Meet Five Hilltop Students Turning Passion Into Purpose
School of Health Sciences
Keren Ruano ‘26
Los Angeles, CA
Before Keren Ruano began college, she turned to Assistant Professor of Nursing Dr. Katy Allen to answer her questions about being a Nursing major at St. Edward’s University.
“I was honored to receive the Catherine W. Allen Memorial Nursing Endowed Scholarship, a fund she established in memory of her mother,” Ruano shared. “Receiving support from a scholarship connected to someone so dedicated to nursing has been incredibly meaningful to me. I am truly grateful for her encouragement and for the investment in my education and future as a nurse.”
Ruano’s time on the hilltop has been both challenging and rewarding. Through coursework and clinical experiences, Ruano has gained resilience and time-management skills and has learned to provide compassionate care.
Ruano’s first clinical experience in the program made her feel like she truly belonged at St. Edward’s. Surrounded by students who shared a similar passion for caring for others and encouraged by professors, she felt supported and understood.
“In that moment, I realized I was part of a community that challenges you, uplifts you and genuinely wants you to succeed,” Ruano said. “It confirmed that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Being part of this community has strengthened my confidence and reaffirmed my passion for becoming a nurse.”
After graduation, Ruano hopes to become a registered nurse at a hospital where she can provide compassionate, patient-centered care. She also sees herself continuing her education with a graduate degree, expanding her knowledge and opening the door to leadership and educational roles. Overall, Ruano hopes to make a difference in people’s lives while staying grounded in the values that originally drew her to nursing.
School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Samuel Muwanika ‘27
Jinja, Uganda
From a Holy Cross high school in Uganda, Samuel Muwanika was familiar with the Holy Cross mission. As he considered coming to the United States for college, he primarily looked at two Holy Cross schools: The University of Notre Dame and St. Edward’s University.
Muwanika knew several of his high school peers who attended the hilltop and thrived, so hearing about their experiences helped him feel that this would be a place where he could grow and succeed. With the university meeting his full cost of attendance for his college career, Muwanika was able to pursue his education in Austin without any constraints.
“During my first year at St. Edward’s, meeting other students who had attended Holy Cross high schools made me feel an immediate sense of connection. Even though I was thousands of miles away from home in Uganda, we shared a common background and values that made it easy to relate to each other,” Muwanika said. “The priests and brothers would often invite other Ugandan students and me to their house for dinner and those moments of community helped me feel supported and at home on the hilltop.”
As a Behavioral Neuroscience major, faculty members like Dr. Katherine Goldey and Dr. Jessica Boyette-Davis were also key components in Muwanika feeling welcomed. Despite his minimal lab experience, Dr. Goldey invited Muwanika into her lab, where he assisted with studies examining cortisol and EEG activity. Gaining this early exposure helped Muwanika prepare for his research at The Human & Animal Integrated Research (HAIR) Lab at the Yale School of Medicine.
Dr. Boyette Davis also helped guide his research by connecting him with off-campus opportunities, which enabled Muwanika to work with researchers at the Dell School of Medicine, examining the neurocircuitry of trauma and PTSD.
Muwanika’s five-year goal is to complete his Ph.D. after graduation and to work in the intersection of neuroscience, artificial intelligence and large-scale brain data.
“My goal is not only to contribute to that work but also to help drive it forward…,” he said, “helping build the next generation of tools that allow us to better understand brain function, mental health and human behavior.”
The Bill Munday School of Business
Hailee Alvarez ‘26
Manor, TX
From the moment Hailee Alvarez stepped foot on campus, she was drawn to the strong sense of community. As a commuter, finding her own community was challenging at first. But about two weeks into her first semester, she saw just how many friendships she was forming on campus. Many of those relationships were formed during her on-campus job as a Facility Coordinator for the Recreation and Wellness Center.
As a Business Administration major with a minor in theater arts, Alvarez has been applying her skills from both fields. Alvarez is currently the Programming and On-Air Intern for Waterloo Media’s radio station, 93.7 KLBJ-FM “Mornings with Matt and Bob,” where she assists with scheduling, scriptwriting, advertising placements and on-air research to support broadcasts.
In the next five years, Alvarez hopes to be in the film and television industry, either in front of the camera or behind the scenes and grow into a role that allows her to contribute to impactful storytelling in a creative way.
“My time on the Hilltop has really pushed me to grow both personally and professionally. I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone, taken on new responsibilities and met people who have challenged and inspired me,” Alvarez said. “The environment here encourages you to be involved, take initiative and pursue what you’re passionate about and that has made a lasting impact on me.”
School of Arts and Humanities
Mimi Crawford ‘28
Killleen, TX
Acting major and Film Studies minor Mimi Crawford felt she belonged on the hilltop during her debut as Ash in the Mary Moody Northern Theatre’s production of “In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot.” Before stepping foot on the stage, she operated the spotlight for MMNT’s “Nunsense: The Musical!” Crawford chose St. Edward’s for its academic offerings and felt it would be the best path to pursue a career in acting.
“That entire experience felt like a dream come true,” Crawford said. “Amazing company, crew and direction. It felt like so much of my hard work had been paying off.”
Crawford, who did not grow up in a performing arts space, was especially welcomed by her acting professors, including Anna Skidis, Sheila Gordon, Kathryn Eader and Susan Branch Towne. Crawford also credits her writing professor, Amy Adams, who has been a big support in her acting journey.
In the next five years, Crawford hopes to be working as an actress in Austin.
“I don’t need to be the most famous person in the world,” she said, “I just want to be able to make a living doing what I love and sharpening the acting tool. That, to me, is the ultimate form of success.”
School of Natural Sciences
Jacqueline Perales ‘27
Austin, TX
Jacqueline Perales was drawn to St. Edward’s for its commitment to supporting students as both scholars and leaders. It was particularly important to Perales, a first-generation Latina pursuing computer science, to learn in an environment where she could grow academically and be encouraged to take on leadership roles.
“At St. Edward’s, I found opportunities to do exactly that, through organizations like Women in Tech, mentorship programs and collaborative coursework,” Perales said. “The university’s supportive community has allowed me to develop both my technical skills and my confidence.”
Perales’ professors, Dr. Bilial Shebaro and Megan Avery, have been very influential in supporting her in the classroom, throughout career planning and advising her through Women in Tech. She credits her success coach, Austin Weaver, for keeping her motivated as she navigates college.
Before her current role as the Community Engagement Intern at the Pease Park Conservancy, Perales completed two internships at Accenture, both in technology consulting. In Summer 2026, Perales will join Salesforce as a Software Engineer Intern.
Down the line, Perales hopes to be in a software or AI engineer role, building sustainable and inclusive technology that considers all communities, especially those that are often underrepresented. Through her Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concentration, she wants to contribute to the development of systems that are ethical, protect user privacy and use computing resources responsibly to reduce environmental impact. She also hopes to give back by mentoring other Latinas interested in pursuing careers in tech and by supporting the communities that helped her grow.
