Leadership Transition at UHD

Dear UHD faculty and staff,

First of all, I hope you and your families are safe and healthy during this global pandemic.  I want to thank you for your resiliency and dedication in continuing to fulfill your mission despite all the challenges, both personal and professional. Today, I write to you to share the process of leadership transition at UHD.

Let me begin by thanking President Juan Munoz for his outstanding leadership of UHD.  We will all miss him, but this is a good opportunity, and I am happy for him. It is never easy for any institution to face a leadership transition, and it is certainly harder during the pandemic; however, we have a great institution in the middle of nation’s greatest city, and we will forge ahead with vision and vigor. UHD is fortunate to have a dedicated group of faculty and staff.  It is also blessed with outstanding leaders, many of whom are new to the university and have yet to see the positive impact of their leadership on the institution.  I believe that the best days of UHD are ahead of us, and we must seize this moment.

Our tasks now are to find an effective interim leader then search diligently for an exemplary new president who shares the same values and mission that you all do. I will be holding a meeting (virtual, of course) with the UHD cabinet and another one with the leaders of UHD’s shared governance groups. Within a few weeks, I intend to appoint an interim president who is expected to serve until the position is filled, which may take 6 to 9 months.

In August, when faculty are back on campus, I will appoint a search committee representing faculty, staff, students and alumni of UHD and also engage a search firm to assist me in this very important decision. A more detailed process and timeline will be prepared by the search committee and distributed to you. Thank you once again for your dedication and service.  It is a pleasure to see UHD soar to new heights and serve Houston and Texas so ably. Stay safe and healthy!

With regards,

Renu Khator
Chancellor, University of Houston System