Derek Houston came to UConn in 2022 as professor and head of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, drawn by the University’s strong research reputation.
“As someone who studies early language development and speech perception, UConn has always been an international center for language sciences,” Houston says.
Now, just a few years later, Houston is stepping into a new role focused on expanding that reputation. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, he joined the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Dean’s Office as associate dean for research and strategic initiatives.
The appointment comes at a time of significant uncertainty for higher education research, and Houston is clear-eyed about both the challenges and the opportunities ahead.
“Because of funding cuts at the state and national levels, we need to be more creative and flexible in pursuing research funding,” he says. “While that’s daunting, it’s also an opportunity to forge new collaborations across CLAS and with partners beyond the University to address pressing needs for our communities.”
Houston brings decades of experience in academic and medical research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and administration. Before coming to UConn, he spent more than 20 years working in medical schools and clinical research environments at Ohio State and Indiana University. At Indiana, he established the first research laboratory dedicated to studying the speech perception and language skills of deaf infants who receive cochlear implants.
His research examines how early auditory experience and parent-child interactions shape the cognitive, linguistic, and social foundations of language development. Alongside that work, Houston has led community-based participatory research aimed at addressing barriers families face in accessing high-quality early intervention services for their children.
That blend of rigorous scholarship and real-world engagement has shaped how Houston approaches leadership, particularly within a college as broad and diverse as CLAS. As associate dean, he will support and advance research across CLAS, from the sciences and social sciences to the humanities, while also sharing why that work matters to audiences beyond campus.
“At a land- and sea-grant institution, the public has a stake in what we do,” Houston says. “The people of Connecticut help fund the University, and they should be able to see how our research advances basic knowledge, solves practical problems, increases cultural understanding, and shapes policy.”
A key part of that work, he says, is helping departments build habits that make it easier to collect and share research stories. He also wants to highlight the direct impact of faculty research on tangible outcomes like student success, workforce preparation, and community impact.
“Research can feel abstract to people,” Houston says. “Pulling back the curtain on what research actually looks like and connecting it to the student experience can help people understand its value.”
Equally important, Houston says, is helping researchers navigate a wide range of funding opportunities. His own work has been supported primarily by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as by private foundations, nonprofit institutes, international consortia, industry partners, and individual donors. He has also served four years on an NIH study section and reviewed grants across disciplines.
Houston says that breadth of experience has given him insight into funding strategies, including the importance of timing, legislative context, and understanding agency priorities.
“Working across disciplines and with families, clinicians, and state agencies has taught me that what researchers find interesting isn’t always what matters most to the public,” he says. “Effective collaboration starts with understanding what different partners need and how the work can benefit them. That’s what makes research sustainable and impactful.”
Leadership and mentorship have also been central to Houston’s career. He has extensive experience with mentoring faculty and postdoctoral researchers as they build sustainable research programs, navigate funding pathways, and advance their careers. As department head of a unit that includes both clinical and research graduate programs, he has also worked to build consensus among faculty with diverse perspectives and priorities — experience he sees as directly relevant to his new role.
Looking ahead, Houston says his immediate priorities are to help faculty sustain strong research despite challenging conditions and to support their ability to adapt as circumstances evolve. While the role presents a professional challenge, he says it also offers an opportunity to serve a mission he believes in.
“CLAS not only does interesting science and scholarly work, but also highly specialized work that contributes to the richness of our collective expertise,” he says. “It is vitally important for us to foster an environment where this work can take place and to communicate its value to Connecticut and the nation.”