UHVconnect Latest News https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/ Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:04:54 GMT Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:42:00 GMT Copyright © 2022 University of Houston-Victoria Alumni Profile - Erhan Mutlu https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/610357/ https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/610357/ Nusret Erhan Mutlu arrived in the United States in 1993 from Turkey as an international student at Texas A&M University at College Station. After he completed his English studies at the university through the English Language Institute, he had every intention of pursuing a master’s degree there at TAMU, but his MBA journey led him to the University of Houston-Victoria, which would be the beginning of his successful business career.

 

Erhan is a 1995 alumnus of UHV. He graduated from the UHV School of Business with a Master of Business Administration. In addition to holding a degree in English, Erhan received a Bachelor of Business Administration at Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey.

 

After receiving his English degree from TAMU, pursuing a graduate degree proved to be difficult for Erhan, as it was a challenge to meet the many application formalities and the complex admission procedures for an international student at a large university. So, he began his search for a good graduate business school where he could receive his MBA with a concentration in strategic management.

 

“Since the world wide web was not widely in use and not accessible to the public in those years, it was not possible to collect information about many schools at no cost as it is today,” he said. “In those days, it was really a struggle, especially for international students, to search and find a good school that is suitable for your needs.”

 

For days, Erhan spent long hours reading through the university catalogs available in the TAMU library. UHV’s then-business school – now the UHV College of Business – was a place where Erhan could receive an affordable and comprehensive MBA education, according to one of his TAMU professors. Erhan became even more interested in UHV after learning that the business school was accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which accredits less than 5 percent of business schools worldwide. The school also was affordable and had a low faculty-to-student ratio.

 

Erhan drove from College Station to Victoria to meet with Ron Sardessai, the dean of the business school at that time. He received a warm welcome from the dean, who was able to answer his questions about the MBA in Strategic Management program. After a long interview, Sardessai checked Erhan’s application documents and approved his admission into the UHV MBA program. When Erhan asked Sardessai about living in Victoria, Sardessai told him that the university would help him find a living solution. That meeting with Sardessai convinced Erhan that he was at the right place.

 

“Now, 27 years after my graduation from UHV, I understand that meeting with Dr. Sardessai was the turning point of my life because I received a very good quality education in a safe and friendly environment at UHV,” Erhan said. “Being at UHV broadened my vision to advance in my career.”

 

Erhan took face-to-face classes in both Victoria and Sugar Land. He appreciated that all the UHV faculty and staff were always courteous and supportive of students. On top of the quality education and friendly environment, there was easy access to professors, which was a great advantage to all the students at UHV, he said. The learning atmosphere in the classroom was always of encouragement and support, and the research projects and case study analysis he did in class helped him to gain a strong understanding of the business world.

 

“After my graduation from UHV, I was equipped with the competence to strongly connect business theory and practice effectively,” Erhan said. “In our business courses, working in teams on different topics improved my teamwork and leadership abilities. All these means of education leveraged my self-esteem, which serves as the base of my success as an executive manager, entrepreneur and assistant professor of management.”

 

After graduating in 1995 with his MBA, Erhan returned to his home country of Turkey and served in the Turkish military. After serving in the military, his business career began.

 

He soon started working for Birlik Mensucat Sanayi A.S., a well-known leading corporation in the textile industry in Turkey. While working for the corporation, Erhan held the position of international marketing manager for three years. In that role, he was responsible for international marketing of textile goods to more than 40 countries. In 1999, he moved to Istanbul and transferred to another company, D.O.S. Inc., where he worked for four years as a managing partner. As a managing partner, he was responsible for production planning, control and the export sales of 12 textile mills in the Denizli area, which is the heart of the textile industry in Turkey, he said. Then, in 2003, he started a new executive position as vice president for export operations at Zorlu Holding, one of the largest conglomerates in Turkey with a leading role in the Turkish economy. He held his position at the company for three years before deciding to start his own company, called YUNUS Textiles & Foreign Trade.

 

His company operates a fully integrated textile mill, which includes the production activities such as processing raw cotton, spinning yarn, the weaving process and dying cotton fabrics. For many years, his company served as the main fabric supplier for several Italian brand name textile producers, he said. In 2009, the company received the “Exporter of the Year” award by the Textile Exporters Association in Turkey.

 

In 2014, Erhan decided to return to school to earn a doctoral degree. He received a Ph.D. in strategic management at Beykent University Graduate School of Business in Istanbul in 2020. During his doctoral studies, he studied the “resource-based view” theory of strategic management and based his dissertation on the topic. His dissertation was titled, “The Effects of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competencies of Firms Over Firm Performance and The Mediator Role of Market Orientation. A Research Over the Members of Aegean Exporters Association in Turkey.” The following year, with his colleagues, he presented a conference paper at the Global Research Symposium hosted by Beykent University in Istanbul. This event was hosted in cooperation with St. John’s University and Southern New Hampshire University. His presentation, called “How the Structure of Co-opetition Affects the Survival of Newly Founded Organizations” received the best paper award from the Global Business Research Symposium that year. Erhan also has published two articles in peer-reviewed international magazines on the topic of strategic management.

 

Since 2018, he has served as a congress member of the Fenerbahce Sports Club in Istanbul, a major Turkish multi-sport club based in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul. In 2020, he became an assistant professor of management at the Istanbul Aydin University School of Management and Administrative Sciences, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in the areas of management and strategy.

 

“Now, I have the joy of sharing my managerial knowledge and entrepreneurial experiences with university students,” Erhan said.

 

Erhan thanks all the UHV faculty and staff who made it possible for him to get a top-quality education and made him feel at home in Victoria. Sardessai, who passed away in 2011, will always be a cherished person to Erhan for changing his life.

 

Erhan’s advice to current UHV students and new alumni is to always remember that success is a state of mind and a never-ending journey. There is always new information to learn in all fields of study.

 

“If you want success, you have to think of yourself as a success,” he said. “A good, quality education will surely give you a strong base for success. After that, it is all about your eagerness for hard work and your appetite for success. Do not leave your career management decisions in the hands of others – no one knows your dreams better than you.”

]]> Alumni Tue, 5 Jul 2022 16:33:00 GMT UHV undergraduate computer science program receives accreditation https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/618188/ https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/618188/ Computer science undergraduate students at the University of Houston-Victoria will now graduate with degrees that are accredited by a national engineering and technology board.

Chance Glenn
Chance Glenn

The UHV College of Natural & Applied Science Bachelor of Science in computer science program recently was accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The board is recognized internationally for its accreditation of college and university programs in disciplines including applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. The accreditation is retroactive to October 2019.

“We are thrilled about obtaining this accreditation for our institution,” said Chance Glenn, UHV provost and vice president for academic affairs. “ABET accreditation is an indication and validation of a level of quality and rigor for our computer science program. I would like to thank all of the faculty and staff of the program who put in the time to prepare us for the review, and who responded to the recommendations that were made. The true beneficiaries are our students who now can be assured that the degree program they are enrolled in is amongst the best around.”

This is the latest of other major accreditations earned by UHV, including the AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the National Association of School Psychologists.

Dmitri Sobolev
Dmitri Sobolev

“Earning ABET accreditation is a wonderful achievement for UHV and its computer science students,” said Dmitri Sobolev, interim dean of the UHV College of Natural & Applied Science. “This highlights UHV’s commitment to excellence in higher education as well as offering quality programs that meet the needs of the communities we serve.”

The UHV computer science faculty and staff have been working toward accreditation for three years, said Amjad Nusayr, associate professor and director of the undergraduate computer science programs. During that time, the faculty and support staff met with representatives from ABET and put together a plan to reach accreditation, which included making changes to the university’s computer science program to meet ABET’s high standards.

Amjad Nusayr
Amjad Nusayr

“This acknowledgement of UHV’s program is especially beneficial for our students,” Nusayr said. “Many employers look for students who attended ABET-accredited programs. Now, our graduating students are able to put that on their resumes and move to the top of the hiring list. This also means that future students will have an added incentive to come to UHV to receive their degrees.”

Nusayr, who led the accreditation effort, is grateful for the efforts and support of everyone involved in the process, from the Provost’s Office and the college’s faculty to support staff members both in the college and in other offices.

To learn more about UHV’s undergraduate computer science program, go to www.uhv.edu/natural-applied-science/undergraduate-degrees/computer-science or contact the College of Natural & Applied Science at 361-570-4101 or nasmailbox@uhv.edu.

]]> NewsWire Fri, 30 Sep 2022 21:42:00 GMT UHV alumnus earns international leadership award https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/333005/ https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/333005/ UHV alumnus earns international leadership award
Chad Hall, a UHV alumnus and general manager of Regional Steel Products Inc., leads a roundtable discussion on Feb. 8 during the Leadership Excellence and Development 2017 conference in Nashville, Tenn. Hall and Regional Steel were recognized at the conference for excellence in leadership and customer service.

 

When University of Houston-Victoria alumnus Chad Hall first joined Regional Steel, he brought an important philosophy with him: People are the most important resources businesses can have.

 

“Something that struck a chord with me when I was getting my master’s degree at UHV was the concept of sustainable competitive advantage,” said Hall, who is now general manager of Regional Steel. “When Apple introduced the iPhone, that advantage didn’t last because of all the imitations that followed. The only true sustainable advantage is the people you have working for your company.”

 

That philosophy was a crucial part of why Hall and Victoria-based Regional Steel Products Inc. were honored at the Leadership Excellence and Development 2017 conference awards on Feb. 7 and 8 in Nashville, Tenn. The LEAD awards recognize the world’s top leadership practitioners and rank the top 10 percent in each leadership category in the Winner’s Circle. Hundreds of companies and programs apply for the awards each year, and winners and rankings are published in the February issue of Leadership Excellence Essentials magazine.

 

Regional Steel was named to the Winner’s Circle as fifth out of over 100 eligible companies in the Best Customer Service Leadership Training Program category, which included businesses such as Southwest Airlines, Synchrony Financial and CIGNA Corp.

Hall was named to the Winner’s Circle and ranked 12th in the Top Corporate Leader Award for leaders over the age of 35 out of over 350 qualified candidates. Hall earned his Strategic Master of Business Administration in management from the UHV School of Business Administration in 2004.

 

“This recognition of Chad Hall as a leader is a proud moment for the UHV School of Business Administration,” said Farhang Niroomand, dean of the school. “He is one of our outstanding alumni, and it is exciting to see his work at Regional Steel yield such positive results.”

Hall has relied on the training he received at UHV. The strategies he learned while earning his degree have helped him every step of the way, he said.

“It is so gratifying to see Regional Steel and Victoria listed among all the other international companies that received awards,” Hall said. “All that success is only possible because of how UHV has helped me shape my career. I am proud of the progress the employees have made, and I’m proud to be a UHV graduate.”

 

LEAD 2017 is a two-day leadership forum designed to inspire leadership in people from all walks of life. Leaders attend in person as well as through live simulcast to hundreds of remote host sites internationally.

 

This is the second time Regional Steel was honored as part of the Top 10 percent in the customer service category, and it is the first time Hall has received an individual award. In addition to the award, Hall was invited to conduct two roundtable discussions at the conference. The discussions covered customer service leadership and how he received his leadership award.

“A lot of big-name companies came to the roundtable to learn what they could take back to their own companies to increase performance,” Hall said. “We talked about servant leadership, why quality trumps everything, and how to focus on what customers value the most.”

 

Hall was nominated by Nikki Felcman, human resources and payroll coordinator at Regional Steel. The decision to nominate him for recognition was an easy one, she said. When Hall joined the company, he took a genuine interest in every department and started implementing changes to improve performance, especially in the area of quality control.

 

A big part of the success goes back to Hall’s emphasis on the importance of taking care of employees and encouraging them to do their best, Felcman said. The people in the warehouse are proud of their successful record, and they work together to double check orders and keep that momentum going.

 

“Our quality control has only improved under this program,” Felcman said. “We used to have as many as 17 delivery issues a month, and each mistake incurred a significant cost. Now, we’ve gone more than 290 days without a mistake. That kind of improvement has completely changed how our employees operate in the warehouse, and it builds a reputation of reliability with our customers.”

 
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region, offers courses leading to 70 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and concentrations in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as a teaching site in Katy, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. Since its founding in 1973, UHV has provided students with a quality university education from excellent faculty at an affordable price.
]]> NewsWire Wed, 22 Feb 2017 14:28:00 GMT UHV announces graduates from fall 2016 https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/333008/ https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/333008/ The University of Houston-Victoria has awarded 407 degrees to undergraduate and graduate students who completed their coursework in the fall semester.

Undergraduate candidates with honors wore gold braids over their robes during a Dec. 10 graduation ceremony at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy.

Students graduating cum laude, with honor, had grade-point averages of 3.5 to 3.67 on a 4.0 scale. Students graduating magna cum laude, with high honor, had GPAs of 3.68 to 3.84, and those graduating summa cum laude, with highest honor, had a GPA of 3.85 or higher.

Graduates by school are listed below with their hometown and any honors received.

SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Master of Arts
Ruby Reinelle Landers, Houston
Brittany Moreno, Richmond

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
Olive Sandra Jackson, Port Mansfield
Trista Sue Marbach-Korczynski, Rosenberg
Lindsey Thurmond Guevara, Sugar Land
Stacie Marie Garcia, Victoria

Master of Fine Arts
Robert W. Lynch Jr., Houston

Master of Science
Michael Daniel McDougal, Austin
Siddhi K. Patel, Cypress
Akanksha Garg, Houston
Francis Mawelle, Houston
Kun Zhu, Houston
Matthew A. Bounds, Humble
Stacey Gonzalez, Missouri City
Lucas Bradley McElroy, Richmond
Suzana Barde, Stafford
Shobha Bhange, Sugar Land

Bachelor of Arts
Jeremy Kevin Clark, Cypress
Brooke Amber-Synnovia Jackson, DeSoto, Magna Cum Laude
Justine Lea Jarratt, Edna, Cum Laude
Robin Lynn Palacios, Edna
Karleigh Jo Krpec, El Campo
Linda Marie Tompkins, El Campo, Cum Laude
Vania Lamanna, Garden Grove, Calif.
Milina Koch, Leander
Theresa Braden Hennessey, Port Lavaca
Miguel V. Pedesclaux, Richmond
Karen Ariel Borrego, San Antonio, Magna Cum Laude
Irma Alejandra Barajas Bueno, Sealy
Vilma Collins, Sugar Land
Candace Leigh Macha, Sugar Land
Fatima Qadri, University Place, Wash.
Lacy Lynn Woods, Van Vleck
Claire Elizabeth Vivian Klinkerman, Victoria
Graciela Lizette Ordonez, Victoria
Daniel Leonel Vela, Victoria, Magna Cum Laude

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences
Daniel G. Olvera, Blessing
Stephen Ryan Reynolds, Conroe, Cum Laude
Cynthia I. Babineaux-Hall, Houston, Magna Cum Laude
Oswaldo Gallegos, Houston
David Jordan Goldstein Hill, Humble
Joseph Otto Moehler, Inez, Summa Cum Laude
Ghodratollah Azimian, Katy
Antonio G. Gonzalez, Missouri City
Joseph W. Lewis, Missouri City
Christopher Alan Perry, Richmond
Yolaine Isabelle Wohlrab, Richmond, Cum Laude
Michael Thomas Prunty, Sugar Land, Cum Laude
Marcela Barrera Gonzales, Victoria
Rachel Marie Goslin, Victoria
Brian Hernandez, Victoria, Magna Cum Laude
Paul Thomas Miller, Victoria, Cum Laude
Joseph Allan Sampson, Victoria, Magna Cum Laude
Angela C. Alanis, Wharton
Jennifer Kallus, Yorktown, Magna Cum Laude

Bachelor of Science
Alexandra Nicole Holland, Arp
Destiny C. Mayfield, Bastrop
Sean W. Simmons, Bay City, Summa Cum Laude
Patricia Sanchez, Beeville
Benjamin J. Massingill, Brazoria
Zuhura Mbengwa, Broussard, La.
Patricia M. Negrete, Cedar Park
Blakely Gorham Keppner, Cypress
Latameron Shavonna Johnson, Dallas
Megan Alyse Socha, El Campo
George Thomas Gibson V, Floresville
Vivian Rose Perez, Goliad
Shahab Adineh, Houston, Cum Laude
William Wortham Belt, Houston, Magna Cum Laude
Rupesh Bista, Houston, Magna Cum Laude
Sunday Edose, Houston, Magna Cum Laude
Howard Franklynn Adonis Gidden II, Houston, Summa Cum Laude
Giovanni Nunez, Houston, Cum Laude
Obioma Friday Ogu, Houston
Ankita C. Patel, Houston
Nikita Mahesh Ramji, Houston, Cum Laude
Bria Dabrion Reece-Winston, Houston
Jessica Josephine Rodriguez, Houston
Miesha Vanesha-Andrea Salas-Moton, Houston
Clifford Thomas Franklin, Inez
Mary Kathleen Carrol-Moreno, Irving, Cum Laude
Audrey Deneen August, Katy, Cum Laude
Kristin Renee Cortez, Katy
Lauren Michelle Figueroa, Katy
Sravani Kona, Katy, Cum Laude
Judith C. Miller, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Jessica Peralta, Katy
Shalanda Rose Hyde, Killeen
Rachael Marie Blasig, La Grange
Clarissa Marie McMullen, Lajitas
Amanda Carroll, Las Vegas, Nev.
Christy Noel Copeland, Longview
Judit Platero, Manvel
Zeeshan A. Qavi, Meadows Place, Summa Cum Laude
Adriel Tambiye Afiesimama, Missouri City, Magna Cum Laude
Jeremy Paul Bentulan, Missouri City
Gabriel C. Emegha, Missouri City, Magna Cum Laude
Arhant Ghosh, Missouri City
Richard Aaron Rosenzweig, Missouri City
Mary Katherine Kubicek, Moulton
Brandon Wade Robeson, Needville
Heather Anne Perez, New Braunfels, Magna Cum Laude
Melanie Breanna Abraham, Port Lavaca
Taylor Christian Novak, Port Lavaca, Summa Cum Laude
Natalia Fierro, Richmond
Kassim M. Ghazi, Richmond, Summa Cum Laude
Danielle Teri Hughes, Richmond
Diana Khvang, Richmond
Mitali Patel, Richmond
Rudra Alkesh Patel, Richmond
John Terhune, Richmond, Cum Laude
Lloyd J. Bernander, Rosenberg
Laura Bond Dickinson, Rosenberg
Sarah Elaine Johanson, Rosenberg
Timothy Paul Johnson, Rosenberg
Maria Magdalena Sanchez, Rosenberg
Gordon Alvin Solis, Rosenberg
Saira Ali Vasquez, Rosharon
Darleen Smith, San Antonio
Amber Nicole Ramirez, Shiner
Shahzad Ali Sayed, Stafford
Diana F. Abil Mona, Sugar Land, Cum Laude
Daniel Colton Cowart, Sugar Land
Delma Mathew, Sugar Land, Cum Laude
Mehrab Mursalin Rahman, Sugar Land, Summa Cum Laude
Jennifer P. Sanchez Lozano, Universal City
Johnna Marie Burgman, Victoria
Jane Chigozirim Chibiko, Victoria
Andre X. Del Bosque, Victoria
John James Edwards, Victoria, Cum Laude
Gary Wayne Frederick, Victoria, Magna Cum Laude
Ashley Hernandez, Victoria
Kathryn Lara Munoz, Victoria
Raelynn Chantell Pena, Victoria
Christopher Anthony Perez, Victoria
Cheyenne Taylor Repper, Victoria, Summa Cum Laude
Katherine Jean Rodriguez, Victoria, Cum Laude
Melanie Janelle Rodriguez, Victoria
Tony Guadalupe Villegas, Victoria, Cum Laude
Marquita Rogers Perkins, Wharton

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Master of Business Administration
Charles Christian King, Charlotte, N.C.
Ashraf Soliman, Cypress
Lance Harrison Smiga, Edna
Karla Rossana Pineda, Fullerton, Calif.
Lisa Dixon Appleby, Fulshear
Nihad Alibegovic, Houston
Mohamad Jimmy Jamil Badaoui, Houston
Kalidou Bocoum, Houston
Duncan Cooper, Houston
Pamela K. Erwin, Houston
Benjamin Lee Feauto, Houston
Gus J. Forward, Houston
Kingsley Okeoma Isiguzo, Houston
Kirandeep Kaur, Houston
Elfreda King, Houston
John Franc Kutesakwe, Houston
Maureen MooYen Leung, Houston
Jonathan C. Lucas, Houston
Sebastian Millan, Houston
Magali Nadine Ekome Ndong, Houston
Chinenye Oranusi, Houston
Benjamin Sanchez, Houston
Vijayan Selvaraj, Houston
Magdalena May Shengena, Houston
Chad Hollister Stuttz, Houston
Adam J. Tabor, Houston
Anand Vinod Trivedi, Houston
Chukwudi Bryan Ughanze, Houston
Natalia Vornic, Houston
Nadine Cantara Cote, Katy
Mahnaz May Eskandar, Katy
Jill Ellen Kinsey, Katy
Suhan Li, Katy
Jason Michael Mazoch, Katy
Sharareh H. Ramji, Katy
Alejandro X. Sequeira, Katy
Dhaval S. Shah, Katy
Jayaraman Veeraraghavalu, Katy
Yudha Yudhiana, Katy
Wendy Jobana Zambrano, Katy
Amanda Saenz Carrola, Leander
Jose Ismael Medina, McKinney
Amy T. Kao, Meadows Place
Toral F. Sindha, Missouri City
Miranda Hutchins, Pearland
Ushma Saraf, Port Arthur
Nileshpuri Jivanpuri Goswami, Richmond
Tanner Lee Howell, Richmond
Jade Dominique Garcia Darlington, Rosenberg
Lee Grant Lytle, Rosenberg
Robyn Pace, Rosenberg
Neha Mandiratta, Sandy Springs, Ga.
Afamefuna Sullivan Ezeokoli, Santa Maria, Calif.
Megan Ann Kelley, Sealy
Horace L. Calasara, Sugar Land
Shahanaz Salim Dossani, Sugar Land
Aimee Nhu Han-Cheng, Sugar Land
Kerri Maria Kavourgias, Sugar Land
Tiffany La, Sugar Land
Ehtisham Mansur, Sugar Land
William Andrew Owen, Sugar Land
Vivian Sampaio, Sugar Land
Chad Michael Slaydon, Sugar Land
Shobana Srinivasan, Sugar Land
Vonne Nguyen Tarverdi, Sugar Land
Moiz Kamruddin Velani, Sugar Land
Ezhilarasan Venkatesan, Sugar Land
Marley Brea Moehrig, Victoria
Adonai Baruc Hernandez-Celedon, Weslaco

Master of Science
Reashelle Renee Williams, Conroe
Marilyn Kellie Marshall Wishert, Petal, Miss.

Bachelor of Business Administration
Emily Lilljedahl McKnight, Arlington, Cum Laude
Wesley McKnight, Arlington
Vanessa Mariza Green, Bay City
Rebecca Reyna Silvas, Beeville,
Jessica Ellen Wilson, Brenham, Cum Laude
Courtney Jorday Thomas, Brookshire
Denton Kade Lesak, Edna
Isabel Aguilera, Houston
Myra Elizabeth Alderete, Houston
Afreen Chowdhury, Houston
Monica Tyrell Gary, Houston
Beatriz E. Gaviria, Houston, Cum Laude
Michelle Elizabeth Hernandez, Houston, Cum Laude
Kamilla Anna Lee, Houston
Hoa Thanh Mai, Houston
Thanh Van Mai, Houston, Summa Cum Laude
Duong Van Pham, Houston
Jamie Nickole Praiswater, Houston
Josh Aaron Ratcliff, Houston
Saar Alexander Shwartz, Houston, Summa Cum Laude
Jaclyn Renee Thrower, Houston
Kasi Lea Jobes, Inez
Matthew Anthony Cianciosi, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Eduardo E. Canale De Gracia, Katy
Ariadna Diaz, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Taylor Alexandra Flores, Katy
Justin William Jones, Katy, Cum Laude
Meghan Lee Mueller, Katy
Haydee R. Velez, Katy
Michael Anthony Vernon, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Tia Shuntel Tate, Killeen
Richard Patrick Harrigan, La Feria
Nicole Lee Genova, Leander, Cum Laude
Sarah Pearl Heraldez, Little Elm, Cum Laude
Dana Lenore Perriman, Lubbock, Magna Cum Laude
Christopher Paul Quarve, McKinney
William Keel Sager, Meyersville
Jermon A. Hamilton, Missouri City
Phillip Kneupper, Missouri City, Cum Laude
Kimberly Oyoung, Missouri City
Brooke Danielle Brasseaux, Orange
Ranjana Sharma, Pearland
Courtney Mechelle Gatlin, Richmond, Cum Laude
Jina Khan Jan, Richmond
Quentin M. Kiper, Richmond
Aury Amelia Medina, Richmond, Cum Laude
Benjamin Thomas Mooney, Richmond, Cum Laude
Claudia Chirinos Pickmann, Richmond, Summa Cum Laude
Gricelda Ramia, Richmond
Theresa Mary Sharkey, Richmond, Cum Laude
Taylor Bevil Smith, Richmond
Brandon Corey Guardiola, Rosenberg
Sabra Higgs, Rosenberg
Olga Martinez, Rosenberg
Arturo Ramirez-Pena, Rosenberg
Andrea Natalie Serrano, Rosenberg
Miguel Angel Davila, San Antonio, Magna Cum Laude
Parikshit G. Ballal, Sugar Land, Cum Laude
Stephanie Lorraine Beltran, Sugar Land
Matthew Benjamin Easterling, Sugar Land, Magna Cum Laude
Annerys Falcon Herrera, Sugar Land, Magna Cum Laude
Safia Fatima Hyder, Sugar Land, Magna Cum Laude
Lauren Daley Jones, Sugar Land
Spogmay Farhad Khaliq, Sugar Land
Derek Taylor Krewson, Sugar Land
Sicily Lynn McCambridge, Sugar Land
Amir Mohammed, Sugar Land
Stacey Lynn O’Connor-Post, Sugar Land, Summa Cum Laude
Kevin Joseph Paramore, Sugar Land
Sarah Elise Perello, Sugar Land
Michelle E. Severson, Sugar Land
Jennifer L. Bankhead, Victoria
Trevor Belcik, Victoria
Kirstie Lynn Bis, Victoria
Mathew Robert Center, Victoria
Hillary Elizabeth Cisneros, Victoria, Cum Laude
Veronica Lynn Davidson, Victoria
Katherine Michelle Ferguson, Victoria
Robert A. Gleinser, Victoria
Lindsey Anne Hernandez, Victoria
Kadie N. Johnson, Victoria
Samantha Louise Penland, Victoria, Cum Laude
Elena Marie Sanderson, Victoria
Rebekah Grace Edith Smith, Victoria, Cum Laude
Spenser D. Strnadel, Victoria
Kassandra Marie Cervantes, Wharton, Summa Cum Laude
Kellie Marie McClain, Wharton

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, HEALTH PROFESSIONS & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Master of Education
Tabitha Nkechi Ejinkonye, Coppell
Brittany Braden, Cuero
Amber Lynn Raabe, Eagle Lake
Alejandra Campos, Houston
Angelica M. Gutierrez, Houston
Emily Xinxin He, Houston
Ambarly Nashara French Lott, Houston
Veasna Sek, Houston
Deidre Huff-Davis, Humble
Daniela Colburn, Katy
Rebecca Mackey, Katy
Rachael Angelita Ruiz-Carranza, Katy
Angela Simmons, Katy
Omar R. Torres, Katy
Lynda C. Peterson, League City
Amanda Brooke Audas, Mansfield
Judy Jeanine James, McKinney
Roshunda Monique Hartison, Missouri City
Tamesha Deshaun Rivers, Missouri City
Kelsey Varie Brown, Pawnee
Tywana Monique Pitre, Pearland
Amanda Kaye Massey, Point Comfort
Kelly Nichole Hataway, Port Lavaca
Sherron Kay McGrew, Port Lavaca
Theresa G. Rose, Port Lavaca
Alfa Irene Schultz, Port Lavaca
Randall M. Carlson, Richmond
Brittany Williams Osby, Richmond
Candice Jill Conger, Rosenberg
Eva Yvonne White, Rosenberg
Ryan Russell Fontanella, San Antonio
Leslie Dawn Shirhall, Seadrift
Courtney Ann Kunath, Sugar Land
Debra Petrisky Lewis, Sugar Land
Christina Marie Simpson, Sugar Land
Charlene Davis Murphree, Thomaston
Joslyn Wanza Jenkins, Tomball
Julia Caroline Moore, Victoria
Jamie Lynn Salas, Victoria
Rachel Theresa Striedel, Victoria
Kristen Renee Sharp, Wharton

Bachelor of Science
Lauren Marie Von Boeckmann, Deer Park, Cum Laude
Jessica Gonzalez, Houston

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Yvonne Benavides, Brownsville
Megan Corrin Proctor, Cuero, Summa Cum Laude
Veronica Marie Rios, Cuero
Cassidy Blythe Marek, Edna
Rachel Kristina Fohn, Goliad, Cum Laude
Lisa Claire DeLeon, Hallettsville, Summa Cum Laude
Patricia Barreda, Houston
Shayda Elizabeth Hajiebrahimi, Houston
Robin Alice Hotard-Tahiri, Houston, Summa Cum Laude
Wynevester Kasha Jenkins, Houston, Magna Cum Laude
Jalinda Kristen Oestreich, Houston, Summa Cum Laude
Sarah Schaper, Houston, Magna Cum Laude
Jennifer Trujillo, Houston
Anitra Ussery, Houston
Andrea Carolina Abreu, Katy, Cum Laude
Jeffrey Donald Barber, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Aubry Ana Barone, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Leslie Renee Buckmaster, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Emma Leigh Elwell, Katy
Constance Victoria Howard, Katy, Cum Laude
Lauren Kelly, Katy
Michelle L. Riddle, Katy
Carmen Celeste Sembroski, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Karis Wilson, Katy, Summa Cum Laude
Makenna Raye Krenek, Midfield, Summa Cum Laude
Danielle Aparicio, Palacios, Cum Laude
Lupita Reyes, Palacios, Cum Laude
Victoria M. Behrens, Port Lavaca, Magna Cum Laude
Mariah Nicole Sanders, Port Lavaca
Juanita Arce, Richmond
Kelly Catherine Evans, Richmond
Angela Ruth LePine, Richmond, Summa Cum Laude
Kacie Elizabeth Mechler, Richmond
Alexis Sharpe, Richmond
Ebony Ann Kimble, Rosenberg
Tyler Jordan Masterson, Rosenberg, Magna Cum Laude
Gul Raza-Shah Musavi, Rosenberg, Summa Cum Laude
Kyle Jordan Bludau, Schulenburg
Gabriela Ortega, Sealy, Cum Laude
Kayla Elizabeth Hanson, Shiner, Magna Cum Laude
Rebekah Joy Lusk, Sugar Land, Cum Laude
Sheeba Sultan Usmani, Sugar Land, Summa Cum Laude
Erin Marie Baca, Victoria
Marie E. Elizondo-Jimenez, Victoria, Summa Cum Laude
Dianne Lynn Garza, Victoria
Gerald Marcus Garza, Victoria, Magna Cum Laude
Blake Allen Jacobusse, Victoria, Cum Laude
Jennifer Lee Martinez, Victoria, Magna Cum Laude
Carrie Dawn Parkinson, Victoria, Magna Cum Laude
Brandi Ann Smith, Victoria, Summa Cum Laude
Emilee Marie Vega, Victoria, Summa Cum Laude
Dana Lee Wright, Victoria
Mercedes Noel Dreitner, Weimar, Summa Cum Laude
Lauren Rose Krenek, Wharton
Samantha Jean Yackel, Wharton, Cum Laude
Morgan Kalynn Flessner, Yoakum, Magna Cum Laude
Michael S. Malik, Yoakum
Miranda Fay Saunders, Yorktown, Summa Cum Laude

]]> NewsWire Wed, 22 Feb 2017 12:41:38 GMT UHV enrollment continues to climb in Victoria https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/333011/ https://www.uhvconnect.org/news/333011/ Preliminary spring enrollment figures show the University of Houston-Victoria has 3,967 students, a 1.5 percent increase over last spring overall and a 2.5 percent climb in Victoria.

Enrollment grew in several areas, including the number of students taking face-to-face classes in Victoria and the number of online students.

UHV has added more face-to-face classes to accommodate students on the Victoria campus. According to preliminary numbers, more than 1,300 students are taking classes in Victoria this semester, a figure that is 18 percent higher than the spring 2015 semester.

“It’s really encouraging to see more students coming to campus to take classes and participate in events and student activities,” UHV President Vic Morgan said. “A cornerstone of being a regional, comprehensive university is having a vibrant campus where students come to learn, study and socialize.”

The university also made strides in retention. The number of freshmen from the fall who are returning to school in the spring is up 8 percent compared with a year ago.

“We are seeing really good retention rates across the board,” said Jay Lambert, UHV vice president for enrollment management and student affairs. “We’ve implemented several measures during the past few years that are aimed at encouraging students to return. It’s wonderful to see students stick with it and progress toward graduation.”

In addition to having more students, UHV’s students are taking more courses. The number of total semester credit hours is nearly 37,000, a 2.5 percent jump from spring 2016.

UHV also continues to be a popular choice for online classes. In fact, online course enrollment grew 7.7 percent this spring compared with spring 2016.

A shake-up in UHV’s Houston-area teaching locations may have contributed to more online students. In the fall, UHV consolidated its Greater Houston operations to the UHV Katy Campus, 2002 W. Grand Parkway N., Building 2.

Lambert said some of the students who took face-to-face classes at UH Sugar Land – when UHV offered programs there – decided to take online classes instead of driving to Katy. While it’s going to take Katy residents some time to get familiar with UHV, Lambert expects to see growth long term.

“Our charge from the UH System chancellor is to grow Victoria, and we are doing that,” he said. “But Katy also is incredibly important to us, so we want to grow there as well. We absolutely want to serve students from that area.”

Final spring enrollment figures and a breakdown of student demographics will be released later in the semester after certification from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

]]> NewsWire Wed, 8 Feb 2017 14:43:32 GMT