Brian Smith, professor of Political Science, shared his expertise and thoughts with NBC News in regards to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claiming he'd like to abolish multiple federal agencies if he wins the presidency.
AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University has received a $50,000 grant from The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin (HBAA) to establish The HBAA Endowed Scholarship. The endowment will provide future financial support opportunities for Hispanic students who plan to take on their world through law and public service, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college.
Our new HBAA gift will support scholarships offering aid to Pre-Law Advising Program students who are in junior or senior class standing and demonstrate a need for financial assistance, with preference for first-generation scholars. HBAA members will also serve as mentors to our scholars to help them navigate their educational journey toward a legal profession.
“The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin Endowed Scholarship is part of our university’s larger strategic efforts to serve our first-generation Hispanic students by providing funded experiential learning opportunities that will position them for undergraduate and postgraduate success,” said St. Edward’s University President Montserrat Fuentes, Ph.D.
HBAA established a partnership with St. Edward’s in 2018 — the foundation awarded a $50,000 scholarship to the university, which directly benefited Hispanic pre-law students over a five-year period. Since then, 35 hilltoppers have received mentorship and financial assistance and 19 of the university’s HBAA scholars are currently attending law school, graduate school or are working full-time in related professional fields.
Mia Garza '24, HBAA Scholar; Jesse Butler '99, HBAA member and former university Trustee; university president Montserrat Fuentes; Anthony Arguijo, Chair of the HBAA Charitable Foundation; Adrianne Waddell, President of the HBAA; and Daniel Guzman '24, HBAA Scholar.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate and 8 graduate programs. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 20 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s remains in the list of top 10 Best Regional Universities in the West for the 4th consecutive year.
About The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin
The Hispanic Bar Association of Austin is a nonprofit professional organization for attorneys. Its mission is to enhance the Latinx community in Central Texas by fostering the engagement of the Hispanic-American legal professional community in civic, professional, social, educational, charitable, governmental, and non-partisan political issues.
Photos by Tomas Segura
St. Edward’s University has entered into an agreement with Huston-Tillotson University (HT) to provide on-campus housing for students starting this fall. Under this agreement, HT will be granted exclusive use of Teresa Hall on the St. Edward’s campus to house up to 150 HT students over the next three academic years.
“St. Edward’s is actively engaged in the conversation around college housing for students on dynamic and inclusive campuses. Our partnership with Huston-Tillotson aligns with our Holy Cross mission, and it strengthens our collaboration as like-minded institutions," said St. Edward’s President Montserrat Fuentes. “We are looking forward to welcoming Huston-Tillotson students to the St. Edward's University community as they reside with us and enjoy campus amenities and activities while enriching the Hilltopper experience for everyone at St. Edward's.”
In addition to housing and dining, HT students will have access to on-campus amenities such as recreation and wellness programs and health clinic services.
“We are most appreciative to St. Edward’s University for its willingness to provide additional housing for our growing student population. In addition to being cost-effective for our students, this partnership will allow them to interact with a broader network of their peers attending both institutions, thereby enriching their social experiences and allowing them to form diverse and unique connections,” said Huston-Tillotson University President and CEO Melva K. Wallace.
The HT partnership will serve as the cornerstone initiative of a year-round, non-affiliate housing program that St. Edward’s will operate going forward. The expansion of non-affiliate housing will enable the university to offer more on-campus housing opportunities for external organizations that may need housing for interns, conferences and other local programming to take advantage of the many opportunities throughout the year in the Austin region.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate and 8 graduate programs. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 20 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s remains in the list of top 10 Best Regional Universities in the West for the 4th consecutive year.
About Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University, the first institution of learning in Austin, Texas, has roots dating back to 1875. HT is an independent, church-related, historically black, four-year liberal arts institution located on a 23-acre tree-lined campus near downtown in East Austin. Huston-Tillotson University’s mission is to nurture a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. The University offers associate and master’s degrees in addition to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 19 areas of study.
AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University welcomes Alexis Stokes as the new dean of The Bill Munday School of Business.
Stokes, who assumed her position on July 17, 2023, recently served as the associate dean for Faculty and Research in the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University, where her portfolio included faculty policies and professional development, strategic planning, research initiatives, global engagement and diversity, equity and inclusion.
"Dean Stokes brings a wealth of experience supporting excellence in business education, alignment with our mission, and deep roots in the Austin community, all of which position her to lead The Bill Munday School of Business to the next level,” said Provost Marianne Ward-Peradoza. “The school is poised to forge new paths of innovation, shaping our ethical future business leaders and contributing positive societal impact."
In her new role, Stokes will lead our prestigious AACSB accredited business school, which consists of three departments: Accounting, Economics and Finance, Management and Marketing, Operations and Analytics.
“I look forward to working with our talented and dedicated community as we continue the traditions of academic excellence and values-based identity, support student success, expand external engagement, magnify our impact, and ensure MSB's sustainability and continuous improvement consistent with AACSB accreditation,” said Stokes. “This is an exciting time to be a Hilltopper, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve."
Stokes earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Political Science and Managerial Studies from Rice University and holds a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School, where she served as president and editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal on Legislation. Stokes has also served as a briefing attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas, and is a certified mediator and licensed to practice law in Texas.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate and 8 graduate programs. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 20 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s remains in the list of top 10 Best Regional Universities in the West for the 4th consecutive year.
St. Edward’s University President Montserrat Fuentes is this week’s featured guest on Austin Tech Connect, the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council. In this conversation, President Fuentes discusses the mission of St. Edward’s and how the hilltop plays a vital role in the future of Austin’s ever-evolving tech community.
Carsten Andresen, associate professor of Criminal Justice at St. Edward’s University, spoke with the Washington Blade about a Delaware bill that would ban the controversial ‘gay panic’ defense.
The San Antonio Express-News published a travel piece highlighting the beauty of the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve and the robust research conducted at the St. Edward’s Wild Basin Creative Research Center.
The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the United State during Pride Month in June. Carsten Andresen, associate professor of Criminal Justice at St. Edward’s University, discussed these growing safety concerns with KXAN.
Journalists with the Austin American Statesman recently went on strike demanding better wages as Austin’s cost of living continues to rise. Jena Heath, professor of Journalism and Digital Media at St. Edward’s University, shared her thoughts on this matter with KXAN.
AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University will launch our first of three exceptional nursing programs beginning Fall 2023 to meet the ongoing need for healthcare professionals across the country. Under the leadership of Dr. Donna Beuk, the Founding Director of Nursing, our new programs provide training and education that prepares nurses for careers offering compassionate and justice-oriented health care for all.
The launch of these new programs plays a vital role in the university’s health sciences initiative outlined in the Strategic Plan 2027. Graduates of our nursing programs will be able to address issues of disparity, justice and equity within the healthcare field which is a direct tie to our mission.
“Texas is the state with the second-most critical need for compassionate and bilingual nurses, and this need continues to grow. By answering the call, high-quality nursing programs like the ones we will offer at St. Edward’s are not only key to meeting this surging workforce demand, but necessary for developing practicing and aspiring nurses to have the educational foundation and mission-driven support they need to best serve their community,” said Montserrat Fuentes, president of St. Edward’s University.
The Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program offers flexibility for practicing nurses enrolled at St. Edward’s University through online, in-person and hybrid class options. Research-based projects, leadership training and courses led by experienced nursing professionals will help our RN to BSN students gain additional expertise, skills and perspectives needed to be an effective leader in healthcare. The Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Pre-Nursing Track and Bachelor of Science in Biology, Health Professions Track are designed for traditional undergraduate students who wish to pursue a nursing degree. These tracks are an excellent opportunity to complete many of the prerequisite studies that provide a pathway for students to earn their BS in Nursing.
“We aim to educate nurses with a passion to address health inequities and disparities across communities and to be a positive impact on the lives of those they care for,” said Beuk. “We will train nurses who will exhibit supportive leadership, advocate for their patients, themselves and other nursing colleagues by making their voices heard.”
In addition to launching its nursing programs, St. Edward's began offering a certificate program to address challenges of health equity for Latino and Latinx populations in Fall 2022. The Advanced Spanish for Health and Helping Professions Certificate — offered through the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for the School of Arts and Humanities — prepares students proficient in Spanish/English and second-language learners for health-related professions that require specific, technical vocabulary and cultural knowledge.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate and 8 graduate programs. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 20 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s remains in the list of top 10 Best Regional Universities in the West for the 4th consecutive year.
