Renu Khator

Renu Khator (Hindi: रेणु खाटोर; born June 29, 1955) is the eighth chancellor of the University of Houston System and the thirteenth president of the University of Houston. She is the first foreign-born president of the university, and the second woman to hold the position. Khator is also the first Indian American to lead a major research university in the United States.

Prior to moving to the United States, Khator earned a bachelor's degree from the Kanpur University in 1973. Moving soon thereafter, she attended Purdue University, and received Master of Arts in political science and a Doctor of Philosophy in political science and public administration in 1975 and 1985, respectively.

Beginning in 1985, Khator began a 22-year career affiliation with the University of South Florida. She served in various positions, culminating in her position as provost and senior vice president of the university.

On October 15, 2007, Khator emerged as the sole-finalist for the vacant dual-position as chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston. On November 5, 2007, she was confirmed by the University of Houston System Board of Regents for the dual-position. Renu Khator officially took her position on January 15, 2008 and became the third person to hold a dual position of University of Houston System chancellor and University of Houston president.

On January 13, 2011, Khator was appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas board of directors, to serve out the remainder of an unexpired term ending December 31, 2011.

Khator was born in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh (India). Through a traditional arranged marriage, she married her husband, Suresh, in 1974. Suresh—another Purdue graduate—holds a doctorate in engineering, and is a professor and associate dean of the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering. The Khators have two daughters, Pooja and Parul, who are both ophthalmologists. As chancellor of UH System and president of the University of Houston, she takes residence in the Wortham House provided for her and the family in the Broadacres neighborhood of Houston.