About
Welcome!

It gives us great pleasure to welcome all of our incoming graduate and professional students to the University of Houston. You are now part of an exceptionally promising and diverse group of scholars.

Join us on Tuesday, August 19, 2024 at 1:00 pm for the graduate orientation webinar hosted by the Graduate School. Please note, that this orientation is for all newly admitted graduate and professional students, but it is separate from any college/department/program orientation.

Register to confirm your attendance by Friday, August 15.

We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the University of Houston campus.
When
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 · 1:00 p.m. Central Time (US & Canada) (GMT -5:00)
Agenda
  • Opening Session / Orientation Overview
  • Academic & Administrative Information
  • Student Panel
Presenters
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Graduate School
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Dr. Sarah Larsen
Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
Dr. Larsen joined the University of Houston in July, 2018 as Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. Over the past five years, she has initiated cross-campus professional development for graduate students with campus partners in the Graduate School, University Career Services, the UH Library, the Writing Center and the Office of Research.
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Tashemia Jones
Assistant Director, Academic Affairs
Dr. Tashemia Jones is currently the Assistant Director of Academic Affairs in the Graduate School. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 2018 earning a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration. Dr. Jones has over 16 years of higher education experience including student activities, student conduct, underrepresented students, and first-time in college students to name a few. Her passion has always been student success and creating innovate ways to enhance the overall collegiate experience for all students. She continues to gain knowledge in post-secondary education with the hopes of becoming a college dean and Vice President of Student Affairs in the future.
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Mariel Rocha-Narvaez
Director of Finance and Operations, Grad School
Mariel Rocha-Narvaez joined the University of Houston in 2018 as a student worker. Over the years, she advanced into the role of Program Manager and is now the Director of Finance and Operations for the Graduate School. In this position, she oversees administrative operations, budget management, and internal processes that support graduate student success. Mariel is committed to improving efficiency and service across the Graduate School and the broader UH community.
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Fitzgerald Smith
Associate Director of Graduate School Admissions
Fitzgerald Smith serves as Associate Director for Graduate Admissions, a role which allows him to facilitate the application process to many of our renowned graduate programs and oversees many of the administrative processes related to admissions. He joined the University of Houston Graduate School in 2015 out of a passion for fostering personal growth and development through higher education. Fitzgerald is also experienced in the realm of international education and loves working with students from various cultural backgrounds. He also serves as a main point of contact for all admissions related questions for both students and colleges.
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Lorena Martinez
Sr. SEVIS Compliance Coordinator
Lorena Martínez is a seasoned education professional with a strong background in her home country’s academic system. She joined the University of Houston in 2021 as a Transcript Analyst, evaluating international GPAs against U.S. academic standards. Her expertise and commitment led to her promotion as SEVIS Compliance Coordinator, where she managed the issuance of Form I-20s, enabling international graduate students to apply for F-1 visas.
Currently serving as Senior SEVIS Compliance Coordinator in Graduate Admissions, Lorena advises international students on immigration requirements and the I-20 process. She holds a Bachelor's in Law and a Master’s in Public Administration, reinforcing her deep knowledge of educational and immigration regulations.
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Funda Sahin, Ph.D
Ombudsperson for Graduate and Professional Students
Dr. Funda Sahin is an Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at the University of Houston. She earned her Ph.D. in operations and supply chain management from the Mays Business School, Texas A&M University. She also holds an MBA degree from Texas A&M University and BA in accounting and finance from Marmara University in Turkey.

Her teaching and research interests are in operations and supply chain management. Dr. Sahin is passionate about the University of Houston community and student well-being. Over her career, she worked with graduate students in a wide variety of roles ranging from teaching graduate courses, directing graduate student research, coordinating the Bauer Supply Chain Management Doctoral Program, serving on numerous committees related to graduate student education, and graduate student policies to mentorship. The knowledge and experiences she accumulated over the years through these interactions helped her better understand the concerns and difficulties that graduate students may endure. These insights assist her in her Ombudsperson for Graduate and Professional Students role.
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Stefan Johnsson
Associate Director, ISSSO
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Luis Gonzalez
Financial Aid Advisor
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