Staff spotlight: Renelda Robles

Associate Director, Office of Financial Aid

Renelda Robles

Renelda Robles

Q: How long have you worked at Rice?

A: Since August 2018.

Q: What is your favorite part about working for the university?

A: The life and involvement process of working with my colleagues at Rice to make the prospective student, returning students and parents feel welcome and well cared for.

Q: What do you want people to know about living in Houston?

A: The three O’s: opportunity, opportunity, opportunity! Living in Houston has made it possible for so many of my dreams to come true, and I hope to continue to live in such a diverse and dynamic environment for many years to come. I love the many entrepreneurial, volunteering, educational and career options available. Houston is bursting with people on different life paths but we stand together, and I love that about this place.

Q: What do you do in your downtime?

A: I love to vend for my small business: The Johnny Cake Girl, LLC. I’m from the U. S. Virgin Islands, and I love to share my food and culture with my community. I love baking rum cakes and making vegan cinnamon rolls. Many co-workers find them very enjoyable. I love driving down to Galveston and walking for miles on the beach. In my future spare time, I plan on learning tae kwon do and possibly gaining as much knowledge and experience to work my way from a white belt to a yellow belt.

Q: What’s your favorite spot on campus to show someone?

A: The beautiful view from the Cohen House. It is so beautiful to sit and have a quiet lunch or enjoy a meal with friends and colleagues. The water fountain and the landscaping around it is breathtaking to me.

Q: What’s the most exciting time of year for you as it relates to Rice?

A: It has to be Vision Days, Owl Days and O-Week! All of the hard work shows during these times. When all the students and parents come by to say hello and to say thank you and to give you a bear hug for making their child’s dream school become a reality, it’s priceless. That’s the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced while working at Rice. Every new start of the year is exhilarating to know that you are a support system for a student and their family at Rice.

Q: What’s the one thing that makes Rice special to you?

A: The Rice community. I have not once experienced or encountered any opposition while working at Rice, and it sets the standard in my opinion for new staff and those considering working for Rice.

Q: If you could be Sammy The Owl for a day, what would you do?

A: I would take Sammy The Owl on tour. We would go to Texas Children’s Hospital and visit all of the floors to spread hope for the future to children who are fighting to go to college one day. Maybe we could bring the college experience to them and possibly have a professor of the performing arts tag along to make it engaging and fun for the children.

Q: How would you describe your experience as a Rice employee?

A: Being a Rice employee is very humbling. The work that each of us put in day in and day out is not for our merit but for the success and excellence of our students and our colleagues. I have seen so many perform selfless acts over the years, it’s astonishing. Just going above and beyond for our students, it makes coming to work and being a part of this community so rewarding. We show up every day to be of service to others.

Q: Where do you see Rice in 25 years?

A: When you talk about the length of time like 25 years you have to consider the vision, growth and direction of the university that is being paved right now at this very moment. What we do now from the president down to all faculty and staff impacts the changes and sets the tone and foundation for future leaders of the institution. I see Rice soaring to unimaginable sights within research, engineering and being named one of the best places to work in Forbes. I would also like to see Rice expand globally by having more than one location in another state or country, or what they would call satellite campuses. I believe that what Rice offers is so unique and should be global and accessible to all.

Q: Describe Rice University in four words or less.

A: Extraordinary, exemplary and futuristic.

Q: What else have we not talked about yet that merits discussion?

A: I think the only thing left to say is a thank you to Rice for pouring into us the training and the
knowledge that we need to be successful on our jobs day in and day out. Rice’s team is appreciated and irreplaceable.

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