Shelby's Social Diary
Two decades of thoughtful dialogue celebrated at UH Honors College "GreatConversation"
Oh, what delicious table fare the University of Houston Honors College offered at its most recent "Great Conversation" evening: "Does the Devil Wear Prada?,""Aesop for Grown-ups" and "Think Global, Drink Local: Cougar Brews." Those and perhaps more thought-provoking topics were among the 30-plus subjects dominating dialogues at various tables around the ballroom of Houston Country Club.
Led by UH leadership and professors from across the campus, the discussions continued a tradition that began 20 years ago with the inaugural "Great Conversation" fundraiser. That event was founded by Honors College graduate Jane Cizik in collaboration with Honors College founding dean Ted Estes.
Not only has the evening served to provide a cross-section of Houston leadership with intellectually-stimulating topics, but it has also raised funds for the college and heightened community awareness of the program.
Cizik, who serves as chair of the Honors College Advisory Board, was honored on this evening that was chaired by Deborah Brockstein and Connie Simmons Taylor. Estes presented Cizik the award, a medal on ribbon, during the brief program that included remarks by Honors College dean William Monroe and UH System chancellor and president Renu Khator.
Among the academicians stimulating the gray matter Richard Murray, Dina Al-Sowayel, Ian Morrisson, Shafik Rifaat, Rex Koontz, Paul Chu and the chancellor and her husband, Suresh Khator, leading the discussion on "A TableTour of India."
