Eric Herrera steps into Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and Construction position

On Oct. 15, Eric Herrera officially became the new Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and Construction at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL).

In this role, Herrera leads his crew to oversee the entire facilities and construction at UHCL, including the Pearland campus, custodial services, ground services, building maintenance, construction activities, the power plant, room set up and scheduling.

“I want to be a leader in everything we do here,” Herrera said. “I want to make sure that we look better, and we provide the best facilities.”

Before coming to UHCL, Herrera was the director of engineering at Memorial Hermann Hospital. He oversaw the planning, design and construction activities of the Hospital, Medical Plaza and Convenient Care Center.

Dean of Students David Rachita, one of the co-chairs on the position’s search committee, said the candidate pool was very strong, but Herrera’s experience in managing large-scale facilities and construction is a good match for UHCL.

“Those services, and facilities and maintenance of those facilities [in the healthcare industry] are very similar to that of any college or university campus,” Rachita said.

Being an alumnus of the University of Houston (UH), Herrera has a “strong connection” with the UH System. Moreover, he heard of UHCL and was impressed with how nature-friendly the campus is.

“The distinct ground is amazing,” Herrera said. “You don’t go to many places where you can see deer, but they are here.”

UHCL consists of more than 9,000 students this semester, a record that has happened only twice in the university’s history. As the student population grows, the university is expanding with several new buildings under construction, including a Residence Hall and the Health Sciences and Classroom Building at the Pearland campus.

Herrera said the new buildings will be well-equipped to better serve the students’ needs: LED lighting, more air conditioning, high-speed Internet and more comfortable furniture.

“We are always looking for what’s better for the students,” Herrera said. “We will continue to work with the Student [Government] Association because at the end of the day, [the students] will be the main users.”

Herrera also confirmed that the university will modernize the old buildings once the classrooms and other main equipment in the old buildings move to the new ones.

Herrera said the university is cautious with the construction of new buildings so as not to negatively impact the natural habitat on campus. He said he wants to make sure the university will continue to have harmony between man-made constructions and natural elements.

“We will have to take some of the green out,” Herrera said. “But everything that we do, we always think about the surroundings, the nature.”

Rachita also emphasized that the university is serious in maintaining the green on campus, which “[UHCL] as a community [has] become very proud of.”

When not being occupied with work, Herrera likes to travel and go fishing. He did not think he would have a career in facilities and construction until he joined the U.S. Navy and worked in the field on an aircraft carrier.

Rachita believes Herrera’s “student-centered approach” and commitment will support the university’s mission and philosophy.

“[Herrera] showed us [his] dedication by touring the campus in the pouring rain,” Rachita said. “When asked if he wanted to postpone the tour, he said, ‘No, if my staff and students are out in the rain, I’ll be out in the rain.’ Sunny days are upon us!”