UHD president leaving to join UC-Merced
University of Houston-Downtown President Juan Sánchez Muñoz has been hired as chancellor of University of California Merced, according to university releases.
The UC Board of Regents approved Muñoz’s appointment, with a $425,000 salary, during a May 20 meeting. UC Merced’s interim chancellor Nathan Brostrom will work with Muñoz through July before returning to the president’s office to ensure a smooth transition.
“Having dedicated my career to student success and creating access to the transformational power of higher education across racial and social lines, I’m excited to continue that work at the University of California, a world-renowned public institution,” Muñoz said in a written statement.
UH System Chancellor Renu Khator congratulated Munoz on the opportunity.
“The university has benefited significantly from his creative leadership and effective administration, which helped accelerate UHD’s growing reputation as an affordable and accessible institution in the center of one of the nation’s most culturally diverse metropolitan areas,” Khator said in a statement.
The UH System plans to launch a national search for Muñoz’s replacement soon, officials said in a release.
A first-generation college graduate, Muñoz began his presidential tenure at UHD in 2017, overseeing enrollment growth, increased retention rates and one of the college’s largest fundraising efforts.
He led UHD through natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storms Imelda, and oversaw new initiatives and degree programs, including UHD’s bachelor’s of science degree in nursing and data science, and saw UHD become the only Texas college to receive a $1 million grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute in 2018.
“I have been privileged to lead this great institution and work with a talented team to help it grow and further serve the students of this region,” he said.
Muñoz, a native of California and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Santa Barbara, a master’s of arts in Mexican American studies at Cal State University in Los Angeles, and a doctorate from UCLA, where he studied curriculum and instruction.