Humanities

Senior Spotlight: Riya Misra ’25

At Rice, senior Riya Misra found that studying the humanities wasn’t only about literature; it was about sharpening the essential tools for any storyteller.

Rap meets rhetoric

For fall 2025, professor Kiese Laymon is breaking new ground with a course that centers on the beef between Lamar and Drake, a cultural moment that’s still reverberating in real time.

At Rice, research opportunities help senior bring childhood dreams to life

For senior Dasseny Arreola, pursuing two majors, one minor, three research fellowships and even a novel was never about checking boxes.

Grief as witness, memory as resistance

Hosted by the School of Humanities, the annual Kazimi Lecture honors the memory of Syed Safdar and Samina Kazimi by inviting artists and scholars whose work deepens understanding of Shi’i Islam.

Rice announces historic enrollment growth, expanding access and free tuition

Rice will increase access by growing the university’s student body, marking an unprecedented growth trajectory that began earlier this decade. The expansion is part of Rice’s commitment to access and is aligned with a strategic vision to solidify its position as a global leader in both teaching and research.

Rice scholars offer insight on life signature discovery from planet K2-18b

The finding, reported by The New York Times April 16, builds on generations of inquiry into whether life exists beyond Earth.

Building better AI starts with asking better questions; Rice is doing just that

Humanities disciplines, especially medical humanities, shouldn’t just be consulted at the end of the development pipeline when systems are being evaluated for bias or misuse.

Rice students explore identity, history, health in expanded Humanities Days showcase

Humanities Days offered Rice students the chance to present their research and creative work in panels, poster sessions and art presentations.

Empathy in the aftermath: 15 years after Deepwater Horizon accident, ‘SPILL’ rekindles urgent reflections

Rice hosted a timely and intimate conversation about the personal and political fallout that continues to ripple across the Gulf Coast.

A city of museums, a campus of art

With its campus nestled in Houston’s Museum District, Rice has built a model for what a university-art museum partnership can look like.

Exploring the unexplained: A new chapter in the Archives of the Impossible brings together people from different fields, experiences

For three days in April, scholars, experiencers and independent researchers gathered not to solve the mystery but to examine its place in our evolving cultural, political and philosophical landscape.

Rice experts weigh in on economic and political implications of new tariffs

As the new administration’s latest round of tariffs take effect, Rice experts are available to discuss the economic and political implications.

Rice graduate programs excel in US News rankings

Rice continues to stand out for its academic excellence with several graduate programs earning high marks in the latest edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” rankings.

Rice senior earns US Department of State scholarship to study Arabic in Oman

Before she had ever conjugated a verb in Arabic, Rice senior Charlotte Heeley decided the language was worth pursuing.

Comics conference at Rice puts graphic narratives at center stage

Held March 20-23, the conference featured speakers from 10 countries and drew more than 570 attendees.