Rice University has announced the reappointments of Bridget Gorman as dean of undergraduates and Seiichi Matsuda as dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, both for five-year terms beginning July 1, 2025.
In addition, C. Fred Higgs III and Robert Bruce were reappointed to key positions in the university's leadership structure, with Higgs serving as vice provost for academic affairs and Bruce as dean of the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. Their terms began in July.
These reappointments represent a significant phase in the university’s leadership continuity and follow a comprehensive review of each dean's major accomplishments and strategic opportunities within their respective areas, Rice Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Amy Dittmar said.
“Bridget, Seiichi and Fred’s leadership and support are critical as we seek to advance undergraduate and graduate education, two of the key drivers supporting premier teaching and research at Rice while we expand and invest in our faculty,” Dittmar said. “Rob’s leadership is critical as we innovate in degree, certificate and noncredit programs and advance the importance of lifelong learning.”
Bridget Gorman, dean of undergraduates
Gorman has provided strong leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the 20% growth of the student body over the last four years to 4,800, Dittmar said. She has enhanced student support services so that Rice Owls can perform at the highest levels academically while maintaining their health and well-being, she added. For example, since spring 2020, she grew the total number of staff positions in the Rice Counseling Center and Student Wellbeing Office by 55% . She also launched several new programs designed to enhance student success, including Owl Access , a prematriculation program for first-generation and limited-income students.
Gorman supported efforts to enhance co-curricular and outside-the-classroom opportunities for global travel and civic engagement through the launch and expansion of the Center for Civic Leadership's Moody Global Fellows and Moody Civic Immersion programs. She has responsibility for Rice’s general education program, including ongoing reform efforts led by the associate dean of undergraduate education, Leslie Schwindt-Bayer. She also works closely with other Rice leaders on maintaining and expanding residential colleges, including the launch of College 12 (set to open in fall 2026).
Seiichi Matsuda, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies
During his time as dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies , Matsuda has advocated for enhanced graduate student support, including working with the Office of the Provost to establish minimum stipends and provide annual increases to account for changes in the cost of living. He also worked to improve the availability and affordability of graduate student dining options and to establish the first graduate space in the Grad Bubble. This support is essential to the growing graduate population, which has increased almost 20% over the last four years, Dittmar said.
With expected future growth and the increasing importance of graduate programs in the strategic plan , Dittmar said there are plans to expand the GPS office. Matsuda will lead a plan to further enhance graduate programs through admissions, degree completion and support for graduate students. Through his efforts to build relationships internationally and with school and department-level leadership, Rice has been able to recruit the top graduate students in the world. In 2024, Rice graduate students won a record 112 major awards, including 29 Fulbright awards, 26 GEM Fellowships and 21 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. Matsuda himself was named the recipient of the 2022 Debra W. Stewart Award for Outstanding Leadership in Graduate Education , the top honor bestowed by the Council of Graduate Schools.
C. Fred Higgs III, vice provost for academic affairs
Higgs has led academic affairs during the university's largest faculty hiring initiative, overseeing the onboarding and professional development of over 170 nontenure-track and more than 200 tenure-track faculty in the past five years. Under his leadership, the office has shepherded through nearly 25 university policies and procedures that affect faculty and the faculty lifecycle process, from hiring to retirement, which has been streamlined and transformed digitally with the Interfolio suite. His office manages dual career hiring , faculty awards and postretirement services.
Higgs also chaired the search committee for the associate provost for digital learning and strategy, successfully recruiting Shawn Miller , and oversaw the recruitment of Kelia Hubbard as head of the Office of International Students and Scholars. Through various programs, the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs supports faculty, students, staff and international scholars in their academic pursuits.
Robert Bruce, dean of the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
Bruce leads the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies , which has launched numerous new programs over the past five years to serve Houston and beyond. Notable initiatives include the Digital Skills Boot Camps , which have served over 2,500 students since 2018, and OpenRICE , offering free webinars during the pandemic.
In April 2021, the school became the first at Rice to receive approval for stand-alone graduate certificates. It also established the University John Freeman Faculty Excellence Award and the Dearborn Faculty Support Fund to recognize outstanding faculty who teach in the Master of Liberal Studies program .
The Center for Education's teacher preparation programs have consistently earned Texas Education Agency awards, producing 12 Rookie Teacher of the Year recipients. In 2025-26, Bruce will serve as board president of UPCEA , a professional education association. Additionally, he participated in the search committee for the associate provost for digital learning and strategy.