New Montemorelos University President Calls Community to Live the Mission

José Luis Olmos outlines a vision of excellence, Christian service, and unity for the university community.

July 20, 2026 | Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico | Brenda Cerón, Montemorelos University News and Inter-American Division News Staff

In his first official address as president of Montemorelos University, José Luis Olmos challenged faculty, staff, and administrators to make the institution’s mission evident in every aspect of campus life, emphasizing that Christian education is lived out through daily service and intentional influence.

Speaking during a special program on July 15, Olmos reminded the university community that every employee—whether teaching in the classroom, conducting research, serving students, maintaining campus facilities, or providing security—plays a vital role in fulfilling the university’s mission.

“Education is about touching hearts. Education is about changing lives,” Olmos said, summarizing what he described as the fundamental purpose of a Christian educational institution.

He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve while acknowledging the responsibility entrusted to him before God, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the families who place their confidence in Montemorelos University to educate their children.

“It is God who leads His Church, and it is God who leads His institutions,” Olmos said, crediting the university’s growth throughout its history to divine guidance and the dedication of those who have helped build the institution over the years.

A Shared Mission

Throughout his address, Olmos stressed that fulfilling the university’s mission is a shared responsibility.

He noted that Montemorelos University’s educational model integrates academic excellence, research, service, and spiritual formation. Research, he said, is also an act of service because the gifts God gives should be used to respond more effectively to the needs of others.

The university’s influence, he added, depends not only on the academic preparation of its faculty and staff but also on their character, habits, principles, and Christian witness, which shape the lives of students every day.

Three Commitments

Olmos outlined three commitments he hopes will guide the university community moving forward.

The first is to pursue excellence in every task, honoring God while meeting the expectations of the families the university serves.

The second is to serve with love so that every interaction—with students, colleagues, or visitors—reflects the Christian character of the institution.

The third is to work in unity. Given the breadth of the university’s mission, Olmos said, trust, respect, and collaboration are essential because no one fulfills that mission alone.

He also pledged to listen to members of the university community, value the contributions of every employee, and ensure that institutional decisions remain aligned with the university’s mission and strategic objectives.

Before concluding his remarks, Olmos left the audience with a personal challenge.

“Is what I am doing today contributing to the mission of this university?” he asked. When the answer is uncertain, he encouraged faculty and staff to seek God’s guidance and renew the sense of purpose for which each person has been called to serve.

His address concluded with prayer, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Montemorelos University.

Olmos was elected president of Montemorelos University on May 5, during the institution’s mid-year board meetings held in Miami, Florida, United States. The board selected the longtime Seventh-day Adventist Church administrator to lead the 53-year-old institution for the next five years. Before his election, Olmos served as treasurer of the Southeast Mexican Union, a position he held since 2016 after nearly 34 years of denominational service.

The original version of this story was posted on the Montemorelos University news site.