University Leadership
OLLU's leadership is comprised of the President, the President's Cabinet and the Board of Trustees, which includes members of the Sisters of Divine Providence, the religious congregation that sponsors the university.
President and President's Cabinet
Abel Antonio Chávez, MBA, PhD
President
Dr. Abel Antonio Chávez is the 10th president of Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU).
He has energized the university by leading efforts to secure more than $31 million in donations and grants and raised its profile through extensive outreach with local, state and national leaders.
An integrative leader and learner, Dr. Chávez has served in multiple roles in and beyond higher education. A civil and environmental engineer, he is a [...]
George A. Williams, Jr, PhD
Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff
Dr. George Williams serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), where he is dedicated to advancing the university’s mission through strategic leadership and operational excellence. Dr. Williams is committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that supports both academic and student success.
In his role, Dr. Williams oversees key administrative functions [...]
Alan Silva, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Alan Silva serves as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU). With 25 years of experience in higher education, as a professor of English, associate dean, Dean of Arts and Sciences, and provost, Dr. Silva has a proven track record of providing students with excellent learning experiences, as well as research and scholarship opportunities in the Catholic intellectual and liberal arts traditions. [...]
Gloria Urrabazo, MA, MSW
Vice President for Mission and Ministry
Gloria Urrabazo serves as the Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Our Lady of the Lake University. She is dedicated to integrating the university’s mission across campus as part of the living legacy of the founders, the Congregation of Divine Providence (CDP). She works to provide opportunities for collaborative, strategic, and innovative engagement in living out the core values of the university. [...]
Jennifer Bendele, MEd
Vice President for Student Affairs
Jennifer Bendele serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU). With over 26 years of experience in higher education and 22 years at OLLU, she has shown to be a strong advocate for holistic student development connected to the university’s mission. As a proud first-generation college student, Mrs. Bendele believes every student’s journey is unique and takes pride in fostering an environment where students feel seen, heard, and supported in [...]
Jessica González Uhlig, EdD
Vice President for Institutional Enrollment
Dr. Jessica González Uhlig serves as Vice President for Institutional Enrollment at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) with 25 years of experience in student recruitment and retention, and mission integration in Catholic higher education institutions.
In her role, Dr. Uhlig leads the teams that make up our Admissions offices, Undergraduate and Graduate Recruitment and Retention, and [...]
Tom Norris, MA
Athletic Director
Tom Norris serves as Director of Athletics at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), where he is dedicated to serving nearly 400 student-athletes and 40 coaches and staff members. Tom brings 12 years of athletic administration experience to OLLU and most recently served as the Director of Athletics at Indiana University Kokomo before making San Antonio and OLLU home.
In his role as athletic director, Tom has oversight over all athletic programs, [...]
Victoria S. Pineda, EdD, CFRE
Vice President for Advancement
Dr. Victoria Pineda is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE,) with more than 20 years of professional development experience, fifteen of which have been dedicated to fundraising for higher education. She is responsible for more than 100 million dollars of individual donations to various universities and nonprofits.
Victoria has in-depth experience in strategic planning and stewardship, and she understands the giving climate within Texas and New Mexico as well as throughout the Western United States. [...]
Edith Cogdell, CPA, CGMA
Chief Financial Officer
Edie Cogdell serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), where she is committed to building the financial strength of the university and supporting the university’s mission to provide a quality education for our students.
In her role, Edie is responsible for the fiscal management of the university, including accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, accounts payable, payroll, financial aid, and [...]