Jhair A. Romero

Jhair A. Romero is the web editor of the University of Houston's award-winning student newspaper, The Cougar. He previously served as sports editor and editor in chief of The Cougar. He has interned at Sports Illustrated and works as an agate clerk at the Houston Chronicle. He will be a reporting intern at the Houston Chronicle beginning in June 2022. Expected to graduate in May 2023, he hopes to further his journalism career as an editor or reporter. He can be reached at jhairaromero17@gmail.com.

The Cougar • February 26, 2021

UH Housing director Antonio Pee previously fired for sexual misconduct, documents show

UH residential life director Antonio Pee was fired from a similar post at Michigan State University in February 2017 after making inappropriate and sexual contact with MSU student residents, according to disciplinary records recently obtained by The Cougar.

The Cougar • February 3, 2021

For UH tennis coach Helena Besovic, lessons of life after war resonate still

Nearly 25 years after the Siege of Sarajevo ended, the lessons UH tennis coach Helena Besovic learned during the Bosnian War and since continue to ring through every aspect of her life.

The Cougar • August 24, 2020

Tracking COVID-19 at UH: Interactive charts track on-campus coronavirus spread

In an effort to make the data as accessible as possible to our readers, The Cougar has created interactive charts that offer a visual representation of the spread of the coronavirus on the UH campus and within its community.

The Cougar • April 11, 2020

'I'm absolutely petrified': UH professor growing desperate as tide-turning coronavirus invention awaits FDA approval

UH physicist Seamus Curran says his invention could save lives in the fight against the coronavirus. But without Food and Drug Administration approval, which a distressed Curran is still waiting for, his invention is helping nobody.

The Cougar • April 7, 2020

'Bored beyond belief': Inside Houston's battle to beat quarantine restlessness, make light of coronavirus pandemic

Despite their best efforts, boredom set in quickly for senior pitcher Lael Lockhart Jr. and his teammates. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing everyone inside, the UH baseball team is learning how to navigate quarantine restlessness.

The Cougar • January 22, 2020

New Player Development Center, brainchild of Todd Whitting, 'covers all the bases'

When Todd Whitting was hired in 2010 as Houston’s eighth head baseball coach, he arrived with an ambitious list of long-term goals to help elevate UH into prominence. With the new Player Development Center finally open, one of Whitting's loftiest goals has been met.

The Cougar • August 21, 2019

Houston alumni getting comfortable in minor leagues

Life in the minors is rough, especially for guys diving into the world of professional baseball for the first time. For Jared Triolo and Fred Villarreal, two former Cougars that were drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Seattle Mariners, respectively in 2019, life after their time in Houston has been much more forgiving.

The Cougar • November 20, 2019

Meet the Scott Street Specialists, Houston's ragtag special teams unit

When former long snapper Byron Simpson medically retired from football in 2017, he left one mission for then-sophomore punter Dane Roy — continue leading the Scott Street Specialists.

The Cougar • February 12, 2020

'We've got a chip on our shoulder': Cougars 'put the work in' after snub, 'hungry' for 2020 success

Head coach Todd Whitting and the Cougars knew they were “literally one win away” from being safely in when Houston was among the first four out and narrowly left bidless in the 2019 NCAA Tournament in late May.