The office of the President of the University of Houston, currently held by Dr. Renu Khator

Renu Khator

Renu Khator is the eighth chancellor of the University of Houston System and the thirteenth president of the University of Houston. She is the first foreign-born president of the university, and the second woman to hold the position...

, was created with the founding of the University of Houston

University of Houston

The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...

 (then known as Houston Junior College) in 1927 as the chief executive officer of the school. From 1927 until 1945 when UH separated from HISD

Houston Independent School District

The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and insular municipalities...

, the university's president also held the position of Superintendent of Schools of that school district. In 1956, the duties of president were divided into two positions. The position of Chancellor was created to fulfill past presidential duties regarding external affairs, while the president remained responsible for internal affairs of the university. This leadership structure lasted until 1961, when the university became a state-run, public institution. The duties of the chancellor and president became re-consolidated back into the sole position of president.

Since 1997, the President of the University of Houston has also held the position of Chancellor of the University of Houston System

University of Houston System

The University of Houston System is a state university system in Texas, encompassing four separate and distinct universities. It has two system centers, which operate as and distance learning course delivery sites for its universities...

, thus making it a dual-office. Note: The defunct Chancellor of the University of Houston position should not be confused with the current position of Chancellor of the University of Houston System. While one position refers to a leader of the single flagship institution of the University of Houston System, the latter refers to the leader of the entire University of Houston System consisting of several other universities besides the flagship institution.

Number	| Name	| Tenure	| Life	| Notes & Events
1	Edison E. Oberholtzer Edison E. Oberholtzer Edison Ellsworth Oberholtzer was the founder and first president of the University of Houston. Oberholtzer obtained his undergraduate education at Westfield College in Westfield, Illinois and Indiana State Normal School . In 1915, he received his Master of Arts degree from the University of...	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 Philip Guthrie Hoffman Philip Guthrie Hoffman was the fifth president of the University of Houston, and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System. While at the university, he was instrumental in obtaining state affiliation, transitioning to a racially integrated status, and expanding enrollment in...	1961–1977	1915–2008	Helped to create the University of Houston System University of Houston System The University of Houston System is a state university system in Texas, encompassing four separate and distinct universities. It has two system centers, which operate as and distance learning course delivery sites for its universities...
6	Barry Munitz Barry Munitz Barry Allen Munitz has been a senior administrator at the University of Illinois and the University of Houston, a business executive at Maxxam, Inc., chancellor of the California State University system, and chief executive officer of the world's wealthiest art institution, the J...	1977–1982	1941—
7	Richard L. Van Horn Richard L. Van Horn Richard L. Van Horn was the seventh president of the University of Houston and the 12th president of the University of Oklahoma.Van Horn was born in Chicago, Illinois but raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana...	1983–1989	1932—
Interim	George Magner	1989–1990	1927–2005	Ended the tradition of a live cougar Shasta Shasta (mascot) Shasta is the mascot of the University of Houston athletics teams, the Houston Cougars. Shasta is a female cougar. While previously a live cougar, Shasta is now a costumed mascot.-History:...  mascot
8	Marguerite Ross Barnett Marguerite Ross Barnett Marguerite Ross Barnett was the eighth president of the University of Houston and a former chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Barnett was the first black woman to lead a major American university....	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—
11	Arthur Kittredge Smith	1997–2003	1937—	First person to hold UH Presidency and UHS Chancellor position simultaneously
12	George Jay Gogue	2003–2007	1947—
Interim	John M. Rudley	2007	1947—	Now president of Texas Southern University Texas Southern University Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in Houston, Texas, United States....
13	Renu Khator Renu Khator Renu Khator is the eighth chancellor of the University of Houston System and the thirteenth president of the University of Houston. She is the first foreign-born president of the university, and the second woman to hold the position...	2008—	1955—	First foreign-born president