Skip to main content

vitalalumni 2021 – 2022

​​​​Current vitalalumni​

vitalalumni logo

vitalalumni brings CPS graduates back to campus to share their professional and personal journeys—from life before UHD, to their time at UHD, and beyond graduation. How do their stories and experiences reflect your own? Join us to hear from those who’ve gone before you and be inspired by the enduring tradition and impact of the UHD community.


Please select the title of the vitalalumni event to be directed to its video presentation.
 

vitalalumni with Congressman Troy Nehls
September 7th, 2021 from 5:30-7pm

Congressman Troy Nehls is a proud 2011 graduate of UHD’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. Currently, he represents the 22nd Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. His district includes portions of Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Harris Counties. Congressman Nehls served in both Iraq and Afghanistan retiring with the rank of Major and as the recipient of two Bronze Star medals. From 2004-2012, he served two terms as the Constable for Ft. Bend County Precinct 4. In 2012, he was elected as Fort Bend County Sheriff. In 2016, he was re-elected and completed his second term in December of 2020. In 2021, he was officially sworn in as Congressman for Texas’ 22nd District!

 

A Non-Conformist Approach to Life:
A Chat with Houston City Councilmember Mike Knox

March 29th, 2022 from 5:30-7pm

UHD alumni and current Houston Council Member Mike Knox, At Large Position 1 will join us to discuss his non-conformist approach to life! Council Member Knox ended his high school education, received his GED and joined the United States Air Force. He then earned his college degree from UHD in 1990 in General Studies. Mike realized he had an interest in public safety and crime, which influenced him to join the Houston Police Department as a Police Officer. During his HPD tenure, Council Member Knox worked many gang activity cases which resulted in the creation of HPD's first fulltime Gang Unit. He quickly became a gang expert and authored a book , “Gangsta in the House - Understanding Gang Culture" and public speaker touring the country. Council Member Knox, then left HPD 1995 to peruse a career as a consulting and public speaker on gang youth violence. After 20 years as a public speaker, he ran for office in 2015.
Council Member Mike Knox was sworn in and took office in January 2016.  Mike believes that good government requires good judgment, common sense, reason and logic. Council Member Knox works daily to represent the best interests of the citizens of Houston. Council Member Mike Knox is married to the same woman for 45yrs and is the father of Jason M. Knox, who passed in the line of duty as a Houston Police Officer in May of 2020.

For further information contact Steven Villano, director of the Center for Public Service and Community Research at villanos@uhd.edu.