Rice University will formally inaugurate its eighth president, Reginald DesRoches, during a three-day celebration on campus Oct. 20-22. Students, faculty, staff and alumni will participate in several events coinciding with this landmark event in the university’s 110-year history.
DesRoches, who officially became president on July 1, will be ceremoniously welcomed by a cadre of fellow college and university presidents from across the country. The main event of the weekend is the investiture ceremony, which takes place the morning of Saturday, Oct. 22.
On Thursday, Oct. 20, a staff luncheon in the Anderson-Clark Center in the afternoon and a faculty dinner in the Inauguration Pavilion during the evening will be followed by an outdoor light and sound celebration in the Academic Quad.
On Friday, Oct. 21, National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan will deliver the keynote address. An undergraduate reception in the Academic Quad will be followed by a graduate reception at Valhalla. A cocktail reception and show at the Turrell Skyspace will be followed by a light and sound celebration in the Academic Quad.
DesRoches joined Rice in 2017 as the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of Engineering at the George R. Brown School of Engineering, and under his leadership the school dramatically increased in size, stature and department rankings as well as significantly expanding research programs. In 2020, DesRoches was promoted to provost, a role in which he led the university’s academic, research, scholarly and creative activities through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the sudden suspension of classroom instruction and Rice’s successful conversion to remote learning. Diversity, equity and inclusion have been a priority during his tenure at Rice, which is now in the midst of the first major expansion of the undergraduate body in over a decade.
Here is the schedule of events open to students, alumni, faculty or staff:
Thursday, Oct. 20
Staff Luncheon
Noon-2 p.m.
Anderson-Clarke Center
Light and Sound Celebration
9-9:15 p.m.
Academic Quad
Friday, Oct. 21
National Science Foundation Director Keynote Address
2:10-3 p.m.
Morrison Theater, Brockman Hall for Opera
Undergraduate Student Reception
2-3:30 p.m.
Central Quad
Graduate Student Reception
3:30-5 p.m.
Valhalla
Skyspace Show
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Turrell Skyspace
Light and Sound Celebration
9-9:15 p.m.
Academic Quad
Saturday, Oct. 22
Investiture
9:30 a.m.
Academic Quad
Light and Sound Celebration
9:30-9:45 p.m.
Academic Quad
For more information, visit inauguration.rice.edu.