Dear MEECON, MGA, and MSPE Alumni, Students, and Friends, 

Greetings from the School of Social Sciences professional master’s programs! 2025 is off to an exciting start, and we now find ourselves at the busy and vibrant midway point of the spring semester.  

As always, we are working hard to provide meaningful ways for students to apply what they are learning at Rice outside of the classroom and to help them with their professional development. As one such example, we are excited to send our MEECON students back to CERAWeek in a few weeks. This event provides our students with the opportunity to network with renowned industry experts. In fact, many of our former students have found jobs during past trips to CERAWeek, a true testament to the value of this experience.

I invite you to read on for the latest updates on our students, faculty, and alumni. From the inaugural MGA trip to Paris, to a new collaboration between MSPE and United Way Greater Houston, I am confident you’ll be inspired by the impact and reach - both locally and globally - of our professional master’s programs.  

Sincerely, 

Abbey Godley 
Assistant Dean for Student Programs, Rice University School of Social Sciences

As we navigate a rapidly evolving job market, I want to highlight an alternative way of thinking about career growth: the career lattice instead of the traditional career ladder. 

Rather than focusing solely on climbing up within a single industry or function, a career lattice embraces lateral, diagonal, and even step-back moves to build a diverse, adaptable skillset. This approach is especially valuable in times of economic uncertainty, when layoffs and industry shifts require flexibility.

If you’re facing a career transition—or just rethinking your next move—here are a few ways to embrace this mindset:

This semester, we’ve been busy strengthening career development opportunities for students. We kicked things off with an espresso bar and résumé reviews by alumni on the first day of class - a great way to provide real-world insights. In February, we hosted an International Student Career Panel and partnered on a Clean Tech and New Energies Career Connections event to help students explore career pathways.

I’d love to host coffee chats between you and our current students. Your career journey—whether traditional or non-linear—holds valuable insights for others navigating today’s job market. These conversations benefit both students launching their careers and those considering their next steps.

Ready to share your experience? Have ideas for building our community? I’d love to hear from you! 

Mecia Emale
Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Professional Development, Rice University School of Social Sciences
memale@rice.edu

MGA students in Paris

Second-year MGA students experienced the trip of a lifetime this past January, bringing what they have learned in the MGA program to the Rice Global Paris Center campus. “The MGA program is designed to prepare our students for the realities of international policymaking, and this inaugural masterclass in Paris exemplifies that mission,” said Rachel Kimbro, dean of the School of Social Sciences. 

MSPE to team up with United Way

This summer, MSPE students will work with a nonprofit through a partnership between United Way and the Kinder Institute. The experience, according to Daniel Potter, director of Kinder's Houston Population Research Center, "will enrich our students through applied data and evaluation work outside the classroom and provide support for a local community organization that is impacting the lives of many with their mission-driven work.”

IEW: International students featured

Every year, International Education Week (IEW), co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, celebrates international students and highlights the importance of international exchange and learning. For IEW on November 18-22, 2024, the School of Social Sciences spotlighted three international MEECON and MGA students who are adding to the rich cultural tapestry of Rice’s student body.

Rice political scientists, economists weigh in on new president’s plans

Just prior to the inauguration, Mark Jones, MGA faculty director, and Ken Medlock, MEECON co-director, provided their expertise and weighed in on policies proposed by the new Trump administration.

Krane and Monaldi receive Baker faculty fellow promotions

The Baker Institute has named Jim Krane (MEECON, MGA) the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Fellow in Middle East Energy Studies and Francisco Monaldi (MEECON) the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy. Congratulations to these prominent faculty members on their accomplishments!

A Day in the Life of MSPE alum Solara Rosales '23

"My experience at Rice University provided me with a strong foundation in policy evaluation, research methods, and data driven decision making, all of which have been critical in my professional career."  - Solara Rosales

A Day in the Life of MEECON alum, Gavin Flanagan '24

"The professional master's program at Rice goes beyond classroom learning—it allows you to network, grow, and apply what you've learned to real-world situations." - Gavin Flanagan

A Day in the Life of MSPE alum Evan Foston '23

"Rice taught me how to connect research with real-world decision-making. It’s one thing to collect data, but it’s another to use that data to make meaningful changes." - Evan Foston

🙏 Ryan Hickman, '18 (MGA) is helping with MGA student recruitment questions.
🎉 Rafael Struve, '19 (MGA) was selected for the 2025 Next Gen Global Leaders Network with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.
🎉 Sydney Hicks '22 (MSPE) started a new role as operations specialist at Esri.
🎉 Zach Keller, '22 (MEECON) hosted a panel for current students interested in careers at Marathon Oil Corporation.
🎉 Evan Foston, '23 (MSPE) started a new role as site coordinator at GEAR UP at UT Austin.
🎉 Olivia Gonzalez, '23 (MSPE) is returning to the Alzheimer’s Association HSETX as an advocacy manager.
🎉 Solara Rosales '23 (MSPE) was promoted to associate project manager at UT Austin Institute for Public School Initiatives.
🎉 Narciso Cano, '24 (MEECON) is in a new role as associate, market analytics at AEGIS Hedging.
🎉 Gavin Flanagan, '24 (MEECON) was hired at Siemens Energy Graduate Program, working in market applications.
🙏 Aniko Fushimi, '24 (MEECON) is helping with international student recruitment.

Let us share in your successes!

Our alumni network is growing, and we want to keep in touch and hear from you!  Whether you just graduated last year or graduated in our first cohorts, please self-nominate or nominate a classmate to be featured in an upcoming alumni newsletter or other type of communications.  There are plenty of ways to acknowledge the many ways our alumni are impacting the world around us.

Rice University School of Social Sciences | 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005