New UH System Regents appointed by Gov. Perry

Cody Anderson

The Signal Staff

Gov. Rick Perry appointed three new members to the UH System Board of Regents Aug. 20. Nandita V. Berry, Tilman J. Fertitta and Jarvis V. Hollingsworth replaced Calvin Stephens, Dennis Golden and Lynden Rose, whose terms on the board expired.

“We are delighted to have three new members of the University of Houston System Board of Regents,” William Staples, UHCL president, said. “Their willingness to serve a six-year term as a regent shows their dedication and commitment to service for the UH System and its four universities.  I look forward to working with each new regent to advance UHCL and the UH System.”

The Board of Regents consists of 10 members who are in charge of governing the UH System. The UH System includes University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of Houston-Victoria and University of Houston-Downtown, as well as UH System at Cinco Ranch, UH System at Sugar Land, KUHF radio and KUHT television stations.

“As the global marketplace becomes increasingly competitive, ensuring that Texans have the opportunity to pursue a quality higher education is essential to the future of our state,” Perry said. “The University of Houston System is a fast-growing higher education system in our state, and I am confident that these three individuals will provide important insights and strong leadership to help guide it into the future.”

Nandita V. Berry of Houston is currently senior counsel at Locke, Lord, Bissell and Liddell LLP. She was the former in-house counsel for El Paso Corporation where she practiced corporate and securities law. Berry is a member of the American, State and Houston Bar associations and the Houston Zoo Inc. board of directors. Born in Hyderabad, India, Berry has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mt. Carmel College, in Bangalore, India. In 1991, Berry graduated from the University of Houston with a B.A. and received her Juris Doctorate in 1995 from the University of Houston Law Center.

Tilman J. Fertitta of Houston is chairman, president, CEO and controlling shareholder of Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. He also is the president of Fertitta Hospitality, LLC, a hotel, development and entertainment company that operates several hotels and conference centers. Fertitta currently serves as chairman to both the Houston Children’s Charity and the Houston Police Foundation. He is on the executive committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Fertitta also serves on numerous boards including: Texas Heart Institute, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Sam Houston Area Council-Boy Scouts of America, Central Houston, Inc. and the Greater Houston Partnership. In 2004, Fertitta was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame. Fertitta attended Texas Tech University and the University of Houston, where he studied business administration and hospitality management.

Jarvis V. Hollingsworth of Sugar Land is a partner at Bracewell and Giuliani LLP. Hollingsworth is a member of the American and Houston Bar associations, member and former director of the State Bar of Texas, and treasurer of the Houston Bar Foundation. He was the former chairman of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Pension Fund Board of Trustees and former director of the University of Houston Alumni Association.

Hollingsworth has earned numerous awards throughout his career. In 2007 and 2008 he was named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly magazine, putting him in the top 5 percent of all attorneys in the state of Texas. He is a member of New York’s Wall Street Hall of Fame, and has also received honors from the State Bar of Texas, The Texas Lawyer, the Houston Bar Association and was the recipient of the University of Houston Law Alumni Association’s Private Sector Achievement Award in 2006. Hollingsworth received his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston.

Earlier this year, University of Houston-Victoria graduate Kristen Lindley was appointed as the new student regent. She will serve as a member of the Academic and Student Success Committee and the Facilities, Construction and Master Planning Committee for her one-year term that expires May 31, 2010. Lindley is the first graduate from UHV to be named to the board and is currently enrolled in UHV’s M.B.A. program.