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THE YOUNG BRIDE
Born in Uttar Pradesh, India, Khator received a bachelor’s
in liberal arts from Kanpur University. At the age of 18,
her parents arranged her marriage to a stranger, Suresh
Khator, an engineering graduate student at Purdue University.
Thinking that her dreams of an advanced degree would be
gone forever, Khator went on a hunger strike for nearly
ten days.
Once married to Suresh and on American soil, Khator was
pleased to learn that her new husband supported her educational
ambitions. Utterly thrilled, she enrolled at Purdue as
a political science major. Lacking full knowledge of the
English language, she had to work much harder to earn high
marks. Highly sheltered as a child, Khator embraced the
challenge of transitioning to a new country and managed
to acquire the language by watching reruns of I
Love Lucy and The
Andy Griffith Show. And whenever she needed anything
translated, Suresh was always around to lend a helping
hand. Keenly focused on their academic studies, she and
Suresh both earned graduate degrees from Purdue and later
accepted teaching positions at the University of South
Florida (USF).
LUCKY NUMBER 13
Today, Khator finds herself at a new pinnacle in her career—at
the helm of a university that she believes is poised for
greatness. And as the first foreign- born leader in UH’s
eighty-plus-year history, she desires to propel the university
toward “greater heights” by implementing the
exact same ideology that she’s been known to exhibit
throughout her life—dream big, and the possibilities
for success are endless.
Officially beginning her UH tenure this January, Khator
goes on record as the university’s thirteenth president
and the eighth chancellor of the UH System. She succeeds
Jay Gogue, who was appointed president of his alma mater,
Auburn University. She also holds the distinction of being
the second woman to hold the UH presidency and the third
individual to have the dual role of UHS chancellor and
UH president.
“I firmly believe in the
true mission of a metropolitan university, which is to
take the university to the people.”
HER FIRST 100 DAYS
From the moment Khator arrived on campus, her infectious
personality, enchanting smile, sharp knowledge of the latest
electronic gadgets, and eagerness to engage in conversations
with the UH community strongly suggest that she’s
a twenty-first-century president destined to lead a twenty-first-century
university. She simply proclaims herself as a “people
person” with an affinity for teaching, empowering
young lives, and expanding opportunities for education.
Khator spent her first day on the job greeting students,
visiting classrooms, interviewing with The
Daily Cougar,
and meeting with university faculty members. Now, in the
midst of her first 100 days on the job, Khator’s
suggestion box is open. Before moving forward with her
vision and outlining future plans and priorities, she’s
inviting all university constituents and members of the
community to take a fresh look at the University of Houston
and offer ideas to help take the university to the next
level.
“This is truly an exciting time for me and for the
University of Houston,” says the fifty-two-year-old
Khator. “I want everyone who has an interest in UH
to be a part of our future and be willing partners in what
lies ahead. Working together, we can accomplish great things
and strengthen our reputation as a premier research institution.”
“Our students are the reason
for our existence. We must provide access for students
to receive a top-quality education and continue to equip
them with the tools they need to succeed in a global economy.”
GOLDEN CREDENTIALS
Khator built an outstanding twenty-two-year career at
the University of South Florida, which currently ranks
as the nation’s ninth largest university. She initially
joined USF as a visiting professor, but quickly climbed
the administrative ranks serving as director of the Environmental
Science and Policy Program and dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences, before being appointed provost and senior
vice president in 2003.
As USF ’s second-highest ranking official, she worked
to recruit top faculty members, improve graduation rates,
and diversifythe student body. She even helped secure millions
of private fundraising dollars including the university’s
largest gift ever, $34.5 million. During her four years as
provost, South Florida’s sponsored research grew
by 22 percent.
EDUCATIONAL SUPERSTAR
Khator’s accomplishments have established her as
a proven leader who is more than ready to leave an indelible
mark on her own university. Deemed “an educational
superstar” by UH System Board of Regents Chair Welcome
Wilson Sr. (’49), Khator turned down several offers
to lead other universities, but was attracted to the University
of Houston because it was an institution that was directly
aligned with her experience, talents, and fundamental principles.
And because of its many similarities to USF, Houston seemed
like “the right place at the right time” for
Khator to take the reigns of her first university presidency.
“I have an understanding and sensitivity to what role
higher education plays in the global context, so for many
reasons, the University of Houston is the perfect place for
me to be,” Khator says. “This is my type of university.
It’s located in a global city and is doing an excellent
job of reaching out to diverse populations. My heart has
always been in a metropolitan university because it’s
just like a living lab—all of the challenges and
all of the solutions are right here in front of us.”
JEWEL OF INDIA
In addition to being a dedicated educator, Khator also
is the author of five books and several published articles
on global public administration, environmental issues,
and South Asian politics. She also enjoys writing poetry
and fiction; however, her demanding schedule has left little
time to fully explore her passion for writing. A few years
ago, Khator elected to pull an all-nighter every Wednesday
night to complete her book on globalization. It took her
two years to finish, but she completed the task.
UH’s new leader also has a strong history of community
involvement, recently serving on the National Advisory
Council on Environmental Policy and Technology, the American
Council on Education Forum on Internationalism and Multiculturalism,
and several other panels focused on higher education. Last
year, Khator and her husband were awarded the prestigious
Hind Rattan (Jewel of India), given to nonresident Indians
for making extraordinary contributions in their field.
THE NEW COOG
If Khator’s track record serves as any indication,
her contributions to the University of Houston will be
even greater. And while she’s still “charting
our course,” she’s already working diligently
to expand the university’s role in the community
and increase alumni involvement.
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