Finding Common Ground for the Common Good / March 29, 2023

Wednesday, March 29, 2023
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Sarita Kenedy East Law Library, Law Alumni Room

• Nelson Wolff (B.B.A. ’66, J.D. ’66), University Distinguished Service Professor, St. Mary’s University, and former Bexar County Judge 
  

  Nelson Wolff (B.B.A. ’66, J.D. ’66) is a retired judge and Democratic politician from San Antonio.

  He represented Bexar County in the Texas House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973 and the Texas Senate from 1973 to 1975. He served on the San Antonio City Council from 1987 to 1991 and then as mayor of San Antonio from 1991 to 1995. He served as Bexar County judge from 2001 until 2022.

  This January, Wolff was appointed as University Distinguished Service Professor at St. Mary’s University.

• Ana Sandoval, Research Division, University Health, and former City of San Antonio District 7 Councilwoman

  Ana Sandoval is in a new role working on health equity issues with University Health System, as part of their research unit. Prior to joining University Health, she served three terms as San Antonio Councilwoman representing District 7, which includes St. Mary’s University and the West Side. She has worked on initiatives focusing on climate, affordable housing, and community health and equity. Sandoval holds graduate degrees in public health and environmental engineering.

• Joe Straus, Former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives 

  Joe Straus served as the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019. A Republican, he represented District 121, which comprises northeastern Bexar County, including part of San Antonio, Texas, and several surrounding communities. He was first elected to the House in 2005 and retired in 2019. Straus previously served on the Management Committee of the Bexar County Republican Party, as a precinct chairman, and on numerous campaign committees for federal, state, and local candidates.

• The Rev. David Garcia (B.A. ’71), Retired Priest, Archdiocese of San Antonio

  The Rev. David Garcia (B.A. ’71) is a retired priest from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, where he served for 44 years. During that time, Garcia was instrumental in having the Old Spanish Missions recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and oversaw the multimillion-dollar restoration of San Fernando Cathedral. He served as pastor for several parishes in San Antonio, including Immaculate Conception San Antonio, San Fernando Cathedral, St. Agnes San Antonio, and Mission Concepción. He also served as Senior Adviser for Clergy Outreach at Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian and relief agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.