Provost on Tour
Provost Chase Kicks Off
New Fall Tradition
Diane Z. Chase is no stranger to exploring new environments.
The University of Houston’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost is an archaeologist by trade. She has explored tombs, jungles, ruins and other settings to gain insights into ancient civilizations.
At UH, however, she’s focused on the campus, its Cougars, its classrooms and, of course, its faculty. This fall, she’s exploring the University even further by taking her show on the road.
Provost on Tour is taking Chase to different labs, learning spaces and other destinations at the start of each academic year. She meets with faculty and students while visiting UH’s colleges.
Provost on Tour made its first stops at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the College of Optometry and the Cullen College of Engineering and UH Libraries .
Chase’s CLASS visit took her to the Health and Human Performance Department at Susanna Garrison Hall. She was greeted by CLASS Dean Dan O’Connor, HHP Chair Craig Johnston and Associate Professor Melissa Markofski. The three guided Chase on a tour of HHP’s labs, including the Laboratory of Integrated Physiology and Community Health Promotion. During this visit, she had ample opportunity to discuss ongoing HHP research and meet students.
“It was clear that she cares about our students and supports our efforts in HHP,” Johnston said. “Having the provost understand both the challenges and successes that we are having at the departmental and program level is incredibly encouraging.”
O’Connor agreed that Chase’s visit was a unique experience for participating faculty and students.
“A visit from the provost is a clear sign that what the department and college do is important and valuable, and that validation is important in keeping people focused and motivated,” he said. “And our faculty and students are proud to tell her about our work.”
HHP Professors Heather Caslin and Emily LaVoy. Photos - Wayne Thomas
HHP Professors Heather Caslin and Emily LaVoy. Photos - Wayne Thomas
Provost Chase, Optometry Dean Michael Twa and College of Optometry faculty
Provost Chase, Optometry Dean Michael Twa and College of Optometry faculty
From left: HHP faculty member Melissa Markofski, Provost Chase, HHP chair Craig Johnston, CLASS Dean Daniel P. O'Connor, HHP faculty Heather Caslin, Emily LaVoy
From left: HHP faculty member Melissa Markofski, Provost Chase, HHP chair Craig Johnston, CLASS Dean Daniel P. O'Connor, HHP faculty Heather Caslin, Emily LaVoy
The next tour stop was the College of Optometry, where she was hosted by Dean Michael Twa. During her visit, the UH provost met with faculty to learn about ongoing research, as well as graduate students. She also visited Clinical Professor Anita Ticak’s Contact Lens Theory II class.
A student in this class asked Chase about overseeing academic programming for so many different types of colleges. She responded that the mix of professional and academic colleges contributed to what makes UH such an outstanding institution.
“There are common factors across all of our colleges,” she said. “All of our colleges have faculty who teach and conduct research. We also have students across our colleges — not all are undergraduates — but they have similar needs. Our office works to support all of these academic and professional units. What I love is that we have so many colleges and so many student experiences. That is what brought me to this University.”
According to Ticak, her students were deeply appreciative to learn more about Provost Chase and meet her in person.
“It’s incredibly meaningful for students to see that university leadership is genuinely invested in their education and future profession,” she said. “Meeting the provost reinforces that they are part of a larger academic community, and it shows them that their voices, experiences and success matter at the highest levels of the University.”
Chase concluded this visit with a tour of the UH Eye Center’s clinical and surgical facilities. Leading the way was Associate Dean for Clinical Services Andrew Archila.
The UH provost is no stranger to the Eye Center, as she has utilized its services for vision testing and eyeglasses.
“Provost Chase’s choice to use our clinic demonstrates her trust in the quality, evidence-based and innovative care we provide,” Archila said. “We’re grateful to serve her and the entire UH community, supporting both individual wellness and public health.”
During Chase’s visit to the Cullen College of Engineering, Dean Pradeep Sharma led an extensive tour of several research labs. These included the Wind Tunnel Laboratory, Space Architecture Laboratory, Catalysis Laboratory, Next Generation Laboratory, the Industry–University Cooperative Research Centers and the Robot Swarm Laboratory.
Chase also participated in a roundtable conversation with graduate students Ihina Mahajan, Aizhan Zhakupova and Priyanka Kislai.
“Today’s visit underscores how essential it is for students and faculty to share their work with university leadership,” Sharma said. “It not only validates the extraordinary efforts happening in our labs and classrooms but also reinforces the collaborative spirit that drives our colleges forward.”
Chase’s final stop for the fall semester was UH Libraries. Newly appointed dean Christina Gola led the provost through MD Anderson Library’s Digital Research Commons, General Research Stacks, Special Collections and Archives, Acquisitions and Preservation area.
She also stopped by the Research and Student Engagement Consultation Pods, an amenity supported by the Office of the Provost Pilot Project funding. One pod has already been developed and others will soon follow. These private, semi-sound proof spaces provide students and faculty with private areas to confer with librarians on research-related matters, projects or other topics.
Chase also dropped by the service desk that provides support and assistance to countless students each day. Among those staffing the desk was Riley Vagis, whose voice is familiar to many UH arts patrons.
Vagis, a graduate music student, is an award-winning vocalist with the Moores School of Music. Working as a UH library supervisor, however, has inspired her to continue her academic studies and pursue a master’s degree in library sciences.
“Just seeing how open the University is to wanting to provide everyone an opportunity to learn is such a joy,” she said.
Chase was pleased to receive an behind the scenes look into UH Libraries and how it supports the University’s academic mission. She also gained more details on the Reimagined Library initiative spearheaded by Dean Gola. This project will expand UH Libraries spaces and mission to better serve future Cougars.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Provost Chase to MD Anderson Library,” Gola said. “The tour provided a valuable opportunity to highlight the depth of our expertise and the critical role our collections and services play in advancing research and student success. We’re committed to making our resources more visible, and this visit was a meaningful step in that direction.”
Provost on Tour is among the recent initiatives led by Chase to not only learn more about UH but to spotlight its many innovative centers, departments, programs, faculty and students. Provost Profiles videos debuted in 2023 to highlight student success, and last year its companion series, Expedition: UH, premiered.
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