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 18, 2026 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 14.

We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the University of Houston campus.
When
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 · 1:00 p.m. Central Time (US & Canada) (GMT -5:00)
Agenda
  • Opening Session / Orientation Overview
  • Academic & Administrative Information
Presenters
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Graduate School
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Dr. Sarah Larsen
Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
Dr. Sarah Larsen is vice provost and dean of the Graduate School at the University of Houston, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping graduate education and fostering academic excellence. Dr. Larsen holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has built a distinguished career as a researcher, educator, and academic leader. Prior to joining UH, she served in various leadership roles at the University of Iowa, where she worked to advance graduate education and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

Under her leadership, UH’s Graduate School has focused on providing students with the resources they need to excel both academically and professionally, ensuring that they are prepared for leadership roles in academia, industry, and beyond. Dr. Larsen has previously served as Chair for the Association of Texas Graduate Schools and she currently is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools Advancement Advisory Committee. Dr. Larsen is a member of the Board of Trustees for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Larsen also serves as a professor in UH’s Department of Chemistry. She is a fellow of the American Chemical Society, of the Royal Society of Chemistry and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Previously, she served as Senior Editor for the Journal of Physical Chemistry.

Her commitment to student success, faculty mentorship, and cross-disciplinary collaboration has helped elevate the University of Houston’s standing as a premier destination for graduate students.
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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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Dr. 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 17 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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Fitz Smith
Director of Graduate School
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Lorena Martinez
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Luis Gonzalez
Financial Aid Advisor
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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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