UHV announces provost finalists, community open forums
The University of Houston-Victoria’s search for a new provost and vice president for academic affairs has resulted in the selection of three finalists, and community members can learn more by attending open forums starting Monday in Victoria and Katy.
The finalists are Alberto Ruiz, Texas A&M University-Kingsville dean of the College of Education and Human Performance and a professor of kinesiology; Jill Hernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio associate dean for Undergraduate Studies, director of Undergraduate Research and a professor of philosophy; and Chance Glenn, dean of the Alabama A&M College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences and the president and executive director of the Alabama A&M Research, Innovation, Science and Engineering Foundation.
Each candidate will participate in an open forum at the main UHV campus in Victoria and at the UHV Katy teaching center. The open forums will include a candidate presentation, Q&A session and reception.
“This position is critical to the university’s academic mission and institutional future,” UHV President Bob Glenn said. “Working closely with the Provost Screening Committee and Greenwood/Asher & Associates Inc., we were able to attract an outstanding candidate pool. We look forward to welcoming the candidates to our open forums next week.”
Open forums in Victoria will take place Tuesday, Wednesday and April 19 in the Kay and Ron Walker Auditorium, in UHV University North, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. Receptions will be held after each session in the lobby area of University North. Ruiz will present Tuesday; Hernandez will speak Wednesday; and Glenn will talk April 19. Presentations from Ruiz and Glenn will take place from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. with receptions from 3:30 to 4 p.m., and Hernandez’s presentation will be from 4 to 5 p.m. with a reception from 5 to 5:30 p.m.
Open forums at UHV Katy, 2002 W. Grand Parkway N., Building 2, will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in Room 3-23. The open forums will be followed by a reception from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Ruiz will present Monday, followed by presentations from Hernandez on Tuesday and Glenn on Thursday.
Ruiz has worked in teaching, research and administration, and has served on national and local education boards. He earned his Bachelor of Science and master’s in kinesiology from TAMU-Kingsville, and his Doctorate of Education from the University of Houston.
Hernandez’s experience involves working on student success, enrollment and faculty initiatives. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Taylor University, a master’s from Texas A&M University and a doctorate from the University of Memphis. She has received international and national awards for her research and teaching.
Chance Glenn, who is no relation to UHV President Bob Glenn, received his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park and his master’s and doctorate in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He also holds a certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is an artist with a Grammy-nominated album and is founder of a 3D printing technology company.
An online survey will be provided at the open forums, allowing attendees to share their input with President Glenn.
“We strongly desire the participation of as many faculty, staff, students and community members as possible in these open sessions,” said Jesse Pisors, vice president for Advancement and External Relations, and chair of the Provost Screening Committee. “UHV is a wonderful place to work, grow and serve, and there is no one better to show this to our candidates than those on campus and in the Victoria and Katy communities.”
David Cockrum has served as UHV’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs since August 2016 and will retire once the new provost begins. The new provost is expected to start in July.
For more information about the candidates, visit www.uhv.edu/provost/search.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
