Name: German José Lopez

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Major: Theology and Pastoral Ministry

Notable UD Memories/Achievements: “There’s a lot of competition here! Some that come to mind are the trip to Washington, D.C., with Crusaders for Life; Charity Week of October 2019; Groundhog in February 2020; and the surprise party my friends threw me for my 21st birthday just this past fall. However, my favorite UD memory is the trip to Spain I took during Thanksgiving break of my Rome semester. My favorite UD achievement was making the Dean’s List in the fall of my junior year. I was so happy, but I couldn’t have done it without support from my friends and professors. My friends inspired me to keep going and not give up, and my professors were always there to help me when I needed it.” 

Future Plans: Joining the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UD as the Transfer Counselor

This is the second in a series of 10 stories that will be published to highlight the achievements of some of our seniors in the Class of 2021.

The first letter German Lopez, BA ’21, received from a college came from the University of Dallas his junior year of high school. He hadn’t heard of the school before and didn’t give the letter much thought until he mentioned it to his friend and confirmation sponsor, Jonathan, who was a year older and in the midst of the college search process. Jonathan told Lopez that UD was his No. 1 school! After hearing this, Lopez gave the small school in Irving a little more attention.

“That’s when I decided it might be good to take this place seriously,” said Lopez. “I knew I wanted a Catholic school, preferably one that would be small because I was DONE with my huge public high school, and when I looked into UD, that’s exactly what I found. By the time Jonathan told me he was going to UD, I was already super interested.”

Visiting UD clinched the decision for Lopez: “I was just taken in by the friendliness of the people I met, and blown away by the possibilities that were offered in the Core and the Rome Program. I knew after that visit that UD offered me the best possible place to grow into the man that I wanted to be.”

While the adjustment from his large, secular public high school was a challenge initially, Lopez gradually became involved on campus, especially in Crusaders for Life and Spanish Club and, more recently, as a Student Government senator. Campus Ministry provided him with the opportunity to coordinate Spanish Mass on campus as well, which he was honored to be able to do. Finally, he has served in jobs on campus in both the Athletics Department and Undergraduate Admissions — the latter of which led, of course, to his post-graduation position.  

“My heart has always belonged to ministry — it’s definitely what I want to do at some point in my life,” said Lopez. “However, I really found a great work environment in the Admissions office this past year as an intern, and an opportunity opened up to stick around both here on campus and in the office. It was like the Holy Spirit telling me that there was still work to be done for me here at UD, and I’m super grateful and excited to get started!”

Lopez’s favorite class at UD was Moral Theology with Assistant Professor of Theology Irene Alexander, Ph.D.: “It really brought the faith into conversation with the world around us in a very interesting way,” he explained. He also deeply appreciated any classes with Assistant Professor of Theology Father Thomas Esposito, O. Cist., BA ’05.

“Father Thomas combines an incredible grasp of theological material with an accessible lecture style characterized by his trademark humor and a levity that made me believe that yes, it is possible to understand and comprehend this stuff!” laughed Lopez. “Theology is wonderful, but it can sometimes be daunting and a challenge to really wrap your head around, especially for someone whose previous background in the subject was not theology courses in school, but youth groups and retreats. Father Thomas and his classes helped me retain a fascination and love for the subject.” 

Lopez especially appreciates Father Thomas’ willingness to be a guest on the podcast that he put together during quarantine in spring 2020: “That was a ton of fun!”

“The University of Dallas is unlike any other university in the world,” concluded Lopez. “It’s hard to put into words exactly what I feel as I arrive at the end of my time as an undergraduate student, but one overwhelming sentiment in the emotional hodgepodge of my heart is that of gratitude. Gratitude for the education I’ve received, for the growth in my faith, for the friends I’ve gained and gratitude for the person I’ve become. When I stepped on campus as a 17-year-old freshman, I don’t think I understood the gift that God had given me. Now, though, I can confidently say that my four years here at UD have been just that: a gift. A precious, priceless gift that I will forever cherish.”