St. Mary's University joins several San Antonio institutions of higher education in celebrating the city's tricentennial by hosting an event on each of our campuses.

"Private Higher Education in San Antonio: Past and Present," the title of the St. Mary's event, will include keynote lectures in a symposium format during the day, and will conclude with a cultural event and reception.

A collection 19th century paintings by Jean Louis Theodore Gentilz (1820-1906), who taught Art at St. Mary's College from 1864 to 1894, will also be on display for the months of September and October in celebration of the San Antonio Tricentennial.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

1 p.m., Welcome Remarks and Invocation

1:30 p.m., San Antonio's Private Universities: An Historical Overview

Keynote Speaker: Gilbert Hinojosa, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of the Incarnate Word

Marianist brothers in 1852 established the first school that became a deeply rooted university in San Antonio. The Incarnate Word Sisters, the Sister of Divine Providence followed with their own schools and later Trinity University relocated to San Antonio. Hinojosa will explore the rich history of San Antonio's private universities.

2:30 p.m., Liberal Arts, Faith and the Working World in San Antonio

Keynote Speaker: Edward Speed, (B.B.A. '70, M.A. '86), Chief Executive Officer, Retail Banking and Financial Services (Retired)

Panelists: Jane Ann Slater, CDP, Chancellor, Archdiocese of San Antonio and Former President, Our Lady of the Lake University; Lopita Nath, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of History, University of the Incarnate Word; Judith Norman, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Trinity University

San Antonio's private colleges and universities emerged from faith traditions and a commitment to the liberal arts. Speakers will explore the importance of the liberal arts and faith-inspired values in today's technological and specialized economy and workplaces.

4 p.m., Diversity and Private Higher Education: Responsiveness and Resistance

Keynote Speaker: Marybeth Gasman, Ph.D., Judy & Howard Berkowitz Professor of Education, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

Panelists: Arturo Madrid, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus and former T. Frank and Norine R. Murchison Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, Trinity University; Rick Sperling, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, St. Mary's University; Maribel Lárraga, Professor of Spanish, Our Lady of the Lake University

Institutions of higher education across the United States place a great deal of emphasis on the value of diversity within their campus settings, but exactly what diversity means is not always obvious. Speakers will explore the meaning of diversity in the context of San Antonio's private universities, including exploring the idea of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI).

5:30 p.m., Cultural Event

Featuring St. Mary's  University's Department of Music 

Professor of Music and Director of Bands Matthew Mireles, D.M.A., will present compositions rooted in San Antonio's musical culture and traditions.

6:15 p.m., Reception

To learn more about additional San Antonio Tricentennial (SA300) Higher Education events, visit www.sanantonio300.org/higher-education-events or follow the official SA300 Higher Education Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SA300HigherEducation.