President Reginald DesRoches shared the following message with the Rice community in an email Sept. 16:
Dear faculty and staff,
I am pleased to share that, following a national search, Andrew Billing will become secretary to the Rice Corporation and Board of Trustees on Oct. 1. Andrew has served as interim deputy secretary to the board since Cynthia Wilson retired at the end of 2025. In his new role, he will also assume the responsibilities of corporate secretary.
For the past nine months, Andrew has worked closely with trustees and university leaders to support the board’s work. He has strengthened communication and coordination across the university, refreshed the orientation experience for new trustees and improved the board office’s day-to-day processes. I have appreciated his thoughtful approach and the care he brings to this important work.
As secretary, Andrew will work closely with the board chair, president and senior leadership team to shape the board’s agenda and align its focus with Rice’s mission, strategic priorities and long-term vision. He will serve as the primary liaison between the board and the university, oversee board operations, governance processes and official records, and support trustee recruitment, onboarding and engagement. He will also help ensure the board fulfills its fiduciary, legal and governance responsibilities.
Andrew joined Rice in 2024 as assistant vice president of strategy, leadership and governance in the Division of Operations, Finance and Support. In that role, he helped leaders plan for board and committee discussions and decision making and facilitated coordination across the administration. Before coming to Rice, he held strategy and consulting roles at Georgia Tech and Huron Consulting Group, working with research universities on strategic planning and organizational effectiveness.
Andrew earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Emory University and his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Georgia.
I would like to thank the search committee for its important work and partnership in making this appointment.
The board of trustees plays a vital role in Rice’s future, and Andrew has already shown how effectively he can support its work and connect it with the broader university. Please join me in congratulating him on his new role.
Sincerely,
Reginald DesRoches
President, Rice University