As Rice University prepares to celebrate commencement Dec. 9, members of the graduating class are looking back on the moments, mentors and experiences that shaped their time on South Main. From chemistry to sustainability to the arts, this year’s graduates say the people they met and the communities they joined defined their Rice experience.
Below, four Owls share what they’ve learned, what they’ll carry forward and what advice they have for the students who will follow.
Carly Graverson
Degree: Chemistry
Q: What field of study is your degree in?
A: I’m earning my degree in chemistry with a focus on the interface between chemistry and nanomaterials.
Q: What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
A: Definitely the people. I know a lot of students say that, but the community at Rice is truly unmatched, especially within the graduate programs. It’s such a tight-knit, collaborative environment where people genuinely know and support one another. That sense of community has been my favorite part of being here.
Q: How would you say Rice has shaped you into the person you are today?
A: Rice has made me a more empathetic, daring and open-minded leader. Being surrounded by such a diverse, strong and intelligent community has continually pushed me to grow. I’ve become a better version of myself, both academically and in the way I approach leadership.
Q: What’s next for you after graduation?
A: I’ll be joining SC Johnson as a chemist, where I’ll be formulating pest repellents.
Q: What advice would you give incoming Rice students?
A: Stay curious — and say yes. Some of my best experiences came from saying yes to opportunities I didn’t even know existed beforehand. Ask people questions about themselves, their work and their lives. Curiosity and openness are great ways to grow, connect and learn more about both yourself and those around you.
Camilla Purdy
Degree: Environmental Analysis
Q: What field of study is your degree in?
A: I’m earning my Master of Science in environmental analysis with a focus on environmental sustainability.
Q: What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
A: Definitely the community. Learning from peers who are all striving to make a meaningful impact in the world has been incredibly inspiring. I’ve also had the chance to meet sustainability professionals across Houston, which has helped me imagine the kind of leader I hope to become.
Q: How would you say Rice has shaped you into the person you are today?
A: Rice has taught me so much about sustainability but even more about myself. Serving in GSA Sustainability, first as a committee member and then as co-director, helped me grow into a more efficient and thoughtful leader. It gave me space to reflect on the type of impact I want to make in the world.
Q: What’s next for you after graduation?
A: I’ll be continuing my job search with the goal of working in corporate social responsibility. I hope to join a sustainable development team that’s passionate about driving environmental and social impact.
Q: What advice would you give incoming Rice graduate students?
A: You get out of Rice what you put into it. Spend as much time on campus as you can, get involved and join the GSA. Connect with people who share your passions but also those doing something completely different. Take advantage of every networking opportunity, talk with your professors and build the relationships that will shape your experience.
Jinghong Shangguan
Degree: Art History and Visual and Dramatic Arts
Q: What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
A: Rice is a place where everyone comes from a different background. Before Rice, I studied filmmaking at a school where everyone was focused on the same thing. Here, I can talk to someone studying computer science one minute and biology the next. That diversity — academic and personal — has been one of my favorite parts of being here.
Q: How would you say Rice has shaped you into the person you are today?
A: Rice is full of opportunities and challenges. I came here knowing what I wanted, and Rice gave me the space and support to keep working toward that. By taking advantage of those opportunities, I’ve watched really good things unfold.
Q: What’s next for you after graduation?
A: I’m applying to MFA programs, specifically in photography, and preparing for the next step in my graduate education.
Q: What advice would you give incoming Rice students?
A: Go out and talk to people — especially your professors. They’re incredibly knowledgeable, and those conversations help you learn and open doors you might not expect. I’ve worked with so many talented students and faculty over the past four years, and together we’ve created work far beyond what I could have done alone.
Jacob Kesten
Degree: Mathematics
Q: What field of study is your degree in?
A: I’m earning my Ph.D. in mathematics. My research is in category theory — specifically looking at how classical algebraic objects like division algebras and Frobenius algebras behave when you generalize them to more abstract settings. I explored how to define division and these Frobenius structures in broader contexts so they can be useful beyond traditional algebra.
Q: What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
A: I actually started at Rice as an undergraduate in 2016, and it was my top choice from the beginning. I loved the welcoming environment and the friendly people I met when I first visited. The math department faculty were amazing then, and that’s one of the reasons I came back for graduate school. I also met my wife as an undergrad at Weiss College, so returning to Rice and to Houston meant returning to a place full of wonderful memories.
Q: How would you say Rice has shaped you into the person you are today?
A: Rice has shaped my outlook through its culture of care. It taught me to be a more compassionate person and inspired a sense of wonder and excitement about exploring ideas and solving difficult problems. That mindset is something I now try to share with my students.
Q: What’s next for you after graduation?
A: I’m a high school math teacher at the Emery/Weiner School here in Houston. My wife is also a high school teacher at St. Francis Episcopal School. Teaching is something we’re both passionate about, and I’m grateful I get to share math with students every day.
Q: What advice would you give incoming Rice students?
A: Be yourself. Rice is full of people with different interests and backgrounds, and you’ll find the community that fits you. Don’t lose who you are — just enjoy your time here.