University of Houston-Victoria faculty and staff are invited to a reception on Monday for former UHV President Karen Haynes, who will be in Victoria for two days as part of a "Celebrating the Legacy of UHV” event.  

"Dr. Haynes contributed enormously to the legacy UHV has received,” UHV Interim President Don Smith said. "As the longest-serving president that UHV has had, it was important for us to invite her not only to help celebrate the start of a new era at UHV, but also the university’s past and its legacy.”  

The internal reception will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the University Center. Jim Mickelson, Haynes’ husband, also will attend. Faculty and staff interested in coming to the reception should call 361-570-4375 to RSVP.  

The purpose of the "Celebrating the Legacy of UHV” event is to show appreciation to those whose contributions have enabled UHV to grow and develop; to remind those attending that UHV is now building a legacy for the future; and to commemorate the university’s achievements, generate goodwill and invite continued support, Smith said.  

"Community leaders worked diligently decades ago to bring a university presence to Victoria, and they succeeded in getting UH to start a center here in 1973,” he said. "Under the guidance of a succession of presidents, along with faculty and staff, and with the continuing support of the community, UHV has grown to its present identity and its enrollment of more than 4,000 students.”  

During her visit, Haynes also will speak about "Positive Leadership in a Culture of Change” during a Texas Women in Higher Education South Texas Region luncheon on Tuesday and during a community reception for donors that evening.  

Haynes, now in her seventh year as the president of California State University San Marcos, served as UHV president from 1997 to 2004. She holds a doctorate in social work from the University of Texas in Austin and a Master of Social Work from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  

She is the Presidential Sponsor for the American Council on Education’s Southern California Network of Women in Higher Education, and she serves on the regional board of the San Diego Economic Development Corp. She was honored in 2007 with the San Diego YWCA’s Top Women in Industry Award for contributions to the community and the San Diego Business Journal’s "Women Who Mean Business” Award.