Rice University’s global profile took another visible step forward in November when Caroline Levander, vice president for global strategy, traveled to Venice for her first meeting as a member of the Venice International University (VIU) board of directors since Rice joined last year. The gathering brought together leaders from some of the world’s top institutions for VIU’s 30th anniversary, offering a rare opportunity to help shape the consortium’s next three decades.
“It's everything that I would have hoped for and more,” Levander said. “To have sustained discussion with university executives and academic leaders from across VIU’s 23-member network for four full days, it was a complete immersion experience.”
The anniversary year gave the board a natural moment to think beyond routine governance. Leaders focused on long-range planning and on how dramatically the landscape of global education has shifted since VIU’s founding in the mid-1990s.
“It was a chance to really strategically begin planning the future,” Levander said. “The world is really different today than it was 30 years ago when VIU was founded.”
For Rice, the conversations felt especially timely. VIU’s curricular priorities, which include sustainable cities, climate and environmental transitions, artificial intelligence and global health, map closely onto Rice’s strengths.
“The strengths of Rice are so nicely aligned with the highest ambitions of VIU,” Levander said. “We're not just the newest partner bringing fresh eyes on its 30 years, but we also are bringing eyes that are very attuned to VIU’s deepest values.”
In addition to the board meeting, Levander represented Rice on VIU’s Academic Council, the body responsible for reviewing curricular proposals, graduate academies and short courses. Her participation marks a significant milestone in ensuring Rice has a voice in shaping VIU’s academic direction.
As part of the visit, Levander also spoke at VIU’s Guiding Transitions academic conference, which framed many of the discussions about VIU’s long-term future. The program explored how universities can respond to global shifts through collaborative research and teaching, a theme that echoed throughout the anniversary week.
Rice’s presence at VIU will continue to grow in the months ahead. Anthropology professor Nia Georges will teach at VIU in spring 2026; Luis Campos, the Baker College Associate Professor for History of Science, Technology and Innovation, will teach in fall 2026; and undergraduate students can explore options to join the Globalization program in fall 2026.