William Staples announces retirement from presidency
William Staples, the University of Houston-Clear Lake’s longest standing president, has announced he will retire from the role of president at the end of August 2017.
“I am, of course, disappointed President Staples will no longer be providing the enlightened and effective leadership that has allowed UHCL to move steadily forward toward excellence during his remarkable 22-year tenure,” said Renu Khator, University of Houston System chancellor, in a letter to UH System colleagues. “But, on a personal level, I understand his desire to leave the role and am very happy for him in that regard.”
Staples joined the UHCL faculty in 1979 as an associate professor of marketing in what was then the School of Business and Public Administration. Before becoming president in 1995, Staples served as professor of marketing, program director, associate dean and dean of then School of Business and Public Administration.
“President Staples will leave behind an astonishing legacy,” Khator said in her email.
During his time as president, Staples has overseen a number of major milestones for UHCL including: the approval of the first doctoral program in 2007 and a third this fall, the opening of the UHCL Pearland campus in 2010, as well as the transitioning of UHCL to a 4-year university in 2014.
“I am very proud of what we have achieved together at UHCL,” Staples said in an email to UHCL employees. “These accomplishments will make UHCL a very attractive opportunity for the university’s next president. I applaud the work of our faculty, staff and administration for reaching major milestones in UHCL’s history.”
Staples will leave the role of president at the end of August 2017, before the first freshman class of UHCL graduates.
“The university is in a great position for a new president to make an impact,” said Glen Houston, interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, on why he feels Staples decided to leave the role of presidency at an appropriate time. “President Staples will start Spring 2017 off with the 85 session of the Texas Legislature; so when a new president steps in, they will have time to learn the university and have time before a new legislative session starts.”
Bryan “A.J.” Johnson, Student Government Association president and master of business administration major, said he is honored to have known and worked with Staples.
“The amount of influence Dr. Staples has had on my life is irreplaceable,” Johnson said.
Staples is not slowing down in his final academic year of presidency with numerous ongoing plans for UHCL. A substantial new facility development at UHCL is underway with four new buildings breaking ground in 2016-2017. Construction for the Police Building is scheduled to be completed December 2016. The STEM and Classroom Building and the Recreation and Wellness Center are also scheduled for construction at UHCL main campus, while the Health Sciences and Classroom Building is scheduled for construction at UHCL Pearland campus.
Staples is also seeking approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, which will create a new undergraduate degree plan in engineering education.
Khator said Staples’ retirement from the presidency is no doubt a great loss for UHCL as well as the UH System.
“Obviously, finding a replacement will be a considerable task,” Khator said in her email.
Khator announced plans to form a search committee this semester to find a successor for Staples.
