Karlianna Kapche spent last summer learning far from Houston, and this year she is helping other Rice University undergraduates find opportunities of their own. A junior from Katy, Texas, majoring in biochemistry and psychology and a resident of Duncan College, Kapche is one of three Rice Global ambassadors helping spread the word about the international programs open to Rice students.
Her first experience came through Rice in Spain - Madrid, a summer program offered by the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication that pairs an advanced course on Spanish culture and society with a part-time internship and a stay with a host family. Kapche interned at a clinic for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. There, she worked entirely in Spanish, put her own painting to use in art and music therapy and spent time getting to know the patients.
“Some of the women I spoke with had entered the workforce for the first time only after asking their husbands’ permission,” Kapche said. “I had been so stressed about my career and what I wanted to pursue, and their stories put that in perspective. I get to choose my own vocation and make those decisions for myself. I realized I have so many more opportunities than I thought.”
Kapche came home determined to make the most of those opportunities, and friends who had taken courses through the Paris Summer Program helped her choose what came next. Last summer, she enrolled in Introduction to Social and Affective Neuroscience taught by Bryan Denny, associate professor of psychological sciences. The course used Paris as a classroom from the Louvre, where art historian Chelsey Denny helped students read emotion in paintings through the lens of neuroscience, to the Paris Brain Institute, which formed a partnership with Rice in 2025.
“I met master’s students at the institute who had come from all over the world, and I could picture myself pursuing that path and returning there one day,” Kapche said.
Because the course earned Rice credit toward her major, Kapche continued making progress on her degree while in France. The friendships followed her home too, and running into Paris classmates around campus has given her what she calls “another layer of community” at Rice.
“Rice is an incredible opportunity, and I love it so much that I didn’t want to miss out on anything here,” Kapche said. “Going during the summer made Paris an addition to my Rice experience.”
As an ambassador, Kapche is a ready resource for students weighing the same choices. If you see her on campus and have questions about Rice Global or her time in Paris, ask! The priority deadline for the summer 2027 Paris Summer Program is Dec. 9 and details are available on the program website. Applications will open in the coming weeks, so make sure to follow Rice Global social media platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook) for updates.