OLLU Hispanic History
1967
OLLU launched the nation’s first bilingual education training program for teachers.
1968
OLLU hosted the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Hearings on Mexican Americans in the Southwest, which addressed education, employment, economic security, and the administration of justice as they affected Mexican Americans in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico.
1969
State Senator Joe Bernal (MEd 1954) authored the first bilingual education act in Texas.
1988
Alumnus Col. Gil Coronado (BA 1975) persuaded Congress to extend National Hispanic Heritage Week to 30 days and is now known as the father of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Present
OLLU has one of the highest percentages of Hispanic student enrollment in the nation and is a top 90 producer of Hispanic graduates with master’s degrees.
OLLU continues to be a premiere Hispanic Serving Institution
OLLU has been ranked as a Top 100 Producer of Graduate Degrees among minorities by Diverse Issues in Higher Education Magazine.
Rankings for specific programs include:
- #1 - Doctorate in Psychology - Hispanic Graduates
- #1 - Doctorate in Leadership - Hispanic Graduates
- #8 - Master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders - Hispanic Graduates
- #11 - Master's in Social Work - Hispanic Graduates
- #14 - Master's in Management - Hispanic Graduates
- #35 - Master's in Psychology - Hispanic Graduates
Outstanding Achievements of OLLU Hispanic Alumni
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Yvonne Villegas-Aguilera
BA 2002
A Branch Chief at NASA, Yvonne supervised the engineers who designed the solid rocket boosters of Artemis 1, which orbited the moon in 2022. She helped design and assemble the rocket motor for Ares I-X, the first test flight of NASA's moon rocket in 2009.
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David Romo
BA 2013
As Vice President for News Production at Univision in Miami, David won a National Emmy Award in 2021-22 for "Outstanding News Program in Spanish." He previously won two Lone Star Emmy Awards for Univision 41 in San Antonio.
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VeroÌnica Salazar-Escobedo
BA 1965
VeroÌnica is a philanthropist who, with her husband RubeÌn Escobedo, donated $2.1 million to start the Salazar-Escobedo School of Mass Communication at OLLU.
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Richard Acosta
BBA 1973
A native of San Antonio's West Side, Richard and his family own 48 McDonald's restaurants in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and surrounding areas. They have more than 2,000 employees and a $30 million payroll. He serves on the OLLU Board of Trustees.
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Alma Rodriguez
BA 1975
She serves as Vice President of Medical Affairs at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and has been named among the "Best Doctors in America." Dr. Rodriguez is an internist and a Professor of Medicine.
Recent Hispanic Serving Institution/Minority Serving Institution
grants received by OLLU
$5 million USDA grant for Scholarships and Research
Program will help build the next generation of food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences (FANH) workforce.
$3 million Disrupting Academia grantÃÂ ÃÂ
Project will enhance the MA in Teaching and Master of Education degrees to include a Bilingual Special Education Certification.ÃÂ ÃÂ Funds will also help renovate the University Auditorium and Metz Hall.
$2.2 million Connecting Minority Communities grant
Grant received from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration will be used for technology upgrades and improvements.ÃÂ
$1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education
Supports the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program which provides encouragement and services to limited-income and first-generation college students.