Keith T. Kowalka - University of Houston
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Keith T. Kowalka

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs - Student Life

Keith has served as the assistant vice president for Student Affairs – Student Life since January 2012 and provides leadership, strategic vision, organization, and innovation for the development and delivery of programs, services, and facilities focusing on learning and student engagement while enriching the campus life experience. Keith has 30+ years of progressively responsible and expansive leadership, supervisory, and budgetary experience, and a history of creating and supervising high-performing teams that deliver results for the institution while serving and advocating for students. Keith provides administrative oversight to the following departments: A.D. Bruce Religion Center/Campus Ministries Association, Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Center for Student Advocacy and Community, Center for Student Involvement, Center for Student Media, Student Centers, Student Affairs IT Services and is the Advisor to the Student Government Association.

Keith chairs the UH Weeks of Welcome program, and the UH Homecoming Steering Committee and works with major campus events. He serves as the Student Affairs liaison to the following areas/programs: College of Education Higher Education Program for Graduate Assistant and Graduate Intern Placement and with the Office of Governmental and Community Relations, UH Day at the Capitol Program.  He also serves the division as an Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator and a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach.  He has previously Chaired the Division of Student Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Greek Life Task Force Advisory Implementation Team, the Division of Student Affairs Professional Development Committee, the Activities Funding Board Review Committee, and the UH Child Care Task Force.  Keith has also served as the President of the Staff Council and was honored to be a Cub Camp Namesake in 2018.

Based on his campus-wide impact, superior outstanding performance, and UH tenure Keith has been a recipient of the University of Houston Staff Excellence Award Recipient, as well as the Charles F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award Recipient, the highest award given for exemplary staff contributions to the university.

Prior to his role as assistant vice president for Student Affairs – Student Life, Keith served as Assistant Vice President for Student Development (2010-2011), Executive Director/Director for the University Center and Associated Facilities (2003-2010) and as Associate/Assistant Director for the University Center and Associated Facilities (1998-2003). Keith has previously worked at Eastern Michigan University, Lock Haven University, and the University of Toledo. He is involved in Student Affairs professional associations and has held several leadership positions. He is a member of ACUI, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and previously served as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Team  Chair, Conference Program Team Chair and Member, Regional Director, Education, and Research Fund Program Team, the Role of the College Union Working Group, the Diversity and Inclusion Self-Assessment Working Group, and the I- I-LEAD® (Institute for Leadership Education and Development) Program Chair and Facilitator.  He has been recognized by ACUI with the 2015 Core Values Award, the 2020 Revis A. Cox Memorial Award for Multicultural Education and Social Justice, the 2021 Legacy Leader Award, and the 2021 Butts-Whiting Award.  He is also an active member of TACUSPA – Texas Association of College & University Student Personnel Administrators, ACPA – College Student Educators International, and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

Keith is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling with a specialization in College Student Personnel Administration. He also holds two bachelor's degrees from the University of Toledo: the first with a major in Communication and a minor in Marketing; and the second with a major in Political Science and a minor in Management.