Houston Public Library Foundation celebrates the appointment of Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, former U.S. ambassador to the State of Qatar, as Houston Public Library’sinaugural diplomat-in-residence during a ceremony on June 4, 2026, at the Julia Ideson Building (550 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77002).
Untermeyer has held positions at the local, state, national and international levels over more than 50 years, with additional experience in journalism, academia and business.
A 1968 graduate of Harvard College, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He later served as a Texas state representative; assistant secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan; director of presidential personnel and director of the Voice of America under President George H.W. Bush; and U.S. ambassador to Qatar under President George W. Bush.
He is currently a professor of practice at the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston; ambassador-in-residence in the history department at Texas Tech University, and a lecturer in Interdisciplinary Studies at the Glasscock School of Continuing Education at Rice University.
““Houstonians come from all over the world, and our library should reflect and serve that global community,” said Sandy Gaw, director of the Houston Public Library. “By bringing a diplomat-in-residence into the library, we’re creating new opportunities for residents to engage with international voices, access global perspectives, and participate in meaningful cultural and educational experiences. This appointment strengthens our ability to connect Houston’s diverse communities with the world right here at their local library.”
“As someone whose best memory of childhood was of Houston summer afternoons spent in the Norma Meldrum Children’s Room of the Julia Ideson Building, this is a singular honor and opportunity to serve the wider Houston community,” Untermeyer said. “The library is a public resource of learning and culture open to all Houstonians, and thoughtful engagement with the consular corps and international partners will only enrich the opportunities available through the library.”
“We are thrilled to welcome someone with Ambassador Untermeyer’s credentials into this inaugural role,” Gaw said.