Houston honors UHCL’s retiring president

Commending him for more than 38 years of service to the university, community and state, the city of Houston declared July 12 as “Dr. William A. Staples Day.” Pictured, District E Council Member Dave Martin (right) presented Staples with a framed copy of the proclamation, signed by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

In August, Staples formally steps down as the university’s fourth president, a position he held for more than 22 years. Under his leadership, UHCL launched its healthcare administration programs in the Texas Medical Center in 2004, launched the university’s first doctoral program in 2007, opened the UHCL Pearland Campus in 2010 and expanded to a four-year university in 2014.

The proclamation lauded Staples’ public service awards from NASA, YMCA, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, the Clear Creek Education Foundation and others. His contributions to higher education were also noted, including his service on the board of trustees for the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and a number of executive committees of the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities.

Also published on Medium.