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A letter from Assistant Dean Abbey Godley
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Dear MEECON, MGA, and MSPE Alumni, Students, and Friends,
Welcome to our inaugural e-newsletter! I am thrilled to connect with you all in this format once a semester to share program updates, events, alumni spotlights, and opportunities to engage with our current students and faculty.
This fall marked a special milestone as we welcomed our 10th cohorts to the Master of Energy Economics and Master of Global Affairs! Over the past decade, these programs have evolved into something truly special thanks to the passion, dedication, and accomplishments of our students, faculty, alumni, and friends. In short, we could not have done this without you!
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As part of our growth, it’s also important we take a moment to share some staffing updates as you may not be familiar with our growing operation behind the scenes:
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- Mecia Emale- Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Professional Development
- Breezy Landman- Program Administrator- Global Affairs and Social Policy Evaluation
- Kim Philippi- Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
- Lexi Phillips- Program Administrator- Energy Economics
- Celeste Rogers- Events and Social Media
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We have an excellent team, and I hope that you are able to see the results of their hard work.
In addition to the highlights below, we’ve had a busy and productive past few semesters. From MGA hosting the 2024 NASPAA Student Simulation Competition to alumni inviting our MEECON and MGA students to ExxonMobil, our students are benefitting from a wealth of experiential learning preparing them for what to expect in the workforce and beyond.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge our recently formed Board of Affiliates. We are incredibly grateful for their support in offering their time and talent to provide guidance to our current students. Please feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in getting involved.
Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey, and here’s to another decade of growth, collaboration, and shared success!
Sincerely,
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Abbey Godley Assistant Dean for Student Programs Rice University School of Social Sciences
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Welcome to The Professional Edge
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Hello! I'm Mecia Emale, Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Professional Development in the School of Social Sciences. In my role, I'm dedicated to preparing our professional master's students for a fulfilling career upon graduation.Through this newsletter, I’ll be sharing insights, tips, and strategies designed to help you stay ahead in your career. Drawing from my experience working with students and employers, I aim to provide actionable advice on everything from industry trends to professional development.
In this first edition, I’d like to focus on reskilling in light of AI’s growing influence in the workplace. I recently attended a panel on this topic, and here are five key takeaways you can use to stay competitive:
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- Embrace AI as a Tool, Not a Threat: AI can automate predictable, repetitive tasks, allowing you to concentrate on more complex and creative aspects of your work. Explore how AI tools can streamline your processes and boost your productivity, ultimately enabling you to focus on higher-value activities and strategic decision-making.
- Understand AI’s Role in Reshaping Your Industry: AI is not just a technology trend—it's reshaping job roles and the structure of the workforce. Adapt by staying informed about how AI is shaping your field, and identify opportunities where your unique skills add value.
- Integrate AI Discussions into Strategic Planning: AI is now a topic in boardrooms and C-suites, emphasizing its strategic importance. Think about how AI can be integrated into your organization’s long-term goals and strategies. Foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation to stay competitive and retain top talent.
- Continuous Learning Is Non-Negotiable: The rapid advancement of AI requires a commitment to ongoing education. Stay curious and actively seek out resources and training to understand new AI applications and their implications for your role. Embrace a growth mindset to remain agile and prepared for future developments.
- Embrace the Human Element: While AI excels in processing data and automating tasks, it cannot replace human attributes like creativity, empathy, and leadership. Focus on developing these uniquely human skills, which are increasingly valued in the workplace. Adaptability, emotional intelligence, and strong communication abilities will set you apart in an AI-driven world and help you excel in roles where human interaction and judgment are essential.
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I hope these insights are helpful as you navigate your own professional journey. I look forward to sharing more career development tips and strategies in future newsletters. If you want to connect or engage with current students, feel free to reach out—I’d love to hear from you!
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MEECON student García Pérez awarded competitive Mercatus Center fellowship
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Last May, García Pérez, a recently enrolled student in the MEECON program, was notified that he was a recipient of the prestigious Frédéric Bastiat Fellowship awarded by the Mercatus Center, which would run for a year starting in August 2024.
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A summer of global experiences for MGA students
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Over the summer, MGA students were able to travel internationally to two conferences where they engaged with peers and leaders from around the world, learning skills in collaboration, global negotiation, and service learning.
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Medlock discusses impact of Hurricane Beryl
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Ken Medlock, co-director of the MEECON program, James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, and senior director of the Center for Energy Studies, was available to discuss the widespread impacts of Hurricane Beryl as an expert in energy economics.
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Monago Serves as Lecturer at AI and Sustainability Event
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Tilsa Ore Monago, MEECON lecturer and fellow in energy and market design at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, taught a lecture to undergraduate students and faculty from Brazil who spent a week on campus exploring the role of artificial intelligence in sustainability and natural disaster resiliency practices, amid Hurricane Beryl.
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A Day in the Life of MGA alum Kat Khosrowyar '22
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"The program emphasized the importance of having a global perspective, which has allowed me to approach issues with a more comprehensive understanding of international dynamics." - Kat Khosrowyar
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Gunnarsdóttir, '23 represented Rice, Iceland in Olympics
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Erna Gunnarsdóttir represented her home country of Iceland and the Rice MGA program in the shot put at the 2024 Paris Olympics. “I was just insanely happy. I was jumping with joy, quite literally,” Gunnarsdóttir said.
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Q&A with MEECON alum, Ty Umoh '19
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"I really enjoyed meeting other smart work professionals with great backgrounds, who not only enriched classroom discussions, but were humble enough to ask questions and work collaboratively." - Ty Umoh
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Q&A with MSPE alum, Aresha Davwa '22
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"I would say that if you ever read research as a part of your job, whether that is in the public policy space or nonprofit space or even private sector, the MSPE program is extremely valuable." - Aresha Davwa
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A Day in the Life of Angel Smith '22
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"As someone whose work is strategy-based, the intersectional perspective I gained while in the MGA Program has allowed me to understand policy, strategy, and their implications in a deeper, more holistic, and more critically analytic way." - Angel Smith
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Q&A with MSPE alum, Sang Ni '22
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"The MSPE program seemed like a profound avenue to delve deeper into the mechanics of policy-making and its broader implications, allowing me to be more informed and impactful in my professional endeavors." - Sang Ni
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Q&A with MEECON alum, Vicki Mak-Romo '17
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"With such a complex operating context, I realized that I needed further technical skills to prepare me for more analytical and specialized jobs to shape policy in the energy sector. The MEECON program was perfect for this." - Vicki Mak-Romo
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Today is the last day to register for the 2024 Statistical Training and Research Techniques (STaRT@Rice) program, which will take place at Rice University on October 11-14. The four-day program aims to increase expertise via exposure in applied workshops. Participants learn how to ask better questions about the research process and develop important professional skills. All alumni are eligible for academic pricing. Spaces are limited, so you are encouraged to register today!
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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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Rice University School of Social Sciences | 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005
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