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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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, 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.
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.