Meet the 2026 Honorees
Each year, UH Alumni recognizes a distinguished group of individuals whose leadership, service, and professional excellence reflect the very best of the University of Houston.
Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes individuals whose professional accomplishments bring credit to the University of Houston.
Ruhana Prasad Chikatla (’10)
Ruhana Prasad Chikatla (’10) is a senior federal technology and engineering leader advancing national defense and public health systems. At the U.S. Department of the Navy, she leads large-scale modernization and risk governance initiatives.
Meet Ruhana
Nathan Hale Fowler (’96, Hon.D. ’25)
Nathan Hale Fowler (’96, Hon.D. ’25) is an internationally recognized oncologist who has advanced cancer treatment through clinical research. He now serves as chief medical officer at BostonGene and founded the Halo House Foundation.
Meet Nathan
Barbara (Hon.D. ’21) & Andy (’68, Hon.D. ’21) Gessner
Barbara (Hon.D. ’21) and Andy (’68, Hon.D. ’21) Gessner are transformational philanthropists whose $20 million gift established the Gessner College of Nursing. Their support advances scholarships, faculty and research addressing the nursing shortage.
Meet Barbara & Andy
Sam Schreiber (’74)
Sam Schreiber (’74) has built a distinguished career in banking, finance and economic development. He serves as senior adviser at Trustar Bank and holds leadership roles supporting the University of Houston.
Meet Sam
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals for their loyalty and efforts to further the goals and support of UH Alumni programs.
Richard Whiteley (’93, J.D. ’99)
Richard Whiteley (’93, J.D. ’99) is a respected attorney and chair of Bracewell LLP’s construction litigation practice group. He also serves as president of the University of Houston Law Foundation Board.
Meet Richard
Jeremy Wladis (’86)
Jeremy Wladis (’86) is a nationally recognized hospitality entrepreneur and founder of The Restaurant Group. He has supported UH through decades of alumni engagement and leadership.
Meet Jeremy
BILLIE SCHNEIDER OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD
The Billie Schneider Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizes individuals who exemplify a spirit of volunteerism and advance the mission of UH Alumni.
Maria Jorgelina Foglietta Barrett (’05)
Maria Jorgelina Foglietta Barrett (’05) is a dedicated volunteer and longtime leader of the UHAAF New York Alumni Network. She has built one of UH’s most active out-of-state alumni communities.
Meet Maria
Explore the 71st Annual Alumni Awards
Read More About the Honorees
Learn more about this year’s distinguished Alumni Awards honorees.
Read More →Highlights from the 71st Annual Alumni Awards
Watch highlights from the 71st Annual Alumni Awards celebration.
Watch Video →View the Photo Gallery
Browse the full photo album from the 71st Annual Alumni Awards.
View Gallery →Past Honorees
| James L. Sibley (F.S. ’49) 1949 | Ernest Mayeux (F.S. ’52) 1951 | Jack Valenti (A.S. ’42, B.S. ’46, H ’02) 1952 |
| Sherwood Crane 1953 | Johnny Goyen (’47) 1954 | William W. Sherrill (F.S. ’50) 1955 |
| Charles A. Saunders (’45) 1956 | Joel H. Berry, Jr. (’42) 1957 | Harry H. Montgomery, Jr. (’40) 1958 |
| Thomas Menefee (F.S. ’42) 1959 | John J. Toomey (’50, J.D. ’69) 1960 | Ralph Poling (’56) 1961 |
| Walter M. Rainey, Jr. (’49) 1962 | Roger W. Jeffery, Sr. (F.S. ’38) 1963 | Judge Roy Hofheinz 1967 |
| John McGivney (’47) 1968 | Congressman Bob Casey 1969 | Dan Rather (F.S. ’57) 1969 |
| Arleigh Templeton (M.Ed. ’50, Ph.D. ’60) 1969 | LeRoy Melcher, Sr. (’33) 1970 | Hon. Welcome Wilson, Sr. (’49) 1970 |
| Harry H. Hedges, Jr. (’40) 1971 | Elsa Rosborough (’46, M.L. ’63) 1971 | Larry Blyden (’47) 1972 |
| Judge Bill Elliott (J.D. ’51) 1972 | Reverend Rene H. Gracida (’50) 1972 | Guy V. Lewis (’47) 1973 |
| Judge Wendell A. Odom (J.D. ’51) 1973 | Judge Criss Cole (J.D. ’54) 1974 | Howard W. Pollock (J.D. ’69) 1975 |
| John B. Van Ness (’51, ’56) 1975 | Byron G. “Pappy” Bond (’50) 1976 | Rabbi Hyman Judah Schachtel (Ed.D. ’48) 1977 |
| Roy Wiese (’54) 1978 | Dave Williams 1978 | Robert W. Baldwin (’47, ’49) 1979 |
| Archie Bennett, Jr. (’62) 1979 | Elvin Hayes (’85) 1980 | Hon. Leonard Rauch (F.S. ’47, H ’07) 1980 |
| Richard “Racehorse” Haynes (J.D. ’56) 1981 | Kenneth Reese (’54) 1981 | Hon. Charles B. Marino (’50) 1982 |
| Kathryn J. Whitmire (’68, M.S. ’70) 1982 | Peter H. Roussel (’65) 1983 | Judge Shearn Smith (’51, J.D. ’69) 1983 |
| Judge Ruby Kless Sondock (’59, ’61) 1983 | E. Virginia Barnett (MBA ’56) 1984 | Hon. John E. Kolb ( J.D. ’55) 1984 |
| Hon. Charles E. McMahen (’62, H ’02) 1984 | Hon. Kenneth L. Lay (Ph.D. ’70) 1985 | Vassar Miller (’47, M.A. ’50) 1985 |
| Mickey L. Herskowitz (’56) 1986 | Kenneth L. Schnitzer 1986 | James C. Shindler (’57) 1986 |
| Ned Battista (’62, M.M. ’64) 1987 | Roy H. Cullen, Jr. (’57) 1987 | Jack M. Rains ( J.D. ’67) 1987 |
| Duane B. Adams (’54) 1988 | Joseph Rodney Canion (’66, M.S. ’67) 1988 | Larry W. Gatlin (’70) 1988 |
| Sam P. Douglass (’54) 1989 | Dr. Louis Green (’47) 1989 | Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson (’44) 1989 |
| Victor Costa (’58) 1990 | Hon. C.F. Kendall, II (’60, J.D. ’69) 1990 | Robert W. Lawless (’64) 1990 |
| Congressman Tom DeLay (’69) 1991 | Hon. John J. Moores (’70, J.D. ’75, H ’95) 1991 | Leonard Rosenberg (J.D. ’53) 1991 |
| Katherine Mize (’61, M.A. ’65) 1992 | Jim Nantz (’81) 1992 | Don D. Sykora (’57) 1992 |
| Carl Lewis (F.S. ’82) 1993 | Hon. John O’Quinn (’65, ’67, J.D. ’69) 1993 | Shirley Rose (’60, M.Ed. ’69, Ph.D. ’73) 1993 |
| Bernard Harris (’78) 1994 | Tom Jarriel (’56) 1994 | Regina Rogers (’70) 1994 |
| Valerie King Freeman (’70, M.Ed. ’72) 1995 | Congressman Gene Green (’71) 1995 | Hakeem Olajuwon (F.S. ’84) 1995 |
| Doug Drabek (F.S. ’83) 1996 | Elizabeth D. Rockwell (F.S. ’42, H ’99) 1996 | Jane Cizik (’83) 1997 |
| Hon. Gene McDavid (’65) 1997 | Hon. Morrie Abramson (’56) 1998 | Emyré Robinson (’70) 1998 |
| Hon. Mary E. Bacon (J.D. ’72) 2000 | Kenneth L. Barun (’81) 2000 | Burdette W. Keeland (’50) 2000 |
| B. Montgomery Pettitt (’75, Ph.D. ’80) 2000 | Judge Vanessa Gilmore (J.D. ’81) 2002 | Cynthia Woods Mitchell (’43) 2002 |
| Dominique Sachse (’90) 2002 | Melvyn Wolff (’53) 2002 | Hon. Michael Cemo (’68) 2003 |
| Hon. Vidal Martinez (J.D. ’77) 2003 | Kathryn “Kaye” Stripling (’67, Ed.D. ’85) 2003 | Leroy Burrell (’94) 2004 |
| Rose Cullen (F.S. ’57) 2004 | Charles Matthews (J.D. ’70) 2004 | Anastacio Mindiola (’02) 2005 |
| Hon. Margaret Spellings (’79) 2005 | Herman Suit (’48) 2005 | Patricia Potter Wilson (Ph.D. ’85) 2005 |
| Carol L. Lewis (’89, ’92) 2006 | Jack Moore (’77) 2006 | Senator John Whitmire (’75) 2006 |
| Gerald McElvy (’75) 2007 | Hon. Martha Wong (’76, Ed.D. ’83) 2007 | Dorothy E.F. Caram (Ed.D. ’82) 2008 |
| Marvin D. Nathan (’65, J.D. ’69) 2008 | Col. Barrye L. Price, Ph.D. (’85) 2008 | Christopher Theofanidis (’90) 2008 |
| Karen W. Katz (MBA ’82) 2009 | Miguel R. San Juan (’74) 2009 | Alvin L. Zimmerman (’64, J.D. ’67) 2009 |
| Richard Coselli (’55, J.D. ’58) 2010 | Elizabeth Ghrist (M.Ed. ’67) 2010 | Jim Perdue (’61, J.D. ’62) 2010 |
| David Bertman (M.M. ’98) 2011 | Cheryl Creuzot (’81, J.D. ’92, M.L. ’99, MBA ’12) 2011 | Leroy Hermes (’66) 2011 |
| Beth Madison (’72) 2011 | Durga Agrawal (M.S. ’69, Ph.D. ’74) 2012 | Brett Cullen (’79) 2012 |
| Lt. General Robert Milstead (’74) 2012 | Dorothy T. Nicholson (’77) 2012 | Dennis Quaid (’74) 2012 |
| Robert Wuhl (’76) 2012 | Roger Birkman (’47, M.S. ’47) 2013 | Alonzo Cantu (’78) 2013 |
| Loretta Devine (’71) 2013 | Dr. Dennis Golden (’76, O.D. ’77) 2013 | Vicki & Nick (’73) Massad 2013 |
| Richard Rawson (’72) 2013 | Doug Brooks (’75) 2014 | Rafael Ortega (’81, MBA ’85) 2014 |
| Andre Ware (’96) 2014 | Philip Zelikow (’77, J.D. ’79) 2014 | Aylwin Lewis (’76, MBA ’90) 2015 |
| Bill Worrell (’69) 2015 | Rushion McDonald (’83) 2015 | Ken Bailey (’69, J.D. ’72) 2015 |
| Dominic Ng (’80) 2015 | William Brookshire (’57) 2016 | Billy Ray Brown (’85) 2016 |
| Alan Gershenhorn (’82) 2016 | Pamela O’Rourke (UHCL ’95) 2016 | The Honorable Jarvis V. Hollingsworth (J.D. ’93) 2017 |
| J. Downey Bridgwater (’84) 2017 | Star Jones (J.D. ’86) 2017 | The Honorable Melissa Noriega (’77, M.Ed. ’83) 2017 |
| Wade Phillips (’70) 2017 | The Honorable Sylvester Turner (’77) 2017 | Spencer Armour (’77) 2018 |
| Otis Birdsong (’77) 2018 | James H. Greer (’54) 2018 | Dr. Laura Murillo (’89, M.Ed. ’98, Ed.D. ’03) 2018 |
| Marvin Odum (MBA ’95) 2018 | Thasunda Brown Duckett (’96) 2019 | Hanneke Faber (’90, MBA ’92) 2019 |
| David Ashley White (’68, M.M. ’74) 2019 | Honorable Jim P. Wise (’66) 2019 | Jim Culpepper (’67) 2020 |
| Alex Lopez Negrete (F.S. ’81) 2020 | Howard Lorch (’67, M.Ed. ’68) 2020 | Robert D. Planck (’71) 2020 |
| Alois Blackwell (’78) 2022 | Karen Dufilho (’91) 2022 | Bonnie Dunbar (Ph.D. ’83) 2022 |
| Elizabeth Killinger (’91) 2022 | Dave Smalley (’79) 2022 | Brent Spiner (F.S. ’71) 2022 |
| Steve Stephens (’80) 2022 | Judy (J.D. ’89) & Mark D. (’84) Cook 2023 | Dwight E. Davis (’00) 2023 |
| David Marrs (’89) 2023 | Mark Berman (’78) 2024 | Senator Carol Alvarado (’92) 2024 |
| The Honorable Alfred Bennett (’88) 2024 | Don Chaney (’86) 2024 | Kenny Rogers (’58) |
| Julieta Villarreal Garcia, Ph.D. (’70, M.A. ’72) | Cindy Lewis (’93) | Katherine Center (M.A. ’98) |
| Eliza C. Paul (M.S. ’88) | Billy Stritch (FS ’81) | Ruhana Prasad Chikatla (’10) |
| Nathan Hale Fowler (’96, Hon.D. ’25) | Barbara (Hon.D. ’21) & Andy (’68, Hon.D. ’21) Gessner | Sam Schreiber (’74) |
| Murray Stinson (FS ’68) 1994 | Jim Wiseheart (’61) 1995 | Pleas Doyle (’57) 1996 |
| Billie Schneider 1997 | Stephen Harcrow (’69) 1998 | Janet A. Blair (’83) 2000 |
| Judie (’95) & Glenn (FS ’68) Lilie 2002 | Joanne ( J.D. ’85) & Larry (’68, J.D. ’70) Doherty 2003 | Josanna (‘80) & Hon. Thaddeus “Bo” (‘67) Smith 2003 |
| Richard Coselli (’55, J.D. ’58) 2004 | Graham Painter (’72) 2004 | Shirley (FS ’82) & Matthew (’59) Provenzano 2004 |
| J. Downey Bridgwater (’84) 2005 | Sharon Stinson 2005 | Cathy Coers Frank (’80) 2006 |
| Francie Willis 2006 | Margaret Bock (FS ’57) 2007 | Sonny Messiah-Jiles (’74) 2007 |
| J.W. “Willie” Burns (’58) 2008 | David M. Doll (’88, M.B.A. ’92) 2008 | Chris Mims (’87) 2008 |
| Linda (’64) & Stanley (’60, J.D. ’62) Binion 2009 | Elaine (’82) & Tommy (’80) Ebner 2010 | George Leroy Hall (’56, ’77, M.S. ’11) 2010 |
| Robert Planck (’71) 2010 | Judy (’68) & Ken (FS ’65) Baxter 2011 | Mike Holley (’90) 2011 |
| Audray McMillian (’84) 2012 | Ron Page (’80) 2012 | Rick Bowen (’88, M.B.A. ’91) 2013 |
| Lance “Hopper” Livingston (’66) 2014 | Rick Noriega (’84) 2014 | Laurie Rutherford (’86, M.B.A. ’91, M.S. ’04) 2015 |
| Nancy and Dale (’70) Lowe 2016 | Dr. Demetrius “Dee” Pearson (Ed.D. ’90) 2016 | Kim (’81) & John (’82) Clarke 2017 |
| Kimberly (‘93) & Trey (‘92, M.B.A. ‘02) Wilkinson 2018 | James Holmes (‘86) 2018 | Preston Johnson, Jr. (FS ’87, UHCL M.B.A. ’83) 2019 |
| Fermeen Fazal (’96, ’97, J.D. ’00) 2020 | Sharmagne Taylor (’86) 2020 | Steve Goodman (’83, M.S. ’85) 2022 |
| Eugenia (’85) & David Blomstrom (’61) 2023 | Charles D. Dorn (’80) 2024 | Katina Jackson (’90) 2024 |
| Brent Chinn (FS ’82) | Richard Weil (’78) | Richard Whiteley (’93, J.D. ’99) |
| Jeremy Wladis (’86) |
| Don McKusker (’50) 2003 | Becky Hyatt (’93) 2004 | Sherman Smith, Jr. (’76) 2005 |
| Jeffrey D. Fuller (’95, M.Ed. ’07) 2006 | Cynthia Oliver Coleman (’71) 2007 | Alton “Red” Veselka (’77) 2008 |
| Perry Pace, III (FS ’68) 2009 | Patty Godfrey (’89, M.B.A. ’97) 2010 | Joe Green (’80) 2011 |
| Judy Chong (’69, ’76) 2012 | Yuen-Yee Ma (M.B.A. ’77) 2013 | Amanda Heath (’02) 2014 |
| Dr. Sharon Spillman (’97, M.Ed. ’03, Ed.D. ’11) 2014 | John T. McNabb 2015 | Drue DaSilva (’93, M.S. ’99) 2015 |
| Barbara Parrott McGinity (’74, M.S.W. ’00) 2016 | Margarita Barcenas (UHD ’92, M.B.A. ’03) 2016 | Nicolas Brines (’92) 2017 |
| Charlene Johnson (‘91) 2018 | Michael Alcorn (’07) 2019 | Edward Carrizales (’13) 2020 |
| Leslie (’93) and Philip Schulze (’94) 2022 | Michael Ramos (’00) 2023 | Kaitlyn Palividas (’17) 2024 |
| Chris Gervasio (’17, M.S. ’18) | Maria Jorgelina Foglietta Barrett (’05) |
| Robert W. Baker 1969 | Max Levine 1969 | Hon. Colonel W. B. Bates 1970 |
| Hon. Mrs. Ray Dudley 1971 | Harry H. Fouke 1971 | Dr. Philip G. Hoffman 1971 |
| Robert W. Kneebone 1972 | C.F. McElhinney 1973 | Hon. Aaron J. Farfel 1974 |
| Bessie M. Ebaugh 1975 | L. Standlee Mitchell 1975 | Mrs. Gus Wortham 1976 |
| Hon. Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Roy Cullen 1977 | Mrs. Marty Harris 1978 | Don D. Jordan 1979 |
| George P. Mitchell 1979 | Bill Yeoman 1979 | Eric Hilton 1980 |
| A.A. White 1980 | John R. Butler, Jr. 1981 | Dr. Barry Munitz 1981 |
| George A. Butler 1982 | Hon. Mack H. Hannah, Jr. 1982 | Frell L. Albright 1983 |
| Elliott A. Johnson 1983 | Roland S. McGinnis 1983 | William T. Slick (FS ’63) 1985 |
| Stewart Orton 1986 | Hon. John T. Cater 1988 | Hon. James L. Ketelsen 1990 |
| Hon. Corbin Robertson, Sr. 1991 | John Walsh (FS ’73) 1992 | Robert C. Lanier 1993 |
| Rev. William Lawson 1994 | Dean John M. Ivancevich 1995 | Max Watson 1996 |
| Dr. & Mrs. Glenn Goerke 1997 | Tom Tellez 1998 | Lee W. Hogan 2000 |
| Cheryl L. Thompson– Draper 2000 | Charles T. Bauer 2002 | Lucile B. Melcher 2002 |
| Hon. Wilhelmina “Beth” Robertson 2003 | Hon. Tilman Fertitta (FS ’78) 2004 | Hon. William P. Hobby 2004 |
| Gasper Mir, III 2005 | Robert Mosbacher, Jr. 2005 | Dena Lewis 2006 |
| A.J. Yeoman 2006 | Jim McIngvale 2007 | Bill Moffit 2007 |
| Dr. Carolyn Farb, h.c. 2008 | Carey C. Shuart 2009 | Bruce Williams 2010 |
| John Hofmeister 2011 | Lillie Therese Robertson 2012 | Meredith Mitchell Dreiss 2013 |
| University of Houston Student Body 2015 | Michael “Doc” O’Shea 2017 | Ted L. Estess 2019 |
| Stephanie “Steph” Sherrodd 2019 | Dr. William Munson 2020 | Garnet Coleman 2022 |
| Karen & Kelvin Sampson 2024 |
| Jim Parsons (’96) 2010 | Carlos de Aldecoa Bueno (’97) 2011 | James Hong (’05) 2012 |
| Hon. Jacqueline Baly (’90) 2013 | Robert Flores (’92) 2015 | Lisa Cushing (’01) 2016 |
| Erik Barajas (’99) 2017 | Clara Hough (‘02) 2018 | Alexander W. Obregon (’09, M.B.A. ’14) 2019 |
| Justin Yu (’07) 2020 | Mayra Moreno (’07) 2022 | Armando Lucio Walle (’04, J.D. ’14) 2023 |
| Natara Holloway Branch (’98) 2024 |
| Katie Kalenda Daggett (’99, M.A. ’03) 2010 |