The Texas Southern University Board of Regents unanimously named Kenneth Huewitt as the Interim President of Texas Southern University during its regular meeting held Thursday, April 16, via telephone conference call due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are fortunate as a university to have someone with the skills and background of Mr. Huewitt
during these critical times that TSU faces,” said Albert Myres, Sr., who was elected as Board Chair
during the meeting. “The Board looks forward to working with Mr. Huewitt, his administrative team,
as well as the faculty, staff, students and alumni, to keep TSU moving forward and doing great
things.”
Huewitt, who joined Texas Southern in 2017 as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of
Finance and Administration, was named Acting President in January 2020. The Board of Regents
will begin the search process for the 13th president of Texas Southern University six to eight months
after the completion of TSU’s accreditation reaffirmation process later in 2020. Prior to the official
announcement of the Presidential Search Committee, the Board will seek input from the diverse
University community, including alumni.
“I am honored to serve in this role, and I appreciate the confidence that the Board has shown in me
and the TSU administrative team,” said Huewitt. “We have a lot of important work to do, especially
with the current coronavirus situation. Our students, as well as the entire TSU community, deserve
nothing but the best from this university, and that is what we will deliver.”
In his previous role with TSU, Huewitt oversaw all financial functions of the university including
Treasury & Budget, Administration & Finance, Risk Management, the Controller’s Office,
Procurement Services, Facilities & Maintenance, and Building & Grounds.
During his time as CFO, the university’s investment rating (Moody’s) has improved from ‘negative’ to
‘stable’ to ‘positive’ over a three-year period. Additionally, a three-year strategic Capital Expenditure
Plan was developed and implemented, “days cash on hand” more than doubled, and a negative
reserve in 2016 was transformed into a healthy, positive reserve.
Huewitt began his career as an auditor with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development’s Office of Inspector General. He has held a variety of roles during his career including
Senior Audit Specialist for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Senior Associate for Coopers
& Lybrand, and Regional Director of Finance for The ServiceMaster Corporation.
Shortly after leaving ServiceMaster, he joined the Finance Team at the Houston Independent School
District. Over his first 11 years with the district, Huewitt served as the Controller focusing on Budgets,
Payroll, Treasury, Food Services Accounting, General Accounting and Bond Fund Accounting, as
well as handling day-to-day operations of the Controller’s Office. The next three years, he served as
Chief Financial Officer leading all the financial services functions of the district. His last three years
at HISD, he served as Deputy Superintendent and Interim Superintendent where he developed and
executed strategic plans and district-wide policies and programs related to all activities of HISD,
impacting 215,000 students on 283 campuses, and overseeing a $1.8 billion general operating
budget.
Myres, who was appointed to the TSU Board of Regents by Governor Greg Abbott in April 2019,
formerly served as Vice Chair of the Board. A resident of Houston, he is President and Chief
Executive Officer for Octcet, Inc., a rapidly developing oxygenated fuel enhancement company
focusing on the bulk diesel industry.
Other Board action included the selection of Regent Marc Carter as Vice Chair of the Board. Anita
Lockridge, who formerly served as Senior Associate Vice President of Administration and Finance,
was approved as Interim CFO and Vice President for Administration and Finance for the university.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s
historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
