Alumni News
UHD Alumnus Builds Career in Data Privacy, Cybersecurity and AI
Nearly two decades after graduating from UHD, Joel J. de León is helping organizations navigate everything from evolving privacy regulations to AI governance.
Once in a Blue Moon
Graduating magna cum laude is a notable achievement at any age, but, beyond the age of 65, it is rarely heard of. The U.S. Census Bureau/American Community Survey groups graduation data in broad age bands, topping out at 65+, with about 15,000...
Gator Evolution: Dr. Jiménez-Pabón
Riding the Gator Line to campus, Dr. Fernell Jiménez-Pabón, sometimes catches himself looking at the faculty badge hanging around his neck. "Sometimes I look at my badge like it's a gold medal," he said. Years earlier, he was riding the same route...
UHD Legacy Series: Three First-Gen Siblings Find Career Paths
For the Valdez family, UHD wasn’t just a first college experience—it was the launchpad for three siblings into careers in healthcare and public service. Dr. Isaac Valdez graduated from UHD in 2014 with an undergraduate degree in Applied...
DJ Rosez Gives Back Through Music and Community
When Magge Nuñez—better known as DJ Rosez—graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2018, she expected to build a career in education. Today, she performs on some of the biggest platforms in the country, including the Houston Rodeo,...
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...
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...
Staff Spotlight: Meet UHDPD’s Chief Clemente Rodriguez
Meet UHDPD's new Chief of Police, Clemente Rodriguez.