Sam Byrd

Staff Spotlight: Lisa Basgall

Staff Spotlight: Lisa Basgall

Office of Sustainability spotlights Earth Month with festival in Rice Memorial Center

The Office of Sustainability recently hosted a festival to celebrate April’s designation as Earth Month in the Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall.

Rice to celebrate staff achievements April 18

Rice University will host its annual appreciation event to celebrate staff accomplishments at 9 a.m. April 18 at Tudor Fieldhouse. The gathering will include remarks by President Reginald DesRoches, acknowledgment of service anniversaries from five to 50 years in five-year increments and special recognition of notable employees.

Staff Spotlight: Muizz Akhtar

Staff Spotlight: Muizz Akhtar, digital content specialist at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Several ‘influential women’ of Rice recognized by Houston Woman Magazine

Rice University’s first lady, a respected professor and several alumnae were included in Houston Woman Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2023 list. Each was nominated for inclusion by a Houston Woman Magazine reader then selected by the staff of the publication.

Rice hosts SUCCESS National Convening

The Supporting Undocumented Students’ College and Career Equity: Strategies for Success 2024 Convening was hosted by Rice University March 29-30. It was held in partnership with Immigrants Rising, the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and TheDream.US.

AMPosium! celebrates 10 years of inquiry and learning

The ConocoPhillips Applied Math Program at Rice University celebrated 10 years of professional development and inquiry learning at its closing ceremony for the academic year, the AMPosium!

Staff Spotlight: Kade Smith

Kade Smith is the associate director of development in the major gifts regional team. He's also an alumnus who has spent many years as both a student and an employee of Rice University.

Richard Tapia celebrated for 50 years of service at Rice

National Medal of Science winner Richard Tapia, a University Professor, the Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering and professor of computational applied mathematics and operations research at Rice University, was celebrated for five decades of service to the university April 3 at Rice’s Faculty Club. He is widely recognized as a national leader in the preparation of women and underrepresented minorities for advanced degrees in science, engineering and mathematics. 

Rice celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Week April 8-14

Rice University will host its Pride Week April 8-14. The festivities will include learning opportunities, drag performances, inclusivity events, a parade and The Gayla.

Rice’s open enrollment period for benefit plans is April 8-22 

Rice University welcomes employees to review and change their benefits plans during the open enrollment period, running April 8-22 this year. Employees will have a chance to learn more about the updated plans and meet vendor representatives during the RiceFest benefits fair from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 2 at the Grand Hall in the Rice Student Center.

ConnectSmart app to enhance transportation options for Rice community

Houston ConnectSmart, a program deployed by the Texas Department of Transportation, is now available to the Rice community to aid transportation sustainability efforts. The app is available for download and will link Owls to create eco-friendly travel options to get to and from campus and around the city. It is available to anyone with a rice.edu email address.

Staff Spotlight: Grace Lapsys

Staff Spotlight: Grace Lapsys is Chef de Cuisine at Rice University.

Ken Jett joins Rice’s Operations, Finance and Support as vice president of facilities and capital planning

Rice University’s Division of Operations, Finance and Support announced that Ken Jett will join as vice president of facilities and capital planning and president of the Rice Real Estate Company starting April 1. He will also serve on the president’s cabinet.

Rice honors newest NAE member James Tour with reception

Rice University honored chemist James Tour with a reception March 21 at the Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science for being named to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions accorded in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field.