People, papers and presentations

Qilin Li, professor of civil and environmental engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering, was highlighted in a June 6 testimony at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, “Student Visa Integrity: Protecting Educational Opportunity and National Security.” Jill Welch, deputy executive director for public policy for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, cited Li’s research efforts to find a sustainable water supply to help make the case for international students and to advocate that a more globally engaged and welcoming United States is needed.

Rice’s Initiative for Students was selected as the Platinum winner in the Best Practices in Fundraising category of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s 2018 Circle of Excellence awards. The initiative, which ran from 2014 to 2017, was submitted by Development and Alumni Relations. After winning the Gold award in the District IV Accolades competition, the initiative was automatically entered into CASE’s international platinum competition, which recognizes the best-of-the-best programs and practices in educational advancement.

John Boles, the William Pettus Hobby Professor of History, presented an invited lecture June 13 at the Reform Club of London. The subject was his recent Thomas Jefferson biography, “Jefferson: Architect of American Liberty.”