Dr. Emily Messa, University of Houston System Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and University of Houston Senior Associate Vice President for Administration has been recommended for the Fulbright Specialist Roster for a four-year term. 

“I am honored to be placed on the Fulbright Specialist Roster with the opportunity to represent the University of Houston and the Division to complete a project at an international host institution, share my expertise, and gain experience completing a project at a host institution,” said Messa, who has more than 20 years of higher education experience. 

The Fulbright Program serves to promote the international engagement of academic scholarship and build linkages between the U.S. and overseas eligible institutions on curriculum, assessment, faculty development, research training, and other program development activities. 

As a member of the Fulbright Specialist Roster, Messa is eligible to be matched with projects designed by host institutions in over 150 countries globally. 

“My overall goal would be to complete a project at a host institution and broaden my expertise so that I can apply what I learn to my work at UH,” said Messa. 

“I hope to grow in my language fluency of Spanish and in my ability to support international students and colleagues. It would also be amazing to learn how to navigate another culture and system of higher education to broaden my overall awareness of global issues facing higher education.” 

Messa’s specialty areas include auxiliary services, higher education finance, and student development in a higher education setting. She established UH’s first shared governance committee for sustainability and leads the university’s efforts to incorporate sustainable practices into all aspects of its auxiliary programs and services. Messa also chairs the University of Houston Systemwide Public Art Committee. 

In 2019, Messa became the first UH System representative to earn the designation of Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (C.A.S.P)., which is a benchmark certification that measures university executives' competencies who oversee multiple auxiliary services on a college campus.