Rice Magazine | Fall 2026

GAINING MOMENTUM

A BOLD NEW CHAPTER

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

How Rice is turning its strategic plan into measurable progress

The powerhouse team shaping Rice’s new creative writing MFA

A Rice sophomore expands her youthled nonprofit to Houston

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With Houston hosting the FIFA World Cup this summer, Rice stepped onto the global stage.

The Artemis II crew captured this breathtaking photo of our galaxy, the Milky Way.

WHERE DREAMS ARE LAUNCHED

FROM WORLD CUP 2026 TO THE FRONT LINES OF ARTEMIS, RICE IS MAKING ITS MARK ON A GLOBAL SCALE — AND BEYOND.

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FEATURES

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As an Official World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, Rice showcased its research and innovation for fans from around the world.

Two years into Rice’s 10-year strategic plan, Momentous, investments in teaching and research are already reshaping the university.

The Owls behind Artemis: How Rice faculty and alumni continue to power NASA in its quest to the moon and beyond.

Fever Pitch

PHOTO BY BR ANDON MARTIN

Ambition in Action

Our Artemis Era

COVER PHOTO BY JARED JONES AND NASA

Several of Rice’s international Fulbright graduate students rep their favorite World Cup contenders.

PHOTOS BY RYAN DONNELL, ADOBE STOCK, ANTHONY RATHBUN AND ALEX BECKER

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DEPARTMENTS Sallyport

A student-led nonprofit, Rice’s original amphitheater, remembering Richard Tapia, a major composting milestone, the Secretary of Energy stops by, engineering game-based rehab

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Wisdom

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A new chapter for creative writing, the stories inside gray wolves’ DNA, Shepherd School faculty head to Mexico, a Q&A with professor emeritus John Boles ’65

Owlmanac

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Classnotes, Elisa Maciá Donovan ’92 grows an ecofriendly cemetery, Chadd Alexander ’10 makes magic on Broadway, the eclectic world of composer Caroline Shaw ’04, alumni books

Last Look

Our annual “Owlidays” gift guide

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FEEDBACK DEAR EDITOR:

I am trying to identify a parrot fish that I saw in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

The same fish appeared in an article in Rice Magazine, “A Fish Tale,” featuring bioscientist Kory Evans.

Is it possible that Kory could help me to identify the fish?

— Brooke DuBois

RICE MAGAZINE Fall 2026 PUBLISHER

Office of Public Affairs Melinda Spaulding Chevalier, vice president CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Alese Pickering

I can absolutely help. Looks like a male bridled parrotfish, Scarus frenatus. Great picture!

— Kory Evans is assistant professor of biosciences in Rice’s Wiess School of Natural Sciences.

INTERIM EDITOR

Sarah Rufca Nielsen ’05 ART DIRECTOR

Amy Kinkead

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

From Classroom to Command Some more Rice background on your Rice Magazine Spring 2026 article “From Classroom to Command.” I was also picked up to work at Naval Reactors back in 1973. Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Naval Reactors was picking up one Rice science or engineering graduate nearly every year, for at least four or five years. At that time the final selection was decided by the famous Admiral Rickover, founder of the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program. Admiral Rickover liked the results of graduates of science and engineering programs at certain schools that had NROTC programs and viewed them as low-risk pickups to work in his very demanding organization. I spent five years working on the Nimitz-class carriers’ reactor controls, instrumentation and electric plant, including delivering USS Nimitz back in 1975. Interesting to see that ship is going to be deactivated next year after 51 years.

Going to the Chapel …

Jackie Limbaugh

I just read the article on the Rice Chapel in the Spring 2026 magazine.

I am a 1973 grad, so I’m delighted to hear that little has changed in the chapel. The chapel was my quiet place — an escape from scholastic pressures, relationships, family issues and general college life. It was beautiful and tranquil — rarely anyone else in there during the week — and I found a sense of peace and rejuvenation there, whether it was for five minutes or 30 minutes.

Thank you for the article!

Tracey Rhoades

— Jan Koenig Philpy ’73 (Brown: BA)

— Ronald Ladd ’72 (Wiess: BA; MEE, 1973)

If you missed any of these stories, go to magazine.rice.edu to catch up.

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

COPY EDITOR

Deverly Pérez

PROOFREADER

Jenny West Rozelle ’00 PHOTO/VIDEO

Jared Jones Blair Reed

CONTRIBUTORS

Dylan Aguilar, Alex Becker, Andrew Bell, Deborah Lynn Blumberg, Silvia Cernea Clark, Ryan Donnell, Avery Ruxer Franklin, Sarah Brenner Jones, Jennifer Latson, Rachel Leeson, Alice Levitt, Brandon Martin, David D. Medina, Dan Page, Parth Patel, Gustavo Raskosky, Anthony Rathbun, Robyn Ross, Brandi Smith, Chris Stipes, Jorge Vidal Rice Magazine is published three times a year and is sent to Rice alumni, faculty, staff, parents of undergraduates and friends of the university. ©September 2026, Rice University

FROM THE EDITOR THE RICE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Robert T. Ladd, chair; Elle Anderson; D. Mark Durcan; Josh R. Earnest; Michol L. Ecklund; Barbara Jenkins Gibbs; George Y. Gonzalez; John V. Jaggers; Robert S. Kaplan; Jennifer R. Kneale; Patti Lipoma Kraft; Akilah M. Mance; Elle Moody; A. Lanham Napier; William V. Neville III; Vinay S. Pai; Sunit S. Patel; Byron Pope; Cathryn Rodd Selman; Gloria Meckel Tarpley; Charlos C. Ward; James Whitehurst; Lori Rudge Whitten; Randa Duncan Williams; Michael B. Yuen.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

Reginald DesRoches, president; Amy Dittmar, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs; Stephen Bayer, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations; Melinda Spaulding Chevalier, vice president for Public Affairs; Sandee Cheynet, vice president of Human Resources and chief human resources officer; Kelly Fox, executive vice president for Operations, Finance and Support; Terrence M. Gee, vice president for Technology Solutions and Services and chief information officer; Eric George, interim vice president and director of Athletics; John Lawrence, chief investment officer and president of Rice Management Company; Caroline Levander, vice president for Global Strategy; Yvonne M. Romero, vice president for Enrollment; David Sholl, executive vice president for Research; Omar A. Syed, vice president and general counsel; Adrian Trömel, interim vice president for Innovation and chief innovation officer.

POSTMASTER

Send address changes to: Rice University Development Services–MS 80 P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251-1892 EDITORIAL OFFICES

Creative Services–MS 95 P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251-1892 Phone: 713-348-6768 ricemagazine@rice.edu

SPACE AND TIME AS A TEENAGER, I remember once discovering a box of old children’s books that had once belonged to one relative or another. At the time, my literary interests ran more toward “Sweet Valley High” and R.L. Stine, so I didn’t pay much attention to a bunch of vintage picture books.

But one book did make an impression: “You Will Go to the Moon.”

Published in 1959, it arrived two years before the first human spaceflight and three years before President John F. Kennedy stood in Rice Stadium and challenged the country to reach the moon by the end of the decade. (Despite comparing the challenge to Rice’s football chances against the University of Texas.)

I remember being fascinated by its optimism, but even more by the foreignness of the perspective — imagining, for the first time, a world where space travel was almost entirely theoretical. The moon wasn’t history yet. It was still just a possibility.

As a millennial, I grew up with the space shuttle, the Hubble Space Telescope and satellite-based GPS. I have never lived in a world where I couldn’t picture Earth as seen from

space: a cloud-dappled blue-and-green marble. Space exploration has always been there, extraordinary but familiar — mostly humming along at the edges of our attention until something happens to pull our eyes skyward.

Artemis II did that for me.

In my lifetime, I can’t remember another NASA mission feeling as immediate, relevant or vital as Artemis II did during those 10 days when four astronauts traveled around the moon, farther into space than any humans before them. Artemis II became a rare shared cultural experience and a special moment in history.

The mission was riveting scientifically, but some of its most memorable moments were deeply human. When pilot Victor Glover reflected on seeing Earth from that distance — and on the shared humanity contained on our little planet — it was hard not to feel some of the same wonder that the Apollo missions captured nearly six decades ago.

That makes me especially proud to share the stories of Rice alumni who helped make the mission possible, including engineers, flight controllers, communicators and others whose work continues Rice’s long relationship with NASA. And that spirit of participation runs throughout this issue. From the moon to the World Cup, from new programs and new buildings to the inclusive legacy of Richard Tapia, these stories show a Rice community that doesn’t simply watch big moments unfold but helps shape them.

I hope this issue gives you a little of that same sense of possibility.

Sarah Rufca Nielsen ’05

We love reader feedback. Kindly write to us at ricemagazine@rice.edu.

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PRESIDENT DESROCHES

MOMENTOUS PROGRESS, GLOBAL REACH WHEN WE LAUNCHED Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact in fall 2024, we did so with a clear belief: Rice can grow thoughtfully, expand its reach, and deepen its impact while remaining true to the distinctive culture, values and sense of community that have long defined this university.

Today, we are seeing that vision come to life. Rice is making significant progress toward the goals outlined in our strategic plan and, in many areas, moving faster than expected. We have increased the number of undergraduate and graduate students while maintaining our low student-to-faculty ratio and deep commitment to excellence and access. We have hired a record number of faculty, established new majors, increased research awards, launched new centers and institutes, and forged important partnerships and programs in Houston, notably with the Texas Medical Center and in key industries such as energy and tech and the nonprofit sector. We have also expanded Rice’s global reach through the launch of Rice Global India in Bengaluru and by growing and strengthening our presence in Europe and Latin America.

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We saw that global impact this year in a historic milestone: NASA’s successful Artemis II mission, which carried humans around the moon for the first time in more than half a century, returned them safely to Earth and brought humanity farther from home than ever before. Rice alumni, faculty and students contributed to the mission’s preparation, execution and broader scientific understanding, continuing a long-standing partnership between Rice, NASA and the nation’s space program.

These efforts reflect Rice’s deep heritage of collaboration with NASA — a partnership that began with the establishment of Johnson Space Center and continues today through education and research. For me and many others, Artemis II reminded us that Rice’s impact is deeply part of humanity’s thrilling, always-evolving pursuit of discovery.

Rice’s global engagement was also visible here in Houston as our city welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

As the only higher education institution serving as an Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, Rice helped amplify Houston’s culture, diversity and hospitality while reinforcing the university’s role as an institution with global reach.

More than 500 Rice volunteers served as ambassadors at the FIFA Fan Festival and other World Cup activities, and the university engaged visitors through its “Rice Minds: Science at Play” exhibit, featuring a soccer ball-inspired structure modeled after the buckyball — the Nobel Prize-winning molecular discovery by Rice scientists that helped transform the field of nanotechnology.

The World Cup also created meaningful opportunities for our students.

Through Rice’s sport management program and its strong connections across Houston’s sports industry, students gained firsthand experience supporting sponsorship activations,

This is what global impact looks like at Rice: thoughtful growth, bold discovery, meaningful partnerships, and a commitment to preparing our students to lead in a world that is increasingly connected and ever-changing. fan experiences, human rights initiatives, sustainability efforts and other World Cup-related work. Rice became part of the celebration as well, hosting more than 10,000 Netherlands fans on campus before the start of the Oranje Fanwalk and bringing our community together for watch parties and events that reflected the unifying power of sport.

Taken together, these moments tell an important story about Rice’s trajectory.

Through Momentous, we are building the foundation for Rice’s future.

Through Artemis II and other endeavors, we are contributing to discoveries that expand humanity’s understanding of our universe. And through the World Cup, we helped Houston welcome the world while creating opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors to experience the creativity and spirit of Rice.

This is what global impact looks like at Rice: thoughtful growth, bold discovery, meaningful partnerships, and a commitment to preparing our students to lead in a world that is increasingly connected and ever-changing. As we continue this momentous journey, I am grateful for the alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends whose support, talent and belief in Rice make this progress possible.

IL LU S T R AT IO N B Y PA DDY MIL L S

CAMPUS NEWS AND STUDENT LIFE

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Next Chapter

As the founder of Butterfly Books, Lucia Noto has donated thousands of books and built a youth-led nonprofit rooted in literacy, service and hope.

BY SILVIA CERNEA CLARK

P H O T O B Y R YA N D O N N E L L

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school students, the organization operates through three main initiatives: read-aloud events, book-bundle donations and the installation of Little Free Libraries. The organization has been recognized by Points of Light, the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to volunteer service, for its achievements.

Many Butterfly Books events — which can range from gatherings of about 10 children to programs reaching thousands — take place in medical facilities, requiring extensive coordination and adherence to strict safety protocols. At events, children receive book bundles that typically include a new book, a handmade bookmark and what the organization calls a “letter of love,” a short note of encouragement meant to “remind [children] they’re not alone,” Noto says.

That message of hope is central to Butterfly Books, whose name reflects the way Noto thinks about the role of reading in children’s lives.

“The butterfly, to me, symbolizes hope and transformation,” Noto says.

“I want children to know that reading opens the door to many opportunities, and that regardless of present hardship, they should always have hope for the future.”

From top: Lucia Noto stocks a Little Free Library installed by Butterfly Books at Falls Church McLean Children’s Center in Virginia. Members of Rice’s Butterfly Books chapter take part in the group’s first event at The Rise School of Houston.

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FROM TOP: PHOTO BY RYAN DONNELL, PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RISE SCHOOL OF HOUSTON

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UCIA NOTO ’29 has always believed in the power of a good book — not just to teach, but to comfort, distract and open up new worlds for children, especially those facing difficult circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noto, then 13, decided to sell part of her sizeable book collection. As her profits began to add up, she started looking for a way to use the money to help others.

The result was Butterfly Books, a youth-led nonprofit that has reached more than 30,000 children by bringing books, handmade bookmarks, and notes of encouragement to children in hospitals and underserved communities.

“Making a difference does not have to wait until you are older,” Noto, the organization’s founder and CEO, says.

“Change can start right now, no matter how old you are.”

Though Butterfly Books started small, it now works with 25 partner organizations in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region.

Supported by a board and a junior advisory committee made up of high

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RISE SCHOOL OF HOUSTON AND BUTTERFLY BOOKS

At Rice, Noto continues to oversee Butterfly Books’ operations, communicating with the D.C.-area team almost daily. She is also building out the organization’s next phase in Houston.

After receiving approval to launch a Rice chapter of Butterfly Books at the end of her first semester, Noto recruited a student leadership team and the organization hosted its first two on-campus events this past spring.

One focused on creating Letters of Love, while the other invited students to decorate flower-pressed bookmarks and tote bags to be included in the organization’s signature book bundles.

In April, Rice’s Butterfly Books chapter held its first off-campus event at The Rise School of Houston, which

serves children with developmental delays and other disabilities. More than 20 volunteers facilitated an interactive read-aloud session for 100 students featuring puppets, music and songs before gifting each child with a book and craft activity to take home. Over the summer, the group also collaborated with Camp Kesem, donating 120 book bundles to youth campers coping with a parent’s cancer diagnosis.

As Butterfly Books has taken root at Rice, Noto found that growth comes with its own set of practical challenges.

“As book donations began arriving, my dorm room quickly transformed into a miniature warehouse, with boxes of books stacked under my lofted bed and throughout McMurtry,” says Noto.

“Transportation presented another hurdle, particularly when coordinating groups of volunteers for off-campus events. Luckily, the Rice community stepped up, and these challenges ultimately became opportunities to witness the generosity, creativity and dedication of the people who have embraced Butterfly Books’ mission.”

Noto participated in the Napier Rice Launch Challenge in April, taking home the Social Impact Award and a $1,500 prize. In Houston, she’s been hard at work planning fundraisers and building partnerships with local

organizations and hospitals. Her longer-term goal is ambitious — to expand Butterfly Books to all 50 states before she graduates.

For Noto, it’s all part of a campus life packed with science, service and music.

She is majoring in biosciences with a concentration in cell biology and genetics and is on the premed track.

She serves on the boards of six student organizations, most of them focused on medicine or science. A violinist since the age of 2, she also performs with Rice’s chapter of MusicMDs, an outreach group that brings live music into hospitals.

Beyond Rice, Noto serves as vice president of events for the Do Re Mi Project, an international nonprofit that provides free online music tutoring to children with limited access or exposure to music lessons. She also hosts the “Talk2Lucia: Medical Careers Podcast,” a project she began in high school to explore career paths in medicine through interviews with physicians and other practitioners.

Managing such a busy schedule requires planning. “I’m very organized,” Noto says. “I have many, many spreadsheets and planners and color-coded calendars. My favorite color is pink, so absolutely everything is color-coded in different shades of pink to help me stay on track.”

Rice’s proximity to the Texas Medical Center helped draw her to Houston, but she says the campus community was just as important. At Rice, Noto has found a place where her academic goals, her commitment to community and her work outside the classroom can develop side by side.

“The thing that mattered the most to me was having a strong sense of community, and I think Rice really does achieve that very well,” Noto says. “It’s the perfect school for me, and I’m so glad that I’m here.”

From top: A Butterfly Books team member reads with a child. Rice’s Butterfly Books chapter brings books and interactive activities to children at The Rise School of Houston.

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SPACES

Historic Echoes

Rice’s oldest lecture hall blends historic charm with modern functionality.

TWO YEARS AFTER Rice’s formal dedication in 1912, Herzstein Hall opened in the northeast corner of the Academic Quad. With its rose-hued brick and classic Spanish tile roof, the building, spanning 11 bays, a covered walkway and heavily carved columns, matched the exterior of the other campus buildings. But inside, it boasted something new to Rice: Herzstein Amphitheater, an architectural marvel and the university’s first major lecture hall.

Originally called the Physics Amphitheater, the characterful, 700-square-foot room is marked by towering windows, exposed timber ceiling beams and arched masonry. Upon completion, it quickly became the primary gathering spot for large lectures and universitywide events. Notably, internationally renowned evolutionary biologist and founder of Rice’s biology department, Julian Huxley, presented the historic opening lecture, “The Evolutionary Point of View,” there in 1916.

The lecture series carried on into the 1920s and set the stage for other historical milestones, including future U.S. President Herbert Hoover’s speech to the Rice community in 1925 on the building’s elevated arcade staircase, connecting Herzstein Hall and the amphitheater. Many years later, Hollywood showcased the amphitheater’s timeless beauty onscreen as a setting in the 1996 film “The Evening Star,” adapted from a novel of the same name by noted Rice alumnus Larry McMurtry ’60.

In 2017, the amphitheater underwent an update that seamlessly integrated high-definition projectors, sliding chalkboards and touch-panel control systems into its custom-made historic millwork, hiding the modern elements and keeping the old-world charm intact.

A visit to Herzstein Amphitheater isn’t complete, though, without stopping at the Whispering Wall, intentionally integrated architectural alcoves located on either side of the main entrance doors that provide a hands-on demonstration of the laws of physics and how sound travels.

— TRACEY RHOADES

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PHOTO BY BR ANDON MARTIN

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ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING

The Road He Paved The late Richard Tapia applied his brilliance and determination to advancing mathematics — and to changing who succeeds in STEM. RICHARD TAPIA arrived at Rice in 1970 with the energy and force of a Texas tornado. Spending more than half a century at the university, Tapia built a legacy defined by mathematical excellence, dynamic leadership and a fierce commitment to opening doors for underrepresented minority groups.

Born in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrants, Tapia was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. At Rice, he stood out not only as the university’s first Latino faculty member, but also for his long hair and passion for hot rods, most notably his custom, awardwinning 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle. But beneath his unconventional exterior was a brilliant mathematician who quickly rose through the academic

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ranks, earning renown for his work in numerical optimization methods — the science of finding the best possible choices from a wide array of options to solve mathematical problems using numerical algorithms. His groundbreaking research influenced modern approaches to everything from transportation, supply chain management and finance to artificial intelligence.

Tapia wrote or co-wrote more than 100 papers and, with Rice colleague James R. Thompson, founding chair of Rice’s statistics department, published two important textbooks in his areas of research. He supervised 30 doctoral candidates, and in 2005, he was bestowed the title of University Professor, Rice’s highest academic honor. In 1992, he became the first American-born Latino elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and he was later appointed to the National Science Board and awarded the National Medal of Science

by President Barack Obama in 2011.

As brilliant as Tapia was as a mathematician, his impact extended

far beyond numbers. He was a leading advocate for diversity in higher education, working tirelessly to increase the number of underrepresented students, professors and university staff members.

In 1972, just two years after arriving at Rice, he founded the university’s first Hispanic student group, which eventually became the Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice, better known as HACER. In 2016, he founded the Tapia Center to encourage underrepresented students and educators to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Its summer program started with just 20 students and has since hosted 1,600 high school students from around the world.

Shortly before his death in May 2026, Tapia received a fitting acknowledgment of a life spent breaking barriers and creating pathways for others when the Harris County Commissioners Court renamed the Houston Ship Channel bridge in his honor.

“Just as the bridge will connect communities across Houston, Richard’s life work has created pathways for countless students, especially those underrepresented in STEM, to pursue their ambitions and realize their potential,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said.

— DAVID D. MEDINA

PHOTO BY JARED JONES AND WOODSON RESEARCH CENTER ARCHIVE PHOTOS

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NATURAL SCIENCES

Particles of Confederation

DUNE’s particle detectors are located in a cavern nearly a mile beneath the Earth’s surface at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ILKER PARMAKSIZ AND AARON HIGUERA

Rice’s DUNE-TECH program introduces undergraduates to the science behind one of the nation’s most ambitious physics experiments.

FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL pilot in 2025, Rice held the second DUNE Training ExperienCe Houston in June, introducing undergraduates from across the country — and potentially the next generation of neutrino physicists — to one of the world’s most ambitious physics experiments.

Funded by the Department of Energy, the program introduces undergraduates from across the country to the science and technology behind the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, the largest neutrino experiment ever undertaken in the United States.

Students begin with training at their home institutions before gathering at Rice for a week of lectures, coding workshops and hands-on collaboration.

“DUNE-TECH is about setting up the future of neutrino physics,” says Aaron Higuera, assistant research professor of physics and astronomy at Rice and the program’s principal investigator.

“The students in our classrooms today will be leading the DUNE experiment in the future.”

The week begins with an introduction to neutrinos, the second most abundant particle in the universe.

DUNE uses detectors at South Dakota’s Sanford Underground Research Facility to measure a high-intensity neutrino beam sent 1,300 kilometers underground from Fermilab in Illinois.

The experiment aims to answer longstanding questions about neutrino oscillations and the fundamental nature of the universe.

Aaron Higuera

DUNE-TECH is about setting up the future of neutrino physics.

The students in our classrooms today will be leading the DUNE experiment in the future.

Designed to make a complex and often intimidating field more accessible, the program gives students a foundation in the science behind DUNE while creating space for questions, collaboration and mentorship.

“DUNE-TECH can take students from being interested in neutrino physics to a career in the field,” says Higuera. “An intensive research experience like this is the reason why I’m studying neutrinos today, and it’s exciting to be creating similar opportunities for students today.”

Students begin with the building blocks of neutrino physics before turning to the computational tools that drive modern particle physics. As much of DUNE’s research relies on software, AI and machine learning, the second half of the program focuses on coding and data analysis.

For Olivia Ba, a rising sophomore at Texas Southern University who hopes to earn a doctorate in nuclear physics, the experience offered exactly the kind of preparation she was seeking.

“One of my goals is to develop my programming skills,” she says, adding that she especially valued the lectures, pre-readings and one-on-one mentoring.

Rice undergraduate Annabel Ohman ’28 appreciated the program’s blend of technical training and professional development.

“I’m learning how to code,” she says. “I’m seeing physics in action and networking.”

This year’s program was also dedicated to the memory of University Professor Richard A. Tapia. “His mentorship created many pathways for underrepresented groups in STEM,” Higuera says. “DUNE-TECH is honored to be continuing that work.”

— RACHEL LEESON

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SUSTAINABILITY

The Big Number THAT’S HOW MANY POUNDS of food waste Rice has kept out of landfills since launching its campus composting program nearly six years ago. Think banana peels, coffee grounds, carrot tops and countless abandoned last bites, all rescued from the trash and given a more productive second life.

Through a partnership with Houstonbased Moonshot Compost, those scraps and other comestibles are transformed into nutrient-rich compost that helps build healthier soil while keeping a considerable amount of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.

Across 15 campus locations, Rice’s composting efforts have collectively avoided more than 1.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, roughly equivalent to planting 100,000 trees or eliminating the emissions associated with 1.5 million miles of driving.

The program, which began in November 2020, is powered by student leadership and supported

by Rice’s Campus Services and Sustainability. Moonshot provides the infrastructure and logistics, while student EcoReps and sustainability interns handle everything from bin placement and signage to data tracking and campus outreach.

“This program succeeds because students have taken ownership of it from the beginning,” says Kristianna Bowles, associate director for sustainability. “Their leadership has helped make composting visible, accessible and part of daily campus life.”

That’s no small thing. Food makes up about a quarter of landfill waste, where scraps buried without oxygen produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting offers a decidedly better outcome: Yesterday’s lunch becomes tomorrow’s healthier soil.

But the best waste is the waste that never happens in the first place. Metafoodx, an AI-powered system that scans leftover trays from the serving lines to estimate how much food remains, started at Seibel Servery and is now in the South Main Servery. Piloted by Housing and Dining, the data the system collects helps dining staff fine-tune batch cooking, preparing more of what students eat and less of what might end up as leftovers.

Students aren’t just learning about environmental challenges in the classroom; they’re helping solve them between classes — one banana peel at a time.

Students can get in on the experiment, too. A front-of-house scanner lets diners scan their plates after eating and before scraping any remains into the compost bin, offering another window into what — and how much — gets left behind. Rice is now exploring how to expand the technology to all campus serveries this fall.

The initiative is part of the Rice Living Lab Program, which turns the campus itself into a testing ground for sustainability research, education and innovation. Students aren’t just learning about environmental challenges in the classroom; they’re helping solve them between classes — one banana peel at a time.

— SARAH RUFCA NIELSEN

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO

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ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING

Press Play on Recovery

Rice engineering students won international honors for TacTile, a game-based stroke rehab system.

STROKE REHABILITATION can hinge on a deceptively hard task: doing the same small movements over and over again, often at home and often without the encouragement of a therapist. A team of Rice engineering students wondered whether the experience could feel less like homework — and more like a game.

Their answer is TacTile, an interactive, modular rehabilitation system designed to make stroke recovery more engaging, adaptable and effective for patients at home.

Created in Rice’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, TacTile earned top honors at the HUFF OEDK Engineering Design Showcase in April, winning first place in the Willy Revolution Award for Outstanding Innovation.

The team was also selected as the sole North American representative for the international IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Student Design Competition in Shanghai, where the project won first place.

PHOTOS BY ALE X BECKER

The students — Amelia Pillar ’26, Avery Janenda ’26, Brian Mercado ’26, Hannah Wixom ’26, Mina Schepmann ’26 and Tomi Kuye ’26 — set out to address a persistent challenge in stroke recovery: how to keep patients motivated and consistent with therapy once they leave the clinic.

“After a stroke, patients might spend an hour a day in clinical rehab, but they’re expected to continue hundreds of repetitive exercises at home,” Pillar says. “That can be incredibly monotonous. We wanted to create something that makes the rehab process more

engaging while also helping patients actually see their progress over time.”

TacTile transforms upper-extremity rehabilitation into an interactive gaming experience. The system consists of modular “tiles” with interchangeable sensor tops that target different movements of the wrist, fingers and elbow.

The tiles function as game controllers, allowing users to complete therapy exercises while playing digital games.

“Essentially, the user is playing games on a screen while interacting with the tiles,” Kuye says. “Behind the scenes, we’re tracking metrics like speed, accuracy and how often they hit targets. That data helps paint a picture of their progress.”

The system’s interchangeable components are designed to support different stages of recovery, from gross motor movement to fine motor control.

“We designed four different tile tops, each targeting a specific function,” Schepmann says. “There’s a large button for elbow and wrist movement, a pegboard for fine motor skills, a keypad for finger extension and a joystick for wrist rotation and grip strength. The idea is that therapy can evolve with the patient.”

From the outset, the team worked closely with rehabilitation specialists to ensure the device addressed real clinical needs. “We collaborated with therapists throughout the design process, from early concept development to testing prototypes,” Wixom says.

“One of the biggest advantages of our system is its modularity. If a therapist identifies a movement we haven’t covered, new tile tops can be developed to meet that need.”

Although the students graduated this spring, they remain committed to improving recovery outcomes by making rehabilitation something patients want to do.

“If we can make therapy more engaging and help patients stay consistent, we believe we can make a real difference in their recovery,” Janenda says.

— ALEX BECKER

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President Reginald DesRoches with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy

BAKER INSTITUTE

Powering Partnership

The Baker Institute’s new Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center aims to strengthen energy infrastructure, research exchange and geopolitical collaboration.

ENERGY SECURITY has become one of the defining global challenges of the 21st century, and a new center at the Baker Institute for Public Policy will place Houston — and Rice — at the center of a major international effort to meet that challenge.

In June, leaders from the United States, Cyprus, Greece and Israel gathered at the Baker Institute to launch the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center, an initiative designed to advance energy security, regional stability and international collaboration.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright; Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, Michael Damianos; Minister of Environment and Energy for Greece, Stavros Papastavrou; Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter; and

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Rice University President Reginald DesRoches signed a declaration of intent to establish the center. The agreement creates a framework for cooperation among the four nations and advances an initiative envisioned in the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019.

As the Eastern Mediterranean becomes increasingly important to global energy markets and energy security, basing the center in Houston connects regional expertise with a global energy ecosystem — creating new opportunities for research, dialogue and collaboration that extend beyond national borders.

The center will focus on shared priorities, including natural gas development, U.S. liquefied natural gas infrastructure, energy transporta-

tion networks, grid reliability, critical infrastructure resilience and emerging technologies. It will also facilitate scientific and technical exchanges, research partnerships, workforce development initiatives and engagement with industry stakeholders.

At the launch event, President DesRoches said that the university has long approached complex global challenges through interdisciplinary research, international partnerships and practical solutions that inform policy and action. “Today’s launch is a powerful example of that commitment, drawing on the Baker Institute’s internationally recognized expertise in energy markets and policy and its ability to convene leaders to address complex global challenges.”

David Satterfield, director of the Baker Institute and former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Lebanon, said the center will help deepen the institute’s engagement in a region with significant energy and geopolitical importance. “The Eastern Mediterranean has enormous further potential, not just for development, for coordination of development,” Satterfield said.

“It is a positive thing for energy, it’s a positive thing for industry, for all of the three states represented here today. It’s good for the region in a geopolitical sense as well.”

Wright framed the partnership as both an energy initiative and a diplomatic one. “The Eastern Mediterranean is an increasingly important region for global energy development, and this agreement strengthens cooperation among key allies while advancing our shared goals of energy abundance, economic prosperity and regional stability,” Wright said. “By establishing the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center at Rice University … we are ensuring all member nations of this agreement will benefit from a lasting partnership bound together by the brightest minds and industry leaders in hydrocarbon development.”

— AVERY RUXER FRANKLIN

PHOTO COURTESY OF BAKER INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY

SALLYPORT

HUMANITIES AND ARTS

Writing Beyond the Page

Rice’s new MFA brings together craft, community and Houston’s literary energy. BY SARAH BRENNER JONES AND SARAH RUFCA NIELSEN

IL LU S T R AT IO N B Y DA N PAG E

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INNOVATION IN THE LAB, THE FIELD AND THE CLASSROOM

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Lacy M. Johnson

R

ICE’S NEW MASTER of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is designed around a simple premise: Writers are shaped by more than books and workshops. They are shaped by place, by language, by community and by the urgent questions of the world around them.

The new program was years in the making, shaped by deep reflection on what writers — and the world they write for — need now. Launched this fall, Rice’s MFA offers a bold reimagining of creative writing education thoughtfully rooted in Houston, shaped by a celebrated faculty and built around the idea that writers have work to do in the world.

The inaugural cohort comprises four writers selected from a pool of 140 applicants. The small group reflects the program’s emphasis on close mentorship, intensive workshops, and a model of graduate writing education designed to be both ambitious and deeply personal. At the same time, writing is positioned as a collaborative art, one that gains power when it is in conversation with others.

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This program is certain to elevate Rice as a national leader in creative writing while advancing the reputation of Houston as a premier literary and cultural hub.

Kiese Laymon

“With this MFA, Rice is investing in writers who can think across boundaries, engage deeply with communities and bring new language to urgent questions,” says Kathleen Canning, dean of the School of Humanities and Arts. “This program is certain to elevate Rice as a national leader in creative writing while advancing the reputation of Houston as a premier literary and cultural hub.”

The program’s structure reflects that ambition. MFA students explore fiction, poetry, nonfiction, translation and hybrid forms, moving across genres rather than narrowing too quickly into one. For Rice professor Kiese Laymon, author of “Heavy: An American Memoir” and a 2022 MacArthur Fellow, that openness is one of the program’s defining strengths. “The goal isn’t to create one kind of writer,” he says. “It’s to make space for many kinds of creation.”

The focus on artistic range, in addition to civic purpose and a deep attention to place, give Rice’s MFA program its shape. Rooted in Houston and the Gulf Coast, the program challenges students to cross into the cultural life of the city and invest deeply in its communities. Students are set to partner with Houston nonprofits, schools and other cultural institutions, contributing as writers, teachers, editors and creative collaborators.

Laymon says when he was growing up in Mississippi, Houston carried its own mythic force — a city whose music, language and swagger traveled far beyond Texas. “There’s so much writerly energy around Houston and around this area,” he says. “I feel like it’s just begging to be tapped or centralized in some way.”

Lacy M. Johnson, director of the new MFA, has long treated writing as a form of civic action. An essayist, memoirist, curator and social activist, Johnson is the author of “The Reckonings” and “The Other Side,” both National Book Critics Circle Award finalists, as well as the memoir “Trespasses.” She

FROM TOP: PHOTO BY ALAN NGUYEN, PHOTO BY BRANDON MARTIN

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FROM TOP: PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICHOLAS NICHOLS, PREMIO STREGA 2025 AND PHOTO BY JEFF FITLOW

founded the Houston Flood Museum, an evolving digital archive of poetry, testimony, reporting and visual work; and co-edited “More City Than Water: A Houston Flood Atlas,” a collaborative volume documenting the city’s experience with flooding and its connections to climate catastrophe, wealth inequality and racial disparity.

For Johnson, this is not work adjacent to writing. It is writing’s larger purpose. “Millions of stories are interwoven here. The question for me is how to amplify those stories in ways that create change, that affect policy, that reach people involved in decision-making,” she says. “Our students will take the skills they learn at Rice and use them to benefit the places they live.”

“Part of what makes Rice’s MFA unique is its integration with the Houston community,” agrees Phillip B. Williams, a poet, novelist and author of “Ours.” As a professor of creative writing, Williams pushes students to rethink what it means to be a successful writer by considering not just where work circulates but whom it serves. “Writers are servants to the public, though that’s sometimes forgotten in a culture of celebrity. I’m proud that [Rice has] a different vision — and the resources to make it real.”

Phillip B. Williams

That sense of creative purpose carries naturally into translation, which Rice’s MFA curriculum treats not as a secondary skill but as an art form of its own. Associate professor Tomás Morín, a poet, memoirist and translator of Pablo Neruda’s “The Heights of Macchu Picchu,” sees translation as a kind of artistic cross-training.

Morín tasks his students to begin not with mastery but with weakness.

A poet struggling with metaphor might translate Federico García Lorca; a fiction writer working on dialogue might seek out a writer whose ear for speech is sharper than their own. The point is not imitation but growth through close attention. “Translation is an art form,” Morín says. “It’s the purest form of close reading there is.”

Andrea Bajani

Andrea Bajani, Rice professor in the practice and a novelist whose most recent book won Italy’s most prestigious literary prize, likewise brings students a global view of literature shaped by movement across languages. At Rice, he frames translation as an act of trust and imaginative crossing. “Translation requires empathy,” Bajani says. “It is a mutual act of trust, a way of feeling what another life or another culture means through a shared language.”

The program is designed to challenge writers across genres and forms while giving them the time, mentorship and creative environment to do their best work. Just as important, it asks students to put that work in conversation with Houston — investing in the city as a place of vital stories and voices and helping establish a program that could become a national model for what creative writing education can be.

Kathleen Canning is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of History and dean of the School of Humanities and Arts.

Kiese Laymon is the Libbie Shearn Moody Professor of Creative Writing and English. Lacy M. Johnson is the Bruce and Elizabeth Dunlevie Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing.

Tomás Morín

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Shepherd School professor of horn, Elizabeth Freimuth, works with a student during CAYO’s Woodwind Week Mexico.

SHEPHERD SCHOOL OF MUSIC

A Cultural Crosswinds Four Shepherd School faculty members join CAYO’s inaugural Mexico exchange, connecting young musicians through performance and education.

IN GUANAJUATO, a Mexican city known for its color, history and music-filled streets, four Shepherd School faculty spent a week this spring making music with young musicians — a master class that doubled as an act of cultural connection.

The Rice faculty were part of the Cuban American Youth Orchestra’s inaugural Woodwind Week Mexico, a cultural exchange that brought wind musicians from the U.S. and Mexico

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together for classes, rehearsals, school visits and public performances.

The trip marked the first Mexico program for CAYO, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit founded by clarinetist Rena Kraut ’01. The organization promotes U.S.-Cuba cultural diplomacy through education, exchange and performance, though original plans to hold the program in Cuba were redirected due to the current geopolitical landscape.

Representing Rice were Benjamin Kamins, the Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Bassoon; Erin Hannigan, professor of oboe; Elizabeth Freimuth ’98, professor of horn; and Janet Rarick, recently retired associate professor. Shepherd alumna and flutist Marisela Sager ’01 also served as a teaching artist.

They joined faculty and students from the Eastman School of Music, DePaul University and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music for a week of collaboration that moved from classrooms to concert halls.

“Through school visits, house concerts and lessons, the faculty lived out our motto, ‘The world is a better place when you know your neighbors,’” Kraut says.

The faculty visited two institutions during the week. At Academia Renacimiento, which Kamins calls an “extraordinary community music school,” American faculty and students rehearsed with local ensembles before leading individual master classes. At Conservatorio de Música de Celaya in the nearby city of Celaya, the combined group rehearsed and performed Richard Strauss’ Serenade in E-flat major, Op. 7, and Joachim Raff’s “Sinfonietta,” in addition to holding two public performances in Guanajuato.

For the Shepherd faculty, the exchange was both musical and personal.

“We could barely communicate with each other through language, but we were able to form deep connections through music,” Freimuth says. “I am certain that I am a better person, teacher and musician having had this experience.”

Hannigan says the experience reflected the culture of collaboration she sees at Rice. “We have a special culture at the Shepherd School, and sharing this experience alongside my fellow faculty members and one graduate made the collaboration especially meaningful,” Hannigan says. “The warmth and musical spirit of Guanajuato inspired all of us.”

— BRANDI SMITH

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAYO

We have a special culture at the Shepherd School, and sharing this experience alongside my fellow faculty members and one graduate made the collaboration especially meaningful.

WISDOM NATURAL SCIENCES

Written in Wolf DNA

PHOTO BY JARED JONES AND PHOTO COURTESY OF MIHIR GODBOLE, THE GRASSLANDS TRUST

Bioscientist Lauren Hennelly’s research points to southern Asia as a global hotspot for gray wolf diversity — and a conservation priority.

THE WOLVES OF INDIA may be best known as the pack that raised Mowgli in “The Jungle Book.” But real Indian wolves carry a story that is older, more complex and more urgent than fiction — one written into their DNA. Rice bioscientist Lauren Hennelly is helping bring that story into focus.

Her research shows that Indian wolves, along with nearby Tibetan wolves, represent some of the oldest and most genetically distinct lineages of gray wolves in the world.

“I had previously led work showing that Indian and Tibetan wolves were the two oldest evolutionary lineages of the gray wolf,” says Hennelly, an assistant professor of biosciences in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences. “When we expanded our work to sequence wolves from across Asia, we found even more hidden stories in their DNA.” In a study published in Communications Biology, Hennelly and a team of scientists from 11 countries collected and analyzed DNA from wolves across Asia. They found that wolves in southern Asia contain an unexpectedly large amount of unique genetic variation, making the region an important reservoir of global wolf diversity.

The finding places southern Asia at the center of a larger evolutionary story — one that may help scientists better understand how wolf populations changed over time and how distinct lineages persist.

Wolves are famously wide-ranging animals, with reported journeys of more than 500 miles. Those movements often lead to genetic mixing, or gene flow, between populations. In northern Asia and North America, for example, gray wolf populations are genetically similar across vast distances because of that mixing.

Southern Asia, however, told a different story. Hennelly’s data showed sharply defined geographic boundaries among three major wolf lineages: Indian, Tibetan and Holarctic. Even though these populations now live relatively close to one another, the Indian and Tibetan lineages were isolated from other wolves for more than 100,000 years.

Past climate shifts, including habitat changes during glacial cycles, may have helped create that separation. But the

genetic distinctions have remained even as those earlier barriers disappeared.

“We found that Pakistan is the global hotspot of gray wolf diversity. That is because this location is where all three major lineages of wolves come together,” Hennelly says. “How and why these different types of wolves remain genetically distinct despite living so close to each other is a question that could help us understand fundamental questions in evolutionary biology, like the early stages of speciation.”

The research also has conservation implications. Although the gray wolf species is considered stable overall, Hennelly’s work shows that Indian and Tibetan wolves should not be treated as interchangeable with wolf populations in Europe or North America. Their genetic distinctiveness makes their survival especially important.

Hennelly co-led a working group that estimates the Indian wolf population includes about 3,000 individuals and faces a high risk of extinction in the foreseeable future. Under the International Union for Conservation of Nature, both the Indian wolf and Tibetan wolf are now classified as threatened.

“Only through genetics could we understand that these are unique wolves found nowhere else,” Hennelly says. “Our work not only informs the conservation status and taxonomy of these wolves but highlights the importance of conserving these two evolutionarily distinct populations, and preserving the full spectrum of wolf genetic diversity, before it’s too late.”

— RACHEL LEESON

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FACULTY BOOKS

Now Reading IN HIS 2018 biography “Jefferson: Architect of American Liberty,” Rice Professor Emeritus John Boles ’65 argued that Thomas Jefferson could only be understood by considering the full complexity of his life and times. His new book, “Grand Papa Jefferson: An American President and His Grandchildren,” narrows the lens, drawing on family correspondence to explore Jefferson’s role as a father and grandfather and reveal a more personal side of the third president.

Speaking with Rice Magazine, Boles reflects once more on what this intimate perspective adds to our understanding of Jefferson’s life, legacy and contradictions.

What made you feel that there was another important Jefferson story to tell? Jefferson lived a

long and accomplished life, so historians have written books on many aspects of it beyond his political roles; there are books on Jefferson and music, architecture, law and nature. In reading the corpus of his correspondence, I noticed he wrote hundreds of letters to his daughters and 12 grandchildren and received many from them, but no one had analyzed them to understand Jefferson in his role as father and grandfather.

In these letters he is unguarded and personal, revealing a warm and even humorous side seldom recognized. The letters also reveal much about family life at the time, including the frequency of disease and death and its impact on parenting. As a grandfather myself, I enjoyed reading about how he balanced family and career, how he mentored his children and grandchildren, and how they related to him.

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Grand Papa Jefferson

An American President and His Grandchildren John B. Boles ’65 Mercer University Press, 2026

How did focusing on Jefferson’s domestic life change your understanding of him? I argued in my biography that Jefferson needed to be seen holistically, in the context of his time and place, and as someone who grew and changed over the course of his life. This book represents my trying to do that with another aspect of his life. Very few people of his status wrote, kept and received so many personal letters, so his correspondence offers an unusual window into family life and parenting roles in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It offers insight into gender roles, companionate marriage and the different educational expectations for males and females. The letters also reveal the personalities and interests of the various children.

How did you navigate portraying Jefferson’s family relationships without losing sight of the inequalities created by slavery? Part of being a historian is understanding that people must be interpreted within their own context; being a slaveholder when slavery was a legal and widely accepted institution did not mean a person was devoid of morals or incapable of love.

Jefferson was philosophically opposed to slavery but simultaneously caught up in the system. Economic and legal obstacles made the personal freeing of enslaved people difficult.

Jefferson had in effect two families, one legal and the other a kind of extralegal shadow family. Most scholars today accept that he had a long-term relationship with Sally Hemings and assume a degree of mutual affection between them. In a different time, Jefferson might have married her, but legal and personal constraints made that impossible.

Jefferson treated Sally, her children and their extended family differently

PHOTO BY DYL AN AGUIL AR

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It would not be right to ignore the Black children simply because we cannot know as much about them. The difference between what we can know is a consequence of slavery in Jefferson’s life. He favored them and treated them differently from other enslaved workers, but he never flouted their biological ties. We should not imagine unremitting animosity, nor minimize the discrepancies between their lives and those of his white grandchildren.

The contradictions are tragic.

Was there a moment in the research that surprised you or changed the emotional tone of the project for you? I most enjoyed the letters from

[from his other slaves]; they were not sent to work in the fields and monopolized the skilled positions at Monticello.

His loving relationship with his white grandchildren was visible to visitors while his relationship with his children

by Sally was never revealed. This was one of the tragedies of life in a slaveholding society, and we may be critical of Jefferson for not transcending the mores of his world.

How did the absence of a comparable written record for Jefferson’s children with Sally Hemings shape your approach to the book? What attracted me was the correspondence between Jefferson and his white children and grandchildren; these letters offer insight into their relationship and a glimpse into their lives. But what about the Black children, for whom no comparable correspondence exists?

Their relationship to Jefferson cannot be revealed in the same way. Any discussion of the two sets of children highlights the inequalities involved.

Jefferson’s granddaughters describing their relationships with him at Poplar Forest, his retreat about 90 miles from Monticello. There, he could apparently be more open about his feelings for his two sons by Sally, who worked there under the direction of Sally’s uncle and Jefferson’s favorite enslaved carpenter, John Hemings.

After spending decades studying Jefferson from so many angles, did writing this book change the way you think about his legacy? Jefferson’s

Shared Morals

The Role of Moral Rhetoric in Party Politics Jae-Hee Jung Cambridge University Press, 2026

In “Shared Morals: The Role of Moral Rhetoric in Party Politics,” Rice professor Jae-Hee Jung challenges the assumption that moral rhetoric in politics is purely divisive. Analyzing Western democracies, she reveals how parties use moral language not just to polarize, but to build trust, explain motives and bridge divides. Drawing on political psychology and comparative data, Jung shows that appeals to shared values can mobilize voters and foster representation, ultimately reframing moral rhetoric as a potential tool for common ground rather than just conflict.

Jae-Hee Jung is assistant professor of political science in the School of Social Sciences at Rice.

Cat Love

A Novel Tomás Q. Morín

legacy has changed drastically over the 200 years since he died. Over the past half century, his ownership of slaves has shaped many people’s attitude toward him. I do not see him today as I did in 1965, when I went to graduate school to study him. He now appears more complex, a man of contradictions and moral imperfections. His life as a slaveholder was tragic for the people he legally owned, for himself and for our nation, even though he articulated our highest aspirations more elegantly than anyone else. In many ways, Jefferson embodies the noble promises and the tragic imperfections in our nation’s history.

— DEVERLY PÉREZ

Narrated by a cat trapped inside its own Schrödinger’s box, “Cat Love” is a dystopian debut novel by Rice professor and Guggenheim fellow Tomás Q. Morín. Imprisoned in a classroom for “Emotional Support Humans” in training, she reminisces about music, poetry and her beloved owner while her captors debate her feline existence. Part elegy, part dark comedy, this surreal meditation interrogates empathy, animal rights and human folly with poetically charged prose.

John Boles is the William P. Hobby Professor Emeritus of History at Rice.

Tomás Q. Morín is associate professor of creative writing in the School of Humanities and Arts at Rice.

Pantheon, 2026

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FEVER PITCH HOW RICE TURNED HOUSTON’S WORLD CUP MOMENT INTO A SHOWCASE FOR INNOVATION, COMMUNITY AND OWL PRIDE.

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Photos by Jared Jones, Brandon Martin, Parth Patel, Gustavo Raskosky and Jorge Vidal MAGA ZINE.RICE.EDU

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For one exhilarating month, the World Cup seemed to be everywhere at Rice.

Cheers erupted from crowds in the balmy courtyard outside Valhalla. A sea of orange blanketed an entire block of Greenbriar next to Rice Stadium. A giant blue soccer ball took up residence outside the Sallyport.

As the only university named an Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, Rice made the most of a unique opportunity to introduce itself to a global audience — showcasing its treelined campus, world-class research and the welcoming community spirit that makes Rice distinctive.

“The World Cup is a chance to showcase not just Houston but everything that makes Rice special,” President Reginald DesRoches said before the tournament. “We’re excited to welcome people from around the world to our campus and be part of an event that celebrates community, culture and connection.” That spirit was hard to miss. At watch parties from Rice Stadium to the Ion, longtime soccer devotees stood shoulder to shoulder with first-time fans, united by the drama unfolding onscreen and throughout the city. More than 500 Rice staff, students, faculty and alumni also volunteered to welcome fans and support World Cup events across Houston.

The biggest splash of color came when an estimated 10,000 Dutch supporters and Houstonians gathered near Rice Stadium for the Oranje Fanwalk, singing and dancing before marching their way to Reliant Stadium (known as Houston Stadium during the World Cup) to watch the Netherlands take the pitch. For a few electric hours, the edge of campus became the starting line of an international street party.

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World Cup games held at Houston Stadium

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Days of Houston’s free FIFA Fan Festival

Above: Rice soccer player Sam Walker ’29 at Fan Fest; host Rog Bennett interviews J.J. Watt (left) at the live “Men in Blazers” show recorded at Rice’s Brockman Hall for Opera.

500+

Rice community members who supported FIFA events as volunteers

Over 1,000 fans attended the five World Cup watch parties hosted by Rice at venues including Valhalla (far left and top) and the Ion (above).

Left: Science at play in Rice’s Fan Fest booth; (below) a Mexico fan at the Valhalla watch party and Donkeeboy’s Sallyport soccer ball

2,000+

Total volunteer hours contributed by Rice students, faculty and staff

5

But, the buildup began months earlier, when Rice hosted a live “Men in Blazers” show at Brockman Hall for Opera featuring special guests J.J. Watt and Hakeem Olajuwon. In February, Rice also hosted “The World at Play,” an interdisciplinary conference exploring soccer’s cultural and global influence. Students landed World Cup-related internships that took them behind the scenes, while researchers and community partners used the tournament as a platform to advance sustainability and civic engagement.

At the FIFA Fan Festival in East Downtown, Rice put its research directly into visitors’ hands. Festivalgoers climbed onto a swing suspended by less than an ounce of carbon nanotube fiber. The installation paired the familiar geometry of a soccer ball with the iconic buckyball, visually linking the energy of the tournament to the Rice discovery that helped launch a new era of nanoscale science.

And Rice’s reach extended well beyond those who came to campus or participated in university-sponsored activities across the city. Images of the Oranje Fanwalk traveled through international media, while Rice’s World Cuprelated content generated more than 3.2 million views across university social channels. A multilingual virtual campus tour offered another introduction to Rice’s research, traditions and community for audiences around the world.

Eventually, the final whistles blew. The screens came down. The crowds moved on.

But Rice had offered more than a place to watch the game. The partnership showcased something difficult to capture in a ranking or brochure: how Rice’s world-class ambitions, intimate campus and closeknit community come together in one extraordinary place. — ANDREW BELL

Giant Rice-themed soccer balls created by Houston artist Donkeeboy and displayed around campus MAGA ZINE.RICE.EDU

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Oranje Crush The Netherlands’ famed fanwalk brought one of soccer’s most exuberant traditions to Rice’s doorstep.

ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 20, GREENBRIAR DRIVE DISAPPEARED BENEATH A RIVER OF ORANGE. Thousands of Dutch supporters in jerseys, wigs, capes and inflatable crowns streamed toward Rice Stadium, surrounding the Netherlands’ orange double-decker fan bus with singing, dancing and occasional horn blasts. For a few exuberant, fun-filled hours, one of soccer’s most recognizable fan traditions unfolded on Rice’s doorstep. The gathering marked the return of the Oranje Fanwalk, a tradition that has followed the Netherlands’ national team around the world for more than two decades. For Rice, it became one of the most visible expressions of its role as an Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter. The event drew an estimated 10,000 Dutch supporters and Houstonians to the west side of campus and eventually Greenbriar — temporarily rebranded as Oranjebriar — before the 2.5-mile march to Houston Stadium to watch the Netherlands beat Sweden 5-1. Rice flags mingled with Dutch banners, and Sammy the Owl climbed aboard the bus to join the celebration. Even though it lasted only a few hours, the transformation captured something larger: a Houston street, a Rice landmark and a global fan tradition converging in one improbable burst of orange exhilaration and international pride. — SARAH RUFCA NIELSEN 26

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FA N F E S T

A Different Kind of Game Changer At FIFA Fan Festival, Rice turned a playground swing into a showcase for decades of university research and alumni-led innovation.

As part of the music, crowds and soccer fever of the FIFA Fan Festival in East Downtown Houston, Rice invited visitors to experience one of its most promising advanced materials firsthand — by taking a ride on a swing.

The centerpiece of Rice’s interactive Fan Fest booth was suspended not by the steel chains typically found on playground swings, but instead by cables made from carbon nanotube fibers that were developed through research pioneered at Rice. The two cables collectively weighed less than an ounce yet could support roughly 2,000 pounds.

“We wanted to show something that’s light and flexible and something that can displace steel,” says Matteo Pasquali, the A.J. Hartsook Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, professor of chemistry and materials science and nanoengineering, and director of Rice’s Carbon Hub. The cables were provided by DexMat, a company commercializing the technology that was co-founded by Rice alumni Bryan Guido Hassin ’01, ’02 and Dmitri Tsentalovich ’13, a chemical engineer who helped advance the carbon nanotube fiber technology while working in Pasquali’s lab.

A neighboring display connected the structure of C60 — the infamous buckyball discovered at Rice in 1985 — with the familiar pattern of a soccer ball, highlighting the connection between the world’s most popular sport and one of Rice’s most celebrated scientific discoveries that helped establish the university as a

1.08 Million

Participants at official Houston World Cup events

global leader in materials, quantum and nanoscale science.

“The World Cup is an opportunity to bring people together from around the world, and we wanted Rice to be part of that celebration,” says Thomas Killian, dean of Rice’s Wiess School of Natural Sciences and professor of physics and astronomy. “As Houston welcomes visitors from across the globe, it’s a fun way to share a piece of Rice and the spirit of curiosity and discovery that defines our community.”

Students, alumni, faculty and other volunteers staffed the booth for six weeks, answering questions and sharing their Rice experiences with visitors. Recent alumnus and volunteer Nimah Shukkoor ’26 says the exhibit sparked conversations with visitors of all ages.

“We’ve had a lot of kids playing on the swing and people talking to us about what Rice is like,” says Shukkoor, who earned bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and philosophy. “It’s been cool to talk about the different clubs and opportunities Rice has to offer and share some of the things I’ve been lucky enough to experience during my time here.”

The installation placed the university’s research and alumni entrepreneurship before an international audience while supporting Houston’s role as a host city. But for Pasquali, it also demonstrated the persistence required to turn an ambitious scientific idea into something visitors could see, touch and swing from.

“At Rice, we are always looking at doing something that nobody else is doing,” he says. “Through many failures over 20 years, and a few miracles that we made happen, you can get to this point.” — ANDREW BELL

Fan Fest visitors enjoy the nanotech-powered Rice swing beside the soccer-inspired buckyball in Rice’s booth.

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Visitors at FIFA Fan Festival and Shell Energy Stadium

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Inside the Action Rice students didn’t just watch the World Cup unfold — they helped make it happen. We checked in with some of the Owls who landed FIFA-related internships.

Cielo Reyes ’26

Aneesh Depa ’29

FIFA Community Relations Intern Major: Sport Management, Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology

Commentary Control Room Assistant Major: Materials Science and Nanoengineering

Reyes worked on accessibility initiatives, human trafficking awareness training, workers’ rights resources and the host committee’s human rights action plan, which outlined how Houston would address issues such as public safety, accessibility, and support for vulnerable populations before and during the tournament. “This kind of legacy work is what I hope to bring to communities in the future,” she says.

Depa supported live broadcast operations by monitoring commentators’ audio systems, ensuring clear communication channels for uninterrupted transmission. “Working in a real-time environment gave me hands-on insight into how small changes can impact a global broadcast,” he says. “I never realized how interesting broadcast engineering can be.”

Charlie Bridgewater ’26 FIFA Operations Intern Major: Sport Management As an operations coordinator with the host committee, Bridgewater spent a year planning the FIFA Fan Festival, one of the largest publicfacing components of the tournament. “A lot of the work happens long before the event itself and every detail matters,” Bridgewater says.

Miguel Martin Hernandez ’28 Broadcast Liaison Assistant Major: Computer Science and Business Fluent in four languages, Hernandez coordinated on-site logistics for major international media partners while using his computer science skills to streamline operational data and troubleshoot technical issues. His pinch-me moment: briefly walking alongside one of his idols, Cristiano Ronaldo. “Seeing him in person reminded me to remain humble, work harder than my talent and give my best in everything I do.”

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Justin Wang ’29 360 Ingest Operator Major: Sport Management Wang captured, edited and uploaded 360-degree camera footage from all seven Houston matches, collaborating with on-site social media professionals as well as broadcast editors across the globe. “Just being at the World Cup was crazy enough; the idea of working there was beyond my wildest dreams,” Wang says.

Pu Reh ’29 Broadcast Liaison Assistant Major: Sport Management Reh spent his days guiding international media partners to their broadcast positions inside Houston Stadium, explaining venue procedures and responding to operational needs. “From the moment I arrived, I was constantly moving,” he says.

“I walked away with stronger organizational and communication skills and a deeper confidence in my ability to operate in high-pressure environments.”

Pictured from left: Brandon Nimmers, Chaundra Frank and Joshua Obregon

Calling the Shots At Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, host of nine World Cup matches, three Owls played critical roles in staging the world’s biggest sporting event.

When Brandon Nimmers ’27 assembled the leadership team responsible for tournament operations, among those he recruited were Rice alumni Chaundra Frank ’00, ’22 and Josh Obregon ’23. Together, the trio managed the logistics of staging matches at Dallas Stadium and supported broader tournament operations across Dallas, one of the World Cup’s most important hubs. That included tracking hundreds of deliveries, equipment pallets and distribution operations as well as supporting functions ranging from broadcasting to medical services.

“To witness something of this magnitude come together and to know that Rice is part of it is nothing short of remarkable,” says Frank, a former student-athlete with degrees in economics, sport management and an MBA. For Obregon, “what made the experience even more meaningful was serving alongside fellow Rice alumni united by a commitment to excellence, collaboration and problem-solving.”

Although successful logistics operations mostly go unnoticed, Nimmers says from the moment crowds poured into Dallas Stadium, his team felt the payoff for their months of preparation. “You walk into the stadium on match day and 73,000 people start yelling — and it’s chills,” he says.

“You think, ‘Oh my gosh, this is amazing.’” — ANDREW BELL

S U S TA I N A B I LIT Y

A Greener Game Plan Houston’s World Cup spotlight became a catalyst for greener public spaces and smarter planning.

As Houston welcomed the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Rice helped turn a global sporting event into a living laboratory for sustainability.

The effort took root in May, when dozens of new trees were planted throughout the Ion District, including near the Ion Building, Greentown Labs and the adjacent Houston METRO station. The planting supports the Houston Green Corridor, a 14-mile network incorporating trails, transit, public spaces, native plantings, shade structures, water access and bikesupport amenities linking the city’s major World Cup venues from East Downtown to Houston Stadium.

The Green Corridor initiative also made a stop on Rice’s oaklined campus through the Rice-FIFA Sustainable Ecologies Installation, a temporary public-facing exhibit sited within the university’s oak grove near Entrance 1. Built by students and staff, the installation highlighted the southern live oak, one of Rice’s defining campus features and a powerful symbol of resilience in Houston.

“Many of us walk past oak trees every day without realizing how many organisms rely on them for food, shelter and survival,” says Qihang Li ’27, an architecture graduate student who co-designed and built the “Living Oak Communities” installation. “I hope people leave ‘Living Oak Communities’ with an appreciation for the complexity of the natural world that exists right around them.”

Through a series of interactive design elements offering visitors both seating and shade, the exhibit explores biodiversity, heat mitigation, native plantings and public comfort. Each

5.5 Million

METRO rides taken during the tournament

component serves as a small-scale demonstration of how design can support environmental performance while creating beautiful and welcoming civic spaces.

“I was drawn to the project because it asked the question, ‘How can a structure honor the place it came from?’” says Humaira Shaikh ’28, an architecture undergraduate student. “The installation became a way to translate ideas about Houston’s climate and ecology into something people could physically utilize instead of simply read about.”

The installation was also part of a broader Rice University Urban Sustainability Projects Portfolio, which brought together initiatives designed to use the World Cup as a platform for international best-practice research, student innovation and data-informed planning. Led by David Abraham, a lecturer in biosciences, its projects examined how cities can activate public spaces, protect biodiversity, reduce waste, measure environmental performance and transform major events into long-term investments.

In June, Rice introduced the portfolio at the Ion as part of a two-day Urban Sustainability Innovation Sprint convened with UNLEASH, a global innovation organization based in Copenhagen, Denmark. The event also included the launch of the Rice World Cup Cities Hack, a sustainability-focused virtual data hackathon that brought together university students nationwide. Teams worked with real-world urban datasets to build data management and visualization solutions, analyzing the sustainability impact of this World Cup on the 11 U.S. host cities.

“For us, the World Cup is not only a global sporting event,” Abraham says. “It is a platform for sustainability communication, economic development and measurable impact. These projects show how universities can help cities think differently about placemaking, ecology, infrastructure and public engagement.” — SARAH RUFCA NIELSEN, WITH REPORTING FROM AVERY FRANKLIN AND RACHEL LEESON

Top: Volunteers planted trees in the Ion District, part of the Green Corridor initiative; (bottom) “Entanglement Pavilion” was one of nine student- and faculty-built installations on campus featured in the Rice-FIFA Sustainable Ecologies exhibit.

See more of Rice’s World Cup events on Instagram.

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Two years into Momentous, Rice’s 10-year strategic plan, major investments in teaching and research are already reshaping the university.

A new brain institute. Record undergraduate applications. A rising global reputation.

Across Rice, a growing list of milestones is bringing the university’s long-term vision for teaching and research into sharper focus.

That vision took formal shape with the launch of Momentous, Rice's 10-year strategic plan, in fall 2024.

The initiative established a set of core objectives designed to elevate the university's academic impact and global standing around two focus areas — premier teaching and premier research. “Momentous laid out the vision for Rice’s next 10 years and how we, as a university community, intend to work together to achieve that vision,” says Provost Amy Dittmar. “We’ve already made significant progress toward achieving our goals, and active work is underway on all 33 of them.”

Major achievements to date include securing a $55 million investment in the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, committing $20 million to enhancing the salaries and benefits of Rice staff, and Rice’s rise to No. 17 in U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges. Rice also launched the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies, while the $500,000 NEH-funded Center for Humanities-based Health AI Innovation, co-led with Baylor College of Medicine, is setting a national standard for ethical AI in health care.

Forward by Deborah Lynn Blumberg // Photo by Jeff Fitlow

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The first focus area, premier teaching, centers on personalized education that prepares students to lead and serve. “The infrastructure created under Momentous has directly shifted how we support scholars at all levels,” says David Sholl, vice president for research. “Programs like Vertically Integrated Projects now allow undergraduate students to embed themselves early into multiyear, faculty-led research teams. This structure bridges the gap between undergraduates and graduate mentors, providing clear pathways to publication, advanced studies and careers.”

When it comes to premier research, the strategic plan provides a structure for ongoing areas of focus to ensure Rice is leading global conversations. Since 2023, 84% of newly hired faculty have research tied directly to Momentous priorities, including 51 new tenure-track hires in fiscal year 2025 alone. Research funding is climbing sharply too, up 37.5% year-over-year to a record $257.9 million in fiscal year 2026.

“A primary example is our concerted push into health innovation and translational science through the Synthesis X Center and Biotech LaunchPad accelerator, which are Continued on Page 34 32

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COMMUNITY IMPACT

Before Day 1, Rice’s Newest Students Get Their Hands Dirty On a humid July morning, incoming Rice students knelt in the mud along Houston’s Columbia Tap Trail and wrenched invasive plants from the ground, clearing space for native species and a new bioswale. Nearby, others walked the path with trash bags, filling them with litter. Most of these volunteers had met only days earlier. None had started classes.

They were the newest cohort of the Moody Civic Immersion program, a weeklong experience run by Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership that brings incoming students into the city before their first semester begins.

Through conversations with community organizations, service projects and neighborhood tours, participants consider how economic forces and historical inequities shape life across Houston.

“I was born in Houston but raised elsewhere, and I wanted to learn about the community I’m coming into,” says Jayden Rachal, an incoming freshman. “I want to know how to make an impact in a place I care about.”

But the experience is also designed to ease the transition to college, giving students a shared purpose and a network before the semester begins.

“Coming into a new environment, you never want to start at zero,” says freshman Karthik Kommineni. “This program is a strong start. It gets you above ground level in terms of socialization.”

Organizers hope students will carry that curiosity and commitment into their years at Rice — and continue learning from the city they now call home. — BRANDI SMITH

PHOTO BY BRANDI SMITH

“Several of our goals are already ahead of target, such as undergraduate participation in research and global learning,” says Dittmar. “These highimpact practices can be truly transformative.”

PREMIER TEACHING

“Several of our goals are already ahead of target, such as undergraduate participation in research and global learning,” says Dittmar. “These high-impact practices can be truly transformative.” In fact, undergraduate research participation already exceeds the 2030 goal of over 70%. Global learning is accelerating, too, with participation in global programs rising from one in five Rice students to nearly one in three through programs like the Rice Global Paris Center, Rice in Country language immersions and a new pre-health Fall in Paris semester.

Rice’s momentum extends to the lab and the land beneath it, too, from a $3.5 million Gates Foundation award tackling PFAS “forever chemicals” to a campus reimagined as a living lab for water reuse.

CAMPUS EXPANSION

Built to Scale Following its launch in 2021, Rice’s undergraduate business major quickly became one of the university’s fastestgrowing degrees — by fall 2025, more than 360 students had declared it, and

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Teaching by the Numbers

↑ 13%

Increase in undergraduate applications (as of fall 2025)

more than 1,200 undergraduates were taking business courses.

The 2024 establishment of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business gave that momentum a structure — and a purpose. Created through a landmark gift from Asha Virani ’89 and Farid Virani, the school combines rigorous academics with entrepreneurship, experiential learning and career preparation. Through collaboration across disciplines, it also expands Rice’s ability to prepare students to lead through complex challenges in energy, healthcare and technology.

And as of this fall, that

↑ 15%

Year-over-year increase in doctoral applications

ambition now has a home. Asha and Farid Virani Hall opens on Sept. 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Connected to McNair Hall, the 112,000-square-foot building brings undergraduate and graduate business students together through flexible classrooms, breakout rooms, research and event spaces, a café and a lightfilled atrium designed for connection.

“We hope Virani Hall becomes more than a place to learn,” Asha says. “We hope it becomes a place to belong.”

Together, the school and its building make an evolution at Rice visible: Business is no longer simply a major, but a central part of how the university prepares students to lead.

— SARAH RUFCA NIELSEN

73%

Students engaged in undergraduate research by graduation

↑ 50%

Increase in students participating in global experiences since Momentous launched, up to 32% of students

COLLABORATION

PHOTO BY BRANDON MARTIN AND PHOTO COURTESY OF RICE BUSINESS

Growing a Global Classroom Since the launch of Momentous, Rice’s International Summer Experience in Engineering Design has widened its map — and its definition of the classroom.

A program of the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, iSEED offers students the opportunity to spend several weeks in a different part of the world tackling design challenges shaped by real people, real constraints and very different ways of working.

Launched in 2017, iSEED grew substantially in 2025 when 44 Rice students worked on projects in Mexico,

Kenya, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Japan. In summer 2026, Ireland joined the program’s growing list of destinations. Each location offers more than a new backdrop for familiar coursework. Students encounter different partners, resources and cultural expectations — and different ideas about what a successful design should accomplish.

Recent projects have included a device that automates urinalysis strip readings and an assistive tool for people with limited hand mobility.

Students work with 3D printers, laser cutters and electronics labs, but the real challenge is learning when to listen, rethink and revise.

“Engineering isn’t just about the right answer. It’s about understanding people and context,” says Amy Dern, OEDK’s director of strategic initiatives and international programs.

Across borders, disciplines and design briefs, iSEED teaches students that engineering is as much about how they see a problem as how they solve it.

— SARAH RUFCA NIELSEN

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New tenuretrack faculty hires

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Working groups within the Sustainability Institute

This Syzygy photoreactor — used to test inexpensive catalysts in a lower-cost solution — may hold the key to the hydrogen economy.

GENERATE SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Lighting a Cleaner Path to Ammonia Rice researchers Naomi Halas, Peter Nordlander and Hossein Robatjazi have received the 2026 Hill Prize in Engineering for their work developing cleaner, light-driven methods of producing ammonia.

Halas, University Professor and the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, shares the honor with Nordlander, the Wiess Chair in Physics and Astronomy, and Robatjazi, vice president for research at Syzygy Plasmonics and an adjunct professor of chemistry at Rice.

Ammonia is essential to fertilizer production and increasingly viewed as a potential hydrogen carrier and fuel. But conventional ammonia manufacturing relies on the energyintensive Haber-Bosch process, a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Hill Prize supports high-risk, high-reward research by Texas innovators whose work could have broad societal impact and will support the team’s efforts to improve photocatalysts and reactor prototypes and build industry partnerships capable of scaling more sustainable production methods.

The project draws on decades of research by Halas and Nordlander in nanophotonics and plasmonics. Their work helped establish antenna-reactor photocatalysts, nanoscale systems that use light to drive chemical reactions, and provided the foundation for Houston-based Syzygy Plasmonics, which is developing light-driven processes for producing ammonia and other industrial chemicals without external heating or direct emissions. — SILVIA CERNEA CLARK

PHOTOS BY BRANDON MARTIN

Read more about Rice’s Momentous progress in teaching and research in the 2026 Implementation Update Report.

PREMIER RESEARCH

rewriting the rules of cancer treatments and racing to turn bench-top discoveries into commercialized clinical products,” says Sholl.

“By combining heavy investments in specialized computing infrastructure, like our shared NVIDIA DGX compute cluster, with deep interdisciplinary partnerships spanning engineering, natural sciences and the humanities, Momentous is positioning Rice as an agile, elite powerhouse capable of tackling multifaceted societal challenges like brain health, urban demographic changes and sustainable energy.”

New landmark collaborations are extending that reach further still, including the Houston Methodist-Rice Digital Health Institute and a groundbreaking quantum materials partnership with Germany’s Max Planck Institute. “Our focus on strategic global and medical alliances is translating directly into world-changing discovery,” says Sholl.

Rice is also pioneering a human-centered approach to AI across research, teaching and discovery. In fall 2025, the university launched a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, requiring coursework in AI ethics and history, and continues to expand that curriculum with a new master’s in AI developed this year. A universitywide AI hiring initiative has integrated 30 new faculty members across nearly every school, with 45 more hires planned over the next five years.

“AI isn’t going away, and it’s imperative for our students’ postgraduation success that we prepare them to think critically about AI and use it well,” says Dittmar. “To that end, nearly 250 faculty and staff have enrolled in Rice’s asynchronous AI teaching course, and 45 grants have been awarded to faculty experimenting with responsible AI in the classroom.”

Rice is also continuing to invest in the people who are bringing Momentous to life, with a new platform launched this summer to track progress and to ensure that momentum keeps building toward 2035. “Together, we can make progress at speed and scale,” says Dittmar, “to change not just our university, but the world that it sends its graduates into.”

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Grants awarded to faculty experimenting with responsible AI in the classroom

↑ 37.5%

$ 257.9 Million

World-Class Research Enterprise Since Momentous launched in 2024, Rice has expanded its global reach with over a dozen new partnerships across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. These collaborations open doors for shared research, student exchange and big ideas — extending Rice’s influence abroad while bringing new perspectives, possibilities and connections back home to campus.

Sponsored research awards received in FY26

France Texas-France Space Hub Paris Rice-Paris Brain Institute partnership

Year-over-year increase in sponsored research awards in FY26

↑ 48%

Year-over-year increase in federal awards in FY26

Bengaluru Rice Global India

Venice Venice International University membership

Indian Institute of Science Collaborative Initiative

Université Paris Sciences & Lettres, International Scholars and Articulated Degrees Program

Israel Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center

Singapore Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Summer Engineering Research Exchange

Texas

Germany Rice-Max Planck Partnership in Quantum Materials

Cyprus Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center Greece Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center

Chennai Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Strategic Collaboration Initiative

GRADUATE CAMPUS CULTURE

Building a Place to Thrive Beginning a doctoral program can be exhilarating but also isolating. Rice is helping students navigate that transition with Thrive, a program designed to support first-year Ph.D. students as they adjust to graduate life.

Created by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Thrive brings together doctoral students from across business, engineering, humanities, music, natural sciences and social sciences for peer mentorship, structured conversations and informal gatherings. Participants also connect with campus resources and discuss challenges includ-

ing imposter syndrome, time management, collaboration and maintaining balance.

“The transition to a doctoral program comes with many changes that can be both exciting and overwhelming,” says Vanessa Espinoza ’20, who leads the program and earned her Ph.D. in 2022. “Thrive was created as a support system that reminds students they don’t have to navigate those changes alone.”

For biochemistry doctoral student Hayden Stegall ’30, Thrive provided one of the first opportunities to meet peers outside his program.

“I had only met people in my department until I came to a Thrive event,” Stegall says. “It helped me realize how important it is to have a community beyond your lab.”

As Rice’s doctoral population grows, Thrive has become an increasingly important part of graduate life — helping students find not only support but a sense of belonging. — BRANDON MARTIN

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SPACE SCIENCE

AS NASA’S ARTEMIS PROGRAM SETS ITS SIGHTS ON THE MOON AND BEYOND

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R I C E FAC U LT Y A N D A L U M N I ARE HELPING CARRY FORWARD A PARTNERSHIP MORE THAN SIX DECADES IN THE MAKING

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In 1969, as NASA prepared for Apollo 11 to land on the surface of the moon, its astronauts faced a terrifying unknown: What would happen when their boots hit the lunar surface? Would they sink into deep, treacherous dunes of cosmic dust, piled up like sand in a desert, or would they merely disturb a thin layer of dust, like a house in need of sweeping?

To prepare for this momentous “one small step,” the spacecraft included a space-age dust sensor developed by Rice space science professor Brian O’Brien.

“There was so much we didn’t know about the moon,” says Patricia Reiff, a professor of physics and astronomy who worked on the Apollo 13 and 14 missions. “It seems perhaps silly to think about it today, but in 1969, we were genuinely worried about the amount of dust on the moon.”

In a sense, the Apollo program unofficially launched at Rice in 1962, with John F. Kennedy’s famous moonshot speech delivered at Rice Stadium. And Rice’s space science program, established in 1963, has made countless contributions to the agency over the decades in the form of both research and experts.

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The Artemis II crew captured this image as they came close to passing behind the Moon and experiencing a planned loss of signal.

Indeed, the first Rice-NASA collaboration started in 1959, just months after NASA was founded. Since then, Rice faculty, staff, students and alumni have worked on Cassini, Galileo, the Mars Global Surveyor and the Pioneer Venus Orbiter. They have analyzed data from Voyager missions, done space weather forecasting and studied what it takes to make a planet habitable — as well as what extraterrestrial living might do to a human body. Reiff, who runs Rice Space Science Alumni, estimates that Rice students and professors have been involved in at least 50 NASA missions to date. That includes the latest Artemis missions, which have brought the wonder of space exploration back into the foreground of popular consciousness.

For 10 days in April, Artemis II captured the public’s imagination as four astronauts flew around the moon, venturing farther into space than any humans before them. Watched by millions around the world, the mission rekindled the wonder of human spaceflight and opened a new chapter in lunar exploration.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASA

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This followed the quieter Artemis I launch in 2022, which sent an unmanned spacecraft around the moon to test NASA’s mega moon rocket, the Space Launch System. Artemis III, planned for 2027, will test commercial landers in low Earth orbit in preparation for Artemis IV the following year. In 2028, Artemis IV’s four astronauts will fly to the moon’s orbit, transfer to a commercial lunar lander and land on the moon’s surface before returning to Earth. Finally, Artemis V will also be a lunar surface mission, with plans to launch new lunar missions annually after it returns.

Each planned Artemis mission is building toward exploring the moon’s surface and beyond — a preparation for future missions that could bring humans to the surface of Mars.

“What we see with Artemis is the steady and continuous progress that is made,” says David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute. “It is a series of ‘small steps’ that allow us to, eventually, do incredible things.”

The contrast between the Apollo missions in the 1960s and the ongoing Artemis project certainly shows the giant technological leap mankind has made since the first moon landing. (We are, thankfully, no longer worried about moon dust.) But one thing has remained constant: Rice faculty and alumni are just as involved with Artemis as they were a half-century ago during the first moonshot.

That includes Rice alumni working at NASA in everything from communications to engineering; as well as newer initiatives like the Rice Space Institute, leading space research and building collaborations both locally and globally; and the new Rice-led Center for Space Technologies, providing training for people in the space industry. The success of the Artemis missions is built upon a mosaic of experts, technologies and celestial ambitions. These are just a few of the Owls who are part of that project, working to take us to the moon and beyond. — R ACHEL L EE SON Patricia Reiff and David Alexander are professors of physics and astronomy in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences at Rice.

“

What we see with Artemis is the steady and continuous progress that is made,” says David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute. “It is a series of ‘small steps’ that allow us to, eventually, do incredible things.”

THE MISSION MONITOR Quyen Tran Jones ’93 AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER

As the Artemis II mission marked a historic return to crewed lunar flight, a Rice alumna helped monitor the spacecraft in real time from the ground.

Quyen Tran Jones, who has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rice, is part of the team working inside NASA’s mission control complex at the Johnson Space Center built to host the Orion Mission Evaluation Room.

From her console, Jones tracked the forces acting on the Orion spacecraft during flight — everything from air pressure to rocket thrust — ensuring the vehicle performs as expected in the harsh environment of space.

“We saw a really good launch, everything went according to plan,” Jones said in a NASA interview. “We have to check the solar arrays, that when they deploy they don’t go under any unexpected loading. And they didn’t. They deployed beautifully.”

Inside the Mission Evaluation Room, dozens of engineers analyze real-time data from Orion, working in close coordination with flight controllers in mission control’s White Flight Control Room, who operate and send commands to the spacecraft. The evaluation room provides critical engineering insight, helping assess performance and responding quickly to any unexpected behavior.

Jones’ work focuses on mechanisms’ thermal protection systems and loads and dynamics — disciplines essential to ensuring the spacecraft can withstand the intense forces encountered during launch, deep space travel and reentry.

“Once we get the in-flight data and can compare and confirm some of our assumptions that were based on testing and textbooks, and confirm that in space, I’m excited for that,” she said. “And I’m excited to see humans go around the moon.” — CHR IS S T IPE S

THE MISSION MESSENGER Sarah Frazier ’15

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

NASA’s Orion capsule descends under its main parachutes over the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026, following a successful Artemis II mission.

THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORERS When astronauts return to the moon through NASA’s Artemis program, they will need intuitive, reliable interfaces that help them navigate unfamiliar terrain, monitor mission-critical data and make quick decisions in high-pressure environments.

Rice students are now helping to design that future. Members of the Rice Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality Club participated in NASA SUITS, or Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students, a national software design challenge that invites college students to develop interface solutions for future human spaceflight. Teams from universities across the country submit concepts to NASA in the fall, with only a handful selected to develop prototypes over the course of the year.

This marks the third consecutive year that the Rice team made the cut, traveling to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in May to test its system with NASA engineers and present its work.

“NASA SUITS gave us the chance to work on a real engineering challenge tied directly to the future of space exploration,” says Israel Cantu ’28, a computer science major and one of the team leads. “It pushed us to think not just about what a

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASA

As soon as the Orion spacecraft reached zero gravity, a moonshaped plushie named Rise began to float around the capsule, letting the astronauts know they had reached a new phase of flight. Sporting an Earth cap and plucky smile, Rise served as the official zero-gravity indicator for Artemis II. But it was also there to aid with another critical objective of the mission — storytelling for the millions following along back on Earth.

Rice alumna Sarah Frazier, who manages communications for the heliophysics and planetary science missions run out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, helped give Rise a voice, orchestrating a social media takeover from its adorable point of view. Rise’s posts were a way to combine, as she puts it, “the moon joy that people were feeling” with “information about mission goals, what the astronauts were doing and why it all matters.”

Science and storytelling have been closely intertwined for Frazier ever since her time at Rice. She arrived intending to study engineering but then realized that what really drew her were “the fundamental questions about how the universe works.” Physics and astronomy answered that curiosity. However, a stint with undergraduate research revealed that writing was the stronger calling. “Getting all of that hands-on experience at Rice was really helpful for figuring out what I really liked,” Frazier says.

While at Rice, Frazier wrote for The Thresher and did a science-writing-focused internship at NASA. During a physics conference she attended, Frazier learned about science writing as a field in its own right and knew that it was something she wanted to pursue. “It combined that fascination that I had for physics with the storytelling part that I really liked,” Frazier says.

On a typical day, Frazier is a connecter and orchestrator, meeting with mission teams and coordinating the writers, photographers, social media specialists and outreach teams responsible for sharing knowledge with the public. She still gets to pitch in on the writing during “all-hands-on-deck times,” like during Artemis II. Though the way she helps shape stories has changed, the motivation driving her has remained constant: Frazier is passionate about explaining how probing space benefits people in ways both immediate and unexpected — or in her words, “why we’re doing all this cool, adventurous stuff.” The shared sense of wonder that outer space evokes, she says, reminds us we are all “a part of the same cosmic dance.” — SILV IA CER NE A CL A R K

PHOTO COURTESY OF ISRAEL CANTU

system can do, but how an astronaut or rover operator would actually use it in a mission environment.”

This year, Team OWL SUITS was assigned to develop a pressurized rover interface for a simulated lunar mission. In the scenario, an unmanned rover has gone offline at a known location on the moon. The Rice team, working closely with faculty mentor Robert LiKamWa, designed software to help an operator navigate a pressurized rover to locate and approach the disabled vehicle using autonomous path planning, real-time obstacle avoidance and clear displays of mission data such as crew vitals and vehicle resource status.

One of the central design challenges was reducing cognitive load. During a tour of NASA’s Mission Control Center, the team

observed operators managing complex, multi-monitor interfaces in real time.

“When someone is managing a highstakes mission with multiple streams of information coming in at once, clarity is a safety requirement,” Cantu says. “That became one of our guiding principles: How do we give the operator the information they need without overwhelming them?”

During the team’s first formal testing session, their NASA mentor Alex Kanelakos evaluated the interface and provided feedback. The students then worked through the night to prioritize and implement changes before the second test.

“This project brought together so many parts of what we study at Rice — computer science, design, autonomy, human factors and teamwork,” Cantu says. “Being able to test our work at Johnson Space Center and receive feedback from NASA engineers made the experience incredibly meaningful.” — A L E X BECK ER Robert LiKamWa is associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice.

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When NASA’s Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, completing a successful Artemis II mission milestone, a critical piece of the spacecraft’s safe return traced back to research at Rice.

The capsule’s three-parachute system — responsible for slowing Orion’s descent and ensuring a safe landing — was developed with key computational parachute fluidstructure interaction analysis from Tayfun E. Tezduyar, the James F. Barbour Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice, and longtime collaborator Kenji Takizawa of Waseda University, working alongside NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Their team was the only group providing computational FSI analysis for the parachute.

Completed in 2013, that modeling proved essential to solving one of the most complex challenges in spacecraft parachute design: how to ensure the parachute is both large enough to slow the spacecraft to a safe landing speed and free from descent speed oscillations associated with shape instabilities.

“For a given spacecraft weight, the parachute must generate enough aerodynamic drag to achieve a safe landing speed,” says Tezduyar. “But just as important, it has to maintain a stable shape. If the drag fluctuates, so does the descent speed — and that can compromise a safe landing.”

While the aerodynamics of the parachute depend on its shape, the deformation and shape of the parachute fabric

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Tayfun E. Tezduyar

structure depend on the aerodynamic forces. “You cannot separate the aerodynamics from the structural dynamics,” Tezduyar says.

This two-way dependence, known as FSI, requires a reliable parachute aerodynamic analysis to actually be a parachute FSI analysis. That, together with the fact that the two-way dependence is even stronger for large parachutes, was one of the many challenges in the computational analysis.

Early designs based on scaled-up Apollo-era parachutes revealed what was at stake: NASA drop tests showed large fluctuations in parachute diameter — a sign of shape instabilities that could lead to unsafe landings. Using high-fidelity parachute FSI simulations conducted at Rice, Tezduyar and Takizawa’s team confirmed the issue and helped guide the design toward a more stable configuration.

The final parachute system, refined through a combination of NASA drop tests and Rice’s computational FSI analysis, eliminated those fluctuations, producing a stable descent profile suitable for human spaceflight.

And as each physical drop test was costly and dependent on weather conditions, the Rice team’s simulations allowed NASA engineers to reduce development costs and timelines by evaluating designs virtually before committing to real-world testing.

“We ran many, many simulations to test different canopy shapes and suspension-line configurations,” Tezduyar says. “Each one required significant computational resources and time, but it allowed us to narrow down the most promising designs and accelerate the overall design process.”

More than a decade later, their work played a quiet but crucial role in one of NASA’s most triumphant achievements. — A L E X BECK ER

PA G E

THE DESCENT DESIGNER

THE DOCKING DESIGNER Will Coben ’22

THE SYSTEMS ARCHITECT Wyeth McKinley ’23

FLIGHT CONTROLLER/CREW INSTRUCTOR

From left, Wyeth McKinley and Will Coben at Johnson Space Center in Houston during the Artemis II mission.

Orion, the spacecraft that took a crew of four deeper into outer space than any human had ever ventured before, is a technological marvel. One of its critical capabilities is docking, a complex procedure that allows it to connect to other spacecraft, like space stations, lunar landers and propulsion systems. Hovering in orbit, these massive machines have to find one another, align with extraordinary precision, gently make contact and create an airtight seal.

Behind the minutes-long choreography are countless hours of planning, testing and crew training. Will Coben, a Rice mechanical engineering alumnus and a flight controller at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is one of the experts ensuring that docking unfolds like clockwork.

Coben develops the displays, commands and procedures astronauts use to operate systems like those involved with docking, jettison events and separation, as well as solar array positioning and control. A self-described “flight control nerd,” the challenge of the job appeals to him as much as space itself.

However, the passion that now drives him “didn’t fall in my lap” — it was something he discovered by “trying things.”

“When I look back at my Rice experience, I think a lot about the extracurriculars like Rice Eclipse (the university’s rocketry club) and working at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen as a lab tech,” Coben says.

Coben’s penchant for “teamwork problem solving” found a home at NASA, and he says Artemis II reminded him why he was drawn to it in the first place: It was not so much about space, but about the desire to be a part of an effort to “accomplish something seemingly impossible.”

“Pretty much everyone was rooting for Artemis II to be successful and was motivated by it,” Coben says. “Seeing something that is a unifying force in the world … really served as a motivating factor for me.” — SILVIA CERNEA CLARK

During spaceflight, Orion is more than a means to reach a destination — it is a home, a laboratory and a workplace. Astronauts’ every movement through the capsule has been charted and rehearsed in advance, from eating, sleeping and putting on a spacesuit to responding to the unexpected. The crew spends months imprinting every nook and cranny of the capsule into their memory so that, once in orbit, they can be as efficient as possible.

As a NASA flight controller responsible for Orion’s intravehicular activities, Rice alumnus Wyeth McKinley works on the systems astronauts interact with inside the spacecraft and the procedures that guide them through each task. Some of his days are spent writing detailed instructions; others unfold inside full-scale mockups of Orion, teaching crews how to operate a particular system or running simulations and troubleshooting problem scenarios.

As he reflects on the path that brought him to NASA, he says, “It’s really obvious that I’ve been obsessed with space since I could talk.” But the idea to pursue that fascination as a career is something that took shape later, “by virtue of coming to Rice and to Houston.” The opportunities at the university, from engineering projects to an internship through NASA’s Pathways Internship Program, In the early 1960s, when NASA was lookgradually made the path visible. ing for a home for its new Manned SpaceThe residential college system also craft Center, Houston had plenty to offer: played a role: Building relationships water access, industry, mild weather and learning to work with others and a research university eager to be part of the space age. It also turned out to be preparation had friends in high places, infor mission control in ways he cluding construction maghad not anticipated. “Putting nate George R. Brown ’20, together a large party is very then chair of Rice’s governing board, and his former Rice similar to putting together a roommate, Congressman Albert large mission,” McKinley says.

Thomas ’20, chair of the powerful For anyone wondering whether House Appropriations subcommittee there is a place for them in the next era that oversaw NASA’s budget.

Brown first arranged for Humble Oil and of space exploration, McKinley says Refining Co. to transfer just over 1,000 acres there are many ways to get involved. of Clear Lake cow pasture to Rice. When “We are trying to go back to the NASA announced in 1961 that its center moon,” he says. “And we need all the would be built in Houston, the Clear Lake help we can get.” — SILVIA CERNEA CLARK tract helped seal the deal. Rice quickly con-

RICE: NASA’S LANDLORD? veyed the 1,020 acres to the federal government — the deed language points to a nominal sale, reportedly $20 total — something of a civic gift with paperwork attached.

When NASA decided it needed more land in the area, Rice acquired another 678 acres from Humble Oil, trading it for a similarly sized piece of land closer to downtown Houston. This time the university sold its land to NASA for a significantly heftier price tag: $1.2 million.

So yes, Rice helped turn Houston into Space City. But the path from cow pasture to Mission Control was not exactly a straight shot. It involved civic ambition, institutional leverage, a land swap and some classic Washington horse-trading.

And that persistent rumor that Rice still owns the land and leases it to NASA? Not true.

Still, enough Owls believe the story to keep it happily orbiting. — SARAH RUFCA NIELSEN

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASA

FLIGHT CONTROLLER

PROFILES, BOOKS AND CLASSNOTES

SUSTAINABILITY

A Place to Rest, a Prairie to Restore Elisa Maciá Donovan created an eco-friendly cemetery that supports conservation of the coastal prairie.

BY ROBYN ROSS

P H O T O S B Y A N T H O N Y R AT HB U N

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T

HE MORNING of Trudy Catania’s burial in 2025 dawned cloudless and bright. Her family gathered around her simple bamboo coffin, and after the grave was filled and the topsoil replaced, they scattered wildflower seeds on the ground. It was a portentous moment, as nature-loving Catania was the first person laid to rest at Blazing Star Sanctuary in the Katy Prairie Preserve, located roughly an hour west of Houston.

Blazing Star Sanctuary is Texas’ first certified conservation cemetery and the brainchild of Elisa Maciá Donovan ’92.

At Blazing Star, the deceased are not chemically embalmed, and they are interred in simple shrouds or caskets made from biodegradable materials.

Graves have neither concrete liners nor headstones, and the cemetery is part of a vibrant restored prairie that’s a haven for birds and other wildlife.

Over time, the dead return to the earth, while the natural setting offers a balm for the living.

Some of Catania’s relatives had raised their eyebrows at the unconventional setting. But after the service, they were converted: several even bought plots of their own.

“At this time of burial, which is so emotionally difficult for people, having nature as part of that experience is healing,” Donovan says.

Donovan grew up in West Houston, playing in a wooded area that later became the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. The experience fostered “a yearning for natural, wild, undeveloped spaces,” just as such places were disappearing beneath Houston’s suburban sprawl. She followed her brother, Mario Maciá ’91, to Rice, where she Flowers mark the grave of Trudy Catania, the first person laid to rest at Blazing Star Sanctuary.

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OWLMANAC Elisa Maciá Donovan walks through the grasslands of Blazing Star Sanctuary.

Nature’s Burial offers an interactive GPS map to help visitors locate the graves of loved ones.

Being able to leave something positive is so healing and impactful for the families that have chosen to work with us. It’s an honor to be part of somebody’s end-of-life plan. studied materials science and engineering and met her husband, Barry Donovan ’90.

After earning her J.D. from Harvard, Donovan returned to Houston and built a legal career in the energy industry. Her interest in the green burial movement was piqued after reading “Here If You Need Me,” a memoir by

chaplain Kate Braestrup detailing her work on search-and-rescue operations in the Maine wilderness. Donovan was struck by Braestrup’s description of one missing person’s remains, discovered after years in the forest with a tree growing amongst the bones.

“The way she described it, this was the most beautiful, peaceful resting place for this person,” Donovan remembers. “It just struck me that that’s how it should be; we should be enveloped by the earth. We’re all going to go at some point. Do we want to be chemically embalmed and fertilized and mowed, or can we return to the natural world in a more meaningful way?”

In 2017, Donovan became vice president and general counsel of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, which

protects 34,000 acres of Southeast Texas’ tallgrass prairie. Her role involves negotiating land purchases and conservation easements for the nonprofit. But land is expensive. A green cemetery, she realized, could generate revenue through plot sales to protect more land. With the American death care industry generating more than $20 billion annually, Donovan notes that “if we take just 1% of that and turn it toward land conservation, that would have a really meaningful, world-changing impact.”

The 8-acre sanctuary is one of 13 burial grounds in North America certified as conservation cemeteries by the Green Burial Council: prioritizing habitat restoration in addition to natural interments. The formerly agricultural land now boasts reconstructed wetlands for bird habitat and a carpet of native grasses and wildflowers, including liatris, the spiky purple “blazing star” that’s the sanctuary’s namesake.

“Being able to leave something positive is so healing and impactful for the families that have chosen to work with us,” Donovan says. “It’s an honor to be part of somebody’s end-of-life plan.”

Hear from photographer Anthony Rathbun about his experience at Nature’s Burial.

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HUMANITIES

Sorting Himself Out

From Rice to Broadway, actor and playwright Chadd Alexander has built a career around the power of belonging.

FOR A LONG TIME, Chadd Alexander Wilson ’10 thought of himself as a cardcarrying Slytherin baddie. But since 2022, when the Rice alumnus joined the Broadway cast of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” in the role of the Sorting Hat, he’s had to accept his official, quiz-confirmed status as a Gryffindor.

Playing the Sorting Hat means knowing the Sorting Hat is never wrong.

Alexander’s path from basketball player to Broadway actor and playwright has been anything but linear, but it has been shaped by the same search for community, discipline and transformation that first brought him to Rice.

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Even before Alexander joined the wizarding world, he used Hogwarts to explain Rice’s residential college system to outsiders. “You live in the house, you’re there all four years, you compete in these random competitions.

It’s Hogwarts, which is so funny,” says Alexander, a former Jonesian.

Alexander spent “a hot second” at New York University before returning to his hometown of Houston to enroll at Rice, seeking more of a sense of community in his college experience.

He found it on the Rice basketball team, which he joined as a walk-on. He still keeps in touch with several of his

teammates, who formed a tight-knit bond over their seasons together.

It was Alexander’s experience coming out to his teammates during his senior year that formed the backbone of his first play, “To an Athlete Dying Young,” one of two of his works to be named a semifinalist in the prestigious National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. “It was definitely a shift in energy,” he recalls. “I was supported, but it was kind of like a quiet support, if that makes sense. That was an interesting year, but it was also the year that, luckily, I found theater again.”

By “again,” Alexander is referring to his unexpected stint as a child actor.

In an effort to keep him and his twin brother busy with sports and activities, Alexander’s parents had him try out for the children’s ensemble of the Broadway classic “Show Boat.” Despite knowing almost nothing about musical theater, Alexander landed a role and spent nearly a year touring with the show nationwide.

“The theater bug was always there. I just didn’t know what that was. I didn’t know what it would become,” he says.

Today, Alexander credits his time on the basketball court with helping him build the stamina and discipline required for the physical demands of creating onstage “magic” eight times a week. His pre-show mental process, too, mirrors the locker room rituals of relaxation he developed as a basketball player at Rice. Offstage, the former English major is also currently researching and writing a television pilot about the Mali Empire.

After five years of playing the Sorting Hat, Alexander knows he will eventually take his final curtain call.

But he is in no rush. “I know this is a moment in my life I will never be able to duplicate. I’ve just been riding the wave, and it’s been really cool,” he says. “There’s something inside of people — they feel something when it has to do with Harry Potter. I have to bring people into this world, and I hope they’re along for the ride with me.”

— ALICE LEVITT

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATTHEW MURPHY AND HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

OWLMANAC

OWLMANAC

CLASSNOTES

Keeping Up With Classmates

Submit news and updates to your class recorder listed below or owlmanac@rice.edu.

LOOKING BACK

1951

Ruth Laigle Holmes ’81 (MA) submits the following obituary for her father: “On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, George Arthur Laigle (BA; BS, 1952), age 96, passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord with his daughter, Ruth, by his side.

“Raised near Manvel, TX, George always knew exactly what he wanted to do: make things. One of his earliest memories at age 3 was the smell of gasoline and grease in his French grandfather’s barn, where George played on the Model T truck used on

Guess Who?

A president, vice president and secretary-treasurer walk into a photo ...

Can you identify these sophomore class officers from 1966?

Turn to Page 68 for the answer.

No classnotes for your year?

Become a class recorder and keep classmates informed. To volunteer, email owlmanac@rice.edu.

the dairy farm.

“Growing up, from the ages of 3 to 17, in a house without insulation, running water, indoor plumbing or electricity, made George unafraid of work. When asked near the end of his life to name the hardest task he had ever been given, he said, ‘I’ve never been asked to do anything very hard.’ For him, work was not a burden or a choice: it was a gift.

This early life gave him astonishing strength. At age 94, he bemoaned the fact that he could no longer climb a ladder, walk more than a mile or use a bandsaw to cut metal pipe for more than three hours with-

out becoming exhausted. At the end of his life, he astonished his doctors by remaining animated and coherent for 20 days with a heart rate below 30.

“The second child of Ruth Lofgren and George Louis Laigle, George left the farm at 17 for the Rice Institute where he majored in mechanical engineering. After WWII, all engineers were required to take German because many significant mechanical engineering and technical texts were in that language only.

The young, long-haired German professor who preferred holding class out on the lawn told the group CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

All submissions to Owlmanac are subject to editing for length, clarity, accuracy, appropriateness and fairness to third parties.

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OWLMANAC

ALUMNI RELATIONS

New Association of Rice Alumni Board Members

Board members meet with university leaders and administrators and make recommendations regarding programming for alumni both inside and outside of Houston.

Letter From the New ARA President To My Fellow Owls, I am extremely honored to serve as your Association of Rice Alumni president this year. I look forward to continuing the truly impressive work of past president David Leal ’03. David has always appreciated and fostered diverse perspectives as we strive to serve all Rice alumni. In particular, he has done amazing work to better engage our most recent alumni, and I hope to build on those efforts.

I am also excited to welcome our new ARA board members, including our incoming president-elect Andrew Lin ’02 and new alumni trustee Akilah Mance ’05. I look forward to collaborating with them, the continuing board members, and the above and beyond team in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations to further the amazing work the ARA Board has already done to date.

While I was a student at Rice, I volunteered and worked all over campus. I was Black Student Association president my senior year, served as former President David Leebron’s first-ever student liaison, and was a keeper of coffee at Rice Coffeehouse (back when it was housed in a closet). I also greatly enjoyed being a student and major in the Department of Sociology. These experiences have deeply shaped me as a person and will continue to shape how I approach the work on the board to better represent and include all Rice alumni. It certainly is a fantastic time to be a member of the beautiful Rice community. No matter where you are reading this, I encourage you to visit alumni.rice.edu to discover ways you can get involved with Rice wherever you may live. Please consider joining fellow Owls on campus for Alumni Weekend (Nov. 12–15), meeting up with a regional group in your area or volunteering for the Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission to interview students hoping to join a new parliament of Owls.

Words cannot express how excited I am for the year ahead. I hope you’ll join me in continuing to make the ARA an organization where every alum feels the same sense of belonging that carried so many of us through.

Ever an Owl, Alicia Burns-Wright ’08

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The Association of Rice Alumni (ARA) Board is a diverse group of volunteers who serve three-year terms, engage with alumni and stay connected to Rice. Apply to the ARA Board at alumni.rice.edu/boardapplications.

Alicia Burns-Wright earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Rice and a law degree from Harvard in 2011. She currently serves on TikTok Inc.’s global public policy team and previously worked at Meta, the Federal Trade Commission, and Vinson & Elkins. She has served as chair of her class reunion committee, an Owl Edge Externship host, a member of Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission and on the Association of Rice Alumni Board of Directors from 2017 to 2020.

New Alumni Trustee Akilah Mance ’05 Houston, Texas

Akilah Mance earned bachelor’s degrees in English and political science from Rice and a law degree from the University of Georgia. She is general counsel and director of government affairs for the Houston Forensic Science Center and was recently appointed to the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults Board. Mance remains engaged with Rice through the School of Social Sciences, Center for Civic Leadership and the Association of Rice University Black Alumni. She received the ARA’s Builders Award in 2016. Her brother, Omar-Seli Mance ’03, is also a Rice alum.

New Association of Rice Alumni Board Members LaKeisha Batts ’02 Houston, Texas

LaKeisha Batts is the research and operations lead at CAN DO Houston, advancing health equity through community-based research and partnerships across academic, government and nonprofit sectors. A Rice biology graduate, she earned a doctorate in immunology from Baylor College of Medicine and served as senior scientist in regulatory affairs at Merck. Batts serves on the Wiess School of Natural Sciences External Advisory Board, mentors students in STEM and public health, and participates in track alumni and R Association activities.

She and husband Torey Batts ’03 continue their Rice legacy through daughter Sydney ’29.

Carlin Cherry ’19 Evanston, Illinois

Carlin Cherry is a senior technical product manager at GitHub, focusing on AI and supply chain security. A philosophy and economics double major with a business minor, she earned her M.S. in computer science and data science from the University of Southern California.

Since graduating, Cherry has remained engaged with Rice by conducting admissions interviews, hosting student externships at

OWLMANAC

GitHub, serving on her class’s five-year giving committee, and attending Homecoming and Beer Bike. She is passionate about expanding alumni programming in the tech industry.

Shardee Caesar Douglas ’07 Washington, D.C.

Shardee “Shar” Caesar Douglas is a CEO with a career at the intersection of technology, media and marketing, including senior roles at YouTube and global head of marketing at TIDAL. She has led international teams across media, social platforms, gaming and music, with a global perspective shaped by years across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She has maintained uninterrupted giving to Rice, served as an admissions interviewer, mentored studentathletes and stayed active in alumni chapters. Douglas is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and brings a global network and passion for advancing Rice’s impact and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Travis Johnson ’03 Houston, Texas

Travis Johnson is a retired technology executive who spent over 20 years at

Accenture, leading technology initiatives in financial services and as director of operations for U.S. Innovation Centers. Johnson returned to Houston in 2017 and engaged with Rice through Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admissions, as a Hanszen College associate and co-chairing his 20th Reunion. He served as president of the Friends of Fondren Library Board, streamlining operations and communication. He also serves on the Friends of West University Parks Board and leads programs at River Oaks Baptist School and St. John’s School.

Andrew Lin ’02 Houston, Texas

Andrew Lin earned his bachelor’s degree from Rice in computer science and economics. Lin organized networking events and interviewed prospective students through the Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission. He served as a Lovett College associate and contributed to Lovett College’s 50th Anniversary celebration and EOLogy: Odell to the Toaster. He helped revitalize the Rice University Community of Asian Alumni affinity group, serves on the social sciences advisory board and is an R Association senator. Lin also co-chaired his 10-, 15- and 20-year reunion giving committees, co-chaired homecoming and reunion in 2017, and served as RUCAA president.

Chloe Oani ’21

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Chloe Oani earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management with a sport law concentration from Rice. She has remained connected as a Lovett College associate, helping organize Sharon O’Leary’s retirement celebration, supporting RUCAA’s revitalization and co-chairing her fifth-year reunion committee.

After more than four years working at Rice in athletics and admission, she now works in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania. A proud queer Filipino American, she is passionate about creating inclusive spaces and empowering alumni to celebrate their full identities.

Kate Gunn Pagel ’05 Houston, Texas

Kate Gunn Pagel leads project and change management at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, helping advance institutional priorities under the president and chief operating officer. She’s hosted Rice interns at Baylor College of Medicine,

chaired the Rice Fund Steering Committee, co-chaired her five-, 10- and 20-year reunions, and serves as a Lovett College alumni associate and Rice Fund volunteer. Gunn Pagel also volunteered with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and the Junior League of Houston and brings board governance experience from Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast and Girls Inc. of Greater Houston.

Jim Pyke ’97 Vail, Colorado

Jim Pyke earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and mathematics at Rice and an MBA from Harvard.

He is managing director at TCB Advisers, a boutique consulting practice working with executives, investors and innovators on operational excellence and energy transition. Pyke served on the Rice Engineering Alumni Board, including as president, helping launch the REA Summer Engineering Experience, whose participants boast a 100% graduation rate from the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing. He also helped secure naming rights for the REA Maker Bar in the OEDK and created the Elizabeth A. Pyke Prize in History.

ASSOCIATION OF RICE ALUMNI BOARD 2026–2027 PRESIDENT Alicia Burns-Wright ’08, Washington, D.C. PRESIDENT-ELECT Andrew Lin ’02, Houston, Texas PAST PRESIDENT David Leal ’03, Sugar Land, Texas ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR James Hurley BOARD MEMBERS THROUGH 6-30-27 Sacha B. Abinader ’05, Houston, Texas Paula M.

Desel ’81, Richmond, Va. Norman W. Hale ’76, Friendswood, Texas Tawfik Jarjour ’12, Sugar Land, Texas June L. Marshall ’00, Washington, D.C. Wanda P. Pan ’77, ’09, Houston, Texas John S. Sneider ’94, Houston, Texas BOARD MEMBERS THROUGH 6-30-28 Bethany Andell ’01, Houston, Texas Jun Gu ’09, Houston, Texas Steven T. Jamail ’02, Jersey City, N.J. Christopher A. Noble ’00, Bellevue, Wash. Pretta L. Vandible Stallworth ’83, ’85, Houston, Texas Amy M. Thompson ’95, Lafayette, Calif.

Deborah Williams ’06, Houston, Texas BOARD MEMBERS THROUGH 6-30-29 LaKeisha Batts ’02, Houston, Texas Carlin Cherry ’19, Evanston, Ill. Shardee Caesar Douglas ’07, Washington, D.C. Travis Johnson ’03, Houston, Texas Andrew Lin ’02, Houston, Texas Chloe Oani ’21, Philadelphia, Pa. Kate Gunn Pagel ’05, Houston, Texas Jim Pyke ’97, Vail, Colo. ALUMNI TRUSTEES Akilah Mance ’05, Houston, Texas (term expires 6-30-30) A. Lanham Napier ’93, San Antonio, Texas (term expires 6-30-29) Vinay S. Pai ’88, ’91, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (term expires 6-30-28) Cathryn Selman ’78, Houston, Texas (term expires 6-30-27)

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of young men that if they really wanted to learn German, however, they needed to get themselves German girlfriends.

“Fortunately, in 1949, George met a French major instead, Elisabeth McGinty Laigle ’53 (BA). They were married for 69 years until her death in 2021. During his life, George worked for Shell Chemical (where he was on the team that invented liquid soap), Houston Natural Gas, Hildebrandt Engineering, PI Components and Air Liquide. In the early 1960s, George turned down a two-year executive training program at The Hague in the Netherlands, which would have subsequently sent him to Shell Headquarters in Manhattan, because he knew ‘he could not survive apart from the soil.’ Referred to by some as Old Man Thoreau, George always had a country place with fruit trees, a garden and workshop. On one of his last visits to his Rock Island ranch, he said, ‘As long as I can plant squash, I’m okay.’ He agreed with C.S. Lewis’ observation that ‘no amount of falling will really undo us if we keep picking ourselves up each time,’ and ‘it is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us.’

“Over the course of his life George was a Boy Scout leader, child advocate for Harris County Juvenile Courts, a volunteer at DePelchin Faith Home and Sunday School teacher at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. In his last years, he enjoyed reading to his daughter Anne’s kindergarten class at St. Mark’s Episcopal School and teaching the children to make paper airplanes.

“The guiding principles of his youth were ‘Honor thy father and mother, have a family and work as hard as you can at whatever you do.’

In his later years, he maintained that the best way to improve society was to make sure that every high school student had a clear understanding of the laws of physics.

“After George became a Christian in 1977, his faith informed the rest of his life. In spite of his concrete engineering mindset and rough

exterior, he believed in miracles, forgiveness and gratitude. Unafraid of death, Dad never doubted God. ‘How else do you explain,’ he said, ‘the amazing life I’ve led?’

“Deaf for many years, he nevertheless heard, in his last days, ‘heavenly music.’ He considered it a last, earthly miracle.

“Predeceased by Elisabeth and his son, George Milton Laigle, George is survived by three children: Ruth Holmes (John), David Laigle (Tomi) and Anne Jackson (John). He is also survived by five grandchildren: Isabel Sachs (Dave), Lauren Laigle, and Johnny, James, and Elisabeth Jackson, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, their children and grandchildren, and his beloved friend of 50 years, Dennis Kocian.

“He was especially thrilled about the arrival in October 2025 of his first great-grandchild, Elliott Holmes Sachs.

“A memorial service was held in the chapel at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on Friday, May 1, 2026. For those desiring, memorials may be made to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, www.stmartinsepiscopal. org/give-main.”

1953

Class Recorder: Peter Shannon 972-239-3227 newpeterb@gmail.com Class recorder Pete Shannon (BA) writes: Alas! No recent news has emerged from my 1953 classmates, who are all now in age more or less a nickel short of a dollar. As a result, another example follows herewith for how to tell you’re getting really, really old.

If this is you, you’re among the shrinking gallery of Rice alumni whose brains once recorded the most famous play in college football.

The date: Seven months after our June 1953 graduation — Jan. 1, 1954.

The place: Fair Park, Dallas, TX. The

occasion: The Cotton Bowl Football Classic between the Rice Institute and the University of Alabama. The time: Halfway through the second quarter. The event: A young Rice halfback, Dick Maegle ’55 (BS), is streaking down the sideline past the Alabama bench, untouched and in the clear, on his way to a 95-yard touchdown.

Surrounding and above him, 75,500 very active larynxes are functioning extremely well. Suddenly an Alabama player, Tommy Lewis, son of the Alabama coach, inspired by a spirit forever lost to himself and all posterity, leaps from his team’s bench, runs onto the field and tackles Mr. Maegle — thus interrupting his imminent success at advancing the score from Rice 7-6 to Rice 13-6.

Next, a psychological phenomenon known as mass-reaction-astonishment occurs because 151,000 eyeballs have deceived their owners.

An eerie quiet descends throughout.

Not a peanut shell’s crunch can be heard. “Did you see that?” I whisper to my buddy standing next to me, his fists still clinched above his head. “Oh, my gosh,” he turns and breathes back. “That Rice guy was gone. He was in the clear.” A long pause. “What happened? What’re they gunna do?”

After a full minute the gloomy fog of complete silence in the stadium begins to lift. Forty seconds more and it has swelled to a congestion of murmurs. Then it balloons quickly to very loud talking. Then to yelling and shouts. Yes! The 75,500 relaxed larynxes have revived and are again in full violence.

Meanwhile down on the field there is a Zebra convention. The officials consult their rule books and take 10 minutes to decide to award Rice a touchdown. Gradually people sit down and the game proceeds. At halftime the two soon-to-be-famous players meet and shake hands. All is forgiven. The final score is Rice 28, Alabama 6. The planet Earth continues to turn.

But history has been written. Rice is suddenly renowned and will be

forever enshrined in football annals because of this event. And after 72 years, for us, the eyewitnesses who still survive from among those 75,500, it is a moment that verily qualifies us as being really, really old.

Please know your examples are always welcome here, too.

1956

Ruth Electra Terry submits the following obituary for her life partner: “Dr. Harold L. Griffin (BA), an ear, nose, and throat doctor and head and neck surgeon in Columbus, TX, since 1965, passed away Tuesday, May 5, at 12:48 a.m. in St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston at age 92.

Born Dec. 30, 1933, in Liberty, TX, to William P. Griffin and Velma Griffin.

He attended Rice University on a track scholarship and broke and held several track records during his time there. He barely missed going to the Olympics due to a heel injury.

He married Ann Escousse, and they had three children, Harold ‘Hal’ Jr., Jeffrey Carl and Sharon Kay. “Dr. Griffin graduated from Rice and Southwestern Medical School.

He moved to Columbus to start his medical practice at the behest of Dr. Tot Youens, the founder of the Columbus Eye Clinic. Dr. Griffin was raised in the church and joined the Church of Christ when he moved to Columbus with his wife and children in 1965. He retired in December 2001.

“Dr. Griffin and his wife divorced, and he later met and fell in love with Ruth Electra Terry of Chicago; they were together for 57 years. Dr. Griffin especially enjoyed fishing and playing golf.

“Dr. Griffin was preceded in death by his firstborn son, Hal Griffin, his parents, as well as his former wife, Ann. Very recently he was preceded in death by two of his brothers, Jimmy and Allen. He is survived by his fourth brother, Billy, and his wife, Barbara; his other two children, Jeff Griffin of Conroe, TX, and Sharon Hamilton of Brooklyn, TX; son-inlaw John; several grandchildren, CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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MUSIC

Everything Everywhere All at Once

PHOTO BY ELENA OLIVO

With her latest album, Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw builds on a career shaped by unlikely inspiration, collaboration and creative risk.

CAROLINE SHAW ’04 is a musical alchemist: She can’t stop experimenting.

And many of her experiments turn to gold. In 2013, at age 30, Shaw became the youngest-ever recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music for her a cappella composition “Partita for 8 Voices.” She’s won five Grammy Awards, and this year she was nominated for a Tony Award for her original score for the Broadway revival of “Death of a Salesman.”

“I love learning something new,” says Shaw, who splits her time between Portland, Oregon, and New York. “I’ll say yes to a project if it’s something I haven’t done before and it will let me grow in some way. It keeps me on my toes.”

Shaw’s passion for experimentation bloomed at Rice, where she studied violin performance with Kathleen Winkler, the Dorothy Richard Starling

Professor in Classical Violin at the Shepherd School of Music. Though Shaw has veered from the typical career trajectory of a classical violinist, she attributes much of her success to the technical foundation Winkler helped her build, and to her warmth and generosity as a teacher. “I wouldn’t be able to do what I’ve done in music without her,” Shaw says.

But even as an undergrad, Shaw was intrigued by the many other creative opportunities she encountered at Rice. She joined an a cappella group, tried light opera and dabbled in mainstream popular music. “That was the beginning of my saying ‘yes’ to everything,” she says.

The year she graduated, Shaw received a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study Renaissance landscape

architecture and formal gardens in Europe for a year. Though fascinated by 17th- and 18th-century aesthetics — particularly gardens — Shaw spent much of the fellowship thinking about music and was inspired to try her hand at composing for string quartet.

“It took me 10 years to finish it, but it got me started on this journey of wanting to make music out of nonmusical things, which is very much what I do now,” she says. These days, composition is at the core of her work, although Shaw still performs regularly as a vocalist and violinist. “I feel very lucky to have a career where I get to play and sing quite a bit, but every day is different. I’ve gotten to dip my toe into a lot of things: a little bit of TV and film and recently theater,” she says.

“I like making music that serves a larger project and being collaborative.”

Indeed, she has written and produced for performers across the musical spectrum, including Rosalía, Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma and Nas. Released in May, her latest album, “or, The Whale,” is a collaboration with cellist Andrew Yee that evolved from the duo’s score for the 2022 film, “Moby Dick; or, The Whale.” “Wu Tsang, who’s kind of an experimental artist, was making a very queer silent film about Moby Dick, and when she asked me to write the score, I wanted to do it with Andrew,” Shaw says.

The work includes an adaptation of Shaw’s piece “Really Craft When You,” an avant-garde piece that stitches together interviews of quilters from the 1970s with textured bits of music, forming a musical quilt. The Guardian called it “a haunting, folk-infused evocation of the novel, whale song and all,” noting that “the feeling of artistic intimacy and joy in the music-making is palpable.”

It’s this unalloyed joy that unites Shaw’s varied musical endeavors. “The throughline is that I deeply love music,” she says. “I’m obsessed with it.”

—JENNIFER LATSON

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nieces, nephews and cousins; many golf and fishing buddies; and special friend, Clifford Wenske.

“Dr. Griffin was a wonderful, caring man and doctor, and he not only helped patients with their pain and suffering, but he also saved many lives.

“Dr. Griffin is to be cremated, with a possible service at a later date.”

1957

Class Recorders: Anne Westerfield Brown brownaw57@gmail.com LaNelle Ueckert Elston elstonl@att.net Shirley Dittert Grunert sdgrunert@sbcglobal.net Class recorder Anne Westerfield Brown (BA) writes: One of the pleasures we three have had in writing these columns has been hearing from classmates near and far who are thriving (-ish?) in our years as “elder statesmen/ women.” The corollary, of course, is having to send you obituaries of those who have completed their lives on earth. Such is the sad duty this time. These two classmates were also high school friends of Shirley and I from Lamar in Houston.

We have only just heard of the passing of Dorothy Dobbins Nevill (BA). She lived in Gainesville, FL, and died peacefully there May 5, 2022. “She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend and child of God.” She and Gale Nevill ’54 (BA; BS, 1955; MS, 1957) were married for 60 years, raised two boys to adulthood and welcomed four grandchildren. She was active in the Presbyterian Church her entire life.

After receiving her doctorate, she became a tenured full professor at the University of Florida, teaching counseling psychology. After retiring from teaching, she entered Columbia Theological Seminary and obtained her Master of Divinity.

She was very adventurous, traveling to all the continents except for

Antarctica: canoeing down the Amazon, whitewater rafting down the Zambesi River, hiking the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu, going on safari in Kenya and Tanzania, and sailing on a postal ship to see the Northern Lights. She co-produced a movie and acted enough to become eligible for the Screen Actors Guild.

She is survived by her husband, Gale Nevill; her sons, David (Leslee) and Robert Nevill ’88 (Will Rice: BA); and her grandchildren, Katherine, Coco, Erik and Milo.

On April 19, 2026, Norman Taylor Hall (BS), native Houstonian and proud Rice graduate, passed away.

His obituary describes his life’s journey as filled with passion, love and commitment to his family and community. Norman’s degree was in chemical engineering; he made significant contributions to the industry as an engineer and entrepreneur, starting a small business recycling plastic long before it became mainstream.

Norman and Nancy Alvarado met on a blind date and looked no further. They were married for almost 65 years. His love for nature blossomed in his cherished garden, where he took pride in cultivating a stunning yard as a master gardener in Palo Pinto, TX. He also actively supported the Palo Pinto Volunteer Fire Department. Norman designed and built their home in Gordon, TX, looking out on Palo Pinto Lake. A lover of knowledge, Norman was always engaged in current affairs.

He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy; their two sons, Mark and Chris (Sherri); two half-sisters who were very important to him; and a multitude of friends and extended family members. “In the spirit of celebration, let us remember his vibrant life, his unwavering kindness and the joy he brought to all around him.” The family will hold a memorial service to celebrate his life at a later date, inviting all who knew him to join in honoring the legacy he leaves behind. Details of the service will be announced later.

One of Norman’s lifelong friends

was Jack Holland (BA; BS, 1958).

They were in the same homeroom in high school and their friendship continued until Norman’s death.

Jack is currently living in a 55 and over retirees’ community near Willis, TX (north of Conroe). He and his fiancée, Barbara Kray, have a lovely new home in a cul de sac, which means they have a pie-shaped lot with a very large backyard. Taking advantage of this, they have had a pergola built there, with a stone path leading to an enclosed patio.

(Jack said there’s room for a pool for somebody, someday.) Their community backs up to Girl Scout Camp Robinwood, is heavily wooded, and offers a lake with a marina, event center, exercise room and 20 miles of walking trails. When completed, this community will have doubled the population of Willis.

I’ve been reading with interest about the new buildings and facilities going up on campus, especially the new student center. Remember ours? The basement of the library!

But we made do and made many friends — from whom we would like to hear. Please contact one of us to share what you are doing that amazes your grandchildren and makes you smile — or just share what you’re thinking about these days. We’re counting on you.

1959

Class Recorder: Marilynn Revis Wait mwrice1959@gmail.com Class recorder Marilynn Revis Wait (BA) writes: I have moved from my house in Sun City, near Georgetown, TX, to Austin. My daughter and grandchildren live here, and I am glad to be closer to them. I now live at The Village at the Triangle. My phone number and email are still the same.

Please send news for Owlmanac.

1960

Class Recorders: Barbie Scott McKittrick bmck4827@comcast.net Trudy Abel Hester TrudyHester@alumni.rice.edu Class recorder Barbie Scott McKittrick (Jones: BA) writes: It seems to be a time when many of our classmates are moving to senior living facilities. Hilary and Clarence Miller (Baker: BA; BS, 1961) recently moved to the Villages at Southhampton in Rice Village.

Hilary still rides her bicycle to and around Rice, and Clarence returns frequently for meetings and visits with friends.

Tom McIntosh ’59 (BA; BS, 1960) recently moved from Houston to Nacogdoches, TX, to be near his daughter. His Houston bridgeplaying friends miss him.

Other classmates are still traveling and sometimes return to Houston. Jesse Stuart (Wiess: BA; BS, 1961), who has lived in West Chester, PA, for many years, was in Houston recently to visit family and friends.

While here, he had dinner with Leila and Joe Christoffel (Hanszen: BA; BS, 1961) and Allen Streater (Baker), classmates from both high school and Rice, and attended a breakfast with a group of classmates.

Bob Oaks (Will Rice: BA) and his daughter, Kathy Oaks ’92 (Hanszen: BA), were back in Houston for a high school reunion, followed by a “Texas tour” visiting relatives.

In January, Clay Wellborn (Will Rice: BA; BArch, 1965; MArch, 1966) lost his wife, Edna. Phil Morris (Baker: BA; BS, 1961) wrote about Clay’s life: “After receiving his bachelor’s, Clay spent several years in the U.S. Navy before returning to receive his bachelor’s in architecture in 1965. After Clay left Rice, he became a valued research employee at the Library of Congress and left architecture behind.”

At that time, some Rice architects and engineers earned two degrees.

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OWLMANAC ALUMNI BOOKS

All We Say: The Battle for American Identity

A History in 15 Speeches Ben Rhodes ’00 Random House, 2026

BY SARAH RUFCA NIELSEN

Gardens of Texas

Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State Pam Penick ’89 Photography by Kenny Braun Timber Press, 2025 Garden designer Pam Penick finds beauty in adaptation, showcasing 27 stunning landscapes across Texas designed to endure the state’s punishing heat, drought, floods and wild swings in weather. With lush photography and pockets of practical advice, “Gardens of Texas” celebrates the use of native plants, rainwater harvesting and climate-smart design to create resilient natural spaces that meet Texas on its own terms.

Replica

January and July Jeff Abbott ’85 Blackstone, 2026

Lisa Low ’09 University of Wisconsin Press, 2026

In “January and July,” a former intelligence officer and a rookie bodyguard cross paths in a small Texas river town, each searching for a missing man and a different piece of a dangerous conspiracy.

Fast-moving and atmospheric, Abbott’s latest thriller navigates secrets, betrayal and the unlikely alliances that form when trust is the only way out.

Lisa Low’s debut poetry collection raises questions of race, intimacy and selfrepresentation with wit, precision and bite.

Moving through white spaces, interracial relationships, nostalgia, mental health and Asian American identity, Low considers what it means to tell the truth about yourself within story templates waiting to simplify or misread you.

The Frenzy

Stories Joyce Carol Oates Hogarth, 2026 One of America’s most esteemed literary voices, Joyce Carol Oates (whose tenure as a Rice graduate student was interrupted by her early success) returns with “The Frenzy,” a collection of nine short stories imbued with emotional disturbance and psychological suspense. A master of the subversive, Oates uses both desire and discomfort to expose her characters’ deepest fears and the dark forces that lie just beneath the surface.

PHOTO BY AMY KINKEAD

Former Obama speechwriter and “Pod Save the World” co-host Ben Rhodes traces our nation’s long argument over who gets to be American through 15 speeches that shaped, challenged and exposed the country’s ideals. From Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass to Anna Dickinson, Dolores Huerta and Donald Trump, Rhodes explores American identity as an ongoing struggle between exclusion, compromise and the promise of belonging.

Now Reading

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Those in ROTC or NROTC often served in the military between degrees. Phil wrote about the architecture program: “All architects shared an open classroom on the second floor of Anderson Hall, so we all knew each other quite well.

Our professors and lab days were different, but I knew most of the architects who graduated from 1956 to 1964. It was a small world. We started with 26 freshmen architects, but it dwindled to 13 during the first year. Several others returned and joined our class after the military but didn’t technically begin their freshman year with the Class of 1960.”

Of that original 13, Walter “Perry” Martin (Will Rice: BA; BS, 1961), Bob Mattox (Baker: BA; BS, 1961), David Thorman (Baker: BA; BArch, 1965), Fred “Larry” Foote (Will Rice: BA), Bruce Sasse (Hanszen: BA), Mary Helen Emmerton Andress (BA), Clay Wellborn and Phil Morris are still living.

Gerald “Gus” Gusler (Will Rice: BS), of Rio Hondo, TX, died Dec. 21, 2025. Born in Rio Hondo, Gerald spent his formative years at St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Harlingen, TX. Though his mother once hoped he might join the priesthood, Gerald’s true calling revealed itself on the football field. He developed a lifelong love of football in Rio Hondo and continued playing at Rice.

Football shaped his discipline and determination.

Gerald returned to the Valley to marry and raise a family. He was a devoted husband and exceptional father. Through his example, he passed down an unmatched work ethic, resilience, integrity and the importance of showing up for the people you love. A true man of the land, Gerald found joy in farming and gardening: growing vegetables, gathering pecans or getting his hands (and feet) muddy.

Gerald’s happiest moments were the simplest: barefoot at sunset, a Cuba Libre in hand, dogs at his feet, grandchildren nearby calling him “Big Bop” and laughter in the air.

Jack Saltiel (Wiess: BA) sent a

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note that his wife, Terri, died April 1 at the age of 101. A Holocaust survivor, she escaped Germany for England early in World War II. After emigrating to the U.S., she met Jack in graduate school in California.

During their life in Florida, she became a passionate environmental advocate.

Ema Bowman submits the following obituary for her dad: “Alexander ‘Larry’ Dean (Baker: BA; BS, 1961) was born Sept. 6, 1938, in Oak Park, IL, and grew up in McAllen, TX. He graduated from Rice, where he met his future wife, Linda Ruth Dean ’63 (Jones), during his last weeks on campus. After graduation, he joined General Electric and enjoyed a 27-year career, later transitioning to new ventures. Larry and Linda married July 23, 1961, raised three children and eventually settled in Davis, CA, where they cherished time with their grandchildren. In retirement, Larry enjoyed helping others, collecting automobiles, caring for dogs and traveling. Following Linda’s passing, he served 12 years on the Davis Cemetery board, including as chairman. During the last decade of his life, he shared a loving partnership with Annelies Hamilton, traveling extensively and creating lasting memories. Larry died Feb. 17, 2026, at age 87. He is survived by his partner, Annelies; three children; five grandchildren; and one greatgranddaughter.

“In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Widowed Persons Association of California, Sacramento (www.sacwidowed.org; TIN 94-3011953), a nonprofit, nondenominational organization that provided invaluable support to our dad after our mom’s death in 2011.”

Trudy has been compiling a current digital photo album of our classmates. If you are not on her list, send an email to TAHester@gmail. com. It’s fun to see how many people you can recognize. And please, send us news of your current adventures or misadventures.

1961

Class Recorder: Nancy Thornall Burch 713-781-3634 nburch2@juno.com Class recorder Nancy Thornall Burch (Jones: BA) writes: In a conversation with Dave Barnett (Will Rice: BA; MS, 1963), he told me that he had been invited to chair a committee to evaluate the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice in April. Unfortunately, he had to cancel his trip due to his wife’s injury from a fall. She is recovering but the exceptionally long waits at the airports during that time would have been a problem. They are doing well otherwise and hope to make it back to campus soon.

Jerry Comalander (Hanszen: BS) continues to work for the University Interscholastic League of Texas in the spring and on a telecast of weekly high school football games in the fall. Both are a labor of love rather than work. In June, he and Mary celebrated 66 years of marriage. They had a family reunion with 70–80 relatives attending. They plan to travel to Washington state for the wedding of their granddaughter, the daughter of son Mark Comalander ’89 (Sid Rich: BA). It will take place on a beautiful property bordering the Columbia River. He says, “Life is wonderful. It keeps us busy with all the people we love and things that we are blessed to do. I am still kicking too. Blessings to all my Owl friends who are still fortunate to be enjoying life.”

Mervin Moore (Baker: BA; BS, 1962) keeps busy in his art studio, currently working on a still life.

One granddaughter completed coursework at Exeter University while another is studying math and foreign languages at Texas State and will graduate in December. His son, Michael Moore ’89 (Baker: BA), and his husband, Kevin, live in Philadelphia.

One of Mervin Moore’s paintings

Liz Smith sent news of the death of her husband, Fred Smith (Hanszen: BA; BS, 1962), in February in Montrose, CO. After Rice he received his PhD in electrical engineering at Stanford in 1968. Most of his career was at Ball Aerospace Systems in Boulder, CO, as staff consultant. He was known for his Star Tracker software that flew on almost all Ball’s missions. He also was active in NASA’s Deep Impact mission, as well as the Chandra and Hubble telescopes. Fred and Liz were married for 58 years. He also is survived by a daughter, Catherine Stroh; a son, Gregory Smith; and one granddaughter.

When a classmate’s email bounces back as inactive, I try to call to follow up. That happened with Barbara Nustad (Jones: BA). My call went to voicemail and I never heard back. If anyone has an update, please let me know.

Buddy Herz (Will Rice: BA) promised to send me some news but didn’t do so before my deadline. I see him at Owl football games, so I know he’s as opinionated and irreverent as always. One of my favorite people.

As for me, I recently finished serving as associate producer on a documentary on the 100th anniversary of the Julia Ideson Building, the original Houston Public Library, which houses the library’s archival collections. It was designed by Ralph Adams Cram, who also designed Rice’s original buildings. It’s airing on PBS, so far in Austin and Houston. However, I’m most excited

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to report that my granddaughter, Caroline, just accepted a job with Peyton Manning’s company, Omaha Productions. In her previous job as a producer with the Jennifer Hudson Show, she booked the talent and will continue that.

I’d love to hear from more of you.

Stay active and ignore those aches and pains. They just remind us that we’re still here!

1962

Class Recorder: Eleanor Powers Beebe 713-526-5424 ebeebe@yahoo.com Class recorder Eleanor Powers Beebe (Jones: BA) sends the following: Susan Burton Edmonson (Jones: BA) writes: “The first half of my life I had never lived any place for longer than five years. So, when we moved in 1984 to suburban Atlanta, I did not see that as the pivotal event in my life that it turned out to be. When the job that had brought Nathan Edmonson ’61 (Wiess) to Atlanta came to an end, he decided to strike out on his own as a consultant which meant we could live anywhere. And so it began. He started a new phase of his life which included having two books published. And as his health problems worsened, he had an incredible physician at the VA hospital in Atlanta. Nathan died in 2016.

“Meanwhile I continued doing the same sorts of volunteer activities I always had but discovered that with longevity came additional recognition and responsibility. And obviously a much deeper church connection — we both sang in the choir, and I co-taught an adult Sunday school class for some years and became involved with the library as well. Then COVID-19 played havoc with everything here as everywhere else. So here I am these many years later still in the Atlanta area. In December 2025, I moved into The Mansions, a senior independent

living facility where I already knew several people, and it has proved a wise decision. I’m dealing with numerous health problems but nothing that seems likely to kill me anytime soon. My son, John, lives in Buford, GA, about 40 minutes away; his middle son Eric’s wife is about to make me a great-grandmother. My daughter, Dr. Sarah Edmonson ’92 (Wiess: BA), still in Houston, is my guardian angel, and her husband, Keith Baggerly ’90 (Wiess: BA; MA, 1994; PhD, 1995), keeps me entertained with daily reports of their feline crew. Thus, I send you greetings from Georgia!”

A recent email from Dean Kathleen Canning announced that the 2026 Campbell Lectures would be given by Ben Rhodes ’00 (Baker: BA), a political commentator and national security analyst. Ben is the son of our classmate James M. Rhodes (Baker: BA) and his wife, Jane.

Dick Viebig (Baker: BA; MAcc, 1977) writes: “A few weeks before graduation, half a dozen accounting classmates and I journeyed to Galveston to sit for all parts of the day and a half CPA exam. Some of us passed all parts. Then three days after graduation, I flew to San Francisco to begin my Coast Guard Reserve enlistment. By December 1962, I was back in Houston, working as an in-house financial person and tax preparer for two wonderful, retired Rice trustees. Within a year, one died and I opened a small CPA practice in the same building as the survivor. The CPA practice grew, and in 1971 I purchased and moved to a handsome single-story building at 401 W. Alabama, which we still occupy.

“In 1969, I was contracted by the young head of the accounting section in the economics department at Rice about teaching part time, and I continue do that (a few lectures a year on professional ethics currently). Last fall, the class was 46 articulate MBA candidates, most already hired by major firms. Teaching them is especially satisfying.

“Along with classmate Charles Giraud (Baker: BA), I helped establish the Wednesday Tax Forum in about 1970 as a group of CPA’s and tax attorneys, who meet regularly for continuing education and fellowship. The forum continues today.

“My accounting firm has grown into Viebig, McCommon and Associates, a firm of 15 which I still head.

Along the way, Joe Barnhart, a client and noted orthopedic surgeon, introduced me to his hometown of Beeville, TX, between San Antonio and Corpus, and shared his dream to do good works in Beeville as the primary part of his estate planning.

He died in 1979 and left his estate to a private foundation to support Beeville. I was on the initial board and have been chair for almost 40 years. The foundation supports a college guidance and scholarship program in the high school, with six employees, and owns and staffs the public library and an art museum.

“My wife of 35 years, Eleanor, and I share three wonderful daughters.

I have been very blessed in many ways.”

Dick and Eleanor Viebig

1963

Class Recorder: Kathleen Much much.bookdr@gmail.com

1964

Class Recorder: Lucy Meinhardt 510-220-3459 lmeinhar@pacbell.net Class recorder Lucy Meinhardt (Jones: BA) writes: Please, when sending me your contribution emails, put Owlmanac or Classnotes in the subject. I think I received a contribution that I cannot find. I apologize. If it was you, please send it again.

Our class has lost several members in the past months. Among them are Don Pearson (Hanszen: BA) in September 2025 and Bob Arnett (Baker: BA) in April 2026.

Don’s obituary reports that after earning a BA in English, he married Nella Martin Pearson ’65 (Jones: BA). They had four children, one of whom predeceased him, and five grandchildren. Don worked at IBM for 30 years as a systems engineer, marketing representative, account manager and marketing manager. After early retirement, he co-founded Critical Path Strategies, a large account strategy consulting firm where he served for 10 years.

Don was an athlete (basketball, tennis, golf, handball, marathon runner), an avid sports fans (Pirates, Steelers, Astros, Oilers, Mariners, Seahawks, Spurs), musician (piano, guitar, mandolin, dobro, chorus, choir) and lifelong learning reader.

He participated in the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, church choir, and continued learning through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and Aquinas College. He was dedicated to being the best version of himself, valuing kindness and being a good person. Fred Rogers was one of his heroes and people thought he looked like him. He imbued Rogers’ character. He was a storyteller. His own life story is one to be admired.

According to Bob’s obituary, he earned a BA in economics from Rice, then an MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist

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Don Pearson

University. Bob’s career, like Don’s, was with IBM. It was interrupted by the draft. He joined the Army and served as a computer programmer in Germany, tracking supplies for NATO. He continued with IBM, working with large corporations and NASA. He enjoyed the stock market, coin collecting and playing duplicate bridge, becoming a Life Master. The Methodist Church and the fellowship of AA enriched his life.

He and his sweetheart of 65 years, Ann Pierce Arnett ’65 (Jones), had two children, one of whom preceded him in death. He enjoyed the company of his three grandsons, a niece and nephew. When he died holding hands with Ann, he said, “What a great life!”

Ann and Bob Arnett

Elizabeth Baird Saenger (Jones: BA) sends the following: “Rice opened the world to me! My gratitude is boundless.

“My Rice education gave me confidence to take on the world!

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I learned to ask questions and to risk hard work in pursuit of justice. I didn’t quite change the world, but I continue to try. I did get Youth Shelter Program of Westchester started, I did help Obama become president, and with my husband, I did offer two magnificent sons to the world. Rice was essential to everything. Now our youngest grandchild, Naomi Saenger ’27 (Lovett), is midway through her Rice experience. How could I not be grateful to Rice?

“I would love to hear from Rice people. You can reach me via email at saengereb@aol.com.”

Ron Green ’66 (Baker: BA) submits the following obituary for his wife: “Louisa Bertch Green (Jones: BA), 83, died March 28, 2026, in the arms of her husband of 59 years, Ron Green, after a long decline in motor abilities.

She was not in pain. She is deeply missed by Ron; her brother, Tom Bertch, and his companion, Sue Autio; and many friends and colleagues.

“At Rice, Louisa was a cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, a running back on the women’s football team and women’s councilor. Though she later described herself as ‘absurdly shy,’ she was admired for her intelligence, kindness, grace, ready smile and quiet courage.

“After marrying Ron in 1965, the couple moved to Buffalo, NY, where Louisa helped Professor Gerald O’Grady establish one of the world’s earliest media arts programs. She studied with renowned photographers and filmmakers, coordinated and taught summer photography workshops that later became the Rice University Media Center, and helped organize a landmark conference bringing together independent media artists and major public media institutions.

“Louisa earned a master’s degree in neurophysiology and cognitive psychology, later completed a second master’s degree in political science at the University

of Chicago and pursued doctoral studies before joining the Columbus Museum of Art. “She spent the remainder of her career at the museum, rising to executive deputy director. She led strategic planning, helped oversee the Margaret M. Walter Wing expansion, guided the museum’s reaccreditation with distinction and became its first emerita.

“Known for her thoughtful leadership, generosity and ability to resolve conflicts, Louisa enriched every community she served.

“A celebration of her life was held July 28 at the Columbus Museum of Art. Memorial donations may be made to the museum.”

1965

Class Recorder: Cordell Haymon cordell.haymon@pscgroup.com Class recorder Cordell Haymon (Will Rice: BA) writes: I heard again from Catherine “Trinka” Blaffer Taylor (Jones) about whom I reported in a recent edition of the Owlmanac. She wrote in early January, and hunting season was very much on her mind: “I am still living in Dallas and spending a lot of time in Alabama, managing tree farms and hunting.

The family members love organic, grass-fed venison and the Alabama

Trinka Blaffer Taylor during hunting season

State Legislature just doubled the limit on deer to two doe a day. I shot seven deer over Thanksgiving. We make venison nachos, venison chili, venison meatloaf; you name it, we love it.

“I borrowed my son’s compound bow to take advantage of the Oct. 18 opening of bow season in Alabama. It is an amazing piece of engineering, very quiet and very powerful. I wonder if a Rice engineer designed it.”

I recently enjoyed lunch with Dr. George “Walter” McReynolds (Hanszen: BA). Our old quarterback has been a very active supporter of Rice, serving on the board of trustees and, together with Bucky Allshouse ’71 (Wiess: BCom), creating an annual event that has raised funds to support Rice Athletics for the past 42 years.

Walter and wife Linda have two daughters, both Rice graduates, and grandchildren also attending our alma mater. Walter retired from his practice as a head and neck surgeon otolaryngologist two years ago and is playing a lot of golf in retirement. While at lunch, we saw Jim Crownover (Hanszen: BA; BS, 1966) having lunch with Rob Ladd ’78 (Wiess: BA), who is chair of the Rice Board of Trustees, a position that Jim previously served in with distinction.

I was sad to learn of the passing of my Will Rice classmate Louis Brus (Will Rice: BA). Louis had an extraordinary life and career. He was a research scientist and professor at Columbia. He was considered a founding father of the field of nanotechnology and received many major scientific awards including the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2023 for the discovery of quantum dots, which are technologically important in a range of applications from medical imaging to display technologies.

We also mourned the passing of Brad Bucher (Baker: BA), who I first got to know when we played together on the freshman basketball team at Rice and then as intramural opponents thereafter. A serial en-

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trepreneur and patent holder, Brad started and sold several companies.

His financial success allowed him and his wife, Leslie Johnson Bucher ’69 (Brown: BA), to be significant patrons of the arts in Houston. In addition to his philanthropy, he provided leadership on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Life Trustee), Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Menil Collection, Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, and the Moody Center for Arts at Rice. Brad and Leslie had two sons and six grandchildren.

I also learned that Bill Roy Wilson (Wiess: BA; BArch, 1966) passed away. Following service in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam, Bill had a long career as an architect in Memphis, TN. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and two sons.

Finally, I learned of the recent passing of Gerald “Gerry” Smith (Baker: BA). After Rice, he received a PhD in marine biology at Florida State and had a career in research and teaching at the University of Toronto and Indiana University.

He is survived by his wife, Therese Burkhard, four children and seven grandchildren.

1966

Class Recorder: Jim Bearden jbearden@ieee.org

1967

Class Recorder: Mary Corneil 816-522-1668 marycorneil@yahoo.com Class recorder Mary Corneil (Jones: BA) writes: I follow the capable example of Michele Stojan Roberts (Brown: BA) as your humble scribe. I hope you will send me news to share in Owlmanac. With fond memories of our time together at Rice.

1968

Class Recorder: Bruce Morris blmorris46@gmail.com Class recorder Bruce Morris (Will Rice: BA; MCE, 1969) sends the following: Joseph “Guy” Rollins (Will Rice: BA) writes: “On Dec. 3, I had a short visit with my old friend Diana Dean Paradise ’66 (Brown: BA), at her home in Athens, GA. After a pizza lunch, Diana took me to the University of North Georgia where her painting and small sculpture had won awards. I hadn’t seen Diana in decades, and we had a lot to catch up on. Too soon I had to return to Atlanta.”

1969

Class Recorder: Linda Wald Gibson lindawgibson@gmail.com Class recorder Linda Wald Gibson (Jones: BA) sends the following: Robert Heineman (Wiess: BA; BArch, 1969) writes: “Fifty-seven years after graduation and five years after retiring, it is past time to write … My career has certainly been influenced by Rice. I attended two other colleges and pursued three different majors (including automotive design!) before transferring to Rice as a junior in 1966. During my architecture study at Rice, in addition to the design of individual buildings, our class had an urban design studio which involved studying the evolution and potential future development of the ‘Westheimer Strip’ in Houston with visiting professors Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown from Yale. I became interested in ‘place-making’ and the design of new communities and the overall environment. After graduating from Rice in spring 1969, I applied to the Master of Architecture program in Urban Design at Harvard Graduate School of Design in the fall of that year and was accepted into the 1970 class.

“In the spring of my first year at

Gerald George (Baker: BA) sends the following: “I have lived in a Fort Worth nursing home for almost three years, and I like it. It is good, total care I can afford. I’m still writing and publish under Gerald A. George at lulu.com. I also host a monthly poetry encounter here. I belong to St. John’s Anglican, ACNA, Fort Worth. No major problems, just needed the care.”

Diana Paradise and Guy Rollins pose with Diana’s art

Harvard, my parents sent me a clipping from the Lubbock newspaper about an oilman named George Mitchell, who was planning a new community north of Houston to be called The Woodlands. George Mitchell had hired Bob Hartsfield ’56 (BA), a former Rice architecture graduate, to head up planning for the project. I knew Bob when we both worked at CRS, my first job in architecture after graduating from Rice, and we had played handball together at the Rice courts. I asked whether there might be an opportunity for a summer intern.

There was, and after graduating from Harvard the following year, I began what would become a 50year career involved in planning, designing and developing The Woodlands!

“During that time, I married Pamela Collier, whom I met in the Astrodome parking lot at the tram stop on the way to WaterWorld! We celebrated our 40th anniversary last year and have two wonderful daughters. In 1980, I invented and produced a new board game called Boomtown Houston, which was sold at several of the major department stores in Houston as well as at the Rice bookstore that winter.

Of course, Rice University is one of the ‘neighborhoods’ featured on the game board. Fellow Rice architecture graduate, Bill Merriman ’67 (Wiess: BA; BArch, 1968), produced the graphics for the game. After returning to Houston and being gainfully employed, I developed a lifelong passion for unusual antiques and art. In 2005, I was on ‘Antiques Roadshow’ in Houston.

“More recently, we hosted a reunion of sorts with fellow Rice classmates Bill and Susan Merriman ’69 (Jones: BA), A. Kenneth Hall ’69 (Wiess: BA and MME), Lee Cotton ’68 (Wiess: BA; MME, 1969), Bill Howard ’69 (Wiess: BA and BS) and their spouses and relived some past experiences.

Lee, Kenny, Bill Kelly ’69 (Wiess: BA) and I lived together in an

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From L–R: Bill Merriman, Kenny Hall, Lee Cotton, Bill Howard and Robert Heineman

old, repurposed carriage house in Georgetown during summer 1967. Our landlord (and roommate … well, he stayed in the mansion overlooking the Potomac River while the owners were traveling Europe that summer) was a student at Georgetown who would later become the 42nd president of the United States … Yes, Bill Clinton!

Fellow Rice student, Mary Mitchell Grizzard ’68 (Jones: BA), knew Bill and connected us together. And in 1969 after classes were over, Bill Howard, fellow Rice classmate Mark Boone ’69 (Wiess: BA; BArch, 1971) and I drove from Houston to Mexico City and Acapulco in Bill’s convertible (with the top down!) … probably way too crazy to venture that again these days!

“I have enjoyed attending the Rice Homecoming celebrations almost every year and the dedication of the William T. Cannady Hall for Architecture last year. Will Cannady was one of my favorite professors at Rice. Pamela and I really enjoyed visiting with Will and his wife, Angela, at their new ranch home in Burton, TX, last year.

“I would love to hear from old friends. My email is theheinemans@comcast.net.”

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1970

Class Recorders: Ann Olsen ann.olsen@alumni.rice.edu Mike Ross 408-221-3359 mikeross2@prodigy.net Ryan Impelman ’97 (Jones: BS) submits the following obituary for close family friend, Gordon B. Alley (Hanszen: BA; MEE, 1971): “Gordon B. Alley was born in McAllen, TX, on Nov. 2, 1947, and departed this world to spend eternity with God, at the age of 78 years, on March 21, 2026.

He was the son of Kenneth L. Alley and Esther Zeller Alley. The three moved from McAllen to Leon Valley, TX, in November 1948. He had two younger brothers, Raymond Louis Alley and Craig G Alley. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother, Raymond Louis.

“Gordon attended Leon Valley Elementary School, Sul Ross Junior High and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1965 as the valedictorian. Between his high school years, he attended a summer program in science and electronics at the University of Iowa. Gordon was fortunate to receive a Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation scholarship to Rice. While growing up he

learned to play piano, then saxophone in high school, and went on to enjoy being part of the Rice Owl band. Gordon excelled academically in science, mathematics and physics. His senior high school science fair project involved transmitting sound through light waves, and he came up with a way for his mother to turn lights on and off in a room by touching the door frame. He was a member of MENSA, the international high-IQ organization.

“After graduation from Rice, Gordon spent his career working as an electronics engineer and computer systems analyst for ACECO, a company in San Antonio involved in designing and manufacturing automatic process control systems.

His first few years involved designing digital logic circuits. He later became their primary developer and maintainer of software for one of their platforms. For fun, he got scuba certified and enjoyed travel cruises that took him to countries all over the world. Gordon’s interest in science and technology stayed with him all his life. He could program digital equipment using machine language (zeros and ones).

He enjoyed participating as a board member and webmaster for the Mac Apple user group in San Antonio.

“In huge contrast to his career responsibilities, he really enjoyed theme parks. He had an annual pass to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio starting in the early ’90s and would be there several days each week, walking the park and attending the shows. He referred to this as his fitness routine. He enjoyed getting to know many of the performers and park staff. One of them suggested that he knew the park so well, he should go to work there. So, he did.

He took a part-time job at Fiesta Texas working one or two days each weekend and loved it! When he retired from his ‘real’ job at ACECO years ago, he continued working at the park on weekends and even worked there the weekend before he passed away. You’d see him at the parking kiosk, or taking tickets at

the entrance, helping with customer relations, or he’d be there on his days off encouraging performers and enjoying the people. Six Flags Fiesta Texas was like his extended family.

“Unless you were discussing science, space, technology, astrophysics, science fiction or something at Six Flags, Gordon was a reserved person and often stayed in the background. In his later years, you might catch him taking a nap in the corner while others visited.

As friends heard of his passing, the words used to describe Gordon tell his story: honest, sincere, smart, kind, generous, giving, helpful, respectful, intelligent, fun, forgiving and a loyal friend.

“Gordon is survived by his youngest brother, Craig; his sister-in-law, Karen; nephews Brian (Kristi) and Kevin (Savannah); great-nieces Taylor and Jordyn; great-nephew Parker; and a host of cousins and wonderful friends.

“Gordon planned to be cremated and didn’t want an elaborate service. A graveside service was held May 2, 2026, at Mission Park Dominion Cemetery (just northwest of San Antonio) where his ashes were buried next to his parents. In line with his wishes, the family has requested that in lieu of flowers, you donate to your favorite charity in his memory.”

1971

Class Recorder: Ann Patton Greene 713-899-7433 annpgreene@gmail.com Class recorder Ann Patton Greene (Brown: BA) writes: The Jones/Brown group, coordinated by Julie Williams Itz ’72 (Jones: BA), met in Nacogdoches, TX, in late April. A highlight was a fascinating tour of the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, which preserves the permanent settlement established by the Caddo over

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1,200 years ago in the Neches River Valley. It’s adjacent to a portion of the El Camino Real. Heavy rain kept us from exploring much of the historic town but gave us more time to catch up, my favorite activity of the trip. Class members among the 20 or so present were Lucretia Knox Ahrens (Brown: BA), Dr. Terry Reimann Finkelstein (Brown: BA), Sara Bankhead Shepherd (Brown: BA) and me. Please consider joining us next spring. Attendance is fluid, and there almost certainly will be someone you know.

Friends of Fondren Library celebrated its annual gala in mid-March, and classmates in attendance were Lucy Ferguson Galbraith (Jones: BA), Gene Forsythe (Hanszen: BA), Dan King (Will Rice: BA) and wife Nina Benedetto, and Sara McDaniel (Brown: BA). Dan and Nina have moved down the street from me, and that gave me an opportunity to view her impressive art. Early in 2027, Friends will sponsor a reception recognizing Rice authors, editors, artists and composers who published in 2026, so please let me know if you are among those.

The Spring 2026 issue of Rice Magazine included Ronald L. Morefield (Will Rice: BA) and Gary F. Gibbons (Baker: BA) in In Memoriam. I haven’t been able to locate obituaries, but Ron died Nov. 6, 2021, and lived in Virginia, while Gary died Sept. 13, 2022, and lived in California.

Joyce Thomas Tullbane ’72 (Brown: BA) let me know that Joseph “Joe” D. Tullbane III (Lovett: BA; BArch, 1972) died Nov. 6, 2025. He was born in Brownsville, TX, graduated from Rice in 1971, and went on to earn an MA in international relations at American University and a PhD in Russian area studies from Georgetown University.

Joe was a devoted educator, leader, artist and veteran whose life was shaped by service, integrity and an unwavering commitment to others.

He had a distinguished military career, serving all over the globe as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. After the military, he served

as associate dean of international education at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. After retirement, Joe continued educating others as a guest lecturer on cruise ships. In his final professional chapter, he found joy and purpose in capturing the beauty of the world around him through watercolors. His art has been displayed in El Prado in Madrid, Spain. Joe is survived by his wife, Joyce; his two sons, Jamie and Chris; and his grandchildren, Teagan and Grayson.

Somewhat old news: Nancy Chickadonz Miller (Brown: BA) and husband Larry are grandparents to a very cute almost 2-year-old boy.

The Millers live in the D.C. area. And my own grandson and his parents recently moved to Houston, which makes me very happy.

Alumni Weekend 2026 will be Nov. 12–15. The schedule lists a Platinum Luncheon for the classes of 1971, 1966 and 1961, so watch for specifics.

While we were able to celebrate our 50th in 2021, I feel COVID-19 unfairly impacted us. If there’s interest, perhaps we can make up for that, informally or otherwise.

I didn’t use my 700 words this time, which means that I need news.

I find the most interesting Classnotes are from the older classes, and we certainly qualify.

1972

also attending alum happy hours. I remain friends with Hal Gober, Ken Lesartre, Bill Kilgore (Baker: BA) and WRC buddies Bill Dawson (Will Rice: BA), Russell “Rusty” Orr ’73 (Will Rice: BA and MEE), Mike Schwartz ’73 (Will Rice: BA and MEE), Bill Drewett (Will Rice: BA) and Reuben Leslie ’73 (Will Rice: BA).”

know who the other two guys are?

A professor maybe and another student? Alan helped organize a visit to campus by Frank Herbert, author of the ‘Dune’ books. My Rice ’72 friend said the picture of Alan looks like someone she knew named Dave Starr.” If you can identify these rascals, let me know.

Penny Alexander Bennett (Brown: BA) and John Bennett (Wiess: BS; MEE, 1974) continue to divide their time between the Colorado front range and the Oregon coast, enjoying time with children and grandchildren in both places. John recently completed Level 3 amateur high-power certification at LDRS44 in western Indiana. Shown here is Cassandra,

Darrold Smith

1973

Class Recorder: Mike Alsup malsup2020@outlook.com Class recorder Mike Alsup (Wiess: BA) writes: The wife of Dean Alan Harbert (Sid Rich: BA) submitted a question for the Class of 1973: “I am attaching a photo I found in my deceased husband’s collected papers. He is on the left in the photo. Do you

John Bennett next to his rocket, Cassandra

Class Recorder: Tim Thurston 614-486-4846 timthurston@hotmail.com Class recorder Tim Thurston (Lovett: BA) sends the following: Darrold Smith (Will Rice: BA) writes: “I live in Austin and work two days a week at Austin Community College tutoring math and teaching algebra. I write nonfiction and participate in a Holocaust studies Zoom.

A few Rice alumni and I are members of Castle Hill Fitness.

“I went to an alumni event where we made owl paintings and am

Alan Harbert with two mystery men

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a scratch-built 8.5 feet long, 4-inch carbon fiber rocket that flew to 14,654 feet, reached Mach 1.3 and then returned safely to earth. The bright green exhaust plume is a characteristic of the solid propellant used.

1974

Class Recorder: Cathy Cashion cathy.cashion@gmail.com Class recorder Cathy Cashion (Brown: BA) writes: I was browsing around the Rice Alumni Portal and noticed that two of our own received Rice Laureate Awards in spring 2026. R. Stanley “Stan” Williams (Lovett: BA) won a Distinguished Alumni Award and Ed Biegert (Hanszen: BA; MA, 1976; PhD, 1978) won a Meritorious Service Award.

I called Stan and Ed the week after the awards dinner to find out how it went. They both talked about how Rice was a transformative experience, setting them on the paths they would follow as adults.

Stan said: “I arrived at Rice as a lump of raw clay. Fortunately, Professor Bob Curl ’54 (BA) picked me up and shaped me into the scientist I became. The awards dinner was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with a select group of old friends, and it energized me. I

was honored to be joined by John Eldridge ’75 (Lovett: BA), along with Will Eldridge ’16 (McMurtry: BS; MAcc, 2017) and Graham Eldrige ’16 (McMurtry: BA), Dr. Milton Shaw (Lovett: BA), Joseph Warren Robinett (Lovett: BA), Mike Goode (Lovett: BComm), Connie Luthy (Baker: BA), Mary Margaret “MM” Pack (Brown: BA) and George Phillips (Lovett: BA; PhD, 1976). I also enjoyed seeing all the various ways Rice is growing. I toured the Rice Holistic Garden with George Phillips and the Moody Arts Center and Sarofim Hall with John Eldridge.”

After 15 years as a professor of chemistry at UCLA and 23 years as a senior fellow and lab director at Hewlett-Packard, Stan continues working on the basic science research topics that have defined his career. He is currently the director of the Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the Department of Energy and headquartered at Texas A&M, with additional sites at National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL) in Golden, CO, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, CA, and Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA. Stan leads advanced research into new materials for next-generation computing technologies that will process information in ways that more closely match the functionality of the human brain.

Ed said: “I was the last person to

Stan Williams at the 2026 Laureates Awards Dinner

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Ed Biegert at the 2026 Laureates Awards Dinner

work on the 6 MeV Van de Graaff accelerator at Bonner Nuclear Laboratory at Rice with Professor Vlado Valkovic, one of my physics mentors. In the ’80s, that machine was donated to the Institute Ruder Boskovic in Croatia. After a stint working at NASA, I joined Shell Oil Company as a geoscientist and stayed for 40 years. They provided me with all kinds of toys — satellites, aircraft, submarines — to support my work in exploration geophysics. These days, I’ve become a gentleman scientist, keeping in touch with technologies for exploring Earth and space. We were happy to have good friend and former roommate Richard Pabst (Hanszen: BA; MA, 1976; PhD, 1977) with us for the awards dinner.”

Ed’s wife, Cathleen Trechter ’77 (Hanszen: BA), and their two sons, Edward Biegert ’11 (Hanszen: BS) and Erik Biegert ’17 (Hanszen: BS), were all residents of Hanszen College while undergrads. Ed, Cathleen and Erik all had the same freshman room in the old section of Hanszen. Cathleen and Ed have remained involved with Hanszen as Distinguished Community Associates and host a party for Hanszen seniors every year at their home.

They have endowed fellowships for graduate study in physics and astronomy and undergraduate summer research and also endowed the Industry-Rice Earth Science Symposium annual conference. Ed

serves on the board of affiliates for the Rice Professional Science Master’s Program and on the external advisory board of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences.

I looked back to see who else in our class has received these honors.

I found that Dr. Virginia Moyer Tucker (Jones: BA) received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016 for accomplishments in medicine. Robert M. Taylor (Hanszen: BA), along with his wife, Amy, won the Meritorious Service Award in 2011, as did Robert B. Hord (Will Rice: BA).

1975

Class Recorder: Tom Gehring 619-206-8282 tom@tsgehring.net

1976

Class Recorder: Michael Hindman 615-370-3252 (office) 615-373-1450 (fax) mhindman@hmharchitects.com facebook.com/ groups/349670321737395 Class recorder Michael Hindman (Lovett: BA) sends the following: Three Stooges, Paul Reinhardt (Sid Rich: BS), Ray Ledesma ’77

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(Hanszen: BS) and Steve Lukingbeal (Hanszen: BA), invite all ’76ers attending Alumni Weekend to warm up with us at the Under the Volcano (2349 Bissonnet St.) on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, from 5–9:30 p.m. However, it is a “must” that you send an RSVP to Paul at pablosolo@flash.net so they can plan accordingly. Parking is limited — Uber, Lyft and Waymo recommended. Hope to see you there!

Anne Briston Avery (Brown: BA) writes: “Despite my best intentions, it has taken me 50 years to write this note. After graduation, I remained in the Houston area where the majority of my family resided. Fate took me first to the corporate world where I was initially executive assistant, later promoted to senior analyst at Transco Energy in the Galleria (now The Williams Companies), working alongside fellow Rice alums Ron Mucci ’79 (Hanszen: BA), Tom Shirocky ’84 (Lovett: BA; MBA, 1991) and Adele Dyer James ’85 (Brown: BA) for a while. After 15 years, I tired of the corporate life and decided to work from home in the medical field, a career which lasted over 30 years.

Along my journey, I met some additional Owls, including Dr. Olga Bachilo ’06 (Lovett: BA and BS) and Dr. Eric Klineberg ’94 (Lovett: BA), both currently practicing medicine in the Houston area. As I reflect back, my fondest memories of Rice always include my years as baton twirler for the Rice MOB with my partners in crime: Alpha Mor-

Anne Briston Avery

gan Heggie ’74 (Hanszen: BA; BS, 1976), Denise Anding ’73 (Brown: BA), Liz Moy Cunningham (Brown: BA; MESE, 1978) and Cynthia Smith ’75 (Baker: BS). I’ve never been able to live it down, but what fun we had at the halftime shows.

Now retired, I’ve been blessed with 73 years of good health and plan to resume hiking the spectacular state parks of Texas this fall.”

1977

Class Recorder: Connie Dressner Tuthill connie.tuthill@gmail.com Class recorder Connie Dressner Tuthill (Baker: BA; MAcc, 1978) writes: A group of Rice friends enjoyed lunch together at Traveler’s Table in Houston. We have (almost) all retired from professions including a physician, CPA, professional chef, NGO finance, CFO, assistant U.S. attorney and financial executive.

Currently, we are occupied with a range of interests from traveling the world, enjoying grandchildren, creating metal art, taking classes at the Glasscock School, supporting men’s and women’s Rice athletic teams and, for some of us, still working. The photo from our lunch includes, from left to right,

Dr. Suzanne Bruce (Hanszen: BA), Doris Williams ’75 (Jones: BA; MAcc, 1976), Mary Margaret “Peggy” Pack ’74 (Brown: BA), Connie Dressner Tuthill, Karen Ostrum George (Jones: BA; MAcc, 1978), Michelle Zingaro ’75 (BA; MA, 1979) and Kay Preston Forbes ’75 (Brown: BA; MAcc, 1976). Not pictured are Carol Jensen Burke ’78 (Hanszen: BA; MAcc, 1979) and Stephanie Knight Rudd ’76 (Jones: BA; MAcc, 1978).

Dr. Jeanette Stehr-Green (Brown: BA) writes: “My roommate, Anna Barón (Brown: BA), and I reunited in November 2025, over a flight of mimosas and heaping helping of bacon in Denver, CO. “As we caught up with each other’s lives, it tickled me to see how far we both had come since graduation. Anna got an MS and PhD in biometry and taught biostatistics for over 40 years at the University of Colorado Denver and Colorado School of Public Health.

Much of her research focused on biomarker development for the early detection of cancer, especially lung cancer. Anna retired in June 2025.

“After getting my medical degree, I completed a fellowship with the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. My career focused on the control and prevention of

Rice friends at lunch

infectious diseases with work at the federal, state and local level. I retired in 2022 and live in Port Angeles, WA, with my husband Paul.

“I also was delighted to see how much Anna and I still had in common: the love of family, classical music, travel and cats. And how comfortable it was to be together again. Future rendezvous are already in the planning.”

Anna Barón and Jeanette Stehr-Green

1978

Class Recorder: Chris Lahart clahart@earthlink.net Class recorder Chris Lahart (Lovett: BA) sends the following: Alison Whittemore (Brown: BS; MS, 1980) writes: “In 2022, I retired after 20 years as chair of the engineering department at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. I have spent my time since then getting back into art, dining with friends, traveling and writing a memoir of my father’s year in Vietnam (1965–66) titled ‘Letters to the Jungle: A Memoir of My Family’s War.’ My family exchanged literally hundreds of letters that year, and they are the foundation of the book. I spent nearly three years transcribing the letters and doing the research behind all the historical references. I probably know more about defense secretary Robert McNamara than most historians. My father, the head of the Ordnance Depot at Long Binh Junction just outside of Saigon, wrote of the many soldiers lost

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from his command, and in May, I made a pilgrimage to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., to pay my respects to them.

The book is available on Amazon and at The Twig Bookshop at the Pearl in San Antonio. I am currently sketching out a novel of my mother’s early years. I have a website with some of my projects: awrinkleintheroad.com.”

Alex Johnson (Wiess: BS; MEE, 1981) writes: “So, my wife, Kathy Knowles Johnson ’17 (MLS), and Disneyland both turned 70 this past year — she was born in 1955, and Disneyland opened that same year. And so, she decided we needed to go!

“Since I never argue with her, we went. ‘Who is we?’ you ask.

“Alex Johnson, Kathy Knowles Johnson, Allie Johnson Sarahan (current Rice employee in IT), Larry Sarahan (my favorite son-in-law), Lars Sarahan (age 7, my favorite grandson), Ousie Sarahan (age 1, my favorite granddaughter) and Elizabeth Johnson ’11 (Lovett: BS).

“Sunday: Fly to Santa Ana; Monday: California Adventure; Tuesday: Disney; Wednesday: off; Thursday: off; Friday: Universal Studios — Harry Potter World; Saturday: home.

“Well, that was the plan. Kathy and the rest went to Disneyland on Thursday. My brother, John, and his wife, Maria, made the long (!) trip to LA for the Petersen Automotive Mu-

seum, the Jack Kirby Exhibit (think all things Marvel) at the Skirball Cultural Center, and a comic book store that was supposed to be great.

It was okay, but my local comic shop, Bedrock City Comic Company, beats it hands down.

“California, Disneyland and Universal were all fun. Sadly, Harry Potter World in LA while fun is tiny.

The one in Orlando is much better.”

1979

Class Recorder: Terrell Benold tbenold@ricealumni.net Class recorder Terrell Benold (Hanszen: BA) sends the following: Larry Fossi (Will Rice: BA) writes: “I received a magnificent birthday gift from my wonderful friend and classmate, Dr. Dan Cohen (Will Rice: BA). The workmanship in the model of the Lovett Hall façade is magnificent; a fitting tribute to those Italian stonemasons who were recruited for the 1912 construction.

Looking through the Sallyport toward Fondren Library, Dan has even placed Willy’s statue where it was when we were students (no need to get any deeper into that controversy, though I’m pleased the statue still has a place in the quadrangle, which seems to me a

sensible solution).

“In his retirement, Dan makes architectural models of some of his favorite buildings. In his home, you can find the Church of Santa Susanna (on Rome’s Quirinal Hill, by Carlo Maderno), San Carlo alle Quattro Fontani (a Borromini masterpiece, also in Rome), the Roman Colosseum, the extraordinary vestibule of the Michaelangelo’s Laurentian Library in Florence and a palazzo façade designed by Raphael.

“Dan and I shared many happy times at Rice. We ran together (literally ran, a lovely 5-mile loop most days), grubbed together (do they still call the dishwashers ‘grubs’?) and had other memorable adventures at Will Rice College. Lucia and I are hoping to spend lots more time with Dan and his lovely wife, Jane.”

Dan Cohen’s Lovett Hall model made for Larry Fossi

1980

Class Recorder: Kathy Behrens 310-871-3791 kathybehrens@verizon.net

1981

Class Recorder: Gloria Meckel Tarpley 214-763-0008 gloriameckeltarpley@ricealumni.net

Alex Johnson and family in Disneyland

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Class recorder Gloria Meckel Tarpley (Brown: BA) writes:

Hello, classmates of the Class of 1981! Believe it or not, it has been 45 years since we graduated from Rice, and in honor of that milestone, we are hoping you will make plans to join us at Rice for Reunion Weekend, Nov. 12–15! Those of us on the Reunion Committee are working hard to make it a fun-filled and nostalgic gathering for our class, and we hope as many of you as possible will join us.

Our committee members include Nicole Van Den Heuvel (Brown: BA), Paula Desel (Jones: BA), Amy Christensen (Brown: BA), Chris Pool (Lovett: BA), Kevin Bartol (Sid Richardson: BS), Kris Bayne McGaw (Jones: BA), Lamont Jefferson (Will Rice: BA), Matt Schreck (Wiess: BA), Mike Lawrence (Lovett: BA; PhD, 1989), Ralph Midkiff (Hanszen: BS), Bob Orr (Sid Rich: BA), Sue Mattinson Alvarez (Hanszen: BS), Susie Darnell Hebert (Baker: BA), Bill Dingus (Baker: BA), David Calkins (Sid Rich: BA; BArch, 1983), and me, Gloria Meckel Tarpley.

The weekend will be filled with time for us to come together as a class, and time to explore Rice, 45 years later — the campus, the best and the brightest of current faculty in lectures, social gatherings across all years of reunion classes, a football game, and a lot of time to reconnect with classmates.

For a preview of what many of our classmates have been up to, you can see their updates at https://bit.ly/1981-45th-reunion.

You can also take the opportunity to update your own info — we’d love to know what you’ve been up to since graduation. Please plan to join us, and as always, send in updates to me for Classnotes.

1982

Class Recorder: Susan Stone Woodard 270-303-1173 suz.woodard514@gmail.com

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Class recorder Susan Stone Woodard (Baker: BA) writes: It is always so good to hear from my classmates. You might be surprised how much that little update matters.

Thanks to Nancy Rapoport (Jones: BA) who writes: “Recently, I was named a 2026 Barrick Distinguished Scholar at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. And I just co-authored ‘A Short & Happy Guide to Artificial Intelligence and Legal Ethics.’ Visit https://bit.ly/ ai-legal-ethics.”

Way to go, Nancy!

1983

Class Recorder: Jennifer S. Sickler 713-665-7469 j.sickler@hotmail.com

1984

Class Recorder: Gretchen Martinez Penny gretchen.penny@gmail.com

1985

Class Recorder: David Phillips 202-374-4787 (cell) 929-432-4453 (office) bigolpoofter@alumni.rice.edu david@agilelama.com

1986

Class Recorder: Greg Marshall 713-666-RICE (home) 713-348-6782 (office) gm@rice.edu

1987

Class Recorder: Syd Polk sydpolk@alumni.rice.edu

Class recorder Syd Polk (Hanszen: BA) writes: Jade York Polk ’86 (Will Rice: BA) and I moved to Austin 20 years ago from northern California to raise our family in a more affordable environment with schools that fund extracurricular activities. And this worked beyond our wildest dreams. Our kids were heavily into art, theater and music the entire time we were here. They were in the Vandegrift High School Viper Marching Band and Vision Dance Company that went to Macy’s, and finished second, first, first, and second in Texas University Interscholastic League 6A State Marching Band Competition, while setting a yet unbroken all-time Bands of America high score at the 2023 Bands of America Super Regional in San Antonio. They both spent years in Tex-Arts, a local children’s community theater academy, starring in many productions. And they both got superior ratings in school art festivals.

Elizabeth finished their sophomore year at UT Arlington, majoring in glass blowing, and Avery just finished their freshman year as a character animation major at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston.

For the last 10 years, I have been working at Indeed as a software engineer, and Jade has been doing government background investigations part time.

Both kids are in college, and we don’t need this huge house anymore. Jade’s mother is elderly and needs round-the-clock care, so, since we can do both of our jobs remotely, we are packing up and moving to Bowling Green, KY, where we will care for Jade’s mother and take care of all her affairs there.

We are saying goodbye to several Rice friends and family in Texas, including (but not limited to): Krista Polk Bartel ’89 (Brown), Jim Bateman ’89 (Wiess: BA), George Brooks ’88 (Hanszen: BS), Socar Chatmon-Thomas ’86 (Brown),

Nathan “Matt” Cohen ’89 (Baker: BA), Dr. Brenna Gerdelman ’97 (Hanszen: BA), Mike Gladu, John Greiner ’89 (Hanszen: BA), Grungy, Diane Harvey ’89 (Baker: BA), Laura Heisz Hornung (Will Rice: BA), Mike Hibbetts ’88 (Will Rice: BS), Chris Hyams ’96 (MCS), Deirdre Tiffany Kilgard ’90 (Hanszen: BS), Mark Kilgard ’91 (Wiess: BA), John Knapp (Wiess: BA), Chuck Kuffner, Paul Lee (Baker), Mark Linimon ’80 (Sid Rich: BS), Mary Lowery ’88 (Baker: BA), Tamara Siler ’86 (Brown: BA), Cindy Smith ’85 (Hanszen: BA), Brent Tarver ’86 (Will Rice: BS), Annette Bruer Tarver ’86 (Will Rice: BA) and Chuck Throckmorton, director of MOB. You can contact me at syd@sydpolk.com, and Jade at jadeocho@mac.com.

It’s been fun, but time for the next adventure.

students at Rice, and the two married in 1991. As an Army wife, she built a home for their family through many moves while earning her medical degree from Duke University and completing her internal medicine residency at Georgetown University Hospital. She went on to practice medicine in Virginia, North Carolina and Iowa.

“Beth was deeply involved in the Mount Vernon community. She was active in the United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School, playing in the Handbell Choir and volunteering with Vacation Bible School. She also served in leadership roles in Cub Scouts Pack 40 and Boy Scouts Troop 40, proudly supporting her sons, Preston III and Benjamin, as they earned Eagle Scout ranks and worked at Philmont Scout Ranch.

“Beth faced a 23-year battle with cancer with extraordinary courage, meeting each challenge with determination and grace.

Her greatest joy was time spent with family — whether at gatherings in Texas, vacations in Florida and Colorado, or around her own kitchen table. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Preston; her sons, Preston III and Benjamin; and her faithful dog, Scout.”

Syd and Jade during a Vandegrift High School trip to Hawaii

1988

Class Recorder: Sonu Thukral Keneally 713-432-7668 sonuk@alumni.rice.edu Preston Johnson ’85 (Lovett: BA) submits the following obituary for his wife: “Dr. Beth Leigh Gibbs Johnson (Lovett: BA), of Mount Vernon, IA, passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 2, 2026, holding the hand of her husband, Preston.

Beth met Preston while they were

Dr. Beth Gibbs Johnson

Saleem Assaf (Hanszen: BA) submits the following: “The May 2026 graduation weekend was also a wonderful re-gathering and reunion for me, Gregg Robins

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Mitch Sukalski (Hanszen: BS) and Sonya Greiner Sukalski (Lovett: BA). To all other fellow classmates from Hanszen and the Class of 1988, please write me or send your Classnotes to owlmanac@rice.edu.”

1989 Paul Thomas, Gregg Robins and Saleem Assaf at R I-I-I CE

(Hanszen: BA) and Paul Thomas (Hanszen: BA). We were able to share a fantastic, laughter-filled, three-day weekend.

“Paul flew in from Atlanta where he and his wife, Julie, live.

Paul captains long-haul flights and serves as a senior trainer for Delta. Gregg and his wife, Karen, are proud Swiss citizens in Geneva where he advises international families and businesses on wealth, business holdings and a range of related matters. My wife, Lori, and I live in Austin. After selling my hearing practice of 16 years in 2023, I work for UT Austin once again.

“We visited with our former Hanszen magisters, Rich and Lisa Smith. They are both as grounded (or ungrounded if you prefer), caring, silly, charismatic, loving, approachable, humorous, authentic and good-natured as ever — just a little shorter. Our collective shock over certain facts made for some fun stories. Such as: “We met 42 years ago during our freshman orientation!

“Rich and Lisa were not even 42 then, though they seemed wiser than that, and acted much younger!

“Little Tyler Smith ’98 (Will Rice: BA) is now a full-grown, 50-plus year old with a family in Austin.

“All the undergraduate and grad students we spotted on campus taking pictures in their regalia looked, maybe, 14 or 15.

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“Then Paul shared a photo from our own graduation party, and indeed we look, maybe, 14 or 15.

“During walks across campus, at a Cohen House lunch, over drinks at Little Woodrow’s, between and throughout numerous coffees, and between bites at every meal (so many good meals!), Rice memories and those since filled the space with nostalgia, incredulity, laughter and gratefulness.

“The quick family overviews are that Paul and Julie’s twin sons, Ethan and Drew, both had weddings in 2025. Their daughter, Olivia, works for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association as an operations manager. Drew works for SAP as a global events, program and strategy analyst. And Ethan is learning to fly with the U.S. Navy.

Julie works for SAP overseeing aspects of global training.

“Gregg has three daughters: Gabriella is an equine vet in Tasmania, Casey is in the hospitality world in Geneva and Raquel is also in Geneva doing social media for luxury cruises. Karen is a professional interpreter and is involved in community organizing.

“My daughter, Cali, works remotely as a registered dietician for Nutrition as Therapy. My son, Atiyeh, is the market manager and volunteer director for Byrd Barr Place in Seattle. My wife, Lori, is a professor at Texas State University.

“BTW — Hello Jay, hello Jay, hello Jay (Jay Tu [Hanszen: BS]).

And much love and support to

Class Recorder: Sten L. Gustafson 281-701-4234 stengustafson@icloud.com

1990

Class Recorder: Gilbert Saldivar 832-341-0694 saldivar@alumni.rice.edu facebook.com/ groups/294713521722 Class recorder Gil Saldivar (Sid Rich: BA) writes: In the absence of other submissions, I thank you for regarding my personal entry and ask you to share news of — and ideally your reflections on — your unfolding lives.

On a rain-soaked Sunday, May 24, my daughter Mia graduated with a BA in anthropology and a minor in Chinese studies from Mount Holyoke College, the oldest of the “Seven Sisters” women’s colleges in New England. At her invitation, her brother, Khalil, witnessed the rituals that have developed since 1837 to honor the days and nights before graduation, including: (a) the parade of alumnae classes encouraging the graduates as they enter the professional and/ or graduate-school worlds and (b) the graduating class’s encouragement of the junior class entering their final year.

The gift of such a crossgenerational institutional ethos of encouragement inspired profound gratitude as these women enter a world relentlessly disfigured by the gleefully impregnable stupid-

ity of base men and their female conspirators.

These gestures of encouragement in the face of deepening evil resonated with Pope Leo’s quoting of Gandalf in his encyclical “Magnifica humanitas.” He wrote: “‘It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.’ The civilization of love,” Leo goes on to say, “will not arise from a single or spectacular gesture, but from the sum total of small and steadfast acts of fidelity that serve as a bulwark against dehumanization. For this reason, it is worthwhile pausing to reflect on some aspects of how we, each in our own way, can cooperate in building the civilization of love.”

Please consider sharing some small aspect of your life as a morsel to feed the “family” that draws life — and possibly encouragement — from these pages … and consider contributing to the next issue. Take good care.

Gil, Mia and Khalil at Mia’s college graduation

1991

Class Recorder: Phil Miller 612-385-5891 phil_miller_98@yahoo.com

OWLMANAC

1992

Class Recorder: Alison Cohen 909-213-7789 (cell) ERISAgirl44@yahoo.com Class recorder Alison Cohen (Brown: BA) sends the following: Lori DiLullo Feinberg (Will Rice: BA) writes: “Jeff Feinberg (Will Rice: BA) and I are staring down our final year living in Stuttgart, Germany, in support of Jeff’s position as the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa Force Surgeon. We have been having a blast exploring Europe from this central home base. We have been so fortunate to have met up with many Owl friends over the past two years. Last summer, we crashed Jeff’s sister’s vacation in Switzerland for some lake swimming and chateau living with Suzy Feinberg ’89 (Wiess: BA) and her daughter Janna. In July, we met up with Petra Jansen Sansom (Will Rice: BA) and Andrew Sansom (Will Rice: BA) for a week of hiking and glamping in Slovenia. We hosted Paige Riddick Glaze (Baker: BS) and George “Trey” Glaze (Baker: BS) in Germany, where we all attended the 250th Navy Birthday Ball in Stuttgart. We spent a weekend in Basel, Switzerland, with Drew Johnson (Hanszen: BA) last December, navigating a three-country beer crawl. And most recently, we enjoyed a gloriously

sunny, long weekend in London with Kathi Cover (Will Rice: BS).

We have appreciated the inquisitive nature of all our Rice friends and feel so lucky that they have included us in their European adventures.”

Additionally, pictured below, Madhav Chinnappa (Brown: BA), Mark Gargiulo (Brown: BA) and Greg Meeks (Brown: BA) had a great time visiting each other earlier this year.

Anita, Lance and Alan in Chile

1993

Class Recorder: Jamie Nelson 646-505-9990 jnelson0612@hotmail.com

1994

Class Recorder: Tom Harris 205-721-3713 wthmd@yahoo.com Class recorder Tom Harris (Brown: BS) sends the following: Lance Schupbach (Lovett: BA)

writes: “My wife, Michelle Paxton, and I were delighted to join Alan Ying (Lovett: BA) and Anita Kuo Ying (Lovett: BA; MBA, 2013) in Chile for a bike trip and wine country visit in January 2026, and to cheer our daughters Sydney Ying ’24 (Sid Rich: BA) and Amelia Schupbach ’30 (Lovett) joining the Rice tradition!”

1995

Class Recorder: Francisco Morales texasliberal@hotmail.com

1996

Class Recorder: Brooke Johnson Borden 919-455-1057 borden.brooke@gmail.com

1997

Class Recorder: Sara Chiu drsarachiu@gmail.com facebook.com/RiceUniversity1997

1998

Class Recorders: Ria Papageorgiou Stella Hines ricegrad98@gmail.com

1999

Class Recorder: Stephanie L. Taylor 415-350-0467 whereisstephanietaylor@gmail.com Hello, classes of 2000–2026!

We want to hear from you!

We encourage you to submit updates to your class recorder or directly to us at owlmanac@ rice.edu.

2000

Class Recorder: Felisa Vergara Reynolds felisavr@gmail.com

2001

Class Recorder: Kristin Johnson Aldred kris.layne@gmail.com Class recorder Kristin Johnson Aldred (Lovett: BA) writes: It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since our Rice graduation.

Our 25th reunion takes place this Nov. 12–15 during Alumni Weekend. Details about reunion events will be posted at https://alumni. rice.edu/25th-reunion. I hope to see you there.

Lori DiLullo Feinberg, Drew Johnson and Jeff Feinberg in Switzerland

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2002

Class Recorder: Scott Berger csberger@gmail.com

2003

Class Recorder: Julie Yau-Yee Tam 713-828-4062 julietam@alumni.rice.edu https://bit.ly/rice-class-2003 Amy Punaro Calhoun ’04 (Sid Rich: BA) submits the following obituary for her husband: “Michael Calhoun (Sid Rich: BS; MS, 2006) passed away peacefully in January from a rare high-grade brain cancer (glioblastoma) and a resulting infection, 14 months after initial diagnosis. Michael met the challenges of several surgeries, radiation, chemo and physical rehab with his characteristic determination, energy and pragmatism.

From the onset, Michael expressed his desire to contribute to medical and scientific advancements, participating in research trials and the Oregon Brain Bank at Oregon Health and Science University.

“His family, friends and wife Amy will remember Michael not for how he died, but for how he lived every day with an exuberance and zest for life. His life was inspired with love for Amy, his family, and his rescue cats and dog. His inventiveness as a home chef mirrored his inventiveness as an engineer. He delighted in sharing his skillfully prepared recipes with his family, neighbors, friends and coworkers.

A lifelong love of animals, and his concern for their welfare and for that of this earth that we all share, informed his decision in recent years to become a dedicated vegetarian.

“A Houston native, Michael excelled as a student from an early age and proudly became an Eagle Scout during his teen years. He

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began college early at the Texas Academy of Math & Science. After one year at Northwestern University, Michael transferred to Rice to complete his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Michael met Amy during their first year at Rice.

From then on, they were inseparable until his death 25 years later.

“Immediately after receiving his master’s in computer engineering from Rice in 2006, Michael accepted a position at Hewlett Packard in Roseville, CA, where he made many lifelong friends.

Michael joined Apple in 2019. He and Amy relocated to Beaverton, OR, where Michael worked as one of a small group of dedicated problem solvers in support of Apple engineers worldwide. He thrived at Apple and loved being a mentor to new members of his team. During his career, Michael was awarded dozens of patents for his work in hardware, firmware and software design.

“Michael is survived by his wife, Amy; parents, Kenneth and Kristina; and his sister, Janet, and brother-in-law, Elliott. He was a loving and fun uncle to his nephew, Landon, and niece, Maisie. He is also survived by countless family members and friends around the world.

“A celebration of life event honoring Michael will be held in September. If you would like to attend or receive a link to the live stream, please email LoveForMichaelC@gmail.com.

“In lieu of flowers, Michael requested that those who would wish to commemorate his life make a contribution to Doctors Without Borders.”

2004

Class Recorder: Kate Hallaway katehallaway@gmail.com facebook.com/ groups/1425217191026994

2005

Class Recorder: Alex Sigeda alex.sigeda@gmail.com Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones nominated Akilah Mance (Jones: BA) to the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults Board, beginning in December 2025. Commissioner Briones stated Akilah’s expertise in justice, equity and community resilience will help strengthen programs that serve vulnerable children, adults and families across Harris County. HCRCA was founded in 1966 as Harris County Child Welfare to provide support services for children taken under the wing of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Fifty years later, Harris County Resources for Children and Adults still provides this support. But the now-county department has expanded services for early prevention, intervention and adult services.

2007

Class Recorders: Clint Corcoran clintc@alumni.rice.edu Becky Thilo Tuttle 713-412-4030 becky@alumni.rice.edu

2008

The Class of 2008 needs a class recorder. To learn more about this volunteer position, please email owlmanac@rice.edu.

2009

Class Recorder: Gina Cao Yu 713-870-9218 ginacaoyu@gmail.com

2010

Class Recorder: Emily Zhu Haynie emilyahaynie@gmail.com

2011

Class Recorder: Alex Wyatt 281-623-8438 awyattlovett@gmail.com

2012 Akilah Mance

2006

Class Recorder: Hugham Chan hugham@gmail.com

Class Recorder: Daphne Wert Strasert 832-986-3210 daphnestrasert@gmail.com

2013

Class Recorder: Matt Mariani-Seltz 908-328-6632 mmariani16@gmail.com

OWLMANAC

2014

Class Recorder: Molly Richardson Krueger Mollykrueger03@gmail.com Class recorder Molly Richardson Krueger (McMurtry: BA) writes: Cristina “Crissy” Curzon (Lovett: BMus) passed away on April 13, 2026, at the age of 33.

Crissy earned a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance at Rice and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary. She taught elementary music at River Valley School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she inspired hundreds of students with her warmth, humor and compassion. Crissy will be remembered for her kindness, creativity, and passion for making and sharing beautiful music. Her full obituary can be found at: https:// bit.ly/cristina-mae-curzon.

2015

Class Recorder: Qizhong Wang qizhong.wang2011@gmail.com

2016

Class Recorder: Michaela Dimoff 414-629-5270 michaeladimoff@ricealumni.net

2018

Class Recorders: Meg Brigman 713-569-7015 megbrigman@alumni.rice.edu Haley Kurisky 713-817-6344 haley.e.kurisky@gmail.com facebook.com/groups/rice2018

2019

Class Recorder: Catherine Soltero cat.soltero19@gmail.com Sophia Jefferson and Peter Dulworth

2020

Class Recorder: Adria Martinez Potts 713-459-4483 adria@texascres.com Class recorder Adria Martinez Potts (Duncan: BA) writes: I married Austin Potts on Nov. 9, 2025, in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Several former Rice classmates and teammates attended the wedding, including a number who were bridesmaids.

After graduating from Rice, I earned a master’s degree in management (finance) from Durham University in northern England.

Austin and I now live in The Woodlands, TX, where Austin is an estate

2017

Class Recorder: Margaret Lie margaret.lie@ricealumni.net

planning and probate attorney with QPWB, and I am a real estate acquisition manager for QuikTrip.

Maya Hoyer (Will Rice: BA) and Trei Cruz ’21 (Lovett) got engaged Dec. 5, 2025. The couple met at Rice in 2019. They’re excited to get married in December 2026.

Erin Mikeska (Wiess: BA) graduated from Texas A&M College of Medicine in May. Erin will complete her general surgery residency at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Sophia Jefferson (Duncan: BA) married Peter Dulworth (Will Rice: BA and BS) on May 8, 2026, at San Francisco City Hall. They have been living in San Francisco since August 2020, shortly after graduation. They have been together for nine years, since the summer going into their sophomore year.

2021

Class Recorder: Kevin Guo guokevin1@gmail.com

Adria and Austin Potts

Class recorder Kevin Guo (Will Rice: BA) writes: Shane DiGiovanna (Martel: BA) passed away March 30, 2026.

He will be remembered for his

intelligence, humor, warmth, generosity and for the steady courage with which he showed up for others.

At Rice, Shane studied economics, immersed himself in the Martel and broader campus community, and found what he once called “the best four years of my life.” He was named a Distinguished Senior of Martel College. Before coming to Rice, he was a National Merit Finalist and a member of the Cum Laude Society at Seven Hills.

Shane’s life was marked not only by academic achievement, but by deep purpose. Cincinnati Children’s featured him as a student advocate for people with special needs and disabilities, and The Bulwark, a national political news and commentary publication, also wrote about his life and advocacy. He later became known publicly as a motivational speaker. After graduating in 2021, he worked in donor relations at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and ran ShaneTalks, an independent motivational speaking effort centered on turning adversity into opportunity.

Shane lived with epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic disorder that causes the skin to blister and

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tear easily, and he was believed to be among the very few people with his form of EB ever to attend college away from home. Yet what defined him most was not the difficulty he endured, but the compassion and hope he drew from it.

He created Doggie’s Friends at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, inspired by the stuffed dog that comforted him through countless surgeries. The fund provides stuffed animals and other comfort items to children facing long hospital stays. It has raised $160,000, reflecting Shane’s gift for transforming his own experience into care for others.

In the final months of his life, Shane continued advocating for the EB community through support for H.R. 7877, the Shane DiGiovanna Act, which would create a demonstration program for mandatory Medicaid coverage of wound-care treatment for epidermolysis bullosa. His family shared that he was FaceTiming with members of Congress just days before his death in support of the bill.

Shane loved Rice and remained close to the people and places that mattered to him. He will be remembered for his heart, his resilience and the lasting care he gave to others. Those who wish to honor his life may do so by carrying forward the work that meant so much to him: support-

Shane DiGiovanna

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ing Doggie’s Friends at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, advocating for the EB community through H.R. 7877, the Shane DiGiovanna Act, and extending to others the same compassion, resilience and hope that he offered so freely.

Shane’s memory will remain part of Martel and of Rice, in the people who knew him, and in the lives still touched by his example.

evidence.

Pedro Ribeiro (McMurtry: BA) is a rising 2L at Harvard Law School, where he is a teaching fellow in civil procedure and associate managing editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. He received his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Rice University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Pedro previously was a judicial

intern for The Hon. Lee Rosenthal, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

2026

The Class of 2026 needs a class recorder. To learn more about this volunteer position, please email owlmanac@rice.edu.

2022

Class Recorder: Ben Li Zaltsman zaltsmanben@gmail.com

2023

Guess Who?

Class Recorder: Jonathan Lloyd 914-217-5568 jonathan.sc.lloyd@gmail.com Pedro Ribeiro

J.T. “Thomas” Bertrand ’68 (Wiess: BA), Barbara Weir Griffith ’69 (Jones: BA) and Robert Thompson ’68 (Wiess: BA)

2024

The Class of 2024 needs a class recorder. To learn more about this volunteer position, please email owlmanac@rice.edu.

2025

Class Recorder: Martalisa Tsai martalisa@alumni.rice.edu Litigation powerhouse Hollingsworth LLP is pleased to welcome four summer associates to the Washington, D.C.-based firm.

Hollingsworth LLP summer associates participate in highly challenging and complex legal work while receiving hands-on career development and mentorship. A trial-focused firm comprised entirely of litigators, Hollingsworth LLP specializes in complex litigation matters that focus the courts on science, particularly the lack of scientifically reliable causation

GRAD NOTES

Graduate School Alums: We Want to Hear From You, Too! Submit news and updates to grad notes coordinator Jose A. Narbona at janv@rice.edu or owlmanac@rice.edu.

Jones Graduate School of Business Clara Angulo ’21 (MBA) is honored to announce her appointment to the board of directors for the American Society of Echocardiography Foundation for a twoyear term. She will be representing Houston Methodist Hospital as the first non-faculty member to serve on the ASEF Board.

Clara Angulo

OWLMANAC

NEW ARRIVALS

From the Nest We love baby Owls! Send your birth announcement and baby photo to your class recorder or owlmanac@rice.edu.

Laura Bornstein McFarland ’06 (Brown: BA) and her husband welcomed another boy, Julian Toby McFarland, on May 5, 2026. Their 3-year-old, Jonathan, is excited to be a big brother.

Jacob Neu ’07 (Martel: BA) and Annie Patterson Neu ’07 (Lovett: BA) welcomed their sixth child, Gregory Jacob Neu, on Dec. 31, 2025. Siblings Luke (11), Peter (8), Joseph (6), Hannah Rose (4) and Lydia (2) enjoyed welcoming both their new brother and 2026 together.

Erika Leybovich with her older brother

Natalia Molinas ’11 (Hanszen: BS) and husband Raul Villarreal ’10 (Martel: BA) welcomed their sweet boy, Nicolás Gael Villarreal, on Dec. 8, 2025. Alongside big sister Camila, they are thrilled to have a new baby Owl at home.

Julian Toby McFarland and big brother Jonathan Nicolás Gael Villarreal with big sister Camila

Josiah Ren Huang

Gregory Jacob Neu with his siblings

Tsz Wong ’11 (Lovett: BA) shares that Erika Leybovich was born Christmas Eve 2025, rounding out her family of four.

Adam Jordahl ’17 (Sid Rich: BA) and his wife, Payton, welcomed their first child on April 4. Wyatt Lane Jordahl was born in Madison, WI, at 22 inches and just over 8 pounds.

Lauren Hampton Huang ’23 (Baker: BA) and husband Patrick are happy to announce the birth of their first child, Josiah Ren Huang.

He was born January 2026 with a full head of hair. He’s named after the king of Judah who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 22:2). He loves walks, bathtime and the song “Five Little Ducks.”

Wyatt Lane Jordahl

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IN MEMORIAM

Owl Passings Submit remembrances to owlmanac@rice.edu.

Robert Ashley McAllen, April 21, 2026 Billye Littlepage Proctor Shaw, April 6, 2026

ALUMNI

1945 Sadie Gwin Allen Blackburn (MA), March 13, 2026

1951 George Arthur Laigle, April 15, 2026 Rolf Malcolm Sinclair (MA; PhD), April 14, 2026

1952 Dr. James William “Bill” Pressler, March 15, 2026

1953 Dr. Jay M. Beck, March 24, 2026 Marvin Ray Buchorn, May 9, 2025 Frank Miles Julian, May 10, 2026 Dr. Leslie W. Ottinger, Feb. 27, 2026

1954 Maurice Lowell McGowen, April 17, 2026 Marilyn Hooper Symonds, Feb. 10, 2026

1955 Karl Edwards Brown, Feb. 26, 2026 Tom M. Lynch, May 11, 2026

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1956 William McDonald Cross, May 5, 2026 Dr. Harold L. Griffin, May 5, 2026 Helen Ann Bordovsky Link, May 14, 2026 Joan Smith Ottinger (EdD), Dec. 24, 2025

1957 Charles V. Briscoe (MA; PhD), May 4, 2026 Norman Taylor Hall, April 19, 2026 Dr. Dean Clarence Solcher, June 11, 2026

1958 Daniel B. Candler (PhD), April 29, 2026 Mary Catherine Anderson Cezeaux, March 21, 2026 H. Russell Pitman, April 10, 2026 Philip A. Seeger (PhD), April 23, 2026

1959 Patricia Trimble Beymer, March 7, 2026 Vann Austin Hand, Oct. 9, 2025 Bruce Irwin Hendrickson (MS), June 5, 2026

Gary Norton, Feb. 11, 2026 Richard Dwain Stone, May 28, 2026 Lester “Les” H. Veltman, Jan. 29, 2026

1960 Leland Joseph Bellot (MA; PhD), June 12, 2026 Alexander “Larry” L. Dean (Baker), Feb. 18, 2026

1961 Penny Pillow Bell (Brown), May 27, 2026 Margaret Garrett Burns (Jones), June 14, 2026 Robert Embry Estill (Hanszen), Jan. 1, 2026 Fred Lewis Smith (PhD) (Hanszen), Feb. 25, 2026

1962 Roger Edwin McQueary (Wiess), April 21, 2026 Jimmy Gary Melton (PhD) (Wiess), April 30, 2026

1963 John Barnes McKnight (Will Rice), March 9, 2026 Herman Tolbert Wilson (Will Rice), June 5, 2026

1964 Robert Glenn Arnett (Baker), April 22, 2026 Dr. Arnold Ray Atkins (Hanszen), April 16, 2026 Michael Richard Aulick (Will Rice), March 8, 2026 Louisa Bertch Green (PhD) (Jones), March 28, 2026

Valton F. Hazelton (MA), May 11, 2026 Harry Aydelotte Jarvis (PhD), May 3, 2026 Donald Brooks Longcope (PhD) (Wiess), May 29, 2026 Lawrence Hecker Westerlund (PhD) (Baker), May 25, 2026

1965 Glen Gene Gray (Hanszen), April 24, 2026 Edgar Keith Martin (MA), March 10, 2026 Dr. William Paul McWhorter (Baker), April 28, 2026 Gerald N. Smith (PhD) (Baker), May 21, 2026

1966 Peter David Foster (PhD), April 20, 2026 Robert Charles Ladner (PhD) (Baker), June 12, 2026 Jim Luther Vining (Will Rice), April 22, 2026

1967 John Charles Dominy (MA), March 29, 2026 Thomas Reily Marshall (Will Rice), May 24, 2026 Lynn Earl Morris (PhD) (Hanszen), Feb. 13, 2026 Charles George Nevaril (PhD), April 23, 2026 Thomas “T.K.” Kenneth Reeves (MA), March 15, 2026

OWLMANAC

1968 Lawrence Lane Tankersley (PhD) (Will Rice), May 24, 2026

1969 Michael McGettigan (Will Rice), June 3, 2026 John “Rhoadie” Scott Rhoades (Wiess), April 12, 2026 Richard Wayne Riley (Baker), March 1, 2026

1970 Gordon Bruce Alley (MEE) (Hanszen), March 21, 2026 Basil Niman Antar (MS; PhD), March 6, 2026 Wayne Drummond (MArch), March 24, 2026 George Marion “Randy” Jinks (Baker), June 22, 2026 Barry Alan Kaplan (Baker), May 31, 2026 Joe N. Mims (MME) (Will Rice), March 1, 2026 Greg Stanley Rodgers (Wiess), April 25, 2026

1971 Howard Beverly Christy (MArch), April 17, 2026 Cynthia Anne Wooldridge Davenport (Brown), March 11, 2026 David Roland Eisenhauer (MEE) (Hanszen), April 12, 2026 Clifford L. Laurence (PhD), March 8, 2026 Joseph David Tullbane (PhD) (Lovett), Nov. 6, 2025 Larry Emerson Whaley (MS), April 11, 2026

1972 Allen Lester Arnold (Will Rice), Feb. 20, 2026 Fernando Rodriguez Casas (MA; PhD), May 28, 2026

1973 Samuel Richard Brown (MArch)

1974 Anil Kumar Aggarwal (PhD), April 21, 2026 Philip Clyde Thomas (Wiess), March 4, 2026

1975 Charles W. Williams (MA; PhD), April 30, 2026

1976 Terrance A. Ward (Lovett), Feb. 22, 2026

1977 Karen Shannon McDonell (Jones), April 16, 2026

1978 Theodore C. Aristotelidis (PhD), April 18, 2026

1980 Arthur Brent Alphin (MA), Jan. 8, 2026 Susan Dufficy Moore (Brown), Dec. 6, 2025

1981 Carl Henry Brunsting (MArch), March 26, 2026 Michael Alan Shumway (Baker), Feb. 26, 2026

1982 Charlotte Denise Hyams (PhD), May 13, 2026

1984 Valerie Elizabeth Hale (PhD) (Brown), May 4, 2026 David Brian Watson (Baker), Dec. 22, 2025

1991 Michael P. Hwang (Wiess), March 17, 2026

2001 Stephen Franklin Bess (Sid Rich), Dec. 16, 2025

2002 Jeffrey Jude Wolfe (MBA), Feb. 23, 2026

2003 Michael Bozich Calhoun (MS) (Sid Rich), January 2026

2007 Thomas Donivan Irwin (MBA), March 18, 2026

2014 Cristina Mae Curzon (Lovett), April 13, 2026

2021 Shane Patrick DiGiovanna (Martel), March 30, 2026

2022 Thy Mitchell, May 4, 2026

FACULTY Philip W. Bell (PhD), William Alexander Kirkland Professor of Accounting and Economics, Aug. 1, 2007 Deborah Hubbard NelsonCampbell (MA; PhD), professor emerita of French studies, April 13, 2026 Richard A. Tapia (MA; PhD), University Professor, May 22, 2026 Klaus H. Weissenberger (MA; PhD), professor emeritus of German studies, May 24, 2026

STAFF Forrest Jack Agee (PhD), May 13, 2026 Jeffrey Eugene Cox, Office of Public Affairs, March 14, 2026 Patricia Ann Croes, Office of the Registrar, April 15, 2018 Charles J. Fix, Technology Solutions and Services, June 15, 2026 Bradford Weldon Hovious (MA; PhD), Athletics, April 7, 2026 Peggy K. Jonietz, Aug. 11, 2009 Kerry E. Lawrynovicz, Jones Graduate School of Business, May 27, 2026 H. Russell Pitman ’58, Human Resources, April 10, 2026 Lois Roney, Aug. 24, 2006 Leah Stratmann, July 3, 2013 Blanchie B. Terry, Student Disability Resource Center, Nov. 18, 2004 Joe Marie Winters, Aug. 18, 2010 Alejandro T. Zapata, Human Resources, Aug. 26, 2018

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OWLMANAC 2. For a delicious, healthy treat for your family or friends, check out Little Red Wagon Granola, owned and run by

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GIFT GUIDE

3. As technology continues to change

Happy Owlidays!

Our third-annual holiday gift guide highlights three alumni-owned businesses that collectively offer something for everyone on your list.

1. Two Souls Spirits is a Houston-

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RICE MAGA ZINE

FALL 2026

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how we live and work, the next generation needs more opportunities — not fewer — to build, experiment and solve real-world problems with their own hands. Founded by Rice Business alumna Devina Bhojwani ’06, IDEA Lab Kids helps children ages 4 to 14 build the skills AI can’t replace: curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving. Through engaging STEM, robotics, coding, culinary and visual arts, and entrepreneurship programs, students learn by designing, building and experimenting through hands-on experiences. IDEA Lab Kids offers an array of programs in 14 locations in the U.S. and Canada; learn more at idealabkids.com.

— TRACEY RHOADES

unique finished whiskeys aged in honey, wine and specialty casks; and special releases spotlighting underappreciated categories like light whiskey. Every bottle is handselected and released in limited quantities, making it an ideal gift for the whiskey lover. Available at twosoulsspirits.com.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF TWO SOULS SPIRITS, LITTLE RED WAGON GRANOLA, IDEA LAB KIDS

based independent bottler bringing unique, limited-release spirits to market. A whiskey enthusiast for over a decade, Rice Business grad and co-owner Karen Gentry ’23 and the company’s whiskey doctor, James Estrada, partner with craft distilleries to select and bottle limited-edition spirits under their own label — bottling, aging, barrel finishing and blending to create one-of-a-kind releases. The lineup includes single-barrel bourbons, ryes and American single malt whiskeys; small-batch selections;

Ven Rajarathinam McMahan ’05.

Based in Durham, North Carolina, Little Red Wagon is known for its small-batch, crisp, golden granola in five craveable flavors: CinnamonSpiced Original, Orange-Cranberry Cosmopolitan, Coffee-Kissed Mocha (dark chocolate), Crunchy Monkey (banana chocolate) and the Big Apple.

With no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners and eco-friendly packaging, Little Red Wagon Granola is perfect for breakfast bowls at home or snack breaks on the run. Check out littleredwagongranola.com for monthly subscriptions and options for shipping throughout the U.S.

Opening New Horizons Through a Rice Education Rice education transformed Jim Prugh’s ’77, ’78 life, opening doors to opportunities and experiences he never imagined possible.

Today, he is paying that opportunity forward through the Rice University Remote Area of Learning Scholarship, helping students from rural communities access the same transformative education that he received. His gift is advancing the Rice Investment by expanding scholarship support, ensuring more students have access to the life-changing education and opportunities that define the Rice experience.

Scan the QR code to discover how one person’s generosity is transforming students’ futures — and how your support can help change lives.

Explore more stories about the philanthropy that is fueling progress at Rice and beyond at giving.rice.edu/stories.

PHOTO BY JARED JONES

Rice University, Creative Services–MS 95 P.O. Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit #7549 Houston, Texas

Ciao, Chao!

On Aug. 16, the newest Rice undergraduates were greeted by a slew of cheering, sign-holding students, faculty and staff who welcomed each new Owl to campus. But for the first time, 12 residential colleges were represented on the O-Week welcoming committee. Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao College, known as Chao College, is now home to 400 undergraduate students, with 300 of them taking residence in the new building. These founding “Chaosens” have already begun to build a community that will shape Rice’s newest college for generations. “Starting a new college is nothing short of a magical experience,” says Luis Duno-Gottberg, the Lee Jamail Professor of Latin American Studies and Chao’s founding magister. “They are giving us a beautiful building, and we’re going to very shortly give them a community and a college, which is something that is alive, living, changing.” —Andrew Bell Learn more and look inside Chao College in our Winter 2027 issue.

Scan to Explore Chao College