The Office of Admissions is made up of three main areas: Admissions Processing, Information Technology and Student Recruitment.

Our Mission

To provide information, pathways and resources that give access to world-changing opportunities at the University of Houston. We aim to recruit academically promising students, provide timely admissions evaluation and deliver an orientation and enrollment experience that establishes a foundation toward college retention and graduation.

Our Vision

To create a diverse, inclusive and academically competitive university that has been shaped by high-touch and data-driven initiatives. A place that’s relentless about college access, a destination for academically competitive students and a model within the field of college admissions.

Facts & Figures

• 60+ full-time employees and 50+ part-time student staff
• Regionally located in Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth and McAllen
• 46,000+ undergraduate applications annually
• Incoming students represent nearly every county in Texas and every state in the U.S. as well as 90+ nations around the world

Our Leadership

Dr. Mardell Maxwell

Executive Director
mrmaxwe2@central.uh.edu

Dr. Mardell Maxwell joined the Office of Admissions in April 2017. He provides leadership and administrative oversight to undergraduate admissions, prospective student recruitment, new student orientation and enrollment. Prior to moving to Houston, he served as an admissions professional at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Kansas State University.

Kriston Burroughs

Director, Student Recruitment & Campus Visit Experiences
kpburrou@central.uh.edu

Kriston Burroughs joined the Office of Admissions in August 2021. He oversees the Welcome Center Admissions staff and manages the admission of first year, transfer and graduate applicants to the University. He is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to moving to Houston, he served as an admissions professional at Washington University in St. Louis.

Gabrielle Sowell

Director, Admissions Processing
admissions@uh.edu

Gabrielle Sowell joined the Office of Admissions in September 2019. She oversees the processing of freshman and transfer admissions applications, transfer credit evaluations and college review decisions. A native Houstonian, she received her bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Texas Southern University and earned her master’s degree in education at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Knowledgeable in different areas of enrollment services that provide assistance to prospective and current students, Gabrielle understands the importance of serving students and helping them reach their educational and professional goals. Go Coogs!

Keisha Lyons

Director, Enrollment Management IT
kdlyons@central.uh.edu

Keisha Lyons joined the Office of Admissions in April 2021. She oversees the development and deployment of information technology resources to support enrollment services in Admissions. Originally from Baton Rouge, she received her bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University. She has over 20 years of information technology experience with a comprehensive background in Oracle programming and database design. She is committed to delivering quality products and excellent customer service and support.

Derrick Alex

Lead, International Recruitment & Admissions
dalex@central.uh.edu

Along with firsthand experience of being an international student in the United States, Derrick also has expertise in successfully leading numerous areas within International Education at multiple U.S. institutions. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American International Recruitment Council and has presented at various international higher ed conferences. Derrick is committed to international student success and has fluency in several Indian languages. He enjoys analyzing/interpreting complex data and considers it to be one of his pastimes.