Brent Fields to Lead Our Lady of the Lake

The San Antonio university board appoints Brent Fields as interim president effective October 26, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a historic university building facade, representing institutional leadership and academic stability. — Our Lady of the Lake University has named Brent Fields as interim president, tasking him with navigating financial restructuring and enrollment challenges. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Our Lady of the Lake University has appointed Brent Fields to serve as interim president starting October 26, 2026, following the resignation of Abel Chávez. Fields will lead the institution as it navigates declining enrollment and ongoing financial restructuring.

Why it matters

The leadership change arrives as the university works to address significant enrollment drops across multiple campuses and stabilize its long-term financial health. The board intends for the new interim president to prioritize institutional stability and student success during this transition.

Total student enrollment fell from 2,326 in fall 2022 to 1,550 in fall 2026, representing a 33% decline. During that period, online enrollment dropped 38%, while the Rio Grande Valley campus saw a 49% decrease.

The players

Brent Fields

He is the former chief executive officer of Morgan's Enterprises and an academic administrator with 30 years of executive leadership experience.

Abel Chávez

He served as the 10th president of Our Lady of the Lake University from July 2022 until his resignation in 2026.

Our Lady of the Lake University

This private Catholic university is headquartered in San Antonio and maintains campuses in Houston and the Rio Grande Valley.

The University of Texas at Austin

This public research university is where the incoming interim president earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy.

The details

Brent Fields, a former chief executive of Morgan's Enterprises, holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from The University of Texas at Austin. He will oversee university operations and program evaluations alongside the board as the institution manages the fallout from recent faculty and program cuts.

2015: Diane Melby began her tenure as university president.
July 15, 2022: Abel Chávez became the 10th president of the university.
Fall 2022: University enrollment totaled 2,326 students.
Spring 2025: University leadership announced program and faculty cuts.
October 26, 2026: Brent Fields assumes the role of interim president.

Market Landscape

The appointment of Brent Fields follows the 2025 implementation of faculty and program cuts at Our Lady of the Lake University. This shift marks a continuation of the institution's strategy to address enrollment instability through significant organizational restructuring.

Students and faculty can expect continued focus on program evaluations and potential changes to course offerings as the new leadership establishes priorities. These shifts may impact academic planning for the upcoming semesters as the university seeks financial sustainability.

The takeaway

Institutional stability remains the central goal for the university as it attempts to reverse significant enrollment losses. Prospective and current students should monitor official communication regarding future academic programming.