Christopher Maynard joined University of Houston-Clear Lake in September 2021. Serving as the Chief Academic Officer (CAO), Dr. Maynard provides strategic leadership for the Division of Academic Affairs and is responsible for the academic standards and mission of the University. Dr. Maynard brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education to UH-Clear Lake. Most recently, he served as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Sam Houston State University during the 2020-2021 academic year. He also served as Vice Provost (2019-2020) and Associate Vice Provost (2017-2020). Originally from Louisiana, Maynard obtained his PhD in history from Louisiana State University in 2001. His research on the end of the Cold War has resulted in numerous publications, most notably his book titled Out of the Shadow: George H.W. Bush and the End of the Cold War.