Woman of Indian origin to enter Texas Hall of Fame

Indian-American Renu Khator, the Chancellor and President of University of Houston (UH), will enter the Texas Hall of Fame on October 21 this year for her contributions to the state.

“Thank you, Governor! I am honoured and humbled," Khator tweeted in response to the tribute, according to Business Standard.

Born in Farukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, Khator graduated from the University of Kanpur in 1973, and then moved to the US, where she was the first Indian-American to head a university. She changed UH’s image as ‘Cougar High’ to align it with the nation's top-tier research universities.

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In her eight years at the university, she brought in highly qualified members of the national academies of science and engineering to teach. Throwing herself into upgrading the university, she made such an impact that the number of students increased – and so did their academic scores by the time they graduated.

Khator is only the second female president of UH after Marguerite Ross Barnett, but the first foreign-born president.  She is the eighth Chancellor and the 13^th President of UH.

“Whether in public service, the arts, business or education, these leaders have inspired generations of Texans to reach new heights, achieve new goals and elevate the Lone Star State. I would like to thank each of the honourees and their families for their enduring contributions to the State of Texas," Governor Greg Abbott said about the new entrants to the Texas Hall of Fame, including Khator.

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Any native or current resident of Texas, living or deceased who believe to have made important contributions in the betterment of the state of Texas can be nominated biannually for the Texas Hall of Fame.

Feature image credit: New Indian Express