Indian-American gets the top job at University of Houston

Renu Khator has been appointed president of University of Houston and chancellor of the four-campus University of Houston System. Hers is an amazing story. Quoting Times of India

The story goes that when Khator first came to the United States in 1974 as a young bride following an arranged marriage, her English was so dodgy that her new husband, Suresh Khator, an engineering student at Purdue University, translated for her while she was interviewed by the dean for school admission.

She made the cut, earned high grades while learning the language from re-runs of I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show , and never looked back. The couple moved to Florida in 1983 when Suresh received a teaching offer from the University of Southern Florida.

Renu Khator took up a temporary position, but in two decades worked her way to become provost at the University, where her success in attracting funds and top notch faculty drew UH’s attention.

On Monday, the Houston Chronicle observed that "Khator spoke without using notes, and her easy eloquence seemed to impress all who met the university's 13th president." Her husband happily boasted that he was now the junior partner and happy to follow her.