too small seats, shelves often empty, harried staff muttering apologies. 

One could quickly descend into that bedlam. It would not be hard to do! Elbows up, chin down, a nasty quip on the tip of the tongue, plow on through!  

Not my style. I am a “man on a mission” – I know what I need and where to find it – I can be somewhat like a squirrel out on the back lawn knowing just where to go for the treasure, dashing this way and that, knowing just where the closest limb is if a quick exit is needed.  

One might as well just do what one can do to make the most of enjoying this encounter with others, knowing that each of them is on their own mission. 

There was a three-year-old in aisle eight, bawling loudly, struggling to break free of the ridiculous steering wheel in front of him. His mother was exasperated, casting weary, wary glances at other shoppers as if to say: “I don’t know what’s gotten into him. I sometimes don’t think he’s my child! Sorry.” I pulled my cart up next to theirs and, though my mask was firmly secured in place, raised my greying brows and said, “a bad day, eh, Bud? Hey, I get it! This is a lousy place to be on a Friday afternoon. I’m with ya!” He abruptly stopped and stared. His mother stopped and stared too. The expression on her face was one of either: “Just what do you think you’re doing to my child?” or “Tell me, do you charge by the hour?” I walked away.  

To the lady who made an abrupt turn into the aisle, causing me to stop short with my full cart, I said, “I think that was an illegal left turn, ma'am. You didn’t use your signal light.” She stopped and stared. I was expecting a full-fledged blast of blue air. She started to laugh. “Sorry! I’m just so focused on getting out of here that I’m not paying attention.” “Hey, no worries!” I said in reply. “Just be glad I didn’t bring my infraction book with me. I’ll let you off with a warning this time.”  

I encountered her again in aisle ten, trying to reach a box at the back of the top shelf. “Yo,” I said. “I’m the traffic cop. Can I reach that for you?” “Sure,” she said. “And get one for yourself. It’s on me!” 

I let the man in an electric cart get in front of me at the checkout. The family behind me groaned in displeasure. I just gave them a little “so what can you do about it?” shrug. 

Jorge, or at least that’s what his name badge said was his name, was clearly frazzled as he rhythmically ran my items over the scanner, pausing every once in a while to look something up. “I’m sorry,” I said, “I really ought to have weighed that and got the tag for you.” No response. “So, tell me, how’s your day going?” He peered at me over his glasses with a look that said, “You mean you can’t figure that out?” “Listen,” I said. “I get it! I just don’t know how you do it. Everyone is so grumpy. It can’t be easy for you. Thank you for being here for all of us.” He gave me a blank look. I told Cynthia, or whatever her name really is, that I would pack my own groceries. “I learned how to do this a million years ago. Bread on the bottom. Cans on top. Go and take care of others with bigger orders than mine.” She sighed and moved over to the next checkout.  

I handed Jorge a $10 bill. “I think you need a break. Pop over to Whataburger and get something to eat. The customer is always right, you know!” To “Cynthia,” I said “beat'cha! And the bread is all squished, too! Keep your wits about you. You’re doing fine!” 

It was as I was making the long hike to my car that I found you, Mr. or Mrs. or Miss, or Ms., or Mx. Q8. You had your sixteen-and-a-half foot SUV parked neatly in the spot you found for it, one-third of it protruding into the path other drivers use, every one of them swerving to avoid a costly collision with your new 2021. And the spot that was specially prepared for you? 

Right in front of the shopping cart return! You nudged your German engineering to within inches of the stanchions. You’re a darned fine driver. I had to admit. Not a hint of damage to that bumper or grill. And so close that not a single cart could be returned to its rightful place. Folks were very considerate of you, though; they left their shopping carts well away from your white paint. One even left their cart resting against the old Altima that was parked next to you – better that than having it roll down the incline into the vehicle parked across the way. 

I stopped to consider the moment. And, Mr. or Mrs. or Miss, or Ms., or Mx. Q8, do you know what I found so ironic about the scene? It was your bumper sticker. Now, I really don’t understand why one would want to put a bumper sticker on a vehicle of this caliber and class; I certainly wouldn’t! But you did. 

I started to laugh. And, as I stood there laughing, others came along and they too joined me in my laughter. Soon, we were a group of about a dozen gawking at this unbelievable scene. One man even suggested we break out the beer and wait for you to return to your Q8. “Imagine,” he said through his laughter, “the fun we could have with this! They’d never live it down. Hey, does someone have a camera? Let’s send this to the Express News. Everyone needs a laugh these days.” 

And what did your bumper sticker say? Your carefully chosen and applied bumper sticker? The bumper sticker with white lettering on a black background that stood out on your gleaming white Q8 that read: 

“I only do what Jesus would want me to do.” 

It was the man enjoying his Shiner Bock who quipped: “Ain’t never met this Jesus. Must be quite a guy to want something like this. Where do I sign up?” 

That’s when I turned and left them standing there. 

I have no idea why you parked where you did and the way you did. Could it be that you needed to dash in to retrieve the prescription urgently required by someone at home? Maybe you really needed the restroom? Could it be that something terrible happened to you in the store, and they were waiting for the EMS folks to come to your aid? Or that you were assisting someone else in desperate need? I don’t know. 

I know that I judged you and that my judgement is likely unfair. I’m sorry for that. 

Yet, I do know this: will you do Jesus a favor and get rid of that bumper sticker, please?

September Memorial Mass

As has been our custom for many years, once a month we remember our recently departed alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends, family, Incarnate Word Sisters and benefactors of the Incarnate Word family during our Sunday Eucharist in Our Lady's Chapel. The experience of loss within our own University community – especially in this last year – has made these communal remembrances even more necessary and important. Through our prayers and care for one another, we become a stronger and more united community. 

We welcome you to send in the names of any recently departed loved ones or friends that you wish to be remembered at our next Memorial Mass.

Submit names here 

Names received by Sept. 23 will appear in that Sunday’s digital worship bulletin. All will be remembered throughout the month in our prayers. 

Registration links for in-person (limited seating) or virtual attendance via Zoom for this liturgy may be found on our UMM Event Registration site.

For more information, please contact Brenda Dimas, (210) 829-3128 or email ministry@uiwtx.edu.

Faith Formation Opportunities - The Bible in a Year Study Groups, Confirmation Classes, and More

University Mission and Ministry invites students, faculty, and staff to form Bible Study groups using the Ascension Press Bible in a Year Podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz. A survey was created to identify when individuals are available to meet and who would like to serve as group facilitators. Once your information is gathered, groups will be matched with same days and times. Please complete the survey here. If you would like to facilitate a group, please indicate so in the survey. A facilitator meeting will be held on Sept. 12, 2021.

In addition to Bible Study, we are offering other opportunities for faith formation such as confirmation classes. For more information, complete the Faith Formation Interest Form here.

Need Prayers?

Our UIW family is always in our prayers. If you have a special intention for which you would like us to pray, please feel free to submit it through our prayer link or via email to ministry@uiwtx.edu.

Join our flock!

If you consider UIW your worshiping community, or simply want to stay connected to Mission and Ministry to receive information about our events, ministries, and other ministry-related news, we invite you to register as part of our University of the Incarnate Word Flocknote network. Flocknote is the best means we have of keeping connected with our UIW family and sharing information quickly. Registration is free and open to students, faculty, staff, administrators, Incarnate Word Sisters, alumni and friends of UIW.

Join Flocknote here

Heritage Day is the celebration of the origin of the University of the Incarnate Word. In 1869, San Antonio suffered a cholera outbreak. In response to San Antonio's need for assistance, three French nuns, Sister Madeleine Chollet, Sister Pierre Cinquin, and Sister Agnes Buisson set up San Antonio's first hospital, which is now known as CHRISTUS Santa Rosa. The building of the hospital led to an orphanage, which led to establishing a school. That school would later become what is now the University of the Incarnate Word. 

UIW has a time-honored tradition of celebrating Heritage Day each year by honoring employees who have reached career milestones at the University, dedicating many years of service to continuing the University's Mission. 

See a full list of 2020 and 2021 honorees.

Among the honorees are:

• Lorraine Ewers, 40 years (2021)
• Elaine Hernandez, 35 years (2021)
• Linda Wages, 35 years (2021)
• Adela Gott, 35 years (2020)
• Sr. Walter Maher, CCVI, 35 years (2020)

Congratulations to all honorees and thank you for your service and dedication to making a difference in the lives of our students and UIW community.

We caught up with Ewers to talk about her years of service.

Q: What first brought you to UIW?

A: I was truly “Called” by God to be at UIW.  Both me and my husband, Donald Ewers (deceased), were from St. Louis, Missouri.  I came to San Antonio for a visit, summer of 1972, when he was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston and attending classes at Incarnate Word. On one of our trips around town, I asked, “What are those buildings behind the trees?” “Incarnate Word College,” he replied. Neither of us, at the time, were talking about marriage.

As I said, it was the ‘Call’ from God. God brought us together. Don was continuing his studies and I was thinking about returning to work. Professor Eloise Stoker was the Art Department chair, and her secretary abruptly stopped coming to work one day. That opened the door for me to become the new secretary, a 30-hour per week job, which at the time, was almost unheard of. 

Q: What makes UIW so special that you have stayed for 40 years?

A: The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word had a convent, hospital and school in St. Louis. Some of the Sisters working here were from St. Louis. A touch of home was here with me. The people make UIW special. We are a family that truly cares about one another. In both good times and bad times, we work hard and have fun.

Q: What have you seen change in your time here, and has there been anything consistent?

A: I came to UIW when Sr. Margaret Patrice Slattery was president. The growth of our campus. We were no longer the place across Earl Abel’s. Students and Sister’s no longer living on the 3rd and 4th floor of the Administration building. Marian Hall became SEC and the Pub (Aristotle’s Watering Hole) is now RED’s. While the buildings have changed and the number of students and employees have grown, what has been consistent are the people that still believe in an ethic of working and caring for one another.

Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your job? 

A: When you love what you do, it makes your job rewarding. I have been blessed to work with so many people across the community.

“Analyzing financial statements or the performance of a firm’s stock price makes me feel like Indiana Jones trying to find the Lost Ark.”

While not everyone finds finance exciting, Dr. Jose Moreno has a passion for the discipline and described obtaining his B.S. in Financial Management, M.S. in Finance and Ph.D. in Business with a concentration in Finance as “pure fun.” Moreno is currently the discipline coordinator and Tom Benson Endowed Chair in Banking and Finance at UIW’s H-E-B School of Business and Administration, and he has known for a long time that he wanted to be in this industry.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and raised in Los Reyes, Michoacán, Mexico, Moreno knew in high school that he enjoyed both math and business, leading to a love of finance. He studied at Tecnológico de Monterrey (Monterrey Tech) in Guadalajara and the University of Western in Ontario, Canada, and worked as a credit analyst in the National Exterior Commerce Bank of Mexico prior to obtaining his Ph.D. from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2008 (then University of Texas Pan American).

While at UTRGV, he came to understand the importance of diversity more fully, even within the Hispanic culture.

“Hispanics from Mexico are not the same as Hispanics from Argentina or Chile,” he explained. “Hispanics from Texas are not the same as Hispanics from California. However, those things that differentiate us are not the things that define us. A Hispanic is defined by the family values and the joy for the life.”

Growing up in Los Reyes, Moreno learned those family values well, calling his parents and grandparents role models.

“They taught me the values and beliefs that I have today, and that I use every day to make decisions in my life,” said Moreno. “My mother taught me the value of work. She worked hard to help me to complete my college education. On the other hand, my father taught me that life is not only work, but life is being close with those that you love.”

His family also instilled in him a love of traveling. Moreno’s first trip abroad was when he was 10 years old, and he has been traveling ever since. He has visited 18 different countries, but there are many more places he still wants to visit. He loves the different experiences traveling can provide.

“I remember my first time trying to get directions to the Eiffel Tower in Paris without knowing a word in French and discovering that the French people don’t like to speak English (but they like Mexicans),” Moreno said. But he loved it. “My favorite travel experiences are the ones where I have been pushed out of my comfort zone.”

Moreno has absorbed countless lessons during his time studying and teaching in different countries. He has had the opportunity to teach in Mexico, France, Germany and Austria, in addition to the U.S. He believes that teaching is about helping students become well-rounded people, which means keeping them engaged in the classroom and preparing them for life beyond college.

“I am a firm believer that the classroom should be focused on the students and their learning needs,” said Moreno.  “Students are similar everywhere, but what makes them different in the classroom is the level of engagement they have, and part of my job is trying to keep that engagement. Also, it is part of my job to prepare them not only for their future careers, but also for their future development as a complete human being.”

Moreno arrived at UIW as an associate professor of Finance and Economics in 2008 before being promoted to his current role in 2020. Being a member of the Hispanic community and serving students in a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Moreno takes his mentorship role seriously. He wants his students to work hard and do their best.

“My only advice for my students every semester is that there is no class content difficult enough that it can’t be learned with hard work and a lot of practice,” said Moreno. “Also, the more knowledge you share with your peers, the more friends you will have and a better learning experience you will get.”

Throughout his 13 years on the corner of Broadway and Hildebrand, Moreno said, the reasons that brought him to UIW are still what makes it such a special place.

“What originally attracted me to UIW was the collegiality and kindness of all the people I knew during my first visit. And after all these years, I can reaffirm that it is the people that make UIW a great place. The UIW community (Sisters, students, teachers, staff) is the heart of the living Mission of this University.”

Raising Cane's on Austin Highway is hosting Cardinal fans for pep rallies all football season! Join us at Raising Cane’s on Austin Highway every Thursday before a home game for a chance to show off your football toss skills and play for a chance to win FREE Raising Cane’s for a year!

There are four more opportunities to join us for UIW Pep Rallies at Raising Cane's this season! 

• Thursday, Sept. 23
• Thursday, Oct. 14
• Thursday, Oct. 28
• Thursday, Nov. 4

We'll see you there, Cardinal fans!

The University community participated in a South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Blood Drive hosted by the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability, Campus Life and the Student Engagement Center on Sept. 14 and 15 in the SEC Ballroom. 

UIW, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center and Be the Match reached their donor goals: 118 units of blood were donated, impacting 354 lives. There were also 52 first time donors. Thank you to all who participated!  

Save the date for the next UIW Blood Drive on Dec. 7 and 8 on the UIW Broadway campus. For more information, please contact the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability at (210) 283-6423 or ccl@uiwtx.edu or Campus Engagement at campusengagement@uiwtx.edu.

Sophomore outside hitter Zoe Menendez was accepted into the University of the Incarnate Word's undergraduate nursing program. Menendez, a member of the Cardinal volleyball team, embodies the true meaning of being a student-athlete at UIW.

A native of Austin, Menendez earned academic district all four years of high school and was named to the Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll last spring, completing the semester with a 4.0 GPA.

Off the court, Menendez hopes to become a travel nurse and ultimately a pediatric nurse. This ambition comes from her love of kids and her desire to one day make a difference in their lives.

On the court for the Cardinals, Menendez has compiled 15 kills, nine blocks and 12 digs in two years. She has appeared in 18 sets while wearing the red and black.

"I'm proud to represent UIW volleyball as I continue my academic aspirations,” said Menendez. “UIW has been so supportive throughout this exciting process, and I am so grateful for all the support I've gotten from my professors and coaches.”

Head coach Samantha Dabbs-Thomas praised Menendez for her hard work in the classroom and on the court.

"I am extremely proud of Zoe,” said Dabbs-Thomas. “She is a great representation of what a student-athlete encompasses. She works hard on and off the court every single day. She will make a great nurse someday.”  

The Cardinals' season continues this weekend with a trip to Denver for the Mile High Invitational. The Cardinals will face the University of Iowa, the University of Denver and Air Force.

Join your UIW Alumni and Parent Association for a Cardinal-style tailgate on Saturday, Sept. 25, as UIW Football gets ready to take on McNeese State in our first Southland Conference game of the season!

Our tailgate will begin at 9 a.m. near the bronze Cardinal statue and the ticket kiosk (spots 26-28). Admission is only $5 per person and includes food and beverages (while supplies last)!

Purchase your UIW Alumni tailgate tickets here now!

Please note, game tickets are not included and can be purchased here. 

We're celebrating our Cardinal birthdays in a very special way! The UIW Alumni Association is holding a birthday raffle each month that will provide our alumni the opportunity to win a special birthday gift from us! If you are a UIW alumni and have a birthday in September, you can enter the raffle at the link below!

Happy Birthday to all our September Cardinals!

Enter here

Football Puts on a Show against PVAMU

The University of the Incarnate Word football team hosted Prairie View A&M University on Saturday evening for the home opener of the 2021 season. The Cardinals defeated the Panthers 40-9 in an exciting matchup.

Kelechi Anyalebechi led the team with 11 tackles and two interceptions, followed by Brandon Bowen's seven tackles. Kaleb Culp collected one sack. Cameron Ward completed 208 passing yards. Kevin Brown led the team in rushing yards with 51, followed by Marcus Cooper with 47. Taylor Grimes, CJ Hardy, Roger McCuller and Brown all tallied a touchdown in the matchup.

In the first quarter, the Cardinals rushed for just 42 yards, but outscored the Panthers 17-0. Ward completed a pass to Hardy for the first touchdown of night. John Scifers then kicked a 49-yard field goal. On the next scoring drive, Cooper rushed for 16 yards, scoring a TD to put the Cardinals ahead to start the second quarter.

UIW continued its offensive push in the second quarter. Brown started by rushing for eight yards into the end zone. Ward later completed a second pass to McCuller for nine yards and another touchdown, putting the Cardinals up (30-0) heading into the break.

The Cardinals started the second half strong, continuing to add points to the scoreboard. Ward completed a pass to Grimes for eight yards and another score before Scifer concluded the quarter with a 45-yard field goal, putting the Cardinals up 40-0 heading into the final frame of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Kevin Yeager entered the game and threw for nine yards. However, the Panthers were able to add nine points to the board. The game concluded with a 40-9 Cardinal win over the Panthers.

Anyalebechi Named SLC Defensive Player of the Week

Anyalebechi was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week. With UIW ahead 17-0 in the opening frame, he stepped in front of a pass from Jawon Pass and set UIW up for a brief scoring drive that pushed the lead to 23-0. On the ensuing Panthers’ drive, he picked off his second pass of the game at his own 10-yard line and returned it 41 yards. Of Anyalebechi’s 11 stops, a pair stopped PVAMU on third down.

The Cardinals travel to San Marcos, Texas, to face Texas State on Saturday. UIW and the Bobcats last faced on Oct. 1, 2015, when the Cardinals fell, 48-17.

Senior Bethany Clapp achieved a major milestone, reaching her 1,000th career kill as the University of the Incarnate Word Volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision at TCU on Tuesday evening. Clapp led the team with 15 total kills, bringing her career total to 1,010. This puts her ranked No. 10 in career kills in the UIW record book.

"[Coach] Sam has been telling me how close I was to 1,000 kills since the beginning of the season and it was a goal of mine to get it before conference," said Clapp. "It's super exciting to see my hard work and progress since first coming to UIW come together."

The Corpus Christi, Texas, native is having a great start to her senior season. She has had season highs of 23 kills against Abilene Christian University (Aug. 28) and 21 digs against UTSA (Sept. 7). So far, Clapp has tallied 137 kills on the season. Prior to the season, she was selected to the Southland Conference 2021 Preseason All-Conference first team.

"I am extremely proud of Bethany," said head coach Samantha Dabbs Thomas. "She was my first recruit, and for her to achieve this milestone is huge for her and this program."

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 make an appointment for a COVID-19 test on one of UIW's campuses. 

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)