Message from the President

On Aug. 1, 2017, I became University of Houston-Clear Lake’s fifth president, a role for which I’d been preparing since my first position in university administration more than 18 years ago. It is an honor to be here, and I accept the charge to lead UHCL into the future.

UHCL impressed me the first time I stepped on campus and continues to do, with a few key facts standing out to me:

• Designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a Hispanic student population of approximately 39%, UHCL embraces and welcomes diversity.
• First-generation college students like myself, as well as veterans and international students can all find a home here.
• UHCL has grown with the addition of four major buildings, including the STEM and Classroom Building, Recreation and Wellness Center, Hunter Hall, and the Health Sciences and Classroom Building at UHCL at Pearland.
• New plans, initiatives and institutes were launched, including the university’s strategic plan, the President’s Speaker Series, the Institute for Human and Planetary Sustainability, the Health and Human Performance Institute, the Diplomacy Institute, and the Center for Engagement, Teaching and Learning.

I know there will always be new challenges facing not only UHCL, but higher education in general. These include increasingly complex technology, which can be both transformative and disruptive; encouraging and welcoming diversity; making education affordable and accessible to all; and continuing to develop our faculty by making sure they have the time and money for research and educational opportunities. I count on the support and assistance of both faculty and staff in addressing these issues.

Our mission provides a great foundation to propel us into the future, especially reminding us that UHCL is a student-centered, community-minded, and partnership-oriented university. All of you are a part of that mission and helping us stay true to it. Thank you for being invested in the success of this growing institution. I hope to continue meeting new faces as we move forward on our journey together.

Sincerely,

Ira K. Blake, Ph.D.
President