F O R E W O R D
Rice Magazine
Rice University 101
No. 13
I feel lucky to have arrived at Rice during its centennial year, not only for the public pomp and festivities that abound, but also for the opportunity to access Rice’s backstory. Having enrolled in a crash course in 100 years of Rice history, I’m also getting lessons in the vision for Rice’s future. The syllabus for this crash course has kept me well and truly — though not unpleasantly — occupied. Assignments have included reading history, looking at old photos, formally and informally touring the campus, attending a Shepherd School concert, meeting staff and faculty over coffee (can I get a meal plan at the Brochstein Pavilion?) or lunch just about anywhere, volunteering at the UnConvention, viewing works of art, wandering hallways and cloisters and pathways on foot and bicycle and bus, listening to students talk about their research, and generally learning about the people and places that are formative to Rice’s spirit. I’m grateful for the welcoming hospitality of my teachers, most especially my colleagues in the Office of Public Affairs. So, what’s inside this issue? We’ve stepped away from themebased issues for the moment, though you’ll find plenty here on community engagement and outreach. •
Check out our account of the UnConvention. If you missed it, we hope you’ll see something that will draw you to the next campus open house.
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The Kinder Institute’s remarkable longitudinal surveys inform both long-term residents and newcomers alike about their city.
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Our stunning new public artwork by James Turrell is not only a gift to Rice, but also a gift to the community, perfectly attuned to Houston’s audacious support for the arts.
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President Leebron’s column brings together a wealth of information on Rice’s community engagement, which has increased dramatically under his administration.
In honor of our centennial, we also take a look back in time — through Hallie Jordan’s photographic lens on Paris, through the memory of Professor Emeritus Ron Sass and through centennial historian Melissa Kean’s blog. You’ll meet one of the two amazing centenarian alumni we recently interviewed — George Illes, Class of 1933. You may notice a few changes from previous issues, mostly in the front section, “Through the Sallyport,” which we’ve expanded to include a wider variety of news and formats. We plan to check in with our readers more often to see how we’re doing. You may be one of the readers randomly selected to receive a survey. This data will be much appreciated as we look for ways to improve our stories and design of the magazine. While working as an editor at The University of Texas at San Antonio in the early 2000s, it was not unusual for our creative staff to pull out issues of Sallyport, as Rice Magazine was then called. We’d thumb through each beautifully designed issue, read the stories and shake our heads in admiration. Rice’s magazine inspired us to capture the identity, successes and challenges of our own young and growing campus. Fast forward, and here we are in summer 2012. Rice Magazine is going strong, thanks to the efforts of former editor Christopher Dow, art director Chuck Thurmon, Creative Services Director Jeff Cox and the tremendous support of Vice President Linda Thrane, as well as the administration overall. There is a legacy of editorial and design excellence here, one that is humbling and exciting (and, truth to tell, a little daunting) to join. I welcome your feedback, tips and story ideas.
Published by the Office of Public Affairs Linda Thrane, vice president Editor Lynn Gosnell Editorial Director Tracey Rhoades Creative Director Jeff Cox Art Director Chuck Thurmon Editorial Staff B.J. Almond, staff writer Jade Boyd, staff writer Amy Hodges, staff writer Jenny West Rozelle, assistant editor David Ruth, staff writer Alyson Ward, staff writer Mike Williams, staff writer Photographers Tommy LaVergne, photographer Jeff Fitlow, assistant photographer The Rice University Board of Trustees James W. Crownover, chairman; Edward B. “Teddy”” Adams Jr.; J.JD. D. Bucky Allshouse; D D. Kent Anderson; Keith T. Anderson; Laura Arnold; Subha Viswanathan Barry; Suzanne Deal Booth; Robert T. Brockman; Albert Chao; T. Jay Collins; Lynn Laverty Elsenhans; Lawrence Guffey; James T. Hackett; John Jaggers; Larry Kellner; Ralph Parks; Lee H. Rosenthal; Charles Szalkowski; Robert M. Taylor Jr.; Robert B. Tudor III; James S. Turley; Lewis “Rusty” Williams; Randa Duncan Williams. Administrative Officers David W. Leebron, president; George McLendon, provost; Kathy Collins, vice pr esident for Finance; Kevin Kirby, vice president for Administration; Chris Muñoz, vice president for Enrollment; Allison Kendrick Thacker, vice president for Investments and treasurer; Linda Thrane, vice president for Public Affairs; Richard A. Zansitis, vice president and general counsel; Darrow Zeidenstein, vice president for Resource Development. Rice Magazine is published by the Office of Public Affairs of Rice University and is sent to university alumni, faculty, staff, graduate students, parents of undergraduates and friends of the university. Editorial Offices Creative Services–MS 95 P.O. Box 1892 Houston, T TX X 77251-1892
Lynn Gosnell lynn.gosnell@rice.edu
Fax: 713-348-6757 Email: ricemagazine@rice.edu © J UNE 2 01 2 RICE UNIVE RSITY ONL INE AT: WWW.ISSUU.COM / RICE UNIVE RSITY
Correction: In the story on Amy McCarley ’98 in issue No. 12, we incorrectly stated McCarley’s home state. She hails from Alabama.
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