Holly Ham (right), an executive director at the White House, met in January with
College of Education Dean Bob McPherson in the Asian American Studies Center.Holly Ham鈥檚 journey began like that of many students.
A young immigrant in Texas, she grew up in a blue-collar family. Her dad worked as a machinist, her mom as an assembly line worker at a food processing plant. Her parents sent all five of their children to college, with Ham attending the 91破解版 Bauer College of Business.
Ham, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 and a master鈥檚 of business administration from , returned to campus in January in her new role as an executive director at the U.S. Department of Education. She has overseen the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders since November 2017.
鈥淚 am excited to step into this role at a time when Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are now the fastest growing racial group in the country,鈥� Ham said in a statement at the time. 鈥淭his is a wonderful opportunity to connect this diverse community to federal programs and resources, and I look forward to meeting with community members across the country.鈥�
On campus, Ham split her time between Bauer and the College of Education, which offers a minor in Asian American Studies and houses 鈥檚 Asian American Studies Center. About 20 percent of students at are Asian American or Pacific Islander.
Yali Zou, director of the Asian American Studies Center, said federal grant opportunities
could benefit the diverse student population on campus.鈥淲e were delighted to connect with Holly Ham and her staff to discuss funding opportunities for students in our teacher preparation and executive leadership programs,鈥� said Bob McPherson, dean of the College of Education. 鈥淚n addition, we had a good discussion about study abroad opportunities for doctoral students conducting their dissertation research.鈥�
The Asian American Studies Center, led by College of Education Professor , holds global leadership trainings and provides educational and cultural resources to the and Houston community. Zou said she was interested in partnering with other departments to seek federal grant opportunities that Ham and her team discussed.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we want to do 鈥� meet our students鈥� needs like language assistance and culture adaptation,鈥� said Zou, University Endowed Professor for Global Leadership Studies. 鈥淲e want to do data evaluations to see who they are, what their needs are and help them achieve academically and professionally.鈥�
Ham also met with a class of students in the College of Education and recounted her path from to two decades in the business world to public service.
鈥淵our experience and your dedication will take you far. You never know where life takes you,鈥� Ham said. 鈥淎 quarter century after I graduated from here with a technical degree and all this work experience, I never thought I would be in public service. But it feels good; it feels right.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 put a price tag on what it鈥檚 like to be able to serve and know we鈥檙e making a difference.鈥�
鈥揃y Claire Andersen
鈥揚hotos by Jaime Questell