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FALL 2010
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2010SPORTSCALENDAR
UH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Games in bold are home games
10/09 vs. Mississippi State
10/16 at Rice
10/23 at SMU
UH VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
All home games
10/01 vs. UCF
10/09 vs. Southern Miss
10/10 vs. Southern Miss
10/30 at Memphis
10/22 vs. Tulsa
11/05 vs. UCF
10/23 vs. SMU
11/13 vs. Tulsa (Homecoming)
11/20 at Southern Miss
11/27 at Texas Tech
For more UH events:
www.uh.edu/calendar
11/05 vs. UAB
11/07 vs. Memphis
11/12 vs. East Carolina
11/14 vs. Marshall
Building a Tier One University
Tell us what you think: www.uh.edu/magazine
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• Nationally Ranked Programs
• Award-Winning Faculty
• Community Engagement
B u i l d i n g B l o c k s : U H Pe o p l e , P r o g r a m s Pa v e t h e Pa t h t o T i e r O n e
p. 8
M agazine
The Univer sity
of Houston
Message from the President
Fall 2010, Vol. 4, No. 4
Publishers
Michael Rierson
Vice President for University Advancement
Karen Clarke
Associate Vice President for University Relations
The start of the academic year is undoubtedly one of the most
exciting times on the university’s calendar.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY
MARKETING & BRANDING
Pamela Roth Merritt (’91)
This year we have enjoyed the sight of a new freshman class —
many of them newly minted TierOne Scholars — joining returning
students in record numbers. With the opening of Cougar Village
freshman housing and the newly refurbished Moody Towers
dining facility, the university has taken the next bold steps in its
transformation into more of a residential campus.
Assistant Director of Marketing
Liz Stephens
Managing Editor
Jo Anne Davis-Jones (’79)
The fall semester also brings with it the anticipation of the
biennial Texas Legislature. Economic uncertainties, a projected
state revenue shortfall, and the redistricting that follows each
national census will be foremost in the minds of our state
legislators. It will be our job to keep funding for higher education
and Tier One as prominent as possible on their list of priorities.
graphic designER
Watson Riddle
Contributing Writers
Melissa Carroll
Mike Emery
Eric Gerber (’72, M.A. ’78)
Kelli Gifford
Oscar Gutiérrez (’67)
Michelle Klump
Shawn Lindsey
Lisa K. Merkl (’92, M.A. ’97)
Marisa Ramirez (’00)
Emily Smart
Laura Tolley
And the fall semester also brings with it a time for taking stock of
how we ended the fiscal year, and the tremendous progress we
have made on our journey to attain Tier One national recognition.
In this issue of UH Magazine, we highlight many of the
successes that are bringing us closer to our Tier One goal,
among them our expanding roster of our distinguished faculty
who have earned nationally recognized awards that qualify
the university for Tier One status. The list, I think you will
agree, is impressive indeed.
Photographer
Thomas Campbell
Chancellor and President
Renu Khator
I admire each and every member of our faculty and staff for
their support and their commitment to Tier One and everything
that designation encompasses, from recruiting, retaining and
graduating the best and brightest students, to conducting
exceptional world-class research and maintaining excellence
in teaching.
University of Houston System
Board of Regents
Carroll Robertson Ray (J.D. ’02), Chairman
Nelda Blair (J.D. ’82), Vice Chairman
Mica Mosbacher, Secretary
Nandita V. Berry (J.D. ’95)
Andrew Cobos
Tilman J. Fertitta
Jarvis V. Hollingsworth (J.D. ’93)
Jacob Monty (J.D. ’93)
Welcome W. Wilson, Sr. (’49)
Jim P. Wise (’66)
Send address and e-mail updates to:
University of Houston
Donor and Alumni Records
306 McElhinney Hall
Houston, Texas 77204-5035
www.uh.edu/magazine
Send feedback to: magazine@uh.edu
The University of Houston Magazine is published by
the UH Division of University Advancement.
The New Harmony Grotto, overlooking a water garden on the east side of the Gerald D. Hines College
of Architecture, follows the design of Austrian architect Fredrick Kiesler. Faculty and students are
using contemporary technology to redesign and construct the grotto, first commissioned by the late
To our alumni, donors and friends, you have our gratitude for
your investment in our Tier One aspirations. You have come
through with strong and steady support. The University of
Houston posted a 51 percent gain in private support during the
last two years — the greatest increase for any Texas university.
This is an unequivocal endorsement from the private, corporate
and philanthropic sectors that reaffirms our conviction that the
University of Houston is destined to be, and will be, the state’s
next Tier One university.
Jane Blaffer Owen, a longtime UH arts patron and philanthropist. The grotto is just one of many
examples of fine art and architecture that can be found across the UH campus.
Printed on recycled paper.
The University of Houston is an EEO/AA institution.
144646 | 09. 2010 | 75,000
Copyright © 2010 by the University of Houston.
UH System Chancellor and UH President
Inside
Message from the Regents
I’m proud to see that this issue of The University of
Houston Magazine celebrates the continuing progress
UH is making toward Tier One status. In particular,
the university’s nationally recognized, award-winning
faculty and programs are being saluted, along with
such fundamental UH strengths as our diversity and
community engagement.
8 Building Blocks
UH People, Programs Paving the
Path to Tier One.
12 Major Initiatives
Each of those elements plays a vital role in helping UH
achieve the levels of excellence and success that are
required of a Tier One institution.
Three Programs Capitalize on
UH’s Strengths.
While it’s certainly gratifying to acknowledge the
outstanding accomplishments of our stellar researchers
and teachers and their nationally ranked programs, I
also am reminded of the poet John Donne’s observation
that “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.” It’s
important to note that whatever individual successes
may be in the spotlight — and UH is indeed fortunate
to have many — they are part of an overall effort. Such
seemingly singular achievements, we should remember,
are almost always the result of considerable collegial
support, guidance and inspiration that may not be
apparent but is no less valuable or indispensable.
“Just as it’s been said
that it takes a village to raise a
child, I would say it takes a
campus community to build a
Tier One university.”
14 Faculty With Distinction
Award-winning Professors Help Drive
Tier One Efforts.
18 Material Advantages
Nationally Recognized Research
Puts UH in the Spotlight.
Just as it’s been said that it takes a village to raise a
child, I would say it takes a campus community to build
a Tier One university.
20 UH Welcomes
Students and Scholars
From All Backgrounds
And our campus community has been doing just that.
As Campus Changes, Diversity
Remains a Focus.
Interestingly, when you read UH’s Mission Statement,
you may notice that nowhere in this official declaration
of the university’s purpose, responsibilities and
aspirations will you actually find the phrase “Tier One.”
That may seem surprising because this institution’s
commitment to achieving Tier One status is now
such a fundamental and clearly recognized goal. Of
course, precisely defining “Tier One” always presents
a challenge since there are different definitions and
designations involved. But I believe we all agree that our
Tier One objectives are fully in keeping with — to use
the words of the Mission Statement — becoming “the
nation’s premier public university in an urban setting”
and applying our “expertise to the challenges facing the
local, state, national and international communities.”
Achieving Tier One may not be mentioned in the
Mission Statement, but it is certainly our mission.
In e very issue
8
Cover illustration | Marcus Long
1 Message from the President
2 Message from the Regents
4 Making an Impact
7 Play-by-Play
22 Community Connections
24 Faculty Honors
26 Giving Matters
12
18
26
Michele (Mica) McCutchen Mosbacher
Secretary, UH System Board of Regents
2 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
www.uh.edu/magazine
8
Making An Impact
Making An Impact
Making Book: “Lonesome Dove”
Drafts on Display at UH
Exhibit Rounds up Larry McMurtry Papers on 25th Anniversary.
New HoustonPBS Studio Helps Don Van Nieuwenhuise
Shine in National Spotlight.
by Laura Tolley
by Marisa Ramirez (’00)
From Big Chief tablet papers lined with suggested
character names to typewritten manuscripts with
handwritten remarks, the Larry McMurtry Papers housed
in the University of Houston Libraries Special Collections
provides a window into the author’s mind as he was
writing “Lonesome Dove.”
With the celebration this year
of the 25th anniversary of the
publishing of the epic story of
two ex-Texas Rangers who
drive cattle from Texas to
Montana, it’s an opportune
time to study the material and
learn more about McMurtry’s
writing process, said Julie
Grob, digital projects and
instruction librarian for
Special Collections.
Reprinted with permission from UH Libraries Special Collections
News Media Pump Professor
For His Oil Spill Expertise
“We have typescripts for
most of his major works
through 1987,” Grob said.
“We have a lot of things
that were different side
projects, works of nonfiction,
screenplays for movies
and TV. We have a
little correspondence
and photographs.”
Fans of the Pulitzer Prizewinning novel, which was
brought to the small screen
in 1989 in a popular television mini-series of the same name, will be particularly interested in the 50-page synopsis McMurtry shopped to various publishers.
4 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
“The west was virgin but for an instant, and in making the
frontier safe for settlement, they also made it not a frontier,
and thus doomed the way of life for which they were
supremely fitted and which they dearly loved,” McMurtry
wrote in his description of the characters and story of
“Lonesome Dove.”
After an explosion and fire on the Macondo
offshore drilling rig killed 11 people and
caused a massive oil spill, the world watched
and waited as BP tried to cap the blowout
in the Gulf of Mexico. And as TV and print
journalists worked to explain the complicated
Fans familiar with the text know the character Newt Dobbs.
Margin notes show McMurtry toyed with the idea of naming
him Skeeter or Luke. One title page considers an alternate
name for “Lonesome Dove” – “Clara’s Orchard.”
Everything in the collection is either handwritten or
typewritten and is preserved in acid-free folders, acid-free
boxes and secure climate-controlled storage to keep out
the heat, humidity and light.
McMurtry, a Texas novelist, essayist and screenwriter,
lived in the Bayou City in the late 1950s. He completed
graduate school and taught at Rice University and worked
as a book reviewer for the Houston Post and a manager
of a bookstore on San Felipe.
“The correspondence that we have is a series of letters to
Grace David, who owned a book shop where he worked
before becoming famous as a writer,” Grob said. “There
also is some correspondence with a college buddy of his.
So, most of what we have is the early days, when he's
starting out, and you see that he really wants to be a writer.
He's trying to organize his life in such a way that he can
do it.”
The Larry McMurtry Papers is available for viewing by
contacting the UH Special Collections at 713-743-9750 or
by visiting the UH Special Collections on the 2nd floor of
the M.D. Anderson Library.
efforts to kill the well, they often turned to
University of Houston professor Don Van
Nieuwenhuise to get an experienced and
understandable explanation of the events
as they were happening.
Van Nieuwenhuise, director of the Professional
Geoscience Programs in UH’s Department of
Geosciences, provided expert commentary
about the many efforts to halt the blowout to
local, national and international media outlets.
His work included nearly 100 TV appearances,
including live interviews on CNN and “Good
Morning America,” interviews with the New York
Times and countless other print media, and taped
interviews for the national evening newscasts
on ABC and NBC. He even patiently answered
questions for three hours for a special news show
on The Weather Channel.
With his real-world experience drilling
more than 15 exploration, production and
blowout kill wells, Van Nieuwenhuise knew
what he was talking about, and it showed.
Journalists came to trust and depend on
his unique combination of intelligence,
experience and
ability to explain
complex issues
in easy-tounderstand terms.
People “got it” after
Van Nieuwenhuise
explained it.
The vast
majority of
the national
TV interviews
were taped
at a
new interview
studio at
the HoustonPBS studios on the UH campus.
The interview studio was built to provide
live video feeds nationwide via the Vyvx
fiber-optic transmission network. Vyvx is
a nationwide switched fiber-optic broadcastquality television transmission system.
The Vyvx Studio allows local experts
to be seen and heard across the country
without ever leaving Houston.
So thanks to a knowledgeable and
trusted UH professor and a new studio
at HoustonPBS, millions of viewers and
readers gained a better understanding
of this terrible tragedy.
Bonus Online
Graduate Design/Build Studio
Constructing a Better Community
As part of the Gerald D. Hines College of
Architecture, the design/build studio unites
the minds of first-year master’s students who
conceptualize and construct unique spaces
for Houston nonprofit organizations.
UH Moment: Student Entrepreneurs
at Cougar Grounds
Cougar Grounds, a student-run coffee shop
at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel
and Restaurant Management, is the first
university coffee shop in the country
managed and staffed by students as part
of an educational experience.
Visiting Professor Inducted into
Chinese Academy of Engineering
Surendra P. Shah, visiting professor at the
Cullen College of Engineering, was inducted
into the Chinese Academy of Engineering
as a foreign member.
UH in Nation’s Top 20
for Hispanics
The University of Houston is among the
top 20 colleges and universities conferring
degrees to Hispanics, according to
Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.
Biology, Computer Science Combine
Efforts to Fight Cancer
UH received a $2.4 million grant to fund
research by postdoctoral scientists whose
research combines cancer biology with
computational disciplines like computer
science, theoretical physics or chemistry.
UH Moment: Celebrating a
Diverse Campus
The University of Houston is one of the
most diverse campuses in the United States
and the most ethnically diverse
university in Texas.
More Online | www.uh.edu/magazine/bonus
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 5
Making An Impact
Play-by-Play
Eat, Read, Drive — New Options Improving
Campus Quality of Life
From New Dorm and Dining to Textbook and Car Rentals, Amenities Abound.
Getting Defensive: Brian Stewart Hoping
3-4 Adds Up to Frustrated Opponents
New Coach Fields ‘Fast, Furious’ Defenders.
by Alissa Bauer
by Shawn Lindsey
Fall 2010 ushers in both new students and new amenities
to the University of Houston. From new dorms to fresh
dining, the quality of life and number of services offered to
students has never been greater.
The new Cougar Village
residence hall, UH’s latest
state-of-the-art housing
complex, is redefining the
freshman experience. It
opened its doors to firsttime-in-college freshmen in
August, and the seven-story
291,000-square-foot facility
is now home to more than
1,100 students.
Cougar Village
A very young Wilhelmina “Beth” Robertson
and Corbin J. Robertson Jr. eagerly wait in
the stands of Robertson Stadium prior to a
UH Homecoming game.
“This amazing new residence
hall is built for student
success,” said UH President
Renu Khator. “It is here that
our newest Cougars are beginning their academic journeys,
so great care was taken in its design. With its ample study
spaces, computer labs and meeting areas, Cougar Village
will be home to both great students and bold ideas.”
Residents of Cougar Village — and the entire campus
community — also are enjoying a new dining hall on campus.
Following a state-of-the-art $11 million renovation at the
Moody Towers dining hall, the new Fresh Food Co. takes the
idea of on-campus dining from cafeteria to cultured all-youcan-eat cuisine. The facility offers nine made to order stations
where chefs prep and cook each order in front of diners. The
stations facilitate a variety of cooking styles and tastes, from
vegetarian to international fare.
“It is not your typical cafeteria. I don’t even like to use
that name ‘cafeteria,’” said Tori Bergersen, executive chef, UH Dining Services.
“It’s not a cafeteria, it’s a restaurant.”
UH students who wish to venture off campus for a meal or
otherwise, but don’t have a car, can now rent a set of wheels
by the hour. Students 18 and older with a valid driver’s
license can participate in the Connect by Hertz car share
program at UH, which offers four vehicles: Mazda 3,
Mazda 6, Ford Fusion
and Ford Escape. Two
vehicles are housed
at Cougar Village,
while the other two
can be picked up at
Calhoun Lofts.
Cars can be rented by
the hour or for a day,
beginning at $8 per
hour. The rate includes
fuel and insurance,
and all of the vehicles
Fresh Food Co.
are equipped with
GPS systems and a
smart control screen pad that can be used to request rental
extensions and other services. The car share requires an
annual $50 membership, but UH students, faculty and staff
who sign up before Dec. 31 will have their annual fee waived.
Car share participants are given a membership card to access
the vehicles.
Another unique rental option new to UH students this fall
is textbook rentals. UH students now have the option to
rent textbooks for the semester from the UH Bookstore,
which could save them 50 percent or more over purchasing
new books.
“Approximately 56 percent of all of our courses at UH have
a textbook rental program associated with them,” said
Emily Messa, assistant vice president for university services.
“Additionally, we also have a number of titles available
in digital or e-books. More and more of our students are
getting comfortable with apps and digital products, so that’s
something we also are glad to offer to our students.”
Led by Heisman-candidate Case
This comes as comforting news to the
Cougar faithful as UH unveiled its
version of the 3-4 defense this season.
The Cougars are running a defense that
thrives on its personnel being quick and
explosive rather than big and bulky.
Keenum, the University of Houston
Cougars are celebrated for a highflying offense that ranks among the
best in the nation. Now, with first-year
defensive coordinator Brian Stewart,
the Coogs want to prevent opponents
from demonstrating similar firepower.
Known as a 3-4 specialist, Stewart was
brought into the defensive coordinator
role by head coach Kevin Sumlin. He
saw firsthand the rampant use of the
3-4 in the professional game and now
is one of the few pioneers in collegiate
football to bring it back.
Stewart, who comes to Houston after
an eight-year coaching career in the
NFL, including a two-year stint as the
defensive coordinator for the Dallas
Cowboys, immediately saw a major
advantage for the Cougars as he
began reviewing past game films.
“Those cats can run!” Stewart said.
“We’re not big, but we can move.
That’s exciting. We have the chance
to outrun most people, and that’s where
Brian Stewart
the advantage comes to us as we add more
linebackers. We’re fast, and we’re furious.”
Phill Hansel 1925-2010
Long touted as the most influential man
in Cougar swimming and diving, former
UH head coach Phill Hansel died Aug. 6.
The 85-year-old was considered the
father of Cougar swimming and diving for
assembling the university’s first team and
heading the program from 1957–1996.
Hansel guided the Cougars to more than
70 dual meet wins and 10 top-20 finishes
at the AIAW and NCAA Championships.
He also was a three-time recipient of the
Southwest Conference Swimming and
Diving Coach of the Year award.
Hansel managed the U.S. Swimming
Team in 1992 that won 27 medals, 11 of
which were gold at the Barcelona Olympic
6 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
With a 3-4 pattern now in place,
assembling a crew of several 330-pound
linemen is not nearly as urgent as it
once was. “Speed is key,” Stewart said,
“and speed we’ve got.”
Games. He also coached the Singapore
Olympic Team in 1984 and was an
assistant in 1988.
Hansel’s legacy of success continues at
UH. The 2009–2010 season was another
success for the UH swimming and diving
program. Diving has finished in the top
25 in nine of the last 10 seasons. Five
Cougars took home individual titles and
the Houston divers took home top honors
in all three events of the Conference
USA Championships. The UH team is
among the youngest in Conference USA,
graduating only one senior last season,
which gives the Cougars plenty of ammo
for 2010– 2011.
­—Shawn Lindsey
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 7
UH Tier One
Building Blocks:
UH People, Programs Paving the
Path to Tier One.
by Michelle Klump
W
hen Bill Sherrill (’50) returned to the
University of Houston in 1990, the
financial consultant and entrepreneur
faced two challenges — convincing
academics that entrepreneurship could be taught and
crafting a program to do just that.
Within three years, Sherrill founded the entrepreneurship
program. By 2007, the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for
Entrepreneurship had earned a national ranking from the
Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine, catapulting
the C.T. Bauer College of Business and UH into the
public spotlight.
program offers students a support system that includes mentors,
roundtable discussions and opportunities to network with
local entrepreneurs.
The results speak for themselves. In addition to being ranked first
in the nation in 2010, the program’s students have seen individual
success, winning 10 awards in national business plan competitions
in the past five years.
Students also are proving themselves after graduation by creating
hundreds of new businesses.
“There is such a variety, it is hard to name a business that one of
them hasn’t tried,” Sherrill said.
The department, which is home to two of the university’s nine National Academies members, has maintained its reputation by
“Infaculty
recent
years,who do “frontier research” and
by hiring
members
I think the department
It also serves as an excellent example of one of the
university’s Tier One caliber elements — the nationally
recognized programs and renowned faculty that serve as
building blocks for a Tier One university.
really succeeded in
defining some of those
frontier research areas.”
“Our city is proud to be the home of such nationally
ranked academic programs as the University of Houston’s
entrepreneurship and health law programs,” said Houston
Mayor Annise Parker. “The University of Houston cultivates
and attracts outstanding professors who provide a quality
education to a diverse student body, and its alumni have
much to show for it.”
Bill Sherrill
Ent r epr eneur ial L ea d ers
In the entrepreneurship program, the lesson is to provide a comprehensive education, Sherrill said. On top of the basics of how to run a business, the entrepreneurship
8 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
E n g i neer i n g S u c cess
At the Cullen College of Engineering’s chemical engineering
department — ranked 35th in the nation among graduate programs
in 2009 by U.S.News & World Report — success is based on
breaking new ground in research.
“I think the ranking points to the fact that the University of
Houston offers some exceptional educational opportunities
of top quality,” said Sherrill.
By helping to attract high-achieving students and raising
the university’s overall profile, top programs and stellar
faculty help UH obtain recognition from the organizations
that bestow Tier One status. They also provide inspirational
models for other individuals and units at UH to study and
possibly replicate their success.
ideas. … One thing the program taught me is your goals don’t
have to be far off and unreachable. You can break it down into
smaller pieces.”
Ashley Hurst
For example, Ashley Hurst, a May 2010 graduate of the program,
is in the early stages of launching a health/nutrition consulting
business called Wellness by Design. Hurst said her experience
with the entrepreneurship program gave her the tools she needed
to take the leap.
“I think [the program] really helped me to think critically,” Hurst said.
“A lot of people had ideas, and in class, we really examined our
Dan Luss
attracting quality graduate students who assist in that research,
said Dan Luss, a professor and member of the National
Academy of Engineering.
“The main thing is you hire people whose research is going to have
an impact,” Luss said. “By impact, I don’t mean just generated
support. It must generate the scholarly activity that other people at
other schools continue to follow up on.”
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 9
UH Tier One
UH Tier One
It’s also important for the department’s research focus to evolve,
he said.
“In any kind of good department, you find the research emphasis
changes because different areas become more popular,” Luss
said. “In recent years, I think the department really succeeded in
defining some of those frontier research areas.”
For instance, Luss has applied his expertise in chemical reactor
engineering to reducing emissions created by diesel engines.
Other faculty members are beefing up their research in materials
and biochemical engineering, he said.
Legal Excellence
At the University of Houston Law Center, home to three programs
ranked in the top 10 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report,
success is due, in part, to its ability to capitalize on the strengths
of the city of Houston.
“The national and
international reputations
of the UH Law Center and other UH
colleges put some muscle behind
(President Renu Khator’s) continuing
effort to push the University of
Houston to the higher regional and
national standing it deserves.”
— Raymond T. Nimmer
dean, UH Law Center
A case in point: The health law program, ranked 4th in the nation
in 2010, has been among the top five health law programs for 13
consecutive years. It also has developed a great partnership with
the Texas Medical Center.
“Houston is a major medical community, and health law is a
natural addition to that,” said Bill Winslade, director of the
Health Law & Policy Institute. “We intend to follow up on the
University of Houston’s new affiliation with the Texas Medical
Center by finding even more projects of common interest where
we can collaborate.”
With offerings such as a concurrent law/Ph.D. program in
conjunction with the University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston, the health law program is able to attract a wide
variety of students, from practicing doctors who want to gain
legal expertise to students who want to focus on health policy
research, Winslade said.
“Our students aren’t just one type of lawyer, but lawyers who
have gone off in many different directions,” he said. “We offer
things across the board broadly, but we also offer people the
opportunity to go in-depth into their area of special interest.”
The intellectual property law program housed within the Institute
for Intellectual Property and Information Law (IPIL), is ranked 8th
in the nation, and consistently outranks programs at well known
public and private universities, said Craig Joyce, Andrews Kurth
Professor of Law and co-director of the institute.
“In survey after survey, IPIL continuously outranks comparable programs at even the highest levels of private universities throughout the nation,” Joyce said. “UH’s IP program
10 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
outpaces those at Harvard, Yale, Duke, Chicago, Northwestern,
Vanderbilt, Emory and Georgetown, to name a few. Among public
universities against which UH benchmarks itself, IPIL outranks
UCLA, UNC and UT, just for starters.”
Another top-ranked program is the part time law program,
ranked 10th in the U.S. The program, which allows students
to take classes part time, fills a need for working professionals
seeking a law degree.
“It takes a huge commitment of time and money to build these
types of programs, and they stand as cornerstones of our
curriculum,” said Raymond T. Nimmer, dean of the Law Center
and Leonard H. Childs Professor of Law. “Not every student
wants to specialize in these areas, of course, but it’s clear
that our ‘top 10’ programs underscore the excellence of the
education we provide.”
Together, the programs help bolster the university’s Tier One
aspirations, Nimmer said.
“The national and international reputations of the UH Law Center
and other UH colleges put some muscle behind [President Renu
Khator’s] continuing effort to push the University of Houston to
the higher regional and national standing it deserves,” he said.
Awa rd-W i nni ng Fa c ult y
While award-winning programs help the university prove its
Tier One potential, so does an award-winning faculty.
The Center for Measuring University Performance — the entity
that produces the Top American Research Universities (TARU)
report each year — designates the top research universities
based on nine different measures, including the number of
recognized faculty awards and the number of faculty members
elected to national academies.
With seven members of National Academies on faculty, and two
more slated to join the faculty within the year, UH has already
met the benchmark in that category for inclusion among the top
50 public universities.
In addition, more than 50 faculty members have earned either
TARU-recognized awards or other national awards recognized by
the Association of American Universities, including Guggenheim
fellowships and National Science Foundation Career awards. (For
a list of these and other award winners, please see pages 14–17.)
In an effort to increase the number of faculty awards, UH
created a website that highlights faculty award winners and
provides information on national awards. In addition, deans and
administrative staff are helping with the nomination and awards
application process, said John Antel, provost and senior vice
president for academic affairs.
Though awards are important, they are not the only measure of
faculty success, Antel pointed out.
“The awards are a fairly objective way to measure faculty status.
There are only a limited number of these awards, however, and
some dimensions of excellence are not measured by them,”
he said. “For example, if a faculty member did a well-reviewed
concert at Carnegie Hall, it would not be counted among TARU
awards, but it would certainly be recognized by people in the
music business.”
U ni que Q ual i ti es
Of course, Tier One caliber elements at the University of Houston
don’t begin and end with professors and programs. There are
other institutional qualities, such as its diversity — UH has been
consistently ranked
among the top
three most diverse
“(Universities) are
public research
realizing it is really
institutions in
the nation — or
important to take
its community
the knowledge,
involvement that
clearly set it apart
the expertise...
from many
other universities.
and apply it
Carroll Parrott
Blue knows that
firsthand. As a
research professor
with the Texas
Learning and
Computation Center
and the Center for
Public History, Blue
has been involved
with dozens of
collaborations
between UH and the
surrounding Third
Ward community.
to the
surrounding
community.”
Carroll Parrott Blue
For instance, just last fall, Blue, whose focus is using new
media for citizen engagement, worked with a broad range of UH
departments, including architecture, technology, art, history and
education, and including faculty, staff, students and alumni in an
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 11
UH Tier One
UH Tier One
Major Initiatives Capitalize
on UH’s Strengths
effort to help area middle school students design
and construct an art gallery for exhibitions and a
computer kiosk to record oral histories and stories
from Third Ward residents.
Currently, Blue is working with UH administrators
and other university departments already involved in
the community to consolidate their efforts to foster
more effective campus-community relationships.
“We are working to figure out who we are and how
we can work together,” she said. “A lot of times people
are working individually, and we are finding that if we
all begin to work together under one umbrella, it would
be much more effective.”
“Our city is proud
to be the home of such
nationally ranked
academic programs.”
— Houston Mayor Annise Parker
As the University of Houston builds its reputation, President Renu
Khator has prioritized three major initiatives that she believes will
provide the clearest pathway to Tier One. Those initiatives, which are
the focus of many of the university’s efforts, best capitalize on UH’s
existing strengths, as well as the strengths of the city of Houston.
UH Ener gy
Located in the “energy capital of the world,” the University of Houston
is a natural hub for innovation and bold approaches to address the
energy challenges of today
and the future. UH Energy
encompasses the brightest
minds in UH engineering,
law, business, geosciences,
technology, research and public
policy. Spanning fossil fuels,
water, wind, solar, nuclear and
biofuels, energy is derived from
multiple sources, with essential
research being done across a
variety of disciplines.
UH Energy team members shape research and energy policy and
forge new business approaches to the way energy is created,
delivered, used and shared. These leaders also educate tomorrow’s
innovators, providing a dynamic environment for students and
faculty to exchange ideas and work in partnership with industry,
researchers, organizations and the community.
Community outreach is an important element of a
Tier One university, Blue said. The university already
has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for
the Advancement of Teaching with its highest designation
With its location and faculty expertise, UH is uniquely positioned to
for community-engaged institutions in the nation.
become “The Energy University.” Underscoring this commitment,
President Renu Khator created the UH Energy Advisory Board,
“Universities right now are really shifting and changing
comprised of several global industry energy leaders, poised to help
in terms of how they operate in the world,” she said.
guide UH toward its vision. They recognize this is a critical time
“They are realizing it is really important to take the
for Houston to provide national leadership tackling the incredible
knowledge, the expertise that is in the university and
energy challenges faced by the nation and world.
apply it to the surrounding community.”
By doing so, UH is proving that it can have a positive
impact on the quality of life and economic health of
the region. As UH President Renu Khator has said,
“That is what a Tier One institution does, and that
is where UH is headed.”
More Online | www.uh.edu/magazine/bonus
An integral part of the UH Energy vision includes the creation of
the new Energy Research Park located near the Gulf Freeway on
land that once housed Schlumberger’s global headquarters. The
park is comprised of 74 acres with 15 buildings and 19 acres of
developable land. The vision for the complex is for a university-
sponsored development that includes research, workforce training and industrial partnerships — the three legs of
the economic development triangle.
12 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
U H Healt h
U H Art s
With the national agenda of health care reform and an aging
population, the timing is right for the University of Houston
to expand its presence in the health care arena. UH is well
positioned to make a major impact in research and education
in fields spanning biology and biochemistry, psychology,
mathematics, pharmacy, engineering, optometry and
computer science.
The arts at the University of Houston are an essential part of the
city’s vibrant cultural fabric. Over the years, UH students have
been mentored by such acclaimed faculty as the late fiction writer
Donald Barthelme and American playwright Edward Albee.
The Texas Medical Center (TMC) makes Houston one of the
most important locations for health care in the world, and
UH is exploring the best way to build on that. With health-related
research making up more than half of the university’s externally
funded research, UH is poised to gain an even stronger
foothold in TMC, particularly with its recent induction as a
member institution.
Collaborations between UH and The Methodist Hospital Research
Institute, such as the Abramson Center for the Future of Health,
have been working successfully for many years and will continue
to grow. Just one shining example among many, the center is
home to translational research, genetic research and personalized
medicine, patient and provider education, and remote sensors and
Web-based programs that are tailored to individuals.
“The University
of Houston is
increasingly
having a positive
impact with
the 49 member
institutions
of the Texas
Medical Center,”
said Richard
E. Wainerdi,
president and
CEO, Texas
Medical Center. “Their scientists, researchers and educators are
quickly establishing themselves among their peers and creating
new opportunities for collaboration and success.”
According to Kathryn Peek, assistant vice president of University
Health Initiatives, an advisory board of top health care executives
will be created next year, which will give the industry an
opportunity to weigh in on research collaborations, essential
personnel and professions. The future of UH Health holds
promise for an increase in and balance of basic research, applied
research, educational programs and community outreach. There
also is considerable potential for commercialization of intellectual
property given UH’s health-related research.
UH Arts includes the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture,
School of Art, Moores School of Music, School of Theatre &
Dance, Blaffer Art Museum, Creative Writing Program, and
several other programs throughout the campus. The UH Cynthia
Woods Mitchell Center
for the Arts connects
artistic disciplines
through partnerships on
campus and in the arts
community, resulting in
creative research, crossdisciplinary courses and a
range of public programs.
The mission of UH Arts
is to educate students
and the community by
imagining and giving form to the dreams and concepts that shape
contemporary culture. Its vision is to be a creative center for
the study, practice and presentation of the arts, contributing to
Houston’s cultural vitality.
“The University of Houston has exceptional arts programs
in all of the major disciplines, making UH a leading force in
Houston’s arts landscape,” said Jonathon Glus, president of the
Houston Arts Alliance. “UH alumni populate Houston’s thriving
arts community, from showing their work in our theaters and
museums to managing our many venues. Now, with the new
UH Arts initiative, the university is poised to become a leader in
the education and presentation of the arts locally, nationally and
even internationally.”
On the horizon, an enhanced UH Arts section of campus is
being planned, which will become a cohesive neighborhood
for the UH community and an important arts destination for
the general public.
—Lisa K. Merkl (’92, M.A. ’97)
More Online | www.uh.edu/magazine/bonus
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 13
UH Tier One
Faculty With Distinction
We are pleased to list the following University of Houston faculty with distinction based on fellowships, prizes and
Richard Dole
Professor – Law
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 1999
Ramanan Krishnamoorti
Professor – Chemical Engineering
• NSF Career Award (TARU) – 1999
Fellowships, pri zes and awards
recognized by
the Assoc iati on o f American
Universities (AAU) and/or
Top American Research
Universities (TARU)
Stuart E. Dryer
Professor – Biology and Biochemistry
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (AAU) – 2009
Demetrio Labate
Associate Professor – Mathematics
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2008
Donald Foss
Professor – Psychology
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (AAU) – 1985
Barbara Rose Lange
Associate Professor – Music
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2007
Rigoberto Advincula
Professor – Chemistry
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 1999
Thomas Albright
Professor – Chemistry
• Sloan Research Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1982
Robert Fox
Professor – Biology and Biochemistry
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators (TARU) – 1987
T. Randall Lee
Professor – Chemistry
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 1995
Edgar Gabriel
Assistant Professor – Computer Science
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2009
Aibing Li
Associate Professor – Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2006
Kevin Bassler
Professor – Physics
• Sloan Research Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 2001
Arnold Guloy
Associate Professor – Chemistry
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 1998
Carl Lindahl
Professor – English
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2004
Eric Bittner
Professor – Chemistry
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 1999
• Guggenheim Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 2007
P. Shiv Halasyamani
Associate Professor – Chemistry
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2001
• Beckman Young Investigators (TARU) – 2002
Vassiliy Lubchenko
Assistant Professor – Chemistry
• Beckman Young Investigators (TARU) – 2008
• NSF Career Award (TARU) – 2010
Elizabeth Bollinger Huxel
Professor – Architecture
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 1998
Zhu Han
Assistant Professor – Electrical and Computer Engineering
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2010
Stanko Brankovic
Assistant Professor – Electrical and Computer Engineering
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2010
John Hart
Professor – History
• American Council of Learned Societies Fellows (TARU) – 1974
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1991
Martin Melosi
Professor – History
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1980
• National Humanities Center Fellows (TARU) – 1982
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1988
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2001
award accorded a UH faculty member; the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Chair and Professorship
and University Professorship; the M.D. Anderson Professorship and the John and Rebecca Moores Professor
Program. Below are the UH professors who have received these prestigious honors.*
Neal Amundson
Professor Emeritus – Chemical Engineering and Mathematics
• National Academy of Engineering
• National Academy of Sciences
•
C.W. “Paul” Chu
Professor – Physics
• National Academy of Sciences
•
Jan-Åke Gustafsson
Professor – Biology and Biochemistry, Chemistry
• National Academy of Sciences
•
•
Dan Luss
Professor – Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• National Academy of Engineering
James Symons
Professor Emeritus – Civil Engineering
• National Academy of Engineering
•
John H. Lienhard
Professor Emeritus – Mechanical Engineering
• National Academy of Engineering
•
Fazle Hussain
Professor – Mechanical Engineering
• National Academy of Engineering
•
•
Surendra P. Shah
Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering
• National Academy of Engineering
Kaspar Willam
Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering
• National Academy of Engineering
14 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
Ioannis Kakadiaris
Professor – Computer Science
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2000
Donald Kouri
Professor – Chemistry
• Sloan Research Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1972
• Guggenheim Fellow (AAU, TARU) – 1978
(TARU), used to determine Tier One status; UH’s own faculty awards such as the Esther Farfel Award, the highest
•
Olafs Daugulis
Associate Professor – Chemistry
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2007
• Sloan Research Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 2007
Steven Deyle
Associate Professor – History
• American Antiquarian Society Fellowships (AAU) – 2009
awards recognized by the Association of American Universities (AAU) and/or Top American Research Universities
Nati onal Academy Members
UH Tier One
David Brenner
Visiting Assistant Professor – Modern and Classical Languages
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2006
Chengzhi Cai
Associate Professor – Chemistry
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2004
Shankar Chellam
Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2002
Xiaoping Cong
Associate Professor – History
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2008
• American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellows (TARU) – 2009
William Hawes
Professor – Communication
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2001
Stephan Hillerbrand
Assistant Professor – Art
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2004
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2005
David Hoffman
Professor – Chemistry
• Sloan Research Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1992
Scott Imberman
Assistant Professor – Economics
• National Academy of Education (AAU) – 2010
Karl Kadish
Professor – Chemistry
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 1980
David Mikics
Professor – English
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2004
John Miller
Professor – Physics
• Sloan Research Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1987
Raymond Nimmer
Professor – Law
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2006
Julian Olivares
Professor – Hispanic Studies
• Ford Foundation Fellowships (AAU) – 1985
• American Philosophical Society (AAU) – 1992
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 2000
Carlos Ordonez
Associate Professor – Physics
• Guggenheim Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1989
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 15
UH Tier One
UH Tier One
B. Montgomery Pettitt
Professor – Chemistry
• Sloan Research Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1989
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (AAU) – 2008
Howard Pollack
Professor – Music
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 2003
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 2010
Susan Rasmussen
Professor – Anthropology
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2001
John W. Roberts
Professor – English
• Guggenheim Fellowship (AAU, TARU) – 1994
Susan Scarrow
Professor – Political Science
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1993
Frederik Schiff
Associate Professor – Communication
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 2008
Gangbing Song
Professor – Mechanical Engineering
• NSF Career Award (TARU) – 2002
Jeffrey Sposato
Associate Professor – Music
• American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellows (TARU) – 2003
Donna Stokes
Associate Professor – Physics
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2003
Landon Storrs
Associate Professor – History
• American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellows (TARU) – 2006
Randolph Thummel
Professor – Chemistry
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 1990
Ricardo Vilalta
Associate Professor – Computer Science
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2005
Roy Weinstein
Research Professor – Physics
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 1959
• Guggenheim Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 1969
Cameron White
Professor – Curriculum and Instruction
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 1999
Jody Williams
Visiting Professor – Social Work
• Nobel Prize (AAU) – 1997
Lois Parkinson Zamora
Professor – English
• American Council of Learned Societies Fellows (TARU) – 1981
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) - 1982
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows (AAU, TARU) – 2001
Stephen Zamora
Professor – Law
• Fulbright American Scholars (AAU, TARU) – 1982
Rong Zheng
Assistant Professor – Computer Science
• NSF Career Awards (TARU) – 2006
T he Esther Farfel Award
2009 – 2010
Stuart A. Long
2008 – 2009
Demetre J. Economou
2007 – 2008
David J. Francis
2006 – 2007
Fazle Hussain
2005 – 2006
Barbara Lee Keyfitz
2004 – 2005
Martin Melosi
2003 – 2004
Allan Jacobson
1993 – 1994
Simon Moss
1992 – 1993
J. Wayne Rabalais
1991 – 1992
Sidney Berger
1990 – 1991
John H. Lienhard
1989 – 1990
Cynthia MacDonald
1988 – 1989
Abraham E. Dukler
1987 – 1988
John M. Ivancevich
From
Bench to
Bedside
2002 – 2003
Arnold Eskin
2001 – 2002
Roland Glowinski
2000 – 2001
Michael Olivas
1999 – 2000
C. W. “Paul” Chu
1998 – 1999
Mark Rothstein
1997 – 1998
UH
James Gibson
1986 – 1987
Robert Hazelwood
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen
Distinguished UNIVERSITY Chair
Vermuri Balakotaiah
T. Randall Lee
Scott R. Gilbertson
Roy Ruffin
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemistry
Chemistry
Economics
Demetre J. Economou
Gordon L. Paul
Edward Hungerford
Yuri Kuznetsov
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Psychology
Physics (chair)
Mathematics
David J. Francis
B. Montgomery Pettitt
Ramanan Krishnamoorti
Psychology
Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Roland Glowinski
Surendra P. Shah
Mathematics
Civil and Environmental Engineering
John and Rebecca Moores Professor Program
Paul R. Gregory
Abbey H. Simon
Harold E. Bedell
W. Robert Houston
Economics
Music
Optometry
Curriculum and Instruction
Fazle Hussain
Robert R. Stewart
Eric Bittner
Thomas T. C. Hsu
Mechanical Engineering
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Chemistry
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Lennart Johnsson
Arthur B. Weglein
Vincent M. Donnelly
Basheer Khumawala
Computer Science
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Decision and Information Sciences
Donald Kouri
Stuart E. Dryer
Yuen-Sum Lau
Chemistry
Biology and Biochemistry
Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Arnold Eskin
Thomas F. O’Brien
Biology and Biochemistry
History
George Edward Fox
Vern I. Paulsen
Biology and Biochemistry
Mathematics
H. Jerome Freiberg
Larry Pinsky
Curriculum and Instruction
Physics
Laura J. Frishman
Howard Pollack
Optometry
Music
Dan Graur
Gael Stack
Biology and Biochemistry
Art
H. Julia Hannay
Randolph Thummel
Psychology
Chemistry
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen
Distinguished UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIP
Suncica Canic
Kaspar Willam
Mathematics
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Jack M. Fletcher
John C. Wolfe
Psychology
Electrical and Computing Engineering
Robert J. Schwartz
Biology and Biochemistry
1985 – 1986
Juan Oró
1984 – 1985
Neal Amundson
1983 – 1984
Dan Luss
1982 – 1983
Fredell Lack
1981 – 1982
Door
to Hidden
Donald Kouri
Health Opens
Treasures on Campus.
1996 – 1997
1980 – 1981
Martin Golubitsky
Gertrud B. Pickar
1995 – 1996
James Symons
1979 – 1980
Richard Evans
1994 – 1995
Nicolás Kanellos
1978 – 1979
Ralph Becker
M.D. Anderson pro f essorshi p
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen
UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIP
Edward Albee
Karl Kadish
Theater
Chemistry
Abdeldjelil Belarbi
James Kirby Martin
Civil and Environmental Engineering
History
Wei-Kan Chu
Martin Melosi
Physics
History
Clifford Dacso
Stuart Ostrow
Life Sciences Technology
Theater
David Dow
Ramesh Shrestha
Law
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Richard Evans
Su Su Wang
Psychology
Mechanical Engineering
Alex Ignatiev
John Hart
Shiao-Chun Tu
History
Biology and Biochemistry
Ronald S. Harwerth
Richard Willson
Optometry
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
W. Lawrence Hogue
Lois Parkinson Zamora
English
English
* While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, if you are aware of errors or
oversights, please inform us at magazine@uh.edu.
Physics
16 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 17
UH Tier One
Material Advantages:
Nationally Recognized Advanced Materials Research Puts UH in the Spotlight.
by Laura Tolley
“You know that we are living in a material world.” – Madonna, 1985
T
he quintessential Material Girl’s song may seem a little
superficial for many of us, but it turns out we do live in
a world of materials — though not just the diamonds
and minks Madonna referenced. From the vehicles we
drive to the computers we use to the electrical transmission lines
that power our homes, materials are used to build the mundane
and the extraordinary pieces of our existence.
“Materials are part of our everyday, fundamental lives,” said Allan
Jacobson, a UH chemistry professor and director of the Texas
Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston (TCSUH).
Researchers constantly are trying to improve existing materials
or create new ones that can make our lives better and more
efficient. The far-reaching field of advanced materials science
is one of major significance at the University of Houston, where
researchers are involved in a variety of projects ranging from
fundamental science to revolutionary applications.
There is ongoing research in a number of areas of advanced
materials, including applied electromagnetics, superconducting
materials and devices, semiconductors, advanced oxide films,
nano-materials, ceramics, composites and subsurface sensing.
UH is home to the Center for Advanced Materials, but faculty
members from the engineering, technology and science colleges
also are hard at work on their own ideas.
“UH is well known in the world of advanced materials research,”
said Alex Ignatiev, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen University
Professor of Physics, Chemistry, and Electrical and Computer
Engineering and director of the Center for Advanced Materials.
Paul Chu
UH Researchers Work to Make Our Lives More Efficient
One of UH’s most noted researchers in the field is C.W. Paul
Chu, the T.L.L. Temple Chair of Science and professor of physics,
who brought worldwide recognition to Houston in 1987 with
the discovery of a material that acts as a high-temperature
superconductor, allowing electricity to pass through it without
losing energy. Chu’s discovery launched a new era in the field
of superconductivity.
“Paul Chu’s discovery involving superconductivity was a major
step in UH’s work on advanced materials,” Jacobson said. “It brought significant recognition and visibility to the university. The exposure helped attract faculty
18 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
and resulted in more money from the state to build the materials
program. We’re still the 600-pound gorilla in the room when it
comes to superconductivity.”
Chu continues his work at TCSUH, searching for new and
better materials. Another standout in the superconductivity
arena is Venkat Selvamanickam (M.S. ’88, Ph.D. ’92), Selva to
his colleagues, who is director of the
Applied Research Hub and the M.D.
Anderson Distinguished Professor in
Mechanical Engineering. Selvamanickam
has developed a superconducting wire
that can be used to carry electricity more
efficiently than existing wires.
T. Randall Lee, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished
University Chair of Chemistry, and his colleagues are working
on research projects in a number of areas, including the
development of nano-structures. Jacobson says that research
could lead to the development of a nano-structure that could be
injected into human tissue and then radiated, killing only
the cancerous tissue, along with other medical applications.
“Almost anything in the power grid,
cables, transformers, motors, generators,
can be more efficient if you use hightemperature superconducting wires,” said
Selvamanickam, who also is applying his
research to solar cells.
Another key area for advanced materials
research is UH’s work in offshore wind
technology. That effort received a boost
earlier this year when the Department of
Energy granted UH a $2.3 million grant to
establish the National Wind Energy Center,
which will be the site for development
and testing of composite materials and
components for large offshore wind
turbines. The new testing facility will help
propel the region to the forefront of U.S.
offshore wind development.
UH’s accomplished track record in advanced materials research
continues to attract students and faculty members, such as
Francisco Robles-Hernandez, an assistant professor in the
College of Technology. Robles-Hernandez is working on a
number of advanced materials research projects, including the
development of materials that can significantly extend the life
of railroad wheels and tracks.
“All of my work is in material sciences,” noted Robles-Hernandez,
a Mexico City native. “I came here two years ago because of the
university’s work in advanced materials.”
Some research projects could result in real-world applications
sooner than others. But in labs across campus, researchers are
sorting out big dreams that could result in dramatic changes.
Allan Jacobson
At the Center for Advanced Materials, Ignatiev has his eye
on the moon.
One of his ideas centers on developing a technology to mine
lunar silicon and make solar cells out of the material right on
the moon. It’s nicknamed the “lunar Zamboni,” because it
would resemble the famed ice-resurfacer, rolling across the
moon’s surface and paving it with solar cells. An area the
size of a football field could power one lunar plant. Larger
swaths of land could produce enough power to beam back
to Earth, with few, if any, environmental consequences.
“Now, THAT’S a real advanced application for advanced
materials,” Ignatiev said.
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 19
UH Tier One
UH Welcomes Students and Scholars From All Backgrounds
As Campus Changes, Diversity Remains a Focus.
N
This university is a very welcoming place for students and scholars from all backgrounds.”
— Jerald Strickland
by Mike Emery
ew residence halls, academic buildings and parking
facilities are helping transform UH into a bigger and
better university. METRO and UH are working to link
the campus to the community through light rail. Academically,
UH is growing with unique new courses and majors. And “UH has a culture that not only welcomes diversity but also celebrates it.
assistant vice chancellor for international studies and programs
research institution of higher education in the country and the
most ethnically diverse higher education institution in Texas.
“UH has a culture that not only welcomes diversity but
alsocelebrates it,” said Jerald Strickland, assistant vice As the lead voice for UH’s Tier One drive and the first Indian
immigrant to lead a U.S. research university, she has been
embraced by the campus community.
“Diversity comes in all colors,” said State Rep. Garnet Coleman
of Houston. “I spoke to a journalism class at UH, and a student
asked me if Tier One would change the university. He said that
he and many other students wanted the university to remain a
place of opportunity for students of all colors. That particular
student wasn’t a minority at all. He was white.”
UH will no doubt continue to provide opportunities to students
from all backgrounds and is committed to making sure all
future Cougars are college ready. In 2012, UH’s new freshman
admissions policy will offer automatic acceptance of first-timein-college freshmen in the top 15 percent of their high school
classes without requiring college entrance examinations. In 2014,
UH will modify these standards to accept incoming freshmen
within the top 10 percent of their classes.
These admissions policies will help UH remain competitive on
its journey toward Tier One, while maintaining a commitment
to a culturally diverse campus.
“With Texas’ large pool of talented students, we can maintain
diversity and admit students who are ready to succeed,” said
John Antel, senior vice president for academic affairs and
provost. “We will make sure we get the most prepared students
from all backgrounds.”
Students have long appreciated this dedication to diversity,
understanding that working with peers from other countries
and cultures enhances their college experiences.
International students find a home on campus at the university’s
Learning and Culture Center, where they receive intensive instruction
to improve their English language skills.
Erica Fletcher, a senior in UH’s Honors College, was raised in
League City, Texas. She also is firmly connected with her South
American heritage (her mother is from Brazil). So much so, she
incorporates Latina issues into her class projects — including
“Marianismo,” a short film focusing on HIV/AIDS among Latinas.
through partnerships with the Texas Medical Center and NASA, among other institutions, the university’s research
efforts also are evolving.
chancellor for international studies and programs. “This
university is a very welcoming place for students and
scholars from all backgrounds.”
But as the campus grows in size and stature, the changes have not diminished the university’s cultural landscape.
UH remains the second most ethnically diverse major
UH President Renu Khator discovered this welcoming atmosphere when she arrived on campus in 2008.
20 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
“UH’s diversity has had an impact on my education and research
philosophy,” she said. “It’s helped me understand cultural
sensitivity and cultural differences between populations. Being
able to talk to friends and classmates about these issues has
been very beneficial. It’s helped me experience other cultures in
a relaxed, friendly environment.”
Cultural exchanges such as these reflect the university’s
international ties. UH is among the top 25 institutions with
the most international students, serving more than 4,000
students from other countries.
The growing
international presence,
combined with
UH’s existing
multicultural element,
prepares students
for an increasingly
diverse society.
“They used to call it
the ‘New America,’”
Coleman said. “Now,
it’s just ‘America.’
Our country is now a
mosaic. It’s important
that we understand
others around us.
Diversity is now the
norm in America, not
the exception.”
The face of the
Erica Fletcher
university is no doubt
changing. The faces
in classrooms and on campus, however, continue to represent
a range of local and global cultures. This unique pairing of
vision and tradition is fueling its flight toward Tier One and its
commitment to excellence.
“UH is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse campuses
in the nation,” said State Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston.
“This distinction did not happen by accident but by investing
significant time and resources into developing the type of
programming and learning environment that attract such a
diverse student body. I have no doubt that UH will continue with
these efforts — and perhaps more so — as it moves resolutely
toward Tier One status.”
More Online | www.uh.edu/magazine/bonus
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 21
Community Connections
UH Community Connections
UH Nurtures Connections to Its Community
Outreach Efforts Are a
Key Component to the
Tier One Mission.
by Marisa Ramirez (’00)
L
ooking north from the UH Welcome Center, you
can see the top of the Houston skyline. To the east,
Maximus Coffee Group greets you, its fragrant coffee
aroma wafting over the campus around mid-afternoon.
And just a short drive down Interstate 45 south puts you at
NASA’s doorstep. The University of Houston, nestled in its
Third Ward neighborhood, is immersed in the city whose
name it bears. But more than being a good resident of the
community, UH aims to be connected to it.
“Our American Humanics students embody
community responsibility and service... Last year
they gave more than 8,600 internship hours
to Houston nonprofit organizations.”
­—Lori Godwin (’03)
Recently, UH was honored by the prestigious Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as one of
the top community-engaged universities in the nation. UH
was the only public metropolitan university in Texas given
the distinction, which considers, among other things, a
university’s service to the community and its students’
involvement in community issues.
Community connection is built into the fabric of the Civic
Houston Internship Program (CHIP). Part of the Hobby
Center for Public Policy (HCPP), the program annually
places nearly 100 undergraduates in Houston government
and nonprofit offices.
“These interns are the next generation of civic leaders,”
said Renée Cross (’97), associate director of the HCPP
and director of CHIP. “We strive to encourage students’
interest and commitment to their community by
preparing them through public service, as well as
academic knowledge.” The HCPP also has developed
civic volunteerism projects with students to educate
and promote the 2010 U.S. Census throughout the
Houston region, organized on-campus pet food drives
to benefit Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston’s
AniMeals program and collaborated with county offices
and nonpartisan organizations on voter registration and
education projects.
American Humanics, a program of the Graduate College
of Social Work, trains the next generation of nonprofit
managers and leaders. UH’s chapter was rated first among
AH chapters in the country in 2007 by the American
Humanics Management Institute.
“Not only do our students learn about careers through
these internships, they build their passion for working in the
Houston community,” Godwin said, speaking of students
like graduate Carlie Brown. “And the vast majority of our
students stay in Houston after they graduate.”
Former CHIP interns Mirel Herrera, Debra Gonzales
and Lesley Nelson worked in the office of State Sen.
Mario Gallegos during the 2009 legislative session.
22 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
“We recognize the challenges first-generation students
experience on the road to higher education,” said Rebeca
Trevino, the program manager. “Together with our business
partners who help us with scholarships, internships and
mentors, AAP has helped many Houston students graduate
and enter careers.”
“CMAS does so much for Houston and UH,” said AAP
student Alicia Valdez. “It makes me want to do the same.”
“Our American Humanics students embody community
responsibility and service,” said Lori Godwin (’03), interim
program director of the David M. Underwood Chapter of
American Humanics (AH). “Last year they gave more than
8,600 internship hours to Houston nonprofit organizations.”
Similarly, the Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS)
is immersed in Houston’s Latino community. Beginning with
middle school students, officials with the CMAS Academic
Achievers’ Program (AAP) work to ensure students—first in
their families to pursue higher education—stay in school,
graduate from high school and enter college.
Community involvement creates more than just connections
for the University of Houston; it creates Cougar Pride.
American Humanics graduate
Carlie Brown
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 23
Faculty Honors
Quick Takes
Stuart Long, professor of electrical
and computer engineering, has
been appointed interim University
of Houston System vice chancellor
and UH vice president of research
and technology transfer. He also
has been serving as associate dean
of The Honors College and is the
2010 recipient of the Esther Farfel
Award, the highest honor given to a
UH faculty member. In 2009, Long
surpassed $100 million in research
awards and received UH’s inaugural
Teaching Excellence Career Award.
His research interests are in broad
areas of applied electromagnetics,
specifically microstrip and dielectric resonator antennas.
Scott Imberman, assistant
professor of economics, has been
named the 2010−2011 National
Academy of Education/Spencer
Postdoctoral Fellow. The $55,000
fellowship award will assist with
salary and research expenses.
Imberman’s research focuses on
how English-speaking students
are affected by sharing classrooms
with students who have limited
English proficiency. The fellowship
program supports early career
scholars working in critical areas of
education research. Now in its 24th
year, the program has more than
600 alumni. Imberman will conduct the research jointly with UH’s
Aimee Chin, associate professor
of economics, and Tilburg University economist N. Melten Daysal.
Faculty Kudos
Book Shelf
Mark Bly, Distinguished Professor of Theatre, Dramaturgy and Playwriting,
received the G.E. Lessing Career Achievement Award from the Literary
Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA). Bly, one of the nation’s
most respected dramaturgs, is only the fourth artist in LMDA’s 25-yearhistory to receive its most prestigious honor.
U n i v e r s i t y of H o u s t o n H o n o r s
Zhigang Deng, assistant professor of computer science and director of
computer graphics and interactive Media Lab, received a one-year Google
Faculty Research Award to work on the development of a novel talking
avatar interface for mobile computing platforms such as Apple iPhones
and Google Nexus.
Lawrence Pinsky (J.D. ’97, LL.M. ’01), professor and chair of physics and adjunct law professor
Richard Willson, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and biochemical and
biophysical sciences
Barbara Evans (LL.M. ’03), director of the Center on Biotech, co-director of
the Health Law & Policy Institute and associate professor of law, has been
named a Greenwall Foundation Faculty Scholar in Bioethics for 2010−2013.
Her research will focus on governance models for large, interoperable
health data networks and the ethics of large-scale observational research.
(Honors a substantial record of outstanding research, scholarship or creative activities)
Thomas Kubiszyn, chair and professor of educational psychology, has been
selected as a Distinguished Practitioner to the National Academies of
Practice in Psychology. The organization, which represents 10 health care
professions, advises public policy makers on health care issues.
Yashashree Kulkarni, assistant professor of mechanical engineering,
has received a 2010 Young Faculty Award from the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency. The award, given annually to junior faculty,
recognizes talented researchers whose work will help develop solutions
that could enhance security.
Dan Luss, Cullen Professor of Engineering, has been named the 2010
recipient of the International Symposium for Chemical Reaction
Engineering’s Neal R. Amundson Award for Excellence in Chemical
Reaction Engineering. One of the highest honors in the field, the award
is bestowed every three years to recognize a pioneer in the field.
Lewis T. May, adjunct associate professor of architecture, received a grant
from the Texas International Education Consortium to create a long-range
strategic and physical guide plan for the new Al Saleh University in Sana’a
Yemen. The university is the 23rd higher education institution May has
planned in the Middle East.
Surendra Shah, visiting professor in the Cullen College of Engineering and
Walter P. Murphy Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at
Northwestern University, has been inducted into the Chinese Academy
of Engineering (CAE) as a foreign member. Shah is one of only four
engineers in the world — and the only civil engineer — who is a member
of the CAE and the United States National Academy of Engineering and
is a fellow in the Indian National Academy of Engineering. He will join the
UH engineering faculty full time in January.
Earl Smith (’72, M.S. ’75, Ph.D. ’78), dean of the College of Optometry
and Greeman-Petty Professor, was named the 2010 recipient of the
Charles F. Prentice Award from the American Academy of Optometry.
The award is given each year to a person who has distinguished himself
by contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge through
research in the vision sciences.
Arthur Weglein, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Distinguished Professor of Physics, will receive the 2010 Reginald Fessenden Award from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. The award is given each year to a person who has made a specific technical contribution to exploration geophysics.
24 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
John and Rebecca Moores Professors
(This five-year renewable award is given to two faculty members who are outstanding in teaching, research
and service. The award includes a $10,000 annual stipend.)
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award
Professors
Vincent Donnelly, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
Praveen Kumar, Texas Bank of Commerce/Tenneco Professor, chair of finance and executive director
of UH–GEMI
Associate Professors
Casey Dué Hackney, associate professor of classical studies
Tahir Hussain, associate professor of pharmacology
Assistant Professors
Stanko Brankovic, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering
Rong Zeng, assistant professor of computer science
Teaching Excellence Awards (Honors outstanding achievements in teaching)
Andrew Davis, associate professor of music
Olafs Daugulis, associate professor of chemistry
Richard DeFrank, associate professor of management
Douglas Eikenburg, associate professor of pharmacology
Alexander Parsons, assistant professor of English
Innovation in Instructional Technology
(Honors outstanding achievements in teaching using innovation in instructional technology)
Bernard Robin, associate professor of instructional technology
Mary Bean (Ph.D. ’83), instructional professor of chemistry
Micky Fleischer (M.S. ’75, Ph.D. ’78), adjunct professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering
Graduate Teaching Assistant (Honors graduate students)
William “Willy” Bolander, business
Jason Pitruzzello (M.A. ’08), English
Career Award (Honors a UH career of demonstrated excellence in teaching)
Joel Bloom, associate professor of health and human performance
Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research (Honors mentoring undergraduate research and scholarship)
Rigoberto Advincula, associate professor of chemistry
Provost Faculty Advising Award (Honors excellence in undergraduate academic advising)
William Dupre, associate professor of geology
Johnny Buckles, associate professor of law, has
written a chapter, “Bob Jones University v. United
States: A Journey Through Scripture and History,”
in “Law and Religion: Cases in Context.”
Michael Economides, adjunct professor of
chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Xiuli
Wang (Ph.D. ’00) have written “Advanced Natural
Gas Engineering.”
Antonio Gidi, assistant professor of law, has written
“Class Actions in a Comparative Perspective.”
Paul Gregory, Cullen Distinguished Chair of
Economics, has written “Politics, Murder,
and Love in Stalin’s Kremlin: The Story of Nikolai
Bukharin and Anna Larina.”
Casey Dué Hackney, associate professor of
modern and classical languages, has written
“Recapturing a Homeric Legacy: Images and Insights
from the Venetus A Manuscript of the Iliad” and has
co-written “Iliad 10 and the Poetics of Ambush:
A Multitext Edition with Essays and Commentary.”
Dale L. Johnson, professor emeritus of
psychology, has written “A Compendium
of Psychosocial Measures.”
Nicolás Kanellos, Brown Foundation Professor
of Hispanic Literature, has written a chapter,
“A Schematic Approach to Understanding Latino
Transnational Texts” in “Imagined Transnationalism.”
Julian Olivares, professor of Spanish, has written
“The Love Poetry of Francisco de Quevedo” and
“Studies on Women’s Poetry of the Golden Age.”
Jacqueline Weaver (J.D. ’75), A.A. White Professor
of Law, has written “Texas Oil and Gas Law: Cases
and Materials 2009” and has co-written “International
Petroleum Exploration & Exploitation Agreements:
Legal, Economic and Policy Aspects, 2nd ed.”
Marc Zimmerman, director of world cultures
and literature, has written “Bringing Aztlán
to Mexican Chicago: My Life, My Work,
My Art (Jose Gamaliel González).”
Submit your faculty kudos: magazine@uh.edu
UH FACULTY: YOU ARE THE PRIDE
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 25
Giving Matters
Giving Matters
Celebrating Nearly 40 Years of Mexican American Studies at UH
CMAS Increases Knowledge About the Latino Culture and Community.
by Emily Smart
Mexican-American
experience, as well as
providing the Houston
community with
well-educated Latinos,
is anticipating the
upcoming anniversary
as an opportunity to
further develop its
current initiatives and
plan for its future.
W
The center’s Visiting
Scholars Program
and Graduate
Fellowship Program
have advanced
serious intellectual
interest among the
Mexican-American
community. Visiting
scholars, who are
invited by CMAS
to the University of
CMAS students Eva Briones, Priscilla Benitez, Alice Valdez,
Houston to study and
Richard Saldana and Cynthia Medina are among the six students
selected for a national Latino Leadership Initiative at Harvard.
conduct research,
play a significant
role in increasing
knowledge about the
Latino community and raise the status of the university.
ith its 40th anniversary on the horizon, the
To date, CMAS has brought in 32 scholars who may be
University of Houston’s Center for Mexican
interested in staying at UH in a tenure or tenure-track position.
American Studies (CMAS) is gearing up for a
celebration of the program’s progress. “Forty years is a
real milestone for us, and if you look at where we started
and where we are now, there’s been tremendous growth,”
said CMAS director Tatcho Mindiola Jr. (’67, M.A. ’70).
CMAS, which has been instrumental in fostering research and understanding of the
Through the University of Houston Series in Mexican
American Studies, the program’s print partnership with
Texas A&M University Press, previous visiting scholars
have published five books with two additional titles currently under review. This series includes some
of the first books ever written about Mexican-Americans
in Houston.
Graduate student fellowships advance the specialized study of topics relating to the Mexican-American experience.
26 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
By encouraging the development of this research, CMAS
fosters a higher degree of knowledge among MexicanAmericans and places a stronger emphasis on the value
of education for this community’s future generations.
To date, CMAS has supported 41 successful
graduate students.
Beyond its research and scholarly contributions, the
center has played a large role in increasing the number
of Latinos with a college education in the Houston area.
CMAS’s Academic Achievers Program (AAP), which
provides students with financial and academic assistance,
has aided in the graduation of numerous students and
has a graduation rate of 77 percent.
Viridiana Hernandez (’08), one of the AAP graduates, credits
her success to the program and the resources it offered
her. “There’s a lot of different streams of support that I used
to get from the center,” Hernandez said. “There’s nothing I
needed that I wasn’t able to get from them.”
The center’s annual banquet to raise scholarship funds for
students in AAP is set for Oct. 21 and will feature NASA
astronaut José Hernández as the keynote speaker. The
event generates the majority of scholarship funding for the
program and involves members of the local community in
raising awareness of the center’s mission. Juanita Elizondo,
director of Corporate Relations for Fiesta Mart Inc.,
joined the committee for this year’s banquet to personally
support what she sees as a vital mission. “I just think that
the program has done so much in addressing a need in
the community, and the fact that they have provided this
opportunity is truly a commitment to this generation and
future generations,” she said.
A $5 million fundraising campaign recently was launched to
ensure the longevity of the center’s overall impact and its
distinct initiatives. The plan involves five separate $1 million
endowments to support each of the major areas: the Visiting
Scholars Program, the Graduate Fellowship Program, AAP,
the director’s chair and a discretionary fund. It also will
provide long-term funding for the program and ensure an
eventual successor for Mindiola.
Along with continuing to advance
its current programs, the center
is exploring additional options
for expansion, including the
establishment of an academic
major in Mexican and Mexican
American Studies. With plans to
develop a proposal for the idea
still at least a year away, Mindiola
sees the major, which would offer
courses on the history, culture
and geography of Mexicans and
Mexican-Americans, as benefiting
a growing number of people.
Tatcho Mindiola Jr.
“The Mexican culture is spreading
in the U.S., and the U.S. culture
is spreading in Mexico,” Minidola
said. “So we think the
long-term future is that there will be more integration
between the two countries, and we hope to bring forth
a greater understanding of both communities.”
CMAS also is considering a future collaboration with the
Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities & Scholarships
(VAMOS) that would expand their recruiting efforts in the
Rio Grande Valley. Alonzo Cantu and Eliva Saenz, two of
the founders of VAMOS, are enthusiastic about the potential
benefits of the relationship. “We’re very excited about the
CMAS program,” Saenz said. “If we can learn from them
and work together, then I think it’s going to be wonderful for
years to come.” While no concrete plans for a partnership
between the two groups have been developed, CMAS
is looking forward to the possibility of opportunities for
additional growth.
Give every year, impact every day.
T o d onate to d ay,
Visit: www.uh.edu/giving
Call: 1-877-755-0559
Write: University of Houston
P.O. Box 867
Houston, TX 77001-0867
www.uh.edu/ma gazine | 27
Giving to UH, Benefitting Houston
Businesswoman, Alumna Recognizes the Importance of a Tier One Urban University.
by Kelli Gifford
Become a Part of a Legacy
The 1927 Society Honors Those Who Support UH’s Mission with Planned Gifts.
by Kelli Gifford
“I love the city of Houston, and I love the University of Houston.
By making a planned gift, I know I’ll always be a part of both of them.”
—Doug Allums (’52)
B
eth Madison (’72), president and co-founder
of Madison Benefits Group, Inc., has spent
years giving generously to the University of
Houston, the city of Houston, and its dynamic business
community out of gratitude for the opportunities they
have afforded her. She is determined that others get
those same opportunities.
From that she realized how athletics create “an opportunity for students and alumni to spend time
together in a spirited format that inspires all of us to
appreciate education and the values that are important
in our world.”
Her other passion is the arts —
she serves on the boards of
the Houston Grand Opera, the
Houston Symphony and the
Alley Theatre.
“We must promote and
maintain this vibrant
cultural and business
context we have in
Houston. One of the best
ways is to support our
youth being educated
in a first-class, Tier One
university,” she said.
“Music and the arts are such
an important part of our cultural
landscape, and we look to our
universities to feed these worldclass arts programs that we
have,” she said. The Moores
School of Music honored
Madison devotes countless
Madison this spring, giving her
hours and financial
the Outstanding Philanthropist
resources to helping UH
Award for her ongoing support.
reach greater heights,
Madison recognizes that with
especially through her
Houston being the “energy
devotion to the athletics
capital of the world,” support
program, the Moores
of the Cullen College of
School of Music and
“I personally believe in urban universities. Engineering is vital. “One of
the Cullen College of
They are wonderful places to get an education, develop
the most important leadership
Engineering, to name
contributions that [UH President]
negotiating skills and a different kind of leadership.”
a few.
Renu Khator brought to UH is
— Beth Madison
emphasizing those particular
“I personally believe in
disciplines that create and
urban universities. They are
maintain our vigorous economy.
wonderful places to get an
Engineering is clearly cornerstone to developing our key
education, develop negotiating skills and a different kind of
energy resources.”
leadership,” she said. “You can see it play out in a real-life
environment … an education in the middle of a business
Having a university full of opportunity in this great
community. I think it’s important that all our youth with
city inspires Madison, who sees the importance of
talent can access that sort of resource.”
being able to provide an educated work force for
Photo | Gittings Photography
Giving Matters
Your UH Connection
But Madison isn’t all business — she’s a big UH sports fan.
She saw the personal impact UH had on her brother when he played football under Coach Bill Yeoman and
the relationships he developed that never faded.
28 | The University of Houston Ma gazine | printed on recycled paper
area industry.
“Universities make cities world-class,” she said. “It’s
simply important to have the opportunity for young
scholars to develop academically here within our
community. It’s motivating to be part of that dynamic.”
F
or more than three decades, professor Joel W. Sailors
bestowed his knowledge and love of economics on
University of Houston students. And by the time he
retired in 1987, teaching at UH was more than just a job to him.
“Planned giving is an integral and important component of our
drive to attain Tier One national recognition,” said Khator. “It’s
a measure of the faith and trust placed on us by a donor — it’s
an investment in the future of the University of Houston.”
“The department has been my family,” Sailors said. Because
of this, he felt compelled to support the department in numerous
Lena and Marc Malacoff, who have been generous supporters
of UH throughout the years, recently completed their estate
plans and joined The 1927 Society.
They designated the university as a
recipient of a percentage of their estate,
which will go toward the endowed
scholarship they created in 2006.
“It’s a good feeling to know that
when we both pass, we’re leaving a
little bit of a legacy behind to keep our
mission of supporting students,” he
said. “We get a lot of happiness from
making contributions. We view it as
an opportunity to do a good deed.”
In April, a reception at The Wortham House
honored the members of The 1927 Society.
ways, including establishing an endowment and a charitable
remainder trust. His trust qualified him for membership in The
1927 Society. Both gifts will help UH continue the traditions
that unite the campus.
The 1927 Society was created to celebrate alumni and friends
of the University of Houston who show their commitment to UH
through a planned or deferred gift. Their generosity demonstrates
an investment in the future of UH, and the other UH System
universities, and their missions.
And once donors know they want to name UH as a beneficiary
of their estate, staff at UH lead them in the right direction.
Members of The 1927 Society play
a critical role in ensuring the UH System
institutions will remain vital educational
assets by providing generous resources
on which to draw in the future. Donors
qualify for membership by notifying
any UH System university that it is
part of their estate plan in one or
more of the following ways: naming it
as a beneficiary of a will, living trust,
insurance policy, retirement plan,
charitable gift annuity or a charitable remainder trust; or
donating real estate or personal property to benefit the university.
So far, current expectancies from the 330 members of
The 1927 Society have totaled more than $30 million, and
Khator hopes to see membership in the society double in
the coming years.
To join these amazing donors and become a distinguished
member of The 1927 Society, contact the Office of Planned
Giving at 713-743-8680 or plannedgiving@uh.edu.
Visit www.uh.edu/plannedgiving for more information.
More Online | www.uh.edu/magazine/bonus