Rice University’s academic year is about to launch, but dozens of incoming Owls started early by engaging with the city and its social justice issues, addressing them through the Ross Rankin Moody Civic Immersion program, one of the flagships of the university’s Center for Civic Leadership (CCL).
The program is a service-learning opportunity for incoming students to engage in the greater Houston community while forming close bonds with their fellow Owls before they officially start their academic journeys at Rice. All incoming students were invited to apply to the program, and no previous experience with civic engagement was required.
“Moody Civic Immersion represents the passion of our students to be positive stewards of change in our community, to create lifelong connections and to educate each other in transformative ways,” said Melia Brown, assistant director of programs and partnerships in the CCL. “Civic Immersion expands the Rice University footprint and our dedication to supporting the community and demonstrating to students the importance of local impact and action. The Center for Civic Leadership champions our students to engage ethically with community partners and help them to build capacity for the purpose of expanding their reach and creating lasting networks that enhance change.”
During Civic Immersion 2025, students engaged with a multitude of community partners — local charities, nonprofits and advocacy organizations including AVDA, Breakthrough Houston, Community Voices for Public Education, Environment Texas, FAM Houston, FIEL, Harris County Clerk’s Office Elections Department, Houston Food Bank, Lilith Fund, LINK Houston, Network of Behavioral Health Providers, PAIR Houston, Plant It Forward and PUSH Birth Partners.
This program was offered in a hybrid model, providing in-person and virtual options for students from a diverse range of backgrounds and geographical locations to meet and build community. Students participating in person lived and learned as cohorts together in Houston for a week. Students participating virtually were involved in similar programs and activities intentionally designed for the virtual cohort and engaged in hybrid facilitated workshops.
The experience left an indelible mark on participants.
“I decided to do Civic Immersion because I know that all applicable forms of engineering and STEM center around making the community better,” said incoming freshman Raj Sinha, who volunteered with FAM Houston. “Being an engineering major, I know that this is where I’ll end up, using my research and my skills here and in the community, and I thought what better place to start than with the Civic Immersion program at Rice.”
Others found the program to serve as a good entry point to meet fellow Owls.
“This is a great way to transition into college and get to build a community first but also to get to know the city that I’m in and find ways that I can be a change-maker,” said freshman Cora Lee, who volunteered at the Houston Food Bank.
Still others saw the suite of benefits offered by coming to Houston early and exploring their interests.
“I initially decided to apply to Civic Immersion because I am deeply passionate about intercommunal collaboration to find solutions to social challenges; I am also a firm believer in experiential learning,” said Dylan Vinson, who volunteered with Environment Texas to clean Sylvan Beach. “For those reasons, I felt that it would be necessary to become acclimated with Houston’s social and political climate. Not only did I foster community within the Civic Immersion cohort among both peers and group leaders, but my glimpse into Houston-specific issues truly solidified my interest in public service.”
Moody Civic Immersion is supported by the Ross Rankin Moody Civic Engagement, Student Success and Global Leadership Fund and is part of the Moody Experience at Rice.
For more information about the CCL, visit ccl.rice.edu.