The Rice University Board of Trustees recently recognized Dagmar Beck for 20-plus years of service. She currently serves as the director of the professional science master’s (PSM) program.
Beck has been with Rice and its PSM program since 2002 when it launched. She oversees all aspects of program administration and finance, faculty coordination, marketing, student support, development and corporate relations.
“Dagmar’s sustained service has benefitted faculty, students and staff in the natural sciences and in other entities across the university during her long career at Rice,” said Thomas C. Killian, dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences. “The partnership she has had with multiple deans of natural sciences [throughout the years] has been essential to advancing the priorities of the school.”
Beck currently oversees the PSM office and collaborates with faculty and board members to continually enhance courses and curricula, create innovative programs and engage with industry leaders to ensure that graduates possess a comprehensive and up-to-date skill set that is in high demand within their respective industries.
Under her guidance, 400 students have earned master’s degrees, and Rice has collected $19 million in tuition revenue. She built an engaged Industry Board of Affiliates with more than 60 members drawn from leadership of aerospace, energy, environmental companies, nongovernmental organizations and government.
She also holds the role of the program’s development officer, working with Rice’s development staff and industry partners to seek financial contributions from companies for a corporate scholarship and program sponsorships. To secure the program’s financial stability, she established an endowment to provide support for students in need. With similar purpose, Beck championed the formation of a PSM Alumni Board to engage local alumni and maintain their connection with the program and support for it and the university.
Outside of her job responsibilities, Beck has also worked on various committees at Rice. She represented staff on the staff council, serving on the staff advisory committee. She has served as a member of the Rice corporate council from its inception and is a participant in the Rice-Texas Medical Center Experiential Education Network.
In addition to her role at Rice, Beck has been actively involved in the National Professional Science Master’s Association (NPSMA) since 2005. She served as vice-president in 2010, president in 2011 and immediate past president in 2012. She chaired various committees over the years and led the successful organization and facilitation of the second National NPSMA Conference in Atlanta in 2010 as well as serving on the conference committee for the 2012 conference. Currently, she heads several committees and serves as vice president of communication and editor for the NPSMA Chronicle. She is also a member of Women in Energy, the National Association of Graduate Admission Personnel, the German American Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club.