“As we’re embarking on unprecedented growth of the faculty, you’ve joined Rice University at a truly exciting time,” said President Reginald DesRoches during his welcome to the 94 new tenure-track and nontenure-track faculty members who bring leading perspectives and expertise.
The president’s address matched the strength and electric magnetism of what is taking place both within the university as well as with its partnerships across the city.
“We renewed our commitment to engaging with the wonderful city of Houston, and we’re an important part of the collaboration with local industries, the arts community, the Texas Medical Center and other relationships that we have with the city and the region,” he said. “We are committed to being a driver of innovation and entrepreneurship. We’ll be building out the district to serve as Houston’s innovation hub.”
The university is expanding its presence both with undergraduate students as well as in graduate studies. In total, the university greeted more than 1,100 undergraduate students and 1,400 graduate students, Rice’s largest class of master’s and doctoral candidates.
“It’s an indication of our growing presence around research and scholarships,” DesRoches said. “We’re excited about that number. We are focused on profile and scholarships.”
Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost, offered her own words of advice to the incoming faculty members and the role they will play in keeping Rice at the forefront of academic excellence.
“You are such a huge part of why Rice is successful,” Dittmar said. “I want to also just express how grateful we are that you have decided to either move your career or start your career here at Rice. This is an incredibly talented group of people. Hopefully we’ll get to know each other over the course of the next years because it really is an amazing group.”
The Rice academic year started Monday, Aug. 26, and the first semester runs through Tuesday, Dec. 17.