Sam Byrd

Staff Spotlight: Beth Leaver

Staff Spotlight: Beth Leaver, senior executive director/chief hospitality officer of Housing and Dining

Moody X-Fest ’24 punctuates weekslong celebration of the Moody Experience at Rice

The Rice University community gathered for the second year in celebration of the Moody Foundation’s historic $100 million gift to the campus. More than 1,500 students flocked to Founder’s Court April 19 for Moody X-Fest ’24.

Anne Santos wins Elizabeth Gillis Award

Anne Santos, assistant dean for finance and administration in the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, was named this year’s winner of the Elizabeth Gillis Award for Exemplary Service at President Reginald DesRoches’ event celebrating staff accomplishments April 18.

Faculty recognized with award for superior teaching

Nine Rice University faculty members received the 2024 George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching, which honors top Rice instructors based on votes from alumni who graduated within the past two, three and five years.

Rice honors staff during 2024 appreciation gathering

President Reginald DesRoches welcomed hundreds of Rice University staff members to a morning breakfast and recognition ceremony April 18 at Tudor Fieldhouse. Themed “Because of You,” the gathering highlighted the university’s successes and growth during the previous year and a glimpse into what the future holds for Rice.

Rice PRIDE celebrates its first LGBTQ parade, hosts Gayla

LGBTQ Owls and allies gathered on the Rice University campus April 13 to partake in the group’s first ever pride parade. Organized by Rice PRIDE, the event included poster-making, speeches by organizers and swag items like pins and tie-dyed T-shirts.

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.