Pending approval by the University of Houston System Board of Regents, Arash Bashirullah will lead one of UH’s oldest colleges — and one of Texas’ first pharmacy schools. The esteemed researcher, teacher and academic leader has been named the new dean of the University’s College of Pharmacy. He is scheduled to arrive on campus Jan. 1, 2026.
Bashirullah currently serves the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy as a professor and associate dean for research and graduate education. He is also executive director of the school’s Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development. At UW-Madison, he has served on multiple university wide committees and task forces, and earned numerous honors, including Teacher of the Year on three occasions. He also has been recognized as a Kavli Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences.
The College of Pharmacy’s connections to the Texas Medical Center and a clear vision for the future intrigued him in the dean’s position. UH’s vibrant, passionate campus community also influenced his decision to come to Houston.
“During my brief campus visit, I could feel a palpable excitement for the future and a genuine spirit of collaboration. Everyone shares a deep commitment to advancing student success and making a real impact on society. That energy and passion were infectious. It made me want to be part of this incredible community and contribute to the momentum already building at the college.”
—Arash Bashirullah, new dean of the UH College of Pharmacy
As a scholar, Bashirullah’s research explores the regulation of hormonal signaling and, more recently, the mechanisms of intracellular lipid trafficking and their connection to neurodegenerative diseases. His work has been published in leading international journals and featured at scientific meetings and conferences around the world. He also serves as the senior advisory editor for “Genetics,” the flagship journal of the Genetics Society of America.
Before joining UW-Madison, Bashirullah completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Utah and Yale University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Winnipeg and a doctorate in biology from the California Institute of Technology.
“We are looking forward to Dr. Bashirullah’s arrival at the University of Houston,” said UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase. “He brings energy, expertise and experience to our College of Pharmacy. These very qualities will no doubt continue the college’s growth and strengthen its mission of producing talented, workforce-ready professionals.”
Bashirullah will succeed F. Lamar Pritchard, who has served as dean of the UH College of Pharmacy since 2009. Pritchard will remain with the college as a clinical faculty member and continue to support its mission of preparing future pharmaceutical and health care professionals.
Founded in 1946 as the second college of pharmacy in Texas, the UH College of Pharmacy offers students exceptional learning opportunities through its connection to the world-class health care community of the Texas Medical Center and the extensive resources of the state’s premier urban research university. The college is dedicated to fostering lifelong learning and cultivating an environment where students gain the knowledge, skills and professional values needed to excel in their scientific and clinical careers.