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 As I approach my 15th year at UH-Downtown, I find myself reflecting on the vast and exciting changes I have witnessed in this city and this institution. When I came to UHD in 1992, the first George Bush was president and the country had just emerged from the Gulf War. Locally, Bob Lanier was serving the first year of his term as Mayor of Houston, a city of 1.6 million that had just topped Philadelphia to become the fourth largest city in the United States. Unemployment was high and rising, but the largest problem people saw facing the city was crime. And, the Gulf Coast was rebuilding in the aftermath of hurricane Andrew.Today, another George Bush is in the White House and we are in another war in the Middle East. Bill White has taken the helm of a city that has a greater metropolitan area of 4 million. Unemployment is high and traffic is now seen as the biggest hurdle for the city to overcome. And, again, the Gulf Coast is rebuilding in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes. While these facts may make it appear that we have come full circle, let me point out the most striking change I have seen that is not reflected in these data, but which has a great impact on and offers great opportunities to higher education in general and UHD in particular. That change has been twofold: a seismic transformation in demography of the Houston area and the increase in diversity in this city. Diversity has been a tagline for Houston and UHD for so long that many of us take it for granted. We sometimes forget how unusual it still is to find our kind of diversity on college campuses around the nation and we don't always realize how great a harbinger it is of what lies ahead for this country. For years UHD, with our diverse student body and urban mission, has been pointed to by higher education visionaries as a model for the university of the future, not because our students are of varying ethnic backgrounds, but because our students are young and old, freshmen and transfer, children and parents. And, they are the leaders of our future. As I review again the shifting demographics of this city, state and nation, I am reminded of this fact and of the immense responsibility institutions like UHD bear toward these new leaders. So, UHD strives to prepare these students for the world they will face after graduation, a world in which cultural and geo-political borders are melting, sociological structures are changing and economic bedrocks are shifting. We prepare them by offering timely and innovative degree programs, opportunities for international study and a chance to learn with and from people who are not just like them. UHD welcomes you to become a part of this exciting time of growth and opportunity. Whether you are a student looking for an excellent education, a member of the alumni seeking a way to give back to your alma mater or a member of the community wishing to become involved in our mission, there is a place for you at UHD.  Dr. Max Castillo, President |
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