Renu Khator

2006 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECIPIENT

MA 1975, Political Science
PhD 1985, Political Science
HDR 2009, Liberal Arts

Renu Khator was named Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of South Florida (USF) in February, 2004. USF is a major metropolitan university with a budget of over $1 billion that offers 200 degree programs and has more than 40,000 students and 2,000 faculty members. As the first female Provost of USF, Khator is responsible for all academic policies, decisions and budgets of the University. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Director of Environmental Science and Policy Program, and Faculty Assistant to then President Betty Castor.

Khator hails from India where she completed her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.  She has published four books, numerous book chapters and journal articles in leading national and international journals. Her areas of specialization include water policy and the impact of globalization on the environment.

Khator has a long history of community engagement. She is a member of the National Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology, and services on several community boards. She enjoys writing poetry and fiction, several of which have been published.