Robert Santos: A Call to Listen and Lead

Robert Santos' Journey Highlights the Need for Programs That Reflect Local Voices and Economic Realities

Robert Santos, the first Latino Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, recently shared his powerful story with the San Antonio Report - a story rooted in the West Side of San Antonio and shaped by a lifelong commitment to equity, data integrity, and community representation. Read the full article here.

Santos' reflections come at a critical time, when mistrust in institutions is growing, particularly among Latino communities. His message is clear: to rebuild trust, we must first understand the lived experiences of the people we serve. Programs should not only be informed by data but also shaped by the voices and realities of the communities they intend to uplift.

For institutions like Our Lady of the Lake University, this message carries special weight. Serving a diverse student body, OLLU is committed to aligning academic programs with the needs of the local economy while ensuring they remain responsive to cultural and social contexts.

This means:

• Expanding bilingual education to meet the needs of a multilingual workforce.

• Investing in social work, public health, and other fields that directly serve local families.

• Creating pathways into careers in data science, civic engagement, and policy to strengthen representation.

Santos' journey is both an inspiration and a call to action: education must prepare students not just for jobs, but for leadership in building equitable, resilient communities.