A long way from the high school graduate who thought she might become a dentist, award-winning social media influencer—and University of St. Thomas-Houston alumna—Steffani Aquila has “come home” to St. Thomas as the University’s new director of communications for the Marketing Communications division.
A proud Celt, she earned her B.A. in Education from UST in 2012 and her M.A. in Theological Studies from St. Mary’s Seminary in 2016.
Bringing Accomplishments & Expertise to the Role
Among her professional communications accomplishments, Aquila founded and manages an award-winning Instagram account where she inspires people to live joyful lives by engaging in the customs and traditions of the liturgical year. She is a national Catholic speaker and author of the upcoming book “Festive Faith.” Motivated by her faith, Aquila has 16 years of experience serving in Catholic institutions, including Houston’s Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, in various roles.
She is “thrilled” with her appointment and will direct all aspects of her new role, from media relations and online newsroom management to public relations executive communications and crisis management.
“I am most excited to build relationships with the internal and external community so that UST is no longer Houston’s hidden gem,” Aquila said.
In addition, Aquila is applying her marketing communications knowledge in the realms of print and digital media to enhance growth and deliver value to stakeholders.
“Another area of focus,” she added “would be establishing brand identity as it serves to attract a targeted audience, incite specific feelings, and convey a particular purpose and culture.”
Already, Aquila has developed UST’s first Executive Communication Strategy and said, “I plan to refine our messaging to engage key stakeholders, enhance UST’s local and global reputation, and support institutional goals by better integrating our communication channels.”
Alumna Aquila Recalls Her Life-Changing Student Experiences
As a transfer student at St. Thomas from UH, Aquila remembers making a surprising discovery.
She recalled, “For the first time in my life, I could not wait to go to class because I knew the conversations were going to be intriguing and challenging. UST crafted me into becoming an ongoing and growing intellectual: a thinker, a writer, and an investigator of life. It was also a deeply personal place; my teachers knew me by name and knew my goals.”
Affirming that UST taught her not what to think, but how to think, she cited how her UST experience progressed.
“I made enduring friendships and met my amazing husband. And to help my heart catch up to my mind, I would go and sit in the quiet stillness of the Chapel of St. Basil, where I spent many hours praying. My experience was truly and wholly one of faith and reason!”
There’s No Place Like Home
While her path diverged from the dental field she considered so long ago, Aquila's journey has brought her back to the heart of what she loves: contributing to her alma mater's growth and success. Just as a dentist works to improve smiles, Aquila is dedicated to inspiring smiles by shaping and enhancing UST’s story, ensuring that the University’s impact is felt far and wide.
Steffani Aquila has truly come home again.