Jay Neal

Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Operating Officer of University of Houston Sugar Land Campus and University of Houston Katy Campus
jayneal@uh.edu

Jay A. Neal, Ph.D., serves as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Operating Officer for the University of Houston Sugar Land and Katy campuses. In this role, he provides executive leadership for two rapidly growing instructional sites that serve more than 6,000 students and support the University’s strategic priorities related to student success, academic growth, community engagement, and workforce development. Since assuming this position, Dr. Neal has led the development and implementation of strategic growth plans for both campuses, overseen the expansion of academic facilities and programming, and cultivated partnerships with industry, government, and educational institutions throughout the Greater Houston region. Under his leadership, the Sugar Land and Katy campuses have experienced record enrollment growth, expanded access to academic programs, strengthened workforce development initiatives, and launched innovative programs such as the UH Katy Talent Accelerator and the UH Sugar Land Industry Partnership Zone.

Dr. Neal is also an Associate Professor in the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, where he has taught and mentored students for more than two decades. Throughout his career at the University of Houston, he has held academic and administrative leadership roles focused on institutional growth, operational excellence, and student success. His work emphasizes expanding access to higher education, aligning academic programs with workforce needs, and fostering collaboration among education, industry, and government partners.

Dr. Neal earned a Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from Texas A&M University and both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Hospitality Management from the University of Houston. His research has focused on food safety, foodborne pathogens, consumer food handling practices, and workforce development, resulting in numerous peer-reviewed publications, external grant funding, and presentations at national and international conferences.

An active leader in the Katy and Fort Bend County communities, Dr. Neal serves on numerous boards and advisory committees focused on education, economic development, and workforce advancement. He currently serves as Chair of the Education and Workforce Division of the West Houston Association, Division Chair for the Fort Bend Regional Partnership Leadership Forum and holds leadership roles with several regional organizations dedicated to strengthening talent pipelines and supporting economic growth.