A letter from Assistant Dean Abbey Godley
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Dear MEECON, MGA, and MSPE Alumni, Students, and Friends,
Happy New Year, and I hope 2026 is off to a great start for you and that the year ahead brings exciting opportunities and plenty of reasons to celebrate—both personally and professionally. Our School of Social Sciences professional master’s programs are off to a great start, and we are enjoying a productive and energizing spring semester.
Our current students continue to undergo rigorous academic training bolstered by unmatched experiential learning. We just returned from a second successful International Masterclass in Paris with our second-year MGA students, the MEECON cohort has undertaken several site visits to learn about different private and public sector industry organizations, and MSPE students are teaming up again with the Kinder Institute for Urban Research to provide data evaluation for local nonprofit organizations. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch our students bring theory to life as they engage in these hands-on experiences.
Interested in staying involved? Don’t forget to reach out to Mecia Emale, our Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Professional Development, to learn more about ways you can volunteer your time and talents to support our students. Whether you are a recent grad or from one of our first cohorts, our students love to connect with you and learn about your career paths. Additionally, I encourage you to keep an eye out for upcoming events like the Doyle Arnold ’70 Distinguished Guest Lecture Series in Economics on March 3, 2026, featuring Kenneth Rogoff, or the Conversation with John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States on March 17, 2026, hosted by the Baker Institute. We would love to see you there.
I hope you find inspiration in this newsletter – from Mecia’s valuable professional tips to the stories about our incredible students, faculty, and alumni. We’re grateful to stay connected with such a special alumni community and wish you a successful year ahead.
Sincerely,
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Abbey Godley
Assistant Dean for Student Programs, Rice University School of Social Sciences
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If you’re anything like me, the word “networking” probably makes you pause. Not because you don’t understand its value, but because it often feels transactional, performative, or like another obligation competing for your attention.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about a different framing. In The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Man, the central idea is simple: professional success is less about what you extract and more about the value you consistently put into the system. It’s a quick read and worth your time.
Whether just starting out or further along in your career, this shift in perspective can be a game-changer. When we stop approaching relationships with an eye toward what we might get and instead focus on how we can be genuinely useful, our professional world expands in quieter but more durable ways.
Over time, that generosity builds something more valuable than a network. It builds trust. And when work becomes complicated, ambiguous, or high-stakes, it’s that trust that makes collaboration possible.
Here are a few low-lift, high-impact ways to keep your professional ecosystem healthy:
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- Be a Door-Opener: Think back to the person who took a chance on you early on. Now that you’re in a position of influence, being the one who says, “You should talk to X,” can meaningfully change someone else’s trajectory. It helps a student or junior colleague while reinforcing a culture of generosity and discernment.
- The “Fresh Eyes” Check: It’s easy to get stuck in the “way we’ve always done it.” One of the best ways to stay sharp is to talk with someone outside your immediate bubble. These short conversations often surface perspectives or questions you might not have considered, simply because you are too close to the work.
- Curate Your Own Board of Advisors: You don’t need anything formal. Identify two or three trusted peers who understand the pressures of leadership and decision-making. Grabbing coffee once a quarter to talk shop honestly can be far more valuable than maintaining a wide but shallow network.
- Stay Close to the Source: Engaging with current Rice students isn’t just about giving back. Our students are actively learning tools and approaches that will shape the field in the coming years. Staying in conversation with them keeps your thinking current and grounded.
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Ultimately, the Go-Giver approach reminds us that a career isn’t a solo climb. It’s sustained through trust and shared momentum. I’m here to help facilitate those connections. Please reach out if you are interested in engaging with our current students - whether through a coffee chat, a panel, or a simple introduction.
Mecia Emale
Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Professional Development, Rice University School of Social Sciences
memale@rice.edu
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The MGA program expands students' worldview
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Rice Magazine recently featured the MGA program, noting its diverse cohorts and flexible curriculum that expands worldviews. The article discusses how students undergo experiential learning and gain expertise in sectors like energy and security, bolstered by global opportunities such as international masterclasses at the Rice Global Paris Center.
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MSPE student volunteers for Houston marathon
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Several Rice students supported the 2026 Houston marathon last month, gaining hands-on experience in race operations and media logistics. MSPE student Jackson Moran was one such volunteer, who functioned as a split clock operator, applying his athletic expertise to the prestigious race. Photo: Benjamin Tijerina & Nathan Turman
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MEECON students visit Port Houston
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Last fall, MEECON students visited Port Houston and met with the port's Chief Infrastructure Officer, Rich Byrnes. The immersive experience taught students about the crucial role of the nation's largest waterborne tonnage port—a fundamental economic driver for Houston, Texas, and the U.S. Photo: Lexi Phillips
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MGA students address migration challenge in global competition
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Four MGA students teamed up to compete in the Geneva Challenge, which invites master’s students from around the world to address a global concern. Their competitive proposal earned them a spot as a semifinalist and shed light on a pressing issue faced by international migrant communities.
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Monaldi featured in TIME magazine
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TIME magazine published an article on how the current administration is handling the aftermath of the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Francisco Monaldi (MEECON), the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy, noted that U.S. revitalization of Venezuela's oil sector could require $100 billion in investments over the next 10 years.
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Mayor Pro Tem teaches MSPE cohort in class and at City Hall
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MSPE students attended a Houston City Council meeting with their professor in the practice, City of Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, MPA. MSPE students had a front row seat to observe, learn, and reflect on the fundamentals of civic engagement and policy making in the nation's fourth largest city. Photo: City Council Staff
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MEECON graduates reflect on their time at Rice
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Natalia Castaño Morales '25 and Brandon García Pérez '25 were featured in a December graduation recap by Rice News. “I’m really thankful for Rice, for the community here and for the diversity of the university and in Houston," said Castaño Morales.
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MGA alum shares how the program has impacted her career
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"I use the research skills and global perspective I gained during the MGA program every day. My role requires constant interaction with diverse stakeholders...The program prepared me extremely well for this." - Melissa Chicaiza '20
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KPF: Kudos, Felicitations, and Props!
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🎉 Hawani Manaye Adugna (MGA '23) started a new position as Risk Management & Practice Assistant at Selendy Gay PLLC.
🎉 Neil Arrieta (MGA '19) started a new position as VP of Sales and Partnerships at Paper Planes.
🎉 Muhannad Ashy (MEECON '25) started a new position as Supervisor of Marine Reliability at Aramco.
🎉 Ekua Boakye-Mensah (MGA '24) started a new position as Business Immigration Paralegal at Chavez & Valko LLP.
🎉 Natalia Castaño Morales (MEECON '25) was promoted to New Ventures Contractor with Chord Energy.
🎉 Aresha Davwa (MSPE '22) started a new position as Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis.
🎉 Cristopher De Luca (MEECON '22) was promoted to Business Manager at NextEra Energy Resources.
🎉 Alejandro Degwitz (MEECON '19) was promoted to Associate Director – Investment Banking – Energy (U.S.) at Scotiabank.
🎉 Anni Duan (MEECON '23) was promoted to Senior Technology Consultant for EY.
🎉 Ishmael Eshun (MEECON '23) started a new position in Commercial Operations - Structured Trading at The AES Corporation.
🎉 Aniko Fushimi (MEECON '24) started a new position as Senior Consultant for Aleph Energy.
🎉 Ryan Grundy (MGA '23) was promoted to Executive Director at Global Livingston Institute.
🎉 James Galan (MGA '26) was accepted as a PhD student in Intelligence, Defense & Cybersecurity Policy at Augusta University.
🎉 Maryam Hassan (MGA '22) started a new position as Client Advisor at Laurel.
🎉 Vincent Hutchinson (MEECON '22) started a new position as Commercial Technology Rep II at Williams.
🎉 Will Janowski (MGA '19) started a new position as Open Data Analyst at Harris County Universal Services.
🎉 Dylan Jones (MGA '19) started a new position as Life Science Laboratory Equipment Sales Representative at BIomedical Solutions, Inc..
🎉 Mikayla Kaake (MEECON '19) started a new position as Right-of-Way Agent at Atmos Energy.
🎉 Grace Kplohi (MEECON '23) was promoted to Reservoir Engineer at NextEra Energy Resources.
🎉 Sofiane Louadah (MEECON '20) was promoted to Manager - Strategy and Transactions at Deloitte.
🎉 Taylor Lunsford (MGA '22) started a new position as History Teacher at Houston ISD.
🎉 Kate Ochoa (MGA '18) was promoted to MC Delivery Manager at Accenture Federal Services.
🎉 Antonia Pagiaziti (MEECON '23) was promoted to Senior Project Engineer at DeepOcean U.S..
🎉 Krishna Raj (MEECON '23) was promoted to AVP, Associate Relationship Manager at PNC.
🎉 Mathilde Saada (MGA '22) started a new position as Founder & Principal at Almaterra Consulting.
🎉 Márcio Saldanha (MGA '23) started a new position as Contracts Manager at ExxonMobil.
🎉 Marcos Samaniego (MEECON '20) was promoted to Director of Academic Planning and Evaluation at TALISIS.
🎉 Ruth Tovar (MGA '21) was promoted to Director of Communications at City of Houston Office of Emergency Management.
🎉 Maria Suarez-Simmons (MGA '23) started a new position as Unconventional P&GA Advisor at ExxonMobil.
🎉 Ke Yang (MEECON '16) was promoted to VP of Data Analytics at Two Sigma.
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Let us share in your successes!
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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.
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