The President's Pulse

FIFA World Cup 2026

Rice was named an Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, placing the university at the center of preparations for the world’s largest sporting event this summer. As the only higher education institution in the United States serving in this role, Rice will help showcase Houston’s culture, diversity and hospitality to a global audience while creating meaningful experiential opportunities for students. The partnership reflects Rice’s commitment to making an impact at both a local and global scale.

World Economic Forum

In January, Rice played a prominent role at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, helping lead Bloomberg House programming focused on how universities, cities, and industry partners translate innovation into lasting social and economic impact. Discussions centered on topics including brain health and thriving urban communities, areas where Rice research is helping shape more resilient, economically vibrant cities. The forum elevated Rice’s global visibility and sparked promising new partnerships that continue to grow today.

CAMPUS CONNECTIONS

Connecting with people across campus remains one of the most rewarding parts of my role as president, which is why I continue traditions like Run With Reggie, First Day Fuel and Staff Appreciation. These moments of connection and celebration are part of what makes the Rice community so special.

COMMENCEMENT

Rice’s 113th commencement ceremonies were filled with pride, joy and celebration as we graduated the largest class in university history — 3,066 undergraduate and graduate students. Bestselling author and educator John Green delivered a thoughtful and inspiring address at the undergraduate ceremony, encouraging graduates to resist cynicism and remain committed to human connection in an uncertain world. At the Jones Graduate School of Business MBA ceremony, NRG Energy CEO Robert Gaudette ’01 reminded graduates that careers are often shaped by unexpected detours rather than straight paths. Across each ceremony, we celebrated not only academic achievement but also the resilience, purpose and sense of community that define Rice graduates.

FACULTY

Teaching at Rice is deeply personal work. Through mentorship, research and community engagement, our faculty shape not only students’ academic experiences but also their confidence, curiosity and future impact on society. At Rice’s 2026 University Awards Ceremony, the Center for Teaching Excellence honored this commitment by awarding its highest teaching honor — the George R. Brown Prize for Excellence in Teaching — to Rebecca Schreib, associate teaching professor and director of undergraduate studies in computer science.

Alumni

One of my favorite alumni moments this semester was when Paula and I shared lunch in Berkeley, California, with Rice alumni Pat Pizzitola Bogy ’62 and David Bogy ’59, whose granddaughter, Cassandra Pringle, is currently an undergraduate at Rice. David studied mechanical engineering at Rice and went on to build a distinguished career at UC Berkeley. Today, our daughter, Shelby DesRoches ’23, is pursuing her Ph.D. in David’s department. It was a meaningful full-circle moment and a wonderful reminder of the lasting connections forged within the Rice community.

ATHLETICS

Rice student-athletes delivered an exceptional season, earning conference championships in women’s basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming and diving, and track and field. The track and field title marked the program’s 24th conference championship under head coach Jim Bevan, who is completing his 40th year leading the program. On July 1, Rice legend Andrea Blackett ’97 will become the third head coach in the history of the women’s track and field/cross-country program. In addition to conference titles, Rice teams broke 12 school records, and four coaches were named American Conference Coach of the Year — including Bevan, who earned the honor for the 15th time. Proud of you, Owls!