Division of Administration and Finance
University Services
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lindsay Marshall
University Services Communications Coordinator
832.842.4722
lmmarshall@uh.edu
JEAN VALYAN RETIRES AFTER 41 YEARS OF SERVICE
Houston, March 3, 2011 – It is truly the end of an era as one of the University of Houston’s
hardest and most loyal employees enters retirement. In 41 years of service, Jean Valyan has
witnessed the university grow tremendously and can now walk away and enter her retirement
with the satisfaction of her contributions, a wealth of knowledge and many lasting friendships.
“I have mixed emotions,” Valyan said about her retirement. “I’ve been working for a long long
time. I’m ready for a break. But I’ve made some incredible friendships here.”
Valyan began her journey with UH on June 3,
1969. After attending high school in Sugarland,
she had worked in various jobs around the city,
from a short order cook at the local drug store to
a swing girl at Pilgrim’s Cleaners. She went to
an employment agency and took a test, scoring
so high that she had the opportunity to choose
the area she would like to work. At that time, she
said she lived in the Third Ward and decided to
stay close to home, becoming the newest clerk
typist for UH registration and records. The UH
president was Philip Guthrie Hoffman.
“Now we have a building named after him,”
Valyan said with a smile.
Throughout the years, Valyan moved all over the
university. She went from registration and
records to the graduate school of social work to
the computing center and telecommunications
and finally landing in the business office as the
financial coordinator. Throughout her career, she
saw eleven different university presidents. She
recalls meeting one of those presidents that
ended up becoming a great friend, George Jay
Gogue.
She had been invited to a conference to meet the new president but had only glanced at a picture
before leaving the office. She arrived early and sat down toward the front of the room. A man
approached her, shook her hand and began talking to her as if he knew her. She said she went
along with it, asked about the family and figured she must have worked with him in the past and
forgotten. After their conversation, the man stepped out shortly as people began to file in.
“When he came back in and stepped up to the podium, you could’ve sold me for a penny!” she
said. “I thought, ‘Oh no I’m fired, what in the world did I do?’ But from then on we were the best of
friends.”
Throughout her career, Valyan filled her days with getting involved in the university and the
surrounding community. She volunteered at the community center in the Third Ward and worked
weeknights and weekends at the university testing center. She was also involved in the Black
Leadership Network and many of the university’s committees on campus. She was a member of
the Department of Public Safety’s Safety and Security Committee, an ex-officio member of
Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee, chair of the Sexual Harassment Board and the
chief judge for Faculty/Staff Traffic Court. For five consecutive three-year terms, Valyan served
on Staff Council, becoming its treasurer and member of the Executive Board. It is her work with
the Staff Council that she said she is the most proud.
“The reason I stayed on Staff Council so long is we were always pushing for the lower employee.
We really worked hard across the board for increases and raises,” Valyan said. “I’d like to see
that they are taken care of and considered.”
Her involvement and caring heart touched many as gifts, stuffed animals and certificates of
appreciation filled the shelves in her office, all from appreciative students and faculty/staff.
Valyan described herself as a people person and urges current faculty/staff to take notice of the
UH students.
“Look out for the students and be as helpful as you can because you never know if they are
having a hard time,” she said. “You never know what someone is going through and a simple hug
can go a long way.”
Leading by example, Valyan has inspired and made a lot of close friends during her service that
will continue into her retirement.
“Jean has been a very special friend to me and my entire family,” said Ginger Walker, Executive
Administrative Assistant for the UH Department of Public Safety. “She has always shown me
what real dedication is by her true example.”
Valyan said she looks forward to traveling and spending time with her family. She has a son,
Gilbert, and daughter, Tammy. She also has a granddaughter, Shanese, currently attending Sam
Houston University. Directly after her retirement, she is going to Galveston to celebrate Mardi
Gras and also has a cruise planned with her daughter in October. She said she plans on relaxing,
spending more time with her family and getting involved with her church.
“I’m looking forward to getting up when I want to,” she laughed.
Valyan promises not to be a stranger and return to campus to volunteer for the March of Dimes
and Cougar First Impressions. Congratulations to Jean Valyan for her many years of service and
hard work to the University of Houston! You will be missed.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a comprehensive national research institution serving the globally
competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning
and strategic industry partnerships. UH serves more than 38,500 students in the nation’s fourthlargest city, located in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region of the country.