Rice University has named seasoned special events executive Susan Christian as the first senior director of campus and community engagement and conference services. This is a key and centralized leadership role in the university’s ongoing efforts to enhance its connections and convening opportunities for the campus community and the broader Houston area as well as global audiences. Christian, who brings a wealth of experience in event management, public service and community relations, will begin her role March 1 in the university’s Office of Public Affairs.
In her new position, Christian will be responsible for overseeing a wide range of high-profile activities at Rice. She will ensure seamless execution while maintaining Rice’s standards of excellence, inclusivity and impact. Christian will also be tasked with developing best-in-class productions and events to strengthen Rice’s ties to the surrounding Houston area, fostering goodwill and promoting educational and cultural exchange as the university continues its phase of rapid growth.
In addition, she will spearhead the launch of a new conference services division aimed at attracting top-tier, large-scale academic conferences, symposiums, speaker series and intellectual forums to Rice, further elevating its global academic presence.
“With her exceptional track record in producing world-class events and her deep understanding of community engagement, Susan is uniquely positioned to partner with our existing, talented campus events professionals and future conference and production specialists to help elevate the university’s public-facing efforts,” said Melinda Spaulding Chevalier, vice president for public affairs. “Her leadership will help us showcase Rice’s excellence to the world by developing stronger relationships with local and international partners.”
Christian joins Rice with almost 40 years of experience in event production and public service. She created and implemented Houston’s citywide Civic Celebration Program under former Mayor Bob Lanier. Shortly thereafter, the Mayor’s Office of Special Events (MOSE) was formally created, and she has led this office since its inception. Under her guidance, serving as the city’s producer for local and national events, the Civic Celebration Program blossomed into a year-round showcase of Houston’s historic and diverse culture. She has produced some of the city’s most iconic annual events, including Shell Freedom Over Texas, the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade and Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular as well as the eight Houston sports celebration parades for the Rockets, Comets and Astros championships.
Working closely with former Mayor Annise Parker, a Rice alumna, Christian co-founded Houston Civic Events Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the work of MOSE to create an efficient and transparent organization for raising funds for the city’s Civic Celebration Program. Under her leadership, the office raised $3 to $5 million annually in support of these events. In addition, Christian pioneered the city’s special events ordinance which sets the standard for safety, efficiency and transparency in event management and became a national leader in best practices for municipal governance in special events.
“I am honored and thrilled to join Rice, a place known for its academic excellence and rich tradition of innovation,” Christian said. “This opportunity to work with such a dynamic and forward-thinking institution and team is an exciting next step in my career. I look forward to collaborating with Rice’s leadership, faculty, students and the greater Houston community to develop initiatives that will enhance the university’s visibility, engage our local and global audiences and strengthen the deep connections that Rice has with Houston and the world.”
Christian’s work has earned her several notable accolades, including the 1998 Outstanding Achievement by the International Themed Entertainment Association for her collaboration on the Power of Houston, the 2008 International Special Events Society Crystal ICON Award for her contributions to the special events industry in Houston and the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade Committee in 2010. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater from Texas Christian University.