Indian-American inducted in Texas Women's Hall of Fame

Renu Khator, Indian-American woman academic, will be inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame for making significant contribution for the benefit of the US' second largest state.

Khator, 61, Chancellor and President of the prestigious University of Houston (UH) said, "Thank you, Governor! I am honoured and humbled", after being inducted in Texas Women's Hall of Fame.

Khator, the first Indian-American to lead a major research university in the US, is also the president of University of Houston's main campus.

Born in Uttar Pradesh's Farrukhabad district, she is largely credited with pushing the UH once known as "Cougar High" towards the nation's top-tier of research universities.
 

During her eight-year tenure, the UH has lured numerous members of the prestigious national academies of science and engineering. Incoming undergraduates are making better grades and returning at a higher rate, a sign that the university's sluggish graduation rate could pick up.

Khator, who earned her Bachelors degree from Kanpur university in 1973, is the eighth chancellor of the UH System and the 13th president of the UH. She is the first foreign- born president of the university and the second woman to hold the position.

She is the "first Indian immigrant to head a comprehensive public research university in the United States," according to the statement announcing her induction.

She will be inducted into the hall of fame at the Texas Women's University of Denton on October 21 along with Selena; Emma Carter Browning, a pilot, businesswoman and aviation pioneer; Susie Hitchcock-Hall, an entrepreneur, businesswoman and founder of Susie's South Forty Confections in Midland; and Ginger Kerrick, the division chief of the Flight Operations Directorate Integration Division at NASA's Johnson Space Center, which provides support to the astronauts and flight directors.

"I am honoured to welcome these five extraordinary women into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame.

"Whether in public service, the arts, business or education, these leaders have inspired generations of Texans to reach new heights, achieve new goals and elevate the Lone Star State. I would like to thank each of the honorees and their families for their enduring contributions to the State of Texas," Governor Greg Abbott said.

The Texas Women's Hall of Fame accepts nominations biannually and is open to any native or current residents of Texas, living or deceased, who have made significant contributions that have benefited the State of Texas.
The 7th Congressional district in New Jersey is home to

inventor Thomas Alva Edison. Four years ago, Indian-American Upendra Chivukula had tried his luck from the same seat and had lost to Lance by more than 50,000 votes.

The Indian-American community constitutes just one per cent of the total voters and Asian- American account for 10 per cent.

Jacob, who became a US citizen at the age of 21, has been involved in social work from his childhood. As a school student, he saved his pocket money to send it to the Missionaries of Charities for the poor people.

St Mother Teresa sent him a thank you note in 1994.

"I am an Indian-American. I see myself as an Indian soul with and American heart," Jacob said, adding that he is not Bobby Jindal, the former Louisiana governor who after winning elections distanced himself from the community.

Even in his speech and campaign events, he proudly talks about Kochi airport in Kerala which is now fully solar.

If elected, Jacob said he wants to focus on infrastructure development.

After attending Union County College in New Jersey, Jacob continued undergraduate studies in Sociology at Kean University. Later, Peter studied at Washington University in St Louis, earning a Master of Social Work from the top-ranked program in the nation.

During his undergraduate and graduate years, Peter was a student activist and leader. He worked with the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), the Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA), and the International Institute.

Through these and other community organisations, he helped fight the ongoing scourges of child abuse, human trafficking, and disastrous Iraq war.