BOARD OF VISITORS

At the University of Houston, we believe in innovation, risk-taking and challenging the status quo. When we set out to achieve a goal, nothing can stop us. The University of Houston Board of Visitors plays a crucial role in our success, working alongside influential leaders and visionaries to shape our bold future.

The board serves as a champion for the University's key priorities, collaborating closely with University leadership to transform dreams into reality. Comprised of private sector leaders, change-makers and advocates, board members are valued partners of the University of Houston. They have the unique opportunity to foster meaningful discussions about our greatest ambitions. Together, this diverse group leverages their broad array of expertise, interests and connections to provide leadership, guide their strategies and amplify their message as ambassadors to the community.

For nearly 10 years, the board has influenced the advancement of our strategic priorities and witnessed the profound impact of their success across all areas of the University. Their efforts have played a pivotal role in our growth, including the establishment of the Fertitta Family College of Medicine, the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts, support for our transition to a Power Five athletics conference and various campus enhancement projects. As essential allies in fulfilling our mission, the board embodies the hunger, determination and spirit that lives within every Cougar.

Arturo Chavez (’90)

Chair
Board Member
Page
Houston, TX

Aylwin Lewis (’76, MBA ’90)

Past Chair
Former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Potbelly Corporation
Spring, TX

Maury Blackman (’92)

Managing Director
Pierpoint Ventures
San Francisco, CA

Natara Holloway Branch (’98)

Chief Executive Officer
Houston Exponential
Houston, TX

Douglas H. Brooks ('75)

Former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Brinker International
Dallas, TX

Thasunda Brown Duckett (’96)

President and Chief Executive Officer
TIAA
Greenwich, CT

Janis Burke

Chief Executive Officer
Harris County - Houston Sports Authority
Houston, TX

David L. Callender, M.D. (MBA ’95)

President and Chief Executive Officer
Memorial Hermann Health System
Houston, TX

Meredith Chastang

President
Principal Chastang Consulting Company
Houston, TX

Brett Cullen (’79)

Film and Television Actor/Producer
Venice, CA

Charles D. Dorn, CCM (’80)

Managing Director
The Dorn Group, Ltd.
Rye, NY

Ellie Francisco (MBA ’80)

Founder
francisco+co
Houston, TX

Christina Funston

Co-Founder
Save a Mind Foundation
Penn Valley, PA

Nick R. Holdeman, M.D. (’73, O.D. ’76)

Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Alumni
University of Houston
Houston, TX

Isaac Johnson

President and Chief Executive Officer
TDECU

Case Keenum (’10)

Quarterback, Houston Texans
National Football League
Houston, TX

Shawn Kirksey Jackson

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Kirksey Architecture
Houston, TX

Robert Kneppler (’85)

Executive Vice President
Marsh McLennan Agency
Houston, TX

Devika Kornbacher (’98)

Partner and Co-Head of Tech Group
Clifford Chance
Houston, TX

Anu Lal ('94)

Vice President
Sales and Marketing
Piping Technology & Products, Inc
Houston, TX

George Lancaster

Global Head of Brand
Hines
Houston, TX

Carl Lewis (F.S. '82)

Head Coach
University of Houston Track & Field
Houston, TX

Stephen Littleton

Former Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Secretary
ExxonMobil
Houston, TX

Nick Massad (’73)

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
American Liberty Hospitality, Inc.
Houston, TX

Jason McCann (’91, MBA ’96)

Chief Executive Officer
Vari
Coppell, TX

Jerad McMayon (’00)

Founder and Partner
Table Rock Group
Houston, TX

Hannah McNair (UHD '07)

Vice President
Houston Texans Foundation
Houston, TX

Tanner Moran

Managing Director
Jumana Capital
Houston, TX

Cullen Geiselman Muse

Chair
The Cullen Trust for Healthcare
Houston, TX

Sandi Nicholson

Philanthropist and Art Enthusiast
Houston, TX

Judy Nyquist

Chair
Vibrant Campus Task Force
Community Volunteer and Arts Patron
Houston, TX

Richard Earl Penick (’78)

Former President
Maintenance Supply Headquarters
Houston, TX

Lillie Robertson

Philanthropist
Houston, TX

Carroll Robertson Ray (J.D. ’02)

Vice Chair
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts
Houston, TX

Samuel Schreiber (’74)

Senior Adviser
Trustar Bank
McLean, VA

Andy Singer ('79)

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Visual Comfort & Co.
Houston, TX

Dave Smalley (’79)

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Spectrum Concession
The Woodlands, TX

Craig Spaulding (’82)

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Alonso Interests, LLC
Boerne, TX

Steve Stephens (’80)

Chief Executive Officer
Amegy Bank
Houston, TX

Michele Verma, Ph.D.

Chair
Student Success Task Force
Educator and Philanthropist
Houston, TX

Aruna Viswanathan

Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
AlphaX Decision Sciences
Houston, TX

Lea Weingarten

Principal
Weingarten Art Group
Houston, TX

Scott Zamir ('05)

Vice President
Woodlake MRI
Houston, TX

Shazia Khan (’84)

President
UH Alumni Association Foundation
Houston, TX

Sandy Lee

Incoming President
UH Alumni Association Foundation
Bellaire, TX

Michael Sachs

Immediate Past President
UH Alumni Association Foundation
Houston, TX

Scott Rando (’83)

Treasurer
UH Alumni Association Foundation
Sugar Land, TX

Shawn Kuehn ('10, M.B.A. '16, M.S. '16)

Secretary
UH Alumni Association Foundation
Houston, TX

Jason Payne ('99, '02)

Member-at-Large
UH Alumni Association Foundation
Houston, TX

Hari Agrawal

Dina Al-Sowayel (’91)

Anna M. Babin

Donald Bacigalupi, Ph.D. (’83)

Robert L. Bartkowiak, Jr. (’84)

Jeffrey O. Beauchamp (’73)

Nelda L. Blair (J.D. ’82)

J. Downey Bridgewater (’84)

John R. Butler, Jr.

Richard J. Campo

The Honorable John T. Carter

John A. Clarke (’81)

Fred S. Couples (’80)

James R. Crane

Cheryl D. Creuzot (MBA ’12, J.D. ’92, ’81)

The Honorable David H. Dewhurst (J.D. ’80)

Anette T. Edens, Ph.D. (’94)

Stephen J. Felice (MBA ’84)

William Granville III

C. Gregory Harper (’97)

Chaille Winston Hawkins

Elvin Hayes (’85)

Richard "Racehorse" Haynes (J.D. ’56)

Chris Helms

Eric M. Hilton (Honorary Doctorate ’85)

Barbara Hines

F. Carl Lewis (F.S. ’82)

Glenn T. Lilie (F.S. ’68, Honorary Degree ’16)

Michael C. Linn

Wayne M. Luckett (’74)

Ransom C. Lummis

Frederick R. Lummis II

Jugal K. Malani

Jerad D. McMayon (’00)

John T. McNabb II

Pershant Mehta (’95)

The Honorable Jack B. Moore (’77)

The Honorable Mica Mosbacher (F.S. ’83)

Laura G. Murillo (M.Ed. ’98, ’89)

Marvin D. Nathan (J.D. ’66)

John L. Nau III

Judy Nyquist

Marvin E. Odum III

Chris J. Pappas

Joseph M. Pogge (’79)

Richard G. Rawson (’72)

Lillie T. Robertson (’72)

Dominique Sachse (’90)

Samuel A. Schreiber (’74)

Darryl A. Schroeder (’69)

Gregory Wayne Shoemaker (’79)

Steve D. Stephens (’80)

Dheeraj Verma (’00)

Nicole Vogel (’00)

Daryl W. Wilkerson (F.S. ’80)

Bruce A. Wilkerson (’95)

Floyd C. Wilson (F.S. ’72)

Email Us

Call Us

Please address all inquiries regarding the Board of Visitors to
the Board and Volunteer Engagement team at
bov@uh.edu or 713.743.5061.