Q: How long have you worked at Rice?
A: About 5 months.
Q: What is your favorite part about working for the university?
A: Since I haven’t been here for long, my favorite thing so far has been meeting people and learning everything I can about the Rice community and campus. I will say that the beauty of campus is also a major perk. I appreciate the trees and greenery which create an oasislike feel within the large urban surroundings of Houston.
Q: What do you want people to know about living in Houston?
A: As someone from a small town in South Louisiana, I think I would want people to know that Houston is much less intimidating than it might seem. Yes, it’s huge, but once you’re here, you realize you have your own pockets/neighborhoods within the city that will quickly become familiar. Also, the food and culture/arts available here are second to none.
Q: What do you do in your downtime?
A: It depends on the season. In the hot months, I’m either inside playing board games or video games with friends or outside at a pool. If it’s nice out, you’ll definitely find me working in the yard/gardens, walking the dogs around the neighborhood or playing pickleball.
Q: What’s your favorite spot on campus to show someone?
A: The ceiling in Duncan Hall! I like it because you would never expect a cathedral-style painted ceiling to be in that building from the outside.
Q: What’s the most exciting time of year for you as it relates to Rice?
A: I haven’t experienced a full year yet, but I think all the activities at the end of the academic year will be hard to beat. I really enjoyed seeing all the amazing student work on display during Inquiry Weeks and was excited to celebrate that work and the end of the school year at Moody X-Fest 2024.
Q: What’s the one thing that makes Rice special to you?
A: The genuine sense of community. It’s harder and harder to find these days and not to be taken for granted.
Q: If you could be Sammy The Owl for a day, what would you do?
A: … launder the costume?
Q: How would you describe your experience as a Rice employee?
A: Welcomed, supported, challenged and busy!
Q: Where do you see Rice in 25 years?
A: I think Rice will be seen as an example and leader in higher education that has continued to deliver on creating impactful research, expanding access and equity and enriching the student experience. So basically, continuing to be excellent in all the ways it has been, but hopefully getting more recognition for it so that more universities will follow Rice’s lead.
Q: Describe Rice University in four words or less.
A: Renowned, intellectual, caring, evolving.
Q: What else have we not talked about yet that merits discussion?
A: The squirrels! They have no fear.