UHCL Alumni Association Board of Directors

Dear Alumni and Friends, 

We hope 2025 was a year of full of unforgettable moments with family & friends. As we leave 2025, let us look to a promising 2026 filled with better and brighter new beginnings.  As an alum myself, I am proud to be part of the education and the community at UHCL.  It is a privilege and honor to serve in this role with an amazing Board of Directors and in wonderful partnerships with UHCL professors and administrators.  

I am excited to share some of the developments we have experienced this past year.   

• December Commencement: Myself and Alumni Association Board Members, Dr. Carlissa Runnels, ’11 M.A., and Mitali Paul, ’05 MHA/MBA, were at the Fall 2025 Commencement to congratulate and welcome each graduate to the 83,000+ Alumni Association by presenting the Alumni Pins.   
• 2025 Events: Spring 2025, we launched a student Hawk Mentorship Program pilot with 10 students, which grew to 60+ students this Fall.  In April, we held the 3rd Annual Golf Tournament and continue to focus on raising funds for the Alumni Association Endowment Scholarship.  In October, we held the Alumni Celebration to honor the UHCL Alumni Awardees in the categories of Distinguished Alumni, Marilyn S. Sims Leadership Service, Early Achievement and Outstanding Professor.  This was followed by the UHCL Annual Chili Cook-Off.  In the Spring and Fall, we held what is now becoming a UHCL tradition, the Ring Ceremony, distributing over 150 UHCL Class Rings.  We continue to support UHCL, our alumni and students in other areas such as Homecoming Week, Soaring Hawks, panels, fundraising, community events, and much more. 

We are always looking for ways to strengthen the sense of community at UHCL. Your experiences and expertise are invaluable to our current students. If you are looking for ways to help UHCL students and give back to UHCL some areas are: 

• Volunteering: Look for on-campus opportunities such as mentoring, participate in panels, fundraising or direct donations, campus student events, serve on the board, donate to Hawk Pantry. Sign up to hear about future opportunities here.  
• Events: Participate in networking events or social gatherings.  Find our events calendar here.  
• Support: Consider contributing to scholarships and programs that support future generations through our giving portal. 

I would like to thank Carlissa Runnels, Vice-Chair, Kanch Weerasinghe, Immediate Past Chair, Kendra Hakanson, Director of Alumni Relations, the Alumni Board of Directors, and all alumni for their continued support of UHCL. We welcome and encourage you to join us in 2026. 

Warmly, 
Juana Rodriguez, '18 BS
UHCL Alumni Association Chair

As the academic year draws to a close, we reflect on a remarkable inaugural year for the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

We concluded UHCL’s 50th anniversary with a sold-out Gala and Alumni Celebration, followed by the Alumni Association’s exciting return to the UHCL Chili Cook-Off. Our Annual Golf Tournament continues to expand, raising essential funds for the Alumni Association Endowment Scholarship.

This year, we strengthened our commitment to student engagement by completing the pilot of our mentoring program in partnership with the UHCL Center for Career Development. We are now preparing for a full launch beginning in the Fall semester. Alumni participation remained strong across multiple events including Homecoming, Orientation, Hawk Excellence Awards and the Leadership Conference, further showcasing our dedication to student engagement.

In the coming weeks, we will proudly announce the newest recipients of the Alumni Awards. These outstanding honorees will be recognized at this year’s Alumni Celebration, scheduled for October 10th at the Hyatt Regency Baytown.

As we welcome the Fall semester, the Alumni Association will also be introducing new members to our Board of Directors. Their diverse experience and passion for giving back to UHCL will help us grow and drive new initiatives. Juana Rodriguez, ’18 BS our current Vice Chair, will step into the role of Chair, bringing her vision and leadership to guide us forward. Supporting her will be Dr. Carlissa Runnels, ’11 MA as Vice Chair-elect. Together with the rest of the Board, their dedication will continue to strengthen our impact on the university and its community.

Serving as Chair of the Alumni Association has been a true honor. UHCL has held a special place in my heart and in my family’s life for nearly 30 years. I remain as committed as ever to supporting this great institution and challenge each of you to find your own way to give back.

Go Hawks!

Sincerely,
Kanch Weerasinghe, ‘98 BS, ‘00 MS
2024-2025 Chair, UHCL Alumni Association