List of Presidents of the University of Houston
The office of the President of the University of Houston, currently held by Renu Khator, was created with the founding of the University of Houston (then known as Houston Junior College) in 1927 as the chief executive officer of the school.

List of Presidents of the University of Houston

Section Title:
Table Section Text: The office of the President of the University of Houston, currently held by Renu Khator, was created with the founding of the University of Houston (then known as Houston Junior College) in 1927 as the chief executive officer of the school.

Number	Name	Tenure	Life	Notes & Events

1	Edison E. Oberholtzer	1927–1950	1880–1954	University of Houston was founded, permanent location was created, enrollment increased from under 500 to over 13,000

2	Walter William Kemmerer	1950–1953	1903–1993	Was interim president in 1950

Interim	Charles Flemming McElhinney	1953–1954	1907–1978

3	A.D. Bruce	1954–1956	1894–1969	Served as Chancellor of the University of Houston when that position was created until 1961, helped to establish UH as a state school

4	Clanton Ware Williams	1956–1961	1904–1975	Served as President after A.D. Bruce became Chancellor

5	Philip Guthrie Hoffman	1961–1977	1915–2008	First chancellor of the University of Houston System

6	Barry Munitz	1977–1982	1941—

Interim	Hugh Walker	1982–1983	1935–2005

7	Richard L. Van Horn	1983–1989	1932—

Interim	George W. Magner	1989–1990	1927–2005	Ended the tradition of a live cougar Shasta mascot

8	Marguerite Ross Barnett	1990–1992	1942–1992	First female and first black president, Took a leave of absence after being diagnosed with cancer

9	James H. Pickering	1992–1995	1938—	Was originally interim president after Barnett stepped down

10	Glenn Allan Goerke	1995–1997	1931–2015

11	Arthur K. Smith	1997–2003	1937—	First person to hold UH Presidency and UHS Chancellor position simultaneously

12	Jay Gogue	2003–2007	1947—

Interim	John M. Rudley	2007	1947—	Was President of Texas Southern University from 2008-2016; currently President Emeritus at Texas Southern

13	Renu Khator	2008—	1955—	First foreign-born president, allowed for re-establishment of live Shasta mascot

Sentence(s)

Philip Guthrie Hoffman was the fifth president of the University of Houston, and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System.
Philip Guthrie Hoffman born in 1915 and died in 2008, was the fifth president of the University of Houston, and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System.
Philip Guthrie Hoffman (1915 – 2008) was the fifth president of the University of Houston and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System.

final_sentence: Philip Guthrie Hoffman was the fifth president of the University of Houston, and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System.
final_sentence: Philip Guthrie Hoffman born in 1915 and died in 2008, was the fifth president of the University of Houston, and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System.
final_sentence: Philip Guthrie Hoffman (1915 – 2008) was the fifth president of the University of Houston and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System.