Chancellor, UH System                                                       

President, University of Houston

Renu Khator oversees a four-university organization that serves 66,000 students, has an annual budget that exceeds $1.5 billion, and generates a $3.5 billion-plus annual impact on the region’s economy. The first Indian immigrant to head a major U.S. public research university system, she was appointed to her dual posts in January 2008.

Khator was born in Uttar Pradesh, India. She received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Kanpur University, her M.A. in Political Science from Purdue University, and her Ph.D. in Political Science/Public Administration also from Purdue. A noted scholar in the field of global environmental policy, she has published numerous books and articles on this subject.

Purdue University awarded her a Doctor of Social Sciences degree, honoris causa, in 2009. She has received many other awards, including the “Outstanding American by Choice Award” given by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to recognize achievements by naturalized U.S. citizens. In June, she received two Light of India awards – one determined by a jury and the other by popular vote.

Khator is a member of the Indian Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council, and serves on several prestigious boards, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the American Council on Education, the Greater Houston Partnership, among others.