UHV alumna achieves, passes down dream
When DiDi Chavis first started taking classes at the University of Houston-Victoria, she was apprehensive about taking classes online. However, the online classes gave her the flexibility she needed as a working single mother to finish her bachelor’s degree and start pursuing her master’s.
“I was skeptical because I’d never taken online classes before, and I was concerned I wouldn’t learn as well as I did in in-person classes,” the Brookshire resident said. “It turns out that I was still able to connect with my classmates and enjoy a community atmosphere. We exchanged numbers, and the schedule and resources were so convenient and flexible that it made getting my degree perfectly attainable.”
Chavis graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in creative writing in 2019. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Chavis was working as an administrative professional for the Chief Operating Officer of Katy ISD, who encouraged her to pursue her master’s degree. She attended an information session at what was then UHV Katy and learned about the VOICE program, the university’s alternative teaching certification program, which also offers students the opportunity to earn credits toward a Master of Education degree. After signing up for the program, Chavis went on to earn a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction-Higher Education and Secondary Education in December 2024.
“Two of my personal goals were to work in education and earn a graduate degree,” Chavis said. “When I started working toward my master’s degree, I was a paraprofessional for the Katy Independent School District. Earning a graduate degree helped me move my career forward, and now I’m working toward earning a doctorate.”
As she was beginning her graduate program, there was a change in leadership in Katy ISD. When a new COO was hired, he chose to bring in his own administrative team, which shifted Chavis into a liaison role. However, that change opened her eyes to a new possibility for her career.
“I saw a job listing for the council chief of staff for Council District K in Houston,” she said. “In my previous role with Katy ISD, I’d worked a lot with government offices and officials at multiple levels from local up to national. That experience made the shift into a government role much easier.”
She applied and started her new role in May 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping the nation. It was a strange and interesting experience to lead a new team during the pandemic when all of the employees were working from home and she was the only one in the office, Chavis said. But the experience, combined with the skills she’d learned at UHV, made her a better leader.
“So many of the things I learned at UHV have come into play in my career, especially the communication skills,” she said. “I still have my textbook from my ‘Professional Writing’ class in my office, and I refer to it all the time when preparing letters, reports, grant requests and more.”
The faculty at UHV were outstanding both as instructors and in supporting Chavis through her journey toward earning her degrees, she said. While she was a student, she lost first her mother and then her brother. Each time, the faculty worked with her to make sure she could take care of her family while not missing any important assignments. Some of the faculty members she is especially grateful to are Diana Lopez and Anthony Madrid, who encouraged her to write; as well as Mary Lasater, who was a source of support during her graduate studies.
“DiDi Chavis’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience and determination,” said Lasater, associate dean and professor in the UHV College of Education & Health Professions. “Despite life’s challenges, she returned with unwavering focus and finished strong. Watching her grow as a scholar has been a privilege, and I’m honored to have played a small role in encouraging her along the way.”
Something that was special about Chavis’s journey toward earning her degrees was having the chance to graduate from college at the same time as her daughter. On Dec. 13, 2024, her daughter graduated summa cum laude from UH, and the next day, Chavis graduated from UHV with her master’s degree. Today, her daughter has received a fellowship with Teach for America and is teaching in Baton Rouge, La., while attending graduate school at Louisiana State University.
“Going back to school and finishing my degree was more than just a personal goal,” Chavis said. “I wanted to show my daughter that she can pursue her dreams in spite of any obstacles in life. She saw me working late at night to earn my bachelor’s degree. Then we were able to share that special graduation weekend together last year. Seeing her succeed and become a teacher has been so inspiring.”
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.