UIW News

The University of the Incarnate Word, along with AT&T, DFB Pharmaceuticals, Inc., H-E-B and Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte celebrated a milestone May 2 with the groundbreaking of the first private professional school of pharmacy in Texas. Feik School of Pharmacy

The new pharmacy school will help to alleviate the nation’s shortage of pharmacists, especially in the Lone Star State.

“We are so pleased to have the support of the community and such generous corporate sponsors as AT&T, DFB Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and H-E-B.,” said Founding Dean Dr. Arcelia Johnson-Fannin. “This is a big step in realizing a dream of increasing the number of South Texas pharmacists.”

The Feik School of Pharmacy, named in honor of John W. Feik, President and COO of DFB Pharmaceuticals, is a multimillion dollar five-story facility, which will include a 56,000 square foot two-level building sitting atop a three-story parking garage. Situated on the corner of Hildebrand and Devine, the location is just west of Incarnate Word High School.

“San Antonio has been a very good home to DPT and we’re proud to have built our business here,” said Feik. “In fact, DPT is just one part of the growing biomedical industry in San Antonio, and it’s important to support that growth with a strong educational infrastructure. I’m sure this wonderful new school of pharmacy will benefit this city and all of Texas for many years to come by supplying first-quality graduates who will have an outstanding education in the science of pharmacy. I’m very honored to be part of it. In addition, my wife Rita and I share a commitment to education for our children and family and are personally grateful to begin this legacy.”

The building will contain a pharmacy museum in the lobby, several computer laboratories, lounge areas, a refreshment center, classrooms and faculty offices. Each state-of-the art lecture space will accommodate 103 students in the classroom and has six breakout team rooms. The architects are committed to preserving 98 percent of the trees on the property.

“Through this new facility, UIW students will gain invaluable experience in pharmaceutical studies with access to state-of-the-art resources, the most up-to-date technology and an ideal learning environment,” said John Montford, AT&T senior vice president-Western Region Legislative and Regulatory Affairs. “We are pleased to continue a valued history of partnership with University of the Incarnate Word and their faculty, staff and students.”

UIW’s pharmacy school will be the only school of pharmacy at a private institution in the state and the first in the country to offer a Spanish-language certificate track. The University began admitting students to a rigorous two-year pre-pharmacy program in the fall of 2004. The pre-pharmacy program, designed to prepare students for admission to the professional Doctor of Pharmacy program, has limited enrollment each year. The school received approximately 400 highly qualified applications for admission to the first class. The admissions process was extremely competitive. From that group, 162 were invited to interview for the 75 seats available.

“H-E-B is proud of its long-standing partnership with the University of the Incarnate Word. On behalf of our customers and Partners, we are excited to provide a $1 million gift to the school of pharmacy. The school will fulfill an important need in communities across South Texas for highly-trained pharmacists,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B Group Vice President of Public Affairs and Diversity.

At the event, representatives from each of the corporate partners joined Dr. Louis Agnese, Jr., UIW president, Dr. Arcelia Johnson-Fannin and Senator Leticia Van de Putte in the ceremonial turning of the dirt signifying the start of the multimillion-dollar project. Construction is expected to be complete by Fall 2007.

"As a State Senator and practicing Pharmacist, I am delighted to have a college of pharmacy in San Antonio. The Feik School of Pharmacy is an absolute necessity to meet the growing health care needs of Texans. The University of Incarnate Word will continue to excel at providing educational opportunities for health care professionals and creating the opportunity for high-paying jobs that improve the Texas economy,” said Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at 210-829-6001.

UIW Swings into Action for Scholarships

Archived June 7, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word swings into action with their 29th Annual Swing-In golf tournament and auction party sponsored by Bud Light May 11 and 12.

The two-day event kicks-off at 6:30 p.m. on May 11 in the UIW Sky Room (4301 Broadway) with the “Surfin’ Safari” auction party. The oceanic-jungle themed party will feature a live and silent auction along with lavish tropical buffets, drinks and music by a live D.J. The jungle never looked this inviting. On May 12 the fun continues with a day on the course as participants tee off at The Republic Golf Club (4226 Southeast Military Drive). With its picturesque views and lush greens, this day of golf will be filled with camaraderie and competition.

Last year, the event raised over $139,000 for UIW student scholarships. Since its inception, sponsors of the Swing-In golf tournament and auction party have helped the University raise approximately $1 million.

Tickets to attend the auction are $50 per person and are available through May 10. Morning and afternoon rounds are still available for the golf tournament. For information on individual or group tournament sponsorships, the auction party or other sponsorship opportunities, please contact Monica Martinez, UIW director of development at (210)829-6072.

All proceeds from the auction and tournament will benefit student scholarships and athletics.

Burr Appointed to Fulbright Committee

Archived June 5, 2006

Dr. Pat LeMay Burr, Distinguished Chair in International Business at UIW, has been appointed to the Fulbright Program’s Senior Specialist Review Committee for recommendation of Fulbright Awards by professional and academic applicants in the U.S. She is one of 12 business faculty members in the U.S. who serve on the Review Committee, and is UIW's first appointee to this Committee.

Of Dr. Burr’s four Fulbright Awards, her most recent Senior Specialist Award was hosted by The Ton Duc Thang University, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where she worked with government officials on the country’s ten-year economic plan for poverty reduction. Burr Vietnam

The Fulbright Review Committee is assigned to work in sub-committees in order to hold timely conference calls. Review is primarily done on-line since applicants are required to apply on-line.

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. Government’s flagship exchange activity, was proposed in 1945 by then freshman Senator J. William Fulbright. Since its inception, more than 97,000 U.S. Fulbrighters have studied, taught or conducted research in 140 countries, and more than 159,000 foreign citizens have come to the U.S. under Fulbright auspices.

The Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Spring Commencement Set for May 13

Archived May 15, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word will celebrate Spring Commencement this Saturday, May 13. UIW will hold two graduation ceremonies, one at 11 a.m. and another at 5 p.m., in order to accommodate the graduating classes and their families.

At 9 a.m., the graduates of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, the Dreeben School of Education, the School of Nursing and Health Professions and the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering will start their celebration with a Baccalaureate Mass in the Fine Arts Auditorium. The mass will be followed by the Commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. in the Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center.

During the ceremony, several distinguished awards will be presented including the 2006 Alumna of Distinction for Service in Mission which will be presented to Sister Juanita Albracht, C.C.V.I. and an honorary doctorate degree that will be presented to UIW professor emerita in theatre Maureen Halligan. The morning commencement address will be given by UIW nursing professor Mary Elaine Jones.

The second set of commencement activities for the graduates of the H-E-B School of Business and Administration and the School of Interactive Media and Design begin at 3 p.m. with a Baccalaureate Mass in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Following the mass, in the Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center commencement exercises will begin at 5 p.m.

The ceremony will feature a commencement address by Jim Gorman. Both Gorman and his wife Tena will be presented with honorary doctorate degrees during the second graduation. Gorman, who currently works in investments, has served as a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force, worked for fourteen years on Wall Street and at one time owned his own drilling company. He has also served in several leadership positions for civic offices and local prominent businesses including Frost National Bank, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

Theatre Arts Presents On the Verge

Archived May 8, 2006

The UIW Department of Theatre Arts presents On the Verge: or the Geography of Learning by Eric Overmeyer. Meet Mary, Fanny, and Alexandra, three high-spirited lady explorers! Armed with parasols, pith helmets and punctilious quips, these dynamic Victorian ladies begin their comic trek in the uncharted tropics and end up smack dab in the middle of 1955.

Performances will be April 28 and 29 at 8 p.m., May 4 at 7 p.m., May 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. in the Coates Theatre. General admission tickets are $10, senior tickets are $9, other students $8, and groups (10 or more) are $6 each. Each UIW student, faculty and staff member is entitled to one admission free of charge.

Directed by Bryn Jameson, the production features set and sound design by Donald R. Fox, costume design by Margaret Mitchell, light design by UIW student Christina Harrison and choreography by Michael Zellers. The cast includes Merced Rodriguez as Mary, Tayrin Ifergan as Fanny, Laura Darnell as Alexandra and Michael Burger in eight different roles.

For more information of to reserve tickets, please call the UIW Theatre Arts Box Office at 210-829-3800.

Fashion Presents The Cutting Edge

Archived April 25, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word will hold their 2006 Cutting Edge Fashion Show, an official Fiesta event, at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 24 in the UIW Sky Room.

Eleven student designers will participate in this year’s event. Each designer produces a collection of between six to eight garments that they have illustrated, designed and constructed this season in a fashion capstone course. The collection is centered on an individual theme selected by the student and can range from a season, to a color or market segment.

The annual New York-style runway fashion event, which is celebrating its 26th anniversary, is entirely produced by students. From sound and lighting to staging and contracting professional models, UIW students experience every aspect of planning a professional runway show that is the event of the year for any fashion diva.

The event, which has grown in popularity each year, attracts hundreds of visitors to the UIW campus. Come witness history in the making as tomorrow’s fashion designers showcase their talents.

To schedule an interview with a show coordinator, please contact Tiffany Edmonds UIW Associate Director of PR at 829-6001.

Headwaters Coalition Symposium Planned for April 22

Archived April 24, 2006

San Antonians traveling on U.S. 281 north of downtown are accustomed to seeing the vast swath of urban forest that is the Olmos Basin and University of the Incarnate Word campus.

Thanks to a new initiative by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, that view will remain unchanged for generations to come.

The public is invited to join members of the CCVI Congregation and UIW Community at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 22 at the UIW International Conference Center for the announcement of a new initiative involving San Antonio’s natural resources: The Headwaters Coalition.

The goal of the Coalition is to set aside the remaining green space on the UIW campus and adjacent Incarnate Word Retirement Center as a conservation easement, thus preserving it and the natural resources it contains for future generations.

The parcel of land includes The Blue Hole, the springs from which the San Antonio River emanates, as well as hundreds of other natural springs and dozens of archeological sites formerly home to the Native Americans who were among San Antonio’s first residents.

The arrangement involves the formation of a new non-profit entity, The Headwaters Coalition, Inc., which will take receivership of the land from the Sisters of Charity, and manage its preservation and eventual restoration.

“For me, this represents a real shift in our approach to the land we’ve lived on for 100 years,” said Sr. Helena Monahan, Congregational Coordinator of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. “This land is a very valuable thing, in other than economic terms.”

Monahan said the project’s inception was more than three years ago, when the congregation began to better understand the community’s environmental needs.

“It’s a project that has engaged members of the congregation in a way they haven’t been in years,” she added.

Registration for the free April 22 symposium will begin at 8 a.m. that day. The event will include a student-produced video presentation on the Coalition, breakout sessions on the educational opportunities the project offers and history of the land, and information on how the public may contribute to the project. Guided walking tours of the land will follow the presentations, at approximately 12:30 p.m.

The event is planned in conjunction with San Antonio’s Earth Day celebrations.

The UIW International Conference Center is located at 847 E. Hildebrand, at the intersection of Hildebrand and U.S. 281. For more information, please contact Troy Knickerbocker at 210-805-5818, or troy@uiw.edu.

Economics Professor Honored

Archived April 20, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word honored Dr. Michael McGuire, UIW professor of economics, with the 2006 CCVI Spirit Award Wednesday during a special service held at 3 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel as part of the University’s Incarnate Word Day celebration.

The CCVI Spirit Award is given annually to one member of the UIW community (staff, faculty or administration) whose life embodies the spirit of service of the founding sisters. The recipient is selected by a committee of faculty and administrators, including previous CCVI winners.

This year’s honoree has been teaching at UIW since 1987 and has taught at the collegiate level for 30 years. McGuire has received numerous accolades and grants over the years including being awarded a Title V International Travel and Research Grant to work in Mexico. Since the summer of 1991 he has been a visiting professor of economics for the Master of Business Administration program (MBA) for the Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA), San Salvador, El Salvador.

McGuire has published several articles on the subject of Latin American taxation for implementing a basic needs approach to development and this year a book on the subject entitled Decentralization for Satisfying Basic Needs: An Economic Guide for Policymakers. McGuire also writes a newspaper column entitled “Macro Para Ti” for the Mexico City Newspaper, Zona Norte. The column provides popular economic analysis of current issues.

As the 2006 CCVI Spirit Award recipient, McGuire received a sculpture that symbolizes the award, as well as, a $500 donation made in his honor to a ministry of the Congregation chosen by him.

Wells Fargo Speaker Series Continues

Archived April 5, 2006

The H-E-B School of Business & Administration presents: the Wells Fargo Speaker Series “The demographic trends in Texas over the next 25 years and the impact those trends will have on the economy of the State and our City.”

The event will be held on April 4 from 1:20 – 2:35 p.m. in the Ann Everett Lecture Hall, Nursing Building

Guest speakers include Steve Murdock, Lutcher Brown Distinguished Chair in Demography and Organizational Studies, UTSA; Raul P. Lomeli-Azoubel, Director of Diverse Growth Segments, Wells Fargo Central Texas; and Lionel Sosa, Partner, Sosa Consultation and Design. Sosa was named “One of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America” by Time Magazine in 2005.

For more information on UIW, call the university’s Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

UIW Ready to Roast, Boast and Toast

Archived March 27, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word in celebration of 125 years of service will host a 125th Anniversary Roast, Boast and Toast Gala at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 25 in the UIW Sky Room.

The celebratory event will “roast” the 20th anniversary of University president Dr. Louis Agnese, Jr., “boast” the 10th anniversary of the University, previously known as Incarnate Word College (the University was renamed the University of the Incarnate Word in 1996,) and “toast” the 125th anniversary of the founding of the school by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

Entertainment will be provided by the Sentimental Journey Orchestra under the direction of Ted Conerly and dinner will be catered by the RK Group.

Tables for the event are priced at $10,000, $7500 and $3000. Individual tickets are $300 each. All proceeds from the evening will support the UIW endowment.

For ticket information on the Roast, Boast and Toast Gala call 829-6012.

For more information on UIW, call the university’s Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

International Symposium Planned

Archived March 27, 2006

As part of the year-long 125th Anniversary celebration, The University of the Incarnate Word Department of International Programs will hold an international academic symposium entitled International Partners: Sharing Our Stories from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 23 and 24 at the UIW Grossman International Conference Center.

The symposium will feature presentations given by University presidents from UIW’s sister schools across the world, as well as, a number of international dignitaries.

All are invited to participate in this two-day educational event. The symposium is free and open to the public. For more information, call 805-5838.

History Wall Unveiled

Archived March 8, 2006

In celebration of the University of the Incarnate Word’s 125th Anniversary, a new Heritage Wall Exhibit has been unveiled.

The new exhibit, located on the main floor of the Administration Building, features panels depicting each era of the University’s 125-year history.

Visitors to the exhibit's unveiling were also be treated to the official grand opening of the McCreless Heritage Room. The room located adjacent to the wall exhibit features treasures of Christian Art from the 13th, 16th and 19th centuries. The timeless treasures displayed include art pieces, manuscripts, a chalice, a ciborium and a reliquary.

Both the Heritage Room and wall exhibit were made possible through the generous support and dedication of Dr. Glen McCreless and his wife Andrea.

For more information, call the university’s Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

Theatre Arts Presents Tomfoolery

Archived March 6, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word Department of Theatre Arts presents Tomfoolery, a musical revue of satirical songs by Tom Lehrer, as the third production of the 2005-2006 theatre season.

Performances are scheduled for Feb. 24-25 and March 3-4 at 8 p.m., with a March 2 performance scheduled for 7 p.m. in UIW’s Coates Theatre.

General admission tickets are $10, senior admission is $9, and students’ tickets $8. Group rates are available, and UIW community members each receive one ticket free of charge. Call the Theatre Box Office at 210-829-3800 for reservations.

Lehrer’s musical is full of political incorrectness, horrible songs and naughty innuendos. The UIW theatre department warns visitors that if they are unwilling to laugh at themselves and others, they should not attend this performance, as Tomfoolery is an equal opportunity offender.

For more information contact the UIW Department of Theatre Arts at (210) 829-3800.

Annual Forum Focuses on Legacy of Mission

Archived March 6, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word Under-Represented Groups and Education (U.R.G.E.) will host its annual forum from 9 a.m. -7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2 in the Mabee Library (4301 Broadway) on the UIW campus.

This year’s theme “Legacy of a Global Mission” allows for a wide range of topics to be discussed affecting the world today. Some of the topics that will be discussed throughout the day include the status of women in Islam, education of women in Palestine, the study of multi-cultural and multi-national urban issues, an exploration of the shared experience of the incarcerated through feature film and a panel presentation with the discussion of the day’s themes featuring Cary Clack of the San Antonio Express News.

All are invited to participate in this day-long educational event. The forum is free and open to the public. For more information contact Francis Musa Boakari, Ph.D., UIW professor Dreeben School of Education, at (210) 805-5885.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001 or visit the conference web site.

Community Mourns Loss of Sr. Ann Finn, CCVI

Archived February 28, 2006

Sister Ann Finn, CCVI, passed into eternal life on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Finn, who would have Sr. Ann Finn celebrated her Golden Jubilee this year, joined the University of the Incarnate Word community in 1962.

An individual dedicated to serving young people, she worked as Director of Housekeeping for the university for a number of years before moving into her most recent position as Sacristan for Our Lady’s Chapel.

Recently, the University honored Finn by naming its new coffee shop in the Mabee Library, Finnegan’s, after her for her years of service and dedication.

Watch a video clip from KENS-TV 5 of the coffee shop dedication.

A rosary was held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16 on the UIW campus in Our Lady’s Chapel. The funeral services took place the next morning with a viewing at 9 a.m., a celebration of life service at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. mass of the Resurrection. Immediately following the services, Finn was laid to rest in the Convent Cemetery.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

Master of Science in Accounting Offered

Archived February 22, 2006

Today, the field of accounting is on the rise. Not only is the once male dominated field becoming more equal among the genders, it is also becoming one of the fastest growing professions offering individuals exciting opportunities for building a great career.

Because of the field’s rapid growth, the University of the Incarnate Word has created a new Master of Science Accounting program to help serve the high demand.

The master’s program, which begins this spring, will provide qualified students with the professional competencies required for entrance in to the accounting profession. The candidates will also earn the credentials required by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to sit for the national Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing examination.

The Master of Accounting degree is a 30 semester hour program that offers three routes for admission, including the 3/2 program that allows undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting in only five years.

Majoring in accounting can lead to a variety of career paths in different industries. Some of the occupations that students can look forward to include becoming an accountant, corporate controller, internal auditor, cost account, tax accountant, budget accountant, IRS agent, government auditor, nonprofit controller, government accountant, credit manager, and financial institution officer.

For more information, call the university’s Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

Pharmacy Takes Step Toward Accreditation

Archived February 22, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy is celebrating a milestone this month. The Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program took the first major step toward receiving accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) by earning pre-candidate status.

Pre-candidate status is the first in a three-step process for a school to receive accreditation. This step denotes a developmental program which is expected to mature in accordance with stated plans within a defined time period. Pre-candidate status is awarded to a new College or School of Pharmacy that has not yet enrolled students in the professional program and authorizes the school to admit its first class.

“We are very excited that the University has made it to this first essential step,” said Arcelia Johnson-Fannin, Pharm.D., R.Ph., UIW Founding Dean of the Feik School of Pharmacy. Johnson-Fannin stressed that the process to get to this stage in the accreditation was accomplished by the hard work of the Pharmacy school faculty and staff, the University, the city of San Antonio, and its surrounding communities. The Alamo community has come together to ensure that the dream of increasing the number of South Texas pharmacists occurs.

The next step for the pharmacy program - candidate status, is projected to be achieved by the summer of 2007. Full accreditation should be awarded to the University in 2010 after the first class graduates.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

U.S. Ambassador Creagan Joins UIW Community

Archived February 15, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences is proud to announce that Ambassador James F. Creagan has joined the UIW community as the Amy Freeman Lee Chair in Arts and Humanities, teaching Political Science.

Ambassador Creagan was nominated by President Clinton to be the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras in March of 1996 and was sworn in on July 29 of the same year. He arrived in Tegucigalpa in August of 1996, and presented his credentials to the Government of Honduras one month from the date he was sworn in.

The Amy Freeman Lee Chair in Arts and Humanities is a teaching position bestowed on an individual that has a proven dedication to the field of liberal arts and an interest in interdisciplinary and multicultural studies. Prior to joining the UIW family, Ambassador Creagan served as the Kellogg Professor at his alma mater, Notre Dame University.

A career diplomat with over thirty years of experience, Ambassador Creagan served as the Deputy Ambassador at the American Embassy to Italy from 1993-1996 and has also served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy to the Holy See in the late 1980s. He was the U.S. Consul General in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1991/1992 and the Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia from 1986-1988. Other assignments included U.S. Consul in Naples, Italy and the Political Counselor of the American Embassy in Lisbon, as well as political/labor officer in U.S. Embassies in Lima, Mexico City, San Salvador and Rome.

Ambassador Creagan was awarded the highest honor of the Republic of Honduras for his efforts and those of the U.S. Government to save lives and rebuild the country. He was declared an honorary Honduran citizen. The Ambassador received, as well the Caritas Christi Award presented by Cardinal Law of Boston for Humanitarian Service. The Holy See awarded him with the title of Cavalier of the Order of St. Gregory for his special diplomatic service in U.S./Vatican relations.

He has also been the recipient of a number of governmental awards including the Department of State Superior Honor Award for Distinguished Service and the Deputy Chief of Mission Award for Top Management and Policy Execution.

Born in Elyria, Ohio, in 1940, he holds a Bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame University and doctorate degree from the University of Virginia. Ambassador Creagan has taught at several influential universities across the nation and also at UIW’s sister school in Rome, Italy, John Cabot University where he served as president. He speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Italian fluently.

While at UIW, Ambassador Creagan will teach one undergraduate course in Political Science during the spring 2006, fall 2006, and spring 2007 semesters. He will also teach a graduate class in the Political Science doctoral program during the fall 2006 and spring 2007 semesters. Besides his teaching duties, the Ambassador will participate as a faculty resource for the UIW core curriculum; and deliver a public lecture each semester.

Ambassador Creagan is married to Gwyn Jonsson Creagan of Texas. They have two sons and a daughter-in-law.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

Dedication of Science Complex Set for Jan. 27

Archived January 30, 2006

The University of the Incarnate Word will celebrate 125 years of service and kick-off a year of festivities with a spectacular grand opening for the new Math, Science and Engineering Complex at 2 p.m. on Jan. 27.

The grand opening will allow visitors to tour the new Math, Science, and Engineering (MSE) Complex which includes two buildings: the newly constructed 5-story AT&T Science Center and the renovated Bonilla Science Hall. Built in 1950, this is the first renovation to the original Science Hall. The new MSE buildings were constructed & renovated with $14 million in contributions.

The AT&T Science Center has two floors of chemistry labs, two floors of biology labs, and a ground floor available to multiple disciplines. The first-class labs are outfitted with entirely new, state-of-the-art equipment. This building also has several unique spaces:

Extensive research labs for faculty
A research center for water quality
Student lounge areas on every floor

The Bonilla Science Hall will house lab-classrooms for environmental science and physics, as well as an entire floor for math and several brand new facilities:

Lab spaces for engineering courses in material strength, fluids, and electric circuits
A kitchen lab for nutrition courses
A meteorology center with a forecasting computer lab, and a full broadcast lab
The renovated auditorium to hold 96 people, with network connections at every seat.

The grand opening is open to the public and features tours and demonstrations by university students and faculty. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.

Rodriguez Named Chair of Banking and Finance

Archived January 23, 2006

Incarnate Word has announced that Raul Rodriguez, Chairman of RMI, an investment and trade consulting firm in Mexico, with projects in Latin America, China, the US and Europe, has been named the UIW Tom Benson Chair of Banking and Finance.

Rodriguez served as Managing Director and CEO of the North American Development Bank (NADBank) until October 2005. The bank is capitalized and governed equally by the United States and Mexico for the purpose of financing infrastructure and providing technical assistance and training for community development along the U.S. - Mexico border.

The Endowed Professorial Chair in Banking and Finance is a teaching position bestowed on an outstanding member in the field of banking and finance. Prior to joining the NADBank, he was Executive Director of the Mexican Foreign Trade Bank; Mexico’s Trade Commissioner in Canada during the NAFTA negotiation; and Secretary of Economic Development for the Mexican border State of Tamaulipas. He has also been a business consultant and the chairman of his market research and information systems firm. He was an Assistant Professor and Research Fellow at Monterrey Tech. in Monterrey, Mexico, where he taught courses on Industrial Management, Systems Engineering, Operations Research and Project Appraisal, and conducted research on simulation models applied to costs, inventory and production problems. He also taught a Seminar on Strategic Planning at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, in Monterrey.
He has extensive international experience, and has participated as a speaker and lecturer in more than 30 countries on business, financial, managerial and economic development topics. He has authored and co-authored technical and business essays in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and the U.K.

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Rodriguez has developed a broad range of international relationships with business and government leaders. He has been involved in funding and project development of basic infrastructure, employment, environmental, health, and education programs. He excels in building public - private links and partnerships.

He participates actively in community affairs as Chairman of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, Vice President of the San Antonio - Mexico Friendship Council, member of the boards of the Free Trade Alliance, the Mexican Business Association, and the San Antonio Public Library Foundation, member of the Advisory Council of the Harte Research Institute, and member of the Philosophical Society of Texas, among others. He is also a founding member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations.

LatinoLeaders magazine portrayed him as “bicultural and bi-national, equally at home in Mexico and the United States” (“The Borderless Mentality of Raul Rodriguez”; August - September 2004). He was described in Poder magazine as “the one person, both in Mexico and the U.S., that best understands the needs” of the border region. “He has been praised not only for his management of the bank, but also for his efforts to form bonds between both nations” (“Banking the Border”; June 2005). The San Antonio Express News adds: “Rodriguez has led NADBank with a formal-but-friendly management style that has drawn international notice. He leaves NADBank only because managing directorships rotate every five years between U.S. and Mexican citizens”. During his tenure, “the bank started more projects for the border zone than any other institution ever has” (David Hendricks; “Rodriguez has done great work with NADBank”; September 21, 2005).

Born in Tampico, Mexico, in 1955, he holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Monterrey Tech. and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he graduated with the Littauer Fellow Academic Award. He has pursued other studies in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Austria.

Past Tom Benson Chair holders include research economist Ray Spudeck, banker Tom C. Frost, and professor Richard Fosberg, Ph.D.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.