Rice University is recognizing Jeff Fitlow for more than 30 years of service. As a senior university photographer, he provides creative and high-quality photography ranging from the university’s small, daily moments to significant events and milestones. His last day with the university will be Dec. 31.
Q: What is your favorite time of year at Rice and why?
A: My favorite times of year are always the busiest. O-Week is the perfect end to summer and a great way to reenergize for the year ahead. Graduation in the spring puts a meaningful endcap on the academic year. Celebrating the accomplishments of our students and faculty is always amazing. Every year, there are a handful of students I’ve gotten to know well. Watching them walk across the stage to receive their diplomas gets me every time.
Q: Share your most memorable, stand-out moments during your time at the university.
A: One of my first assignments was the opening of the Baker Institute. Being just one year out of college and photographing Mikhail Gorbachev, Henry Kissinger and President George H.W. Bush was mind-blowing. Since then, I’ve had conversations with President Bush and Secretary James Baker, and I was even on a Habitat for Humanity build with President Jimmy Carter. I’ve photographed talks from the front row with President Obama, President Clinton, Nelson Mandela and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Q: How have you seen Rice evolve over the years?
A: The biggest change for me has been all the new buildings on campus. Every addition becomes a fresh canvas for me to photograph. Watching the Jones Graduate School of Business grow out of old Rayzor Hall was incredible. The new Recreation Center, Brochstein Pavilion, the residential colleges and especially the OEDK — where I still remember it as a kitchen — have all transformed the landscape. Seeing the creativity and innovation that come out of the OEDK has been amazing. Most recently, the new Sarofim Hall for Art has become one of my favorite places to photograph.
Q: How have you evolved because of your experience at the university?
A: When I first arrived on campus, I was scared and intimidated by all of the brilliant, impressive people I met. I would find myself working out in the gym next to Nobel Prize winners or photographing in James Baker’s office with just Secretary Baker and someone I had only read about in history class. I attended lectures and photographed classes with some of the best teachers on the planet, learning from their passion and dedication every day. Over the years, many of those people became friends and colleagues. I’ve been trusted to photograph important moments in their careers as well as in their personal lives: weddings, family portraits and even the first photo of their children. That trust has always lifted me up, and the confidence they placed in me has made me a better photographer and a better person. Through these experiences, I’ve learned, grown and gained the confidence to become a teacher myself. I never imagined I would one day be teaching a photography course at the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. I believe in the concept of 10,000 hours, and I’ve definitely put in far more than that.
Q: What advice would you give to employees to make the most of their time at the university?
A: I would recommend getting as involved with the student body and Rice community as you can. There are so many opportunities, and Rice can be much more than just a job. My wife and I have been associates in the residential colleges for years. I serve as the staff sponsor of the Rice Raw photo club, and I have acted as a mentor to students — some of whom I’ve been friends with for now 20 years. There are also many ways to give back if you have the time; Staff Council, helping out with intramurals or volunteering in the Holistic Garden are just a few of the ways to get involved.