The spring semester is drawing to a close. Many of you are completing exams this week or putting final touches on projects, and I wish you the best of luck with your end of semester endeavors.

Commencement will be here soon, and many students will be graduating and moving on to new professional or academic opportunities. To our spring 2019 graduates, I say “Congratulations!” Although you will soon complete your degree, I encourage you to stay in touch with your alma mater. The support of alumni helps invigorate our institution and is essential in expanding our successful network of Gators in Houston and beyond. This network assists our students in identifying career opportunities and provides others with professional mentorship.

To those who will return to UHD in the summer or fall, I recommend that you register for the upcoming sessions now to ensure you are enrolled in those classes that are crucial to your major and to graduating on time.

It has certainly been a busy yet productive semester at UHD. Highlights of this academic year included two rankings from U.S. News & World Report; developing a new partnership with the Port of Houston, Houston Independent School District and Houston Community College; signing an articulation agreement with Galveston College … and many other achievements.

This edition of the One Main Message will spotlight some of this semester’s student accomplishments, as well as a new downtown addition that will remind Houstonians that we are indeed the Gators.

Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz
UHD President

Gator Grit in Action

Student success drives our institution, and this semester, our Gators were prolific both on campus and in the community. UHD’s Selena Garcia Palacios was one of the many students who serves as an example in the community. She was among the presenters at the annual Gulf-South Summit on Service Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education. At this event, she earned the “Outstanding Student Contributions to Service Learning in Higher Education” award. Another success story is Jasmine Major, (pictured above) who recently received a fellowship award from Alpha Lambda Delta honor society. Only 26 students nationwide were selected for this award, which places Jasmine in an elite group of scholars. Congratulations to both Selena and Jasmine … true examples of Gator Grit and excellence.

Gateway for Gators

You may have noticed a new work of art at the corner of Main and Commerce streets. A Gator Mini Mural has been installed at the corner of these streets that lead to campus. This painting, which covers a traffic signal control cabinet, was facilitated through the efforts of alumna Elia Quiles and UHD’s University Relations. The Gator now serves as a reminder of UHD’s presence in Downtown Houston. It’s also a perfect gateway to UHD for the many visitors who arrive here. These include the many distinguished guests who share their insights with our campus community, including Tibor Nagy, assistant secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, (pictured above) who participated in the recent Gator Grit Speaker Series. I look forward to hosting more leaders such as Ambassador Nagy and facilitating conversations that contribute to the intellectual and cultural growth of our students.