UHCL at Pearland celebrates 15 years of community and growth

The University of Houston-Clear Lake at Pearland marked its 15th anniversary on Thursday, Sept. 18, with an evening that celebrated how far the campus has come and the community that helped build it. The celebration featured the unveiling of a commemorative mural created by UHCL alumna Elizabeth Umanzor ('19), a vibrant work symbolizing resilience, growth and transformation. From the start, the evening underscored a central theme: UHCL at Pearland was never built alone.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together," said Beth Lewis, associate vice president and chief operating officer at UHCL at Pearland. "We could not have gone as far as we have in the last 15 years without the help of our partners."

That spirit of partnership is woven into the history of the campus. UHCL President Richard Walker reflected on Pearland's rapid growth in the early 2000s, which sparked a vision for a local teaching center designed to turn ambition into achievement.

"From the beginning, UHCL at Pearland was built as a purpose-driven teaching location, and 15 years later, that vision continues to thrive," he said.

Today, that vision has become part of the city's identity. Pearland has been recognized among the nation's best places to live, a success Mayor Kevin Cole connected directly to education.

"We don't get there without you," he told the audience. "Education is the foundation of what we believe in this community."

For the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, UHCL has also become a civic hub. Its halls have hosted first responders, business leaders and community events year-round.

"This campus has become more than bricks and walls," said Jim Johnson, chamber president and CEO. "It's a hub for connection, a place for important conversations and meaningful relationships."

The mural unveiled that evening captured those themes in color and form. Birds in flight represent learning in motion, a graduate silhouette anchors the story of student journeys, and symbols of health sciences nod to programs shaping the region's workforce.

"At its heart, the mural is about resilience and transformation," Umanzor said. "My hope is that it inspires students to stay curious, open-minded and willing in every part of their journey."

As the mural was revealed, the celebration turned reflective. Speakers honored the late Mayor Tom Reid, whose advocacy was instrumental in bringing UHCL to Pearland. His portrait, now part of the mural, stands as a reminder of his belief that Pearland's future would be shaped in classrooms. His legacy, guests agreed, lives on in every student who steps onto the campus he helped imagine.

Fifteen years in, UHCL at Pearland remains more than a campus. It is a story of partnership, purpose and promise, written by the community that continues to go far together.