Price honored by trustees

Russell Price, assistant vice president of facilities, was honored by the Rice Board of Trustees at the March 12 meeting for his many contributions to the university.

Russell Price

Vice President for Administration Kevin Kirby touted Price’s dedication to Rice for over three decades.  “It seems inadequate to talk about Russell’s 36 years at Rice in just a few minutes,” Kirby said. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that literally everyone on campus knows him and his qualities as a loyal, competent and optimistic colleague.”

Price came to Rice in 1979 as head of Facility Engineering and Planning’s electrical shop. Just four years later, Price became head of all campus shops. He then quickly became the first African-American executive on campus, Kirby said.

“Russell was a strong force for affirmative action on campus and is responsible for Rice recognizing the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday,” Kirby said. “He’s served on almost all standing committees at the university and is a champion of increased decision-making roles for staff.”

As a member of both Rice staff and alumni, Price identifies closely with university’s core mission of education, Kirby said. Price did not come to Rice with a college degree, but went back to school twice over the past 15 years, first earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston in 2001.

In 2006, Price earned his Executive MBA from Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, which he attended as the inaugural recipient of the Whitaker Scholarship. Named after former Dean Gil Whitaker, the scholarship funds the tuition of a Rice staff member seeking an MBA at the Jones School.

Throughout his many years at Rice, Price has accomplished many things – from being a close adviser to every Rice president since Norman Hackerman to being an important part of the 1990 G-7 Summit to mentoring students. But Price is most proud of helping make Rice a best place to work, said Kirby.  “Those of us who’ve worked closely with Russell know how true this is,” Kirby said.