Dear students, faculty and staff,
I am thrilled to announce that the internationally renowned neurogeneticist Dr. Huda Zoghbi will serve as the speaker for Rice’s 112th commencement ceremony May 10.
Huda’s pioneering research has transformed our understanding of brain development and neurodegenerative diseases. She is the founding director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and a Distinguished Service Professor at Baylor College of Medicine.
Huda, a Rice trustee emerita, is best known for her groundbreaking discovery of the genetic basis of Rett syndrome, a severe neurological disorder affecting young girls, as well as her research into the genetic roots of adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxia and Alzheimer’s. Her work has not only advanced the scientific field but has offered hope to countless families around the world.
Among her many accolades, Huda is a recipient of the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience, and the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, among others.
Huda has also served on many prestigious boards. Her service on the Rice Board and her continued engagement with our academic and research community reflect her commitment to advancing knowledge and mentoring future generations.
Undoubtedly, Huda’s contributions to neuroscience serve as a powerful example of how scientific discovery can transform lives. At this moment in history, when the world is increasingly shaped by advancements in research and technology, her insights could not be more timely or relevant. Our graduates — many of whom will go on to make an impact in research, medicine and innovation — will be inspired by her journey and her dedication to discovery.
Born and raised in Lebanon, Huda received her undergraduate degree in biology from the American University of Beirut and began medical school there in 1975. The civil war in Lebanon broke out during her first year of studies. After she spent a semester living in the basement of the university to stay safe, Huda moved to the United States, where she transferred to Nashville’s Meharry Medical College.
Huda completed a pediatric residency as well as a residency in pediatric neurology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital in 1985. Seeing children with incurable, inherited neurological diseases and not being able to provide them with hope piqued her interest in research and led her to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular genetics under the mentorship of the preeminent geneticist Dr. Arthur Beaudet. She joined Baylor College of Medicine’s faculty as an assistant professor in 1988.
Paula and I are honored to welcome Huda back to campus to share her wisdom with our graduating students and the broader Rice community.
For additional information about this year’s commencement, please click here.
Warm regards, and best wishes for the remainder of the semester,
President Reginald DesRoches