WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) is proud to announce the University of Houston President Renu Khator is the recipient of its 2015 "Excellence in Leadership Award." President Khator will receive this honor at the organization's national convention on September 21 in Houston, Texas.
The Excellence in Leadership Award pays tribute to an extraordinary woman who has devoted her professional career and personal life to revolutionizing the world of business, education, philanthropy, or government. Previous honorees include U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, iconic journalist and talk show host Cristina Saralegui and seven-time Grammy-Award winning artist Gloria Estefan.
"We are thrilled to present President Khator with our Excellence in Leadership Award. As the first woman to lead the University of Houston (UH) system, and the first Indian immigrant to oversee a major research university in the United States, President Khator has not only broken the glass ceiling, but her commitment to education has served as an inspiration for Americans, women, and immigrants of all backgrounds," said USHCC President & CEO Javier Palomarez. "President Khator's outstanding achievements underscore the vision, intellect, discipline, and resolve of women in leadership. The USHCC is proud to honor President Khator with this award, and we look forward to celebrating the contributions of all our nation's trailblazing women during our Women in Business and Leadership Luncheon."
"I share this award with the faculty and staff of the University of Houston and the people of Houston, who have all done so much to help me develop my leadership skills," UH President Khator said. "I am particularly honored to receive this recognition from the U. S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce because UH has such a serious commitment to the Hispanic community and, I'm proud to say, has the distinction of being one of only three Tier One public research universities in the country that also qualifies for Hispanic-Serving Institution status."
The University of Houston has nearly 43,000 students, 300 academic programs and a budget of more than $1.5 billion. During President Khator's tenure, the university became a member of the Texas Medical Center. It also launched its 75-acre Energy Research Park initiative—an academic research and startup hub for the energy industry—as part of a $400 million campus expansion program.
To learn more about the USHCC National Convention, visit www.ushccconvention.com
About the USHCC
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of our nation's entrepreneurs. The USHCC advocates on behalf of nearly 3.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that together contribute in excess of $486 billion to the American economy, each year. As the leading organization of its kind, the USHCC serves as an umbrella to more than 200 local chambers and business associations across the nation, and partners with more than 240 major corporations.
For more information, visit www.ushcc.com.