News from CLASS

UH Hosting International Wheelchair Tennis Tournament

The University of Houston's Adaptive Athletics program will be hosting its second International Cougar Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament this week.

New UH Digital Humanities Project Eyes Ambitious Goal: Put Historic Women’s Conference on the Map

Space exploration, medical research and Tex-Mex cuisine – Houston is known for many contributions to society. But almost four decades ago, the Bayou City left a different, though equally profound, mark on U.S. history.

Female Syrian Refugees in Houston Bear the Brunt of Circumstances

Samina Salim, associate professor of pharmacology and Johanna Bick, assistant professor of psychology, found that marital pressures, financial insecurity, and high family expectations collectively create a high-stress environment among Syrian refugee women.

UH Faculty Addressing Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict

On March 10, a panel of University of Houston experts will address the Ukraine crisis and its ramifications on world peace, international economies and the shift of power among global superpowers. “Russia’s War in Ukraine” will feature insights from University of Houston historians, political scientists and foreign affairs experts.

UH Alumni Commit $300K to Support Gender & Sexuality Equity in Houston

Native Houstonians Sally and Bill Russ have established the Sally J. and William E. Russ Endowment for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality in the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality (IRWGS) in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Their $300,000 gift will help IRWGS researchers collect data and provide analysis in partnership with area service organizations and agencies that deal with women, gender and sexuality issues. Ultimately, this work seeks to transform policies in Houston toward equity. 

Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Boosts Endowment for UH CLASS

A new gift from Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston’s Third Ward will increase an existing endowment in the University of Houston College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) to support students in the department of African American studies (AAS). The William Alexander Lawson Social Justice Scholarship Endowment, named after the founder of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, was created in 2020 by James L. Conyers, longtime professor and director of AAS. Conyers passed away in January 2021.