Outstanding graduates share their stories
As Rice prepares to celebrate the Class of 2025 at commencement May 9-10, Rice News is spotlighting a series of standout graduates.
Senior Spotlight: Arthus Morrison de la Bassetiere ’25
Arthus Morisson de la Bassetiere, a senior mechanical engineering major and men’s tennis player from Reims, France, has his sights set far beyond the court — he wants to be one of the first French people to walk on the moon.
This statement underscores Rice’s unwavering commitment to academic freedom as a cornerstone of scholarly inquiry, open dialogue and the pursuit of knowledge. It also affirms our responsibility to foster a campus climate where every member of our diverse community feels respected and valued — even as we grapple with ideas that may challenge or unsettle us.
Biologist Scott Solomon named Piper Professor for excellence in teaching
Scott Solomon, a biologist, science communicator and teaching professor in the Department of Biosciences, has been named a 2025 Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.
Rice caps year of increasing Moody Experience activities with celebration, student impact stories
Following a year full of increased activity for Moody Experience programs, Andy Osborn, program manager of educational initiatives, welcomed campus partners and students April 28 at Cohen House to celebrate student impacts and thank campus collaborators for their contributions throughout the year.
Matthew Tyler receives NSF CAREER award to improve reliability of survey-based research
Matthew Tyler, an assistant professor of political science at Rice, receives NSF CAREER award.
Electricity-generating bacteria may power future innovations
A team led by Rice's Caroline Ajo-Franklin has discovered how certain bacteria breathe by generating electricity.
Senior Spotlight: Riya Misra ’25
At Rice, senior Riya Misra found that studying the humanities wasn’t only about literature; it was about sharpening the essential tools for any storyteller.
New national survey reveals what American consumers truly value across 18 key industries
The 2025 Customer Value Report, authored by marketing researchers at Rice and the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School, evaluates 18 sectors representing the full spectrum of American consumer life — from banking, education and health care to streaming services and law enforcement.
For fall 2025, professor Kiese Laymon is breaking new ground with a course that centers on the beef between Lamar and Drake, a cultural moment that’s still reverberating in real time.
Fulbright Scholar Program brings brightest students from around the globe to Rice
The transformative impact of the Fulbright Scholar Program is on full display at Rice, where approximately 100 Fulbright students from around 30 countries are currently pursuing graduate studies.
Rice salutes Catherine Clack’s 43 years of service
Catherine Clack, Rice’s associate vice provost in the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence and director of the Multicultural Center, is retiring in May, providing a capstone to her long and productive career with the university.
National Academy of Sciences elects Lydia Kavraki as a member
Lydia Kavraki, a leading researcher in robotics, computational biomedicine and artificial intelligence at Rice, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the world’s foremost professional societies dedicated to honoring achievement in science and outstanding original research.
Women's tennis earns at-large bid to NCAA Tournament
The Rice Owls women's tennis earned an at-large bid in the NCAA field of 64, earning the third seed in the College Station Regional.
Men's tennis heads to College Station Regional
The Rice Owls men's tennis earned a spot in the NCAA field of 64 for the second-straight year, earning the fourth seed in the College Station Regional.