Maynard appointed UHCL's senior VP for Academic Affairs and provost

June 16, 2022 | UHCL Staff

University of Houston-Clear Lake President Richard Walker has named Christopher Maynard as senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, effective June 16. Maynard has held the position on an interim basis at UH-Clear Lake since September 2021.

Previously, Maynard was associate vice provost, vice provost, and interim provost at Sam Houston State University. As a professor of history, his area of expertise is political and diplomatic history.

"I enjoyed my interim provost role at Sam Houston and saw a good opportunity at UHCL when the position opened," Maynard said. "It was a chance to continue the work I had been doing. There are a lot of similarities between the two universities in terms of student profiles and commitment to student success."

Maynard has succeeded Steven J. Berberich, who began serving in the position in 2018.

"Dr. Maynard brings more than 25 years of valuable experience in higher education to his role as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost," Walker said. "I believe that Dr. Maynard's emphasis on collaboration, focus on building and stewardship of resources, and congenial demeanor are valued qualities necessary to lead and grow the academic enterprise and student success at UHCL and positively impact our university for years to come."

A search committee to fill the provost position was co-chaired by Vice President of University Advancement Joe Staley and Associate Professor of Psychology and Faculty Senate President-Elect Christine Walther. Assisted by Anthem Executive, an executive search and recruiting company, the search committee engaged with a strong and diverse pool of candidates, with Maynard emerging as the finalist.;

"This year has given me time to know the university, staff, faculty and students more, and see what opportunities there are at UHCL- and they are abundant," he said. "I'm committed to continuing to build relationships with community and industry partners. Because President Walker and I have the same vision for student success, I know this is the university I want to work with going forward."

Maynard holds a bachelor of arts in history from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, and both his master's and doctorate in history from Louisiana State University.

For more information about UHCL's Office of the Provost, go online.