Dr. Faiza Khoja began her professional academic career at the University of Houston-Downtown in 2014 and she never looked back. Now, the administrator, who juggled multiple responsibilities at UHD, is embarking on a new career move.

Khoja was named Dean of the College of Business Administration at Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen, Texas. Her final day at UHD is July 2, 2020.

As UHD's Senior Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Khoja was responsible for Institutional Research and Institutional Effectiveness. She also served as the liaison to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

In the Office of the Provost, she assisted in shared governance initiatives to develop and update University policies and helped create strategic plans and annual budgets. She also oversaw the operations of enrollment and student success goals, guided academic appeals in compliance with University guidelines and worked with University colleges to coordinate graduate academic programs.

Khoja earned a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern University in Florida and a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Karachi in Pakistan. She holds a certification as a Sustainability Professional. After earning a Doctor of Management in Strategic Management from the University of Houston, she joined UHD administration.

“It was a great opportunity for me to remain in Houston and I was interested in joining a teaching institution, which encouraged a work/life balance,” said Khoja, who also served as a Professor of Strategy for UHD's Marilyn Davies College of Business. “My greatest takeaway as a member of UHD’s leadership is the University’s student-centric approach and a commitment for continuous improvement.”

During her UHD tenure, Khoja also led the University’s reaccreditation steering committee for UHD's SACSCOC reaccreditation in 2016. That experience happens to be one of her fondest memories while at UHD.

“The camaraderie and collegiality that I experienced during the SACSCOC reaccreditation process was intense with long hours, but I thoroughly enjoyed the process. I worked with amazing colleagues across campus, who were genuinely committed to the success of the institution,” she said.