UH’s associate vice president of Planning and Outreach, Edward Hugetz, began the semester on a new campus as the interim senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost for the UH-Downtown.
Although Hugetz does not intend on fulfilling UH-Downtown’s vacancy permanently, he is excited for this new role.
“My focus on student success during the years I’ve spent with the University of Houston System is a good fit for current needs at the University of Houston-Downtown. I know many of the UH-D faculty and administrators from my work with them on UH System initiatives over the years,” Hugetz said.
“Together, I’m convinced that we can make some great strides in the short period of time I plan to spend here.”
While in this position, Hugetz will be in charge of the overall academic direction of the university — a job that is a little familiar to him.
In 1978, Hugetz joined the UH-Clear Lake staff as an assistant professor. Through the years, Hugetz moved up the ranks, becoming a tenured professor in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.
After spending one term as chair of the Faculty Senate, Hugetz served as the interim senior vice president and provost for UH-Clear Lake where he facilitated the University’s reaccreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
As a UH System administrator, Hugetz helped develop UH System at Sugarland into a system center. He led the transition of the UH-Cinco Ranch into the system center and strived to create a UH System presence at Lone Star College System.
During his time as associate vice chancellor of Planning and University Outreach for the UH System, Hugetz supervised the offices of Planning and Special Projects, Institutional Research and Institutional Effectiveness. He also managed the interaction of planning and outreach between four universities within the UH System.
At UH, Hugetz oversaw the National Public Radio station and KUHT, which is a Public Broadcasting System station that also delivers UH Distance Education programming.
Because of Hugetz diverse experience with the UH System, UH-Downtown President Bill Flores is excited to have Hugetz’s expertise on campus.
“Throughout (Hugetz’s) tenure with the UH System, he has advanced the development and growth of off-campus and distance learning across the universities. I look forward to having his capable leadership at our university,” Flores said.
Hugetz earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in modern language from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Arts in Humanities degree in media studies from the University of Buffalo, The State University of New York. Hugetz spent 34 years as staff or as an administrator in the UH System, but that is not where all of his talents lie.
Hugetz has experience in documentary filmmaking. He has spent 30 years showcasing experimental and documentary films on his series, “The Territory.” Hugetz served as board president of the Independent Television Service, which supports documentaries produced for PBS.
After UH-Downtown finds a more permanent replacement, Hugetz plans to return as a faculty member at UH-Clear Lake and continue working on a documentary he is making with the help of a Rice University professor.
