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Dear Cougars, You’ve heard the old expression, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” Admittedly, I was eager to get to the Lone Star State and to the city that I now call home ... but I was also enthusiastic to return to this beautiful university. I’ve been here exactly one month and am excited that I can officially call myself a Texan, a Houstonian, and most importantly, a Cougar! It’s definitely been an active first month. I attended a beautiful celebration for our research faculty at the Wortham House and sat down with several professors in the Faculty Café. I also engaged with Honors College students and had the privilege of attending the Science and Engineering Fair Houston, where I met tomorrow’s STEM stars. And last Friday, I learned about initiatives aimed at driving experiential learning at the Symposium on Co-Curricular Learning. During all these interactions, I was reminded that UH is indeed a very special place. I knew that from the first moment I arrived on campus and am learning more each day about what makes UH an outstanding institution. I’d like to thank everyone for the warm welcome! I also want to extend my gratitude to the UH System Board of Regents, who formally confirmed my appointment as Provost last week. I truly appreciate the Board’s confidence and am ready to work with its members in growing our University’s academic enterprise and supporting student success. As I undertake the responsibilities of UH’s Chief Academic Officer, I will continue to fully explore UH and familiarize myself with its community, campus and culture. As an anthropologist and archaeologist, I am fascinated by engaging with new people and exploring new environments. Considering the sheer size of this campus, I have my work cut out for me, but I am up to the task. Of course, I won’t undertake this task alone. I have a talented team and excellent leaders to consult, including President Khator. Most importantly, I have you, the campus community. Your insights are so important to the success of the University, and I hope to listen and learn from you during my first months on the job. Thank you for your support and for your dedication to the University of Houston! I look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Diane Z. Chase
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