Rice University’s Office of Public Affairs earned four honors at the 41st Public Relations Society of America Houston Excalibur Awards, including Communications Team of the Year for the Rice News and Media Relations team.
The annual awards recognize outstanding public relations professionals, programs and tactics across the Houston region. This year’s ceremony was held June 25 at the Houston Botanic Garden.
Rice Public Affairs was recognized for work that elevated the university’s national and international visibility through strategic storytelling, media relations, executive communications, multimedia content and digital engagement.
“Public Affairs plays a vital role in telling Rice’s story and providing memorable experiences,” said Melinda Spaulding Chevalier, vice president for public affairs. “These awards reflect the talent and dedication of our team, but we also share this recognition with our many partners across campus whose collaboration and trust make this work possible. Together, we are advancing Rice’s reputation, supporting its mission and showcasing the extraordinary people and ideas that make this university such a powerful force for good.”
The News and Media Relations team, led by executive director Chris Stipes with strategic communications leadership from Jeff Falk, assistant vice president for strategic communications, was named Communications Team of the Year after a year of significant growth and impact. During the entry period, Rice generated nearly 100,000 media mentions, increased placements in top-tier media outlets by 33%, produced more than 1,000 news stories, expanded proactive faculty subject matter expert pitching and significantly grew engagement across Rice’s owned media platforms.
“Through strategic storytelling, strong collaboration and disciplined execution, this team has elevated Rice’s national and international visibility while supporting the institution’s mission of advancing knowledge for the betterment of society,” Stipes said. “I’m incredibly proud of the way this team approaches the work — with creativity, precision and a deep commitment to telling stories that matter.”
The award-winning News and Media Relations team includes media relations specialists Alex Becker, Andrew Bell, Silvia Cernea Clark, Kat Cosley Trigg, Marcy de Luna, Avery Franklin, Rachel Leeson and Brandi Smith; internal communications writer Sam Byrd; editors Arie Wilson Passwaters and Robert Premeaux; and videographer Jared Jones. Videographers Brandon Martin and Gustavo Raskosky also contributed to the team’s work during the entry period before moving into other roles at the university.
The team also received a Gold Excalibur Award in the news release category for Rice’s Gateway Project announcement, one of the university’s most successful announcements to date. Anchored by a high-profile press conference, targeted media outreach and a robust multimedia press kit, the campaign generated 267 media placements.
The Gateway Project announcement translated a complex infrastructure initiative into a clear, compelling narrative about Rice’s future and its connection to Rice Village, surrounding neighborhoods and Greater Houston. Through coordinated planning and messaging across multiple internal stakeholders, Public Affairs elevated the announcement into a major media moment.
Rice News, the university’s flagship weekly newsletter, earned a Bronze Excalibur Award in the newsletter category. Distributed to more than 18,000 subscribers every Wednesday, Rice News serves as a strategic, multimedia storytelling platform for high-impact research, institutional priorities and community achievements. In 2025, the platform increased views by 33% and active users by 31%, underscoring its role as a core communications tool aligned with Rice’s Momentous strategic plan.
Rice Public Affairs also shared a Bronze Excalibur Award in the special project category with Rice Athletics and Operations, Finance and Support for the Gateway Project press conference. Led by the Rice Office of Special Events Services under Susan Christian’s leadership, the event transformed a major infrastructure announcement into a highly visual, media-driven experience that drew more than a dozen top-tier outlets and more than 200 attendees.
From architectural visuals to curated interview opportunities, the event helped reporters and campus partners understand the project’s significance to the university, Rice Village, nearby neighborhoods and the broader Houston community.
The honors reflect a year of strong collaboration across Rice Public Affairs and its campus partners, reinforcing the university’s commitment to telling stories that advance Rice’s mission and strengthen its global reputation, Spaulding Chevalier said.