On Tuesday, February 7, the Chamber will honor a true San Antonio visionary, Dr. Louis Agnese, for the immeasurable impact he has had on our city. Having served as the President of the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) for more than 30 years, Lou has played a major role in reshaping the academic and economic landscape of San Antonio.
Hailing from Brooklyn, Dr. Agnese was on the fast track to success early on. The youngest of five children, Lou set a personal goal for himself to earn his doctorate degree before he turned 30. Lou accomplished this lofty goal at the age of 29, receiving a doctoral degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Counselor Education. He also became one of the youngest college presidents ever in the U.S. when he was hired by UIW.
His fresh spin on proven university practices turned UIW into the largest Catholic University in Texas. He made an unconventional decision to launch an aggressive advertising campaign to attract new students from varying demographics and targeted students who had not considered college as an option. This innovative shift away from the status quo helped UIW reverse declining enrollment and become what it is today.
During Agnese’s tenure as President, UIW’s student body grew to more than 10,000. The University now offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees to a diverse group of students who hail from more than 70 countries. Advertising UIW to students who were not considering college has had a significant impact on education in San Antonio, with a majority of UIW’s students being first-generation college graduates. UIW has become the fourth largest private University in Texas, and the U.S. News and World Report named it one of the best Western Regional Universities in 2015.
Join us as we honor and pay tribute to this San Antonio visionary on February 7. Register today!
