2009 Honorary Degree
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She arrived at Purdue University with her husband, Suresh, from their homeland of India. He was seeking his Ph.D. in engineering at Purdue University. Renu, a liberal arts graduate of Kanpur University, did not speak English when she landed in West Lafayette. She went on to master the English language and acquire two degrees from Purdue - a master's in political science in 1975, and a Ph.D. in political science and public administration in 1985.
Khator followed her husband, a newly graduated Ph.D. engineer, once more - this time to the University of South Florida. She began her academic career there as a visiting professor and rose through the ranks to become a full professor of government and international affairs, then later the director of its Department of Environmental Science and Policy. Khator served the University of South Florida as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, then as provost and senior vice president from 2000 to 2007.
Choosing from a large pool of highly acclaimed academic leaders, the University of Houston System and the University of Houston selected her in November 2007 as its chancellor and president. In this role, she is responsible for a budget of more than $1 billion and an educational enterprise that reaches more than 59,000 students. The University of Houston, a strong advocate of undergraduate research and international education, is one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the nation, with students from 136 countries
Khator has visited or resided in 33 countries and has spoken widely on issues of higher education, environmental policy, sustainability and human rights worldwide. Within her discipline of study, she is the co-author of five books and more than 50 book chapters and articles. She and her husband were recent recipients of the Hind Rattan Award (Jewel of India), which recognizes Indians living abroad who have achieved distinction in their fields of endeavor. She was appointed recently to serve in the Indian Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council. The couple has two daughters, both accomplished ophthalmologists.
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