Sam Byrd

Rice celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month throughout June with host of events, participation in Houston parades

June serves as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and to celebrate, Rice University and many campus affiliates will host events to spread awareness about the LGBTQ+ community and educate on sexual and gender diversity.

Staff spotlight: Renelda Robles

Staff spotlight: Renelda Robles Associate Director, Office of Financial Aid

Rice alumni volunteers nurture ‘heart of the university’

The Office of Alumni Relations brought together dedicated Owls from across Houston and the United States for the Volunteer Leadership Conference, an event designed to connect alumni volunteers across diverse roles at Rice and to amplify their impact through workshops, presentations and feedback engagements.

Staff spotlight: Carissa Zimmerman

Staff spotlight: Carissa Zimmerman

7 selected for Rice alumni board; president-elect and alumni trustee announced

Seven alumni have been selected to serve on Rice University’s Association of Rice Alumni (ARA) Board of Directors: Sacha Abinader, Paula Desel, Tawfik Jarjour, Wayne Hale, June Marshall, Wanda Pan and John Sneider. They begin their three-year terms July 1, when David Leal becomes president-elect of the ARA and Cathryn Rodd Selman becomes an alumni trustee.

Staff spotlight: Susan Cudnik


Staff spotlight: Susan Cudnik


Watch video: Rice closes another celebration-filled academic year

It’s a wrap for Rice University’s 2023-24 academic year, which was filled with traditions — established and new — as well as other exciting events, activities and announcements on campus.

Rice’s online Master of Computer Science degree ranked No. 3 by Fortune

Rice’s online Master of Computer Science program was honored by Fortune Magazine with the No. 3 designation in its national rankings.

Rice’s composting program surpasses 1M-pound milestone

Rice University recently crossed a significant milestone with its sustainability efforts. The campus has diverted more than 1 million pounds of food waste from landfills to composting since the composting program’s inception in November 2020.

‘Do things that are extraordinarily hard’: Rice confers doctoral degrees to more than 100 students

More than 100 Rice University students were recognized during a doctoral commencement ceremony at Tudor Fieldhouse the morning of May 4. They join the more than 7,800 alumni who have earned a doctoral degree at Rice in the university’s 111-year history.

Staff Spotlight: Tamara Siler ’87

Staff Spotlight: Tamara Siler ’87

Rice celebrates donors who helped raise more than $200,000 for United Way

Rice University President Reginald DesRoches and wife Paula Gilmer DesRoches welcomed guests to Cohen House for amuse-bouches and beverages April 29 as a way to thank donors who made this year’s “Owl in for Houston” campaign to support United Way of Greater Houston a success.

‘Self-care is self-preservation’: Rice gets moving during Stride Out Stress

Rice University President Reginald DesRoches and Paula Gilmer DesRoches met a group of Owls at the Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center April 26 for Stride Out Stress, a way to get the campus community involved in and receive the health benefits associated with physical activity during National Stress Awareness Month.

Rice invests in young minds with Collab Kid U’s STEAM activities camp

Rice University recently hosted Collab Kid U, an initiative spearheaded by Collaborative for Children designed to inspire young learners ages 3 to 6 years to foster a love for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). The inaugural event was held April 13 in Tudor Fieldhouse.

Rice to hold 111th commencement May 3-4

Rice University’s 111th commencement ceremonies will take place May 3-4 at Rice Stadium and Tudor Fieldhouse, with the undergraduate ceremony Saturday night featuring an address from alumna Peggy Whitson ’86, America’s most experienced astronaut.