Alumni News
Mendoza Family Turns UHD Education Into Success and Service
For Paula Mendoza, an accomplished business owner and holder of two degrees from UHD, success is measured by how many young lives she impacts. Whether by employing interns at her multimillion-dollar procurement company or mentoring them through...
Building a Career Through Curiosity, Collaboration, and Connection
Curiosity has never been a fleeting trait for Dr. Jillian Losh—it has been the driving force behind every major turn in her career. Today, as a respected science administrator and director of one of MD Anderson Cancer Center’s research centers, she...
Gator Evolution: An Alumnus’ Journey from the Classroom to Crime Scenes and Back Again
Elias Rivera entered University of Houston-Downtown's Criminal Justice program in 1999 with a clear goal: become a police officer. At the time, he was 18 and already working at the Harris County Sheriff's Office nearby. The work enabled him to...
Staff Spotlight: Meet UHDPD’s Chief Clemente Rodriguez
Meet UHDPD's new Chief of Police, Clemente Rodriguez.
Student Leader Builds Sisterhood Through UHD Women’s Volleyball Club
What started as an unexpected tournament match against UHD became the spark that shaped her transfer from Houston Community College and her growth as a student, athlete, and leader. Now a recent graduate with a Master of Business Administration and...
UHD Alumna Accelerates Career Through Adaptability in Logistics and Operations
A 30-minute internship interview that stretched into two hours was UHD alumna Marlita Privette’s first clue that she was stepping into something bigger—a company, and eventually a career, that would accelerate her growth in ways she never expected....
Father and Son Build a Gator Legacy
For one family, being a Gator isn’t a single chapter; it’s a story connected across generations. At the University of Houston-Downtown, father and son, Armando and Sebastian Rodriguez, found their own paths to education, brotherhood, and purpose,...
A Recent MBA Graduate Reflects on Creating Opportunities to Thrive
Managing internships and volunteering commitments with work while pursuing an undergraduate degree and then a Finance MBA (while also parenting three sons) requires intention. “I don't know that I truly believe that there's a [work-life] balance,”...
Living Legacy: Alumna Paula Mendoza
During our recent staff development conference, keynote speaker Jevon Wooden compared legacy to one’s shadow. “It follows you everywhere, even when you’re not paying attention,” he explained. I couldn’t agree more. Former UHS Regent and two-time...
UHD Alumni Shine at Legacy & Light Luncheon
On Friday, Oct. 24, UHD Alumni Relations honored outstanding alums for their contributions to their fields and to the community with the 2025 Alumni Awards, presented at the celebratory Legacy & Light Luncheon in A300 of the One Main...