Bill McKeon, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center (TMC), led a discussion with Rice University President Reginald DesRoches in front of about 150 guests at the newly opened TMC3 building at Helix Park on Oct. 8. The evening event shed light on DesRoches’ personal journey, leadership at Rice and his vision for the future of the university. The live audience also participated by submitting questions via text.
DesRoches, born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in Queens, New York, shared how his upbringing by immigrant parents shaped his work ethic and resilience. His father Jean DesRoches, now 92, and his late mother Marie Therese emphasized the importance of sacrifice and hard work. “They came here with nothing and sacrificed everything for us,” DesRoches said.
DesRoches’ academic journey began at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned degrees in mechanical, civil and structural engineering. His career took a pivotal turn after the 1989 earthquake in California, sparking his interest in earthquake engineering, which later played a crucial role in his work on the 2010 Haiti earthquake recovery. “It was one of the most transformational parts of my career,” DesRoches said, describing how his technical expertise contributed to rebuilding efforts in Haiti.
Since joining Rice in 2017, DesRoches has overseen significant academic and research advancements, including new business and online programs. He emphasized the university’s focus on diversity, inclusion and maintaining its reputation as a top-tier research institution. A key element of his leadership has been the rollout of Rice’s new strategic plan, “Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact,” which outlines the university’s goals for the next decade.
The plan aims to make Rice the world’s leading institution for both teaching and research, while capitalizing on its size as a strategic advantage. With input from more than 350 stakeholders and thousands of community responses, the plan is built around strengthening Rice’s academic programs and expanding Rice Biotech Launch Pad research efforts that address critical issues such as health, sustainability and urban development.
“We’re growing the university by about 30%, something you don’t usually see at private institutions,” DesRoches said. This expansion will help Rice leverage its location in Houston to tackle energy, health care and urban challenges.
“We realize the importance of fundamental research and also helping our faculty to launch startups and create an innovation ecosystem,” DesRoches said.
Rice’s close-knit community was another point of pride for DesRoches, who described the university’s campus residential system and faculty housing programs as fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. “It’s a great institution with incredible people and culture,” he said.