Kim Ogg Honored As UHD's Social Work Person of the Year
By Cynthia Gonzales
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) recently recognized Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg as its Social Work Person of the Year.
The event, held on Jan. 31, was part of the 2018-2019 VitalVoices Speaker Series and was presented by UHD’s Social Work Program.
A nationally recognized victims' rights advocate and champion of criminal justice reform, Ogg successfully advanced major policy changes promoting diversion and treatment of drug offenders and the mentally ill. She also redirected her office resources in pursuit of violent criminals to make Houston one of America’s safest cities.
Past "Social Work Person of the Year" honorees have included Jim McIngvale (2018) and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (2017).
VitalVoices, a nine-event series, serves as a forum to bring scholars, practitioners and UHD alumni to speak to students, faculty, alumni and community partners within the University’s College of Public Service. The event features guest speakers who will share how their work impacts society through their professional experiences and knowledge.
The February VitalVoices installment will be: School Violence, School Shootings, Bullying, Media Misrepresentation and will feature Guest Speaker Nadine Connell. The event will be held from 5:30-7 p.m., Feb. 20 in the College of Public Service (Commerce Street Building), Room C100. For more information, contact Steven Villano, director of Center for Public Service & Community Research, at 713-221-8906 or villanos@uhd.edu.
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.
