Original article written by Mike Guajardo, Talent Management and Development Specialist, and student in UHD’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communication program.
When Hurricane Beryl slammed into Houston, Ryan Thompson, UHD’s new Executive Director of Web Marketing, found himself navigating not only the chaos of the storm but also an unexpected move. With his home left powerless, Thompson and his partner decided it was time for a change. “We had no power for weeks,” he recalls. “My partner and I decided we didn’t want to deal with this again… the universe was telling us to move on.”
It was not an easy decision. Uprooting your home during such a tumultuous time is rarely simple, but the situation pushed Thompson and his partner to seek a fresh start. The day after making that choice, he walked into work and spoke with Debra McGaughey, Assistant Vice President of University Relations, to share the news. “I came in and let Debra know. Throughout the whole ordeal, everyone had been so supportive—my coworkers, my bosses. They were all checking in on me. It was a caring atmosphere,” Thompson says. “Especially as a new employee going through a stressful experience, it was reassuring to know I didn’t have to worry about my job, and I felt I had support and flexibility.”
While managing the personal stress of relocating, Thompson was also hard at work with his team on projects that many in the UHD community would soon notice. “During this time, we were focused on updating the university’s homepage—those changes you might have seen recently,” Thompson explains. His team was also deep into the details of enhancing the university’s mobile app, ensuring that it offered a more seamless experience for students and staff alike. “And then, of course, there are the little things that pop-up,” he adds, “like handling emails and different requests.”

On top of the intricacies of his professional role, Thompson dealt with a more personal concern: the well-being of his two cats, Opal, and Sasha, in the stifling summer heat. “Toye Simmons was really helpful with my anxiety during that time, especially about the hot house and checking on the cats,” he shares. Simmons’ compassion provided a source of comfort during those overwhelming days, easing Thompson’s stress as he managed both his work and home life.
Between balancing his personal concerns and coordinating a move, Thompson spent his lunch breaks calling leasing offices, collecting quotes from movers, visiting properties after work, and figuring out how to escape his situation. Still, there was one major hurdle: financial documentation. “With this being a new job, I hadn’t even received my first paycheck yet to prove my income.”
In what could have been a stressful scenario of securing a lease quickly, UHD’s tight-knit community once again proved its strength. “This was a non-problem,” he says with a smile. “I went over to HR, explained what was happening, and within minutes, Kat Castillo had my verification letter ready. She did not just stop there—she made sure to verify my employment right away when the leasing office reached out. It was amazing.”
Thompson had everything he needed the same day, thanks to the swift attention and efficiency of his UHD colleagues. “There was great communication between me, and everyone involved. It was a community that truly cared about what I was going through,” Thompson reflects. “People understood—they had just gone through weeks without power themselves.”

In a week, Thompson and his partner found themselves moved into a new home, fully powered and ready for a fresh beginning. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the support from HR and University Relations,” he says. “It was an experience I do not think I would have had anywhere else. UHD is unique in that way.”
For Thompson, Hurricane Beryl was not just a test of resilience—it was a turning point. And through it all, the support he received at UHD made him realize that the university was not just a place of work; it was a community that would stand by him, even in the toughest times.
“It was tough, but I will say, having this job here and the community around me, made a big difference how I managed the move.”
Have an uplifting story about fellow UHD employees you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it!
Send us an email at hr@uhd.edu so we can discuss. Talk soon!
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