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Dear Alumni and Friends of the School of Social Sciences,
Greetings from the middle of another busy and productive fall semester! Rice has recently been making headlines about all the phenomenal global work the university is involved in, and the School of Social Sciences plays an integral part. From teaching in Paris, Bangkok, and Venice to launching a new Global Affairs major, our School is providing students with unmatched learning opportunities and making its mark on the world.
This semester, we welcomed a large cohort of new faculty, who showcased their innovative research in the September Research Relay as well as the October Research Relay. The October relay kicked off this year’s Statistical Training and Research Techniques at Rice (better known as STaRT@Rice),
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which provides social sciences graduate students with an enriching and unforgettable learning experience.
Rice is gearing up for this year’s Alumni Weekend, and the School of Social Sciences will be holding our annual reception on Friday, November 7 at 5:00 pm in Kraft Hall 130. This is always a vibrant and joyful event that allows alumni to connect with former classmates and faculty. I hope to see you all there!
I encourage you to stay connected on our social media platforms and keep an eye out for upcoming events, such as the Economics RISE Lecture on March 3, 2026, featuring Kenneth Rogoff. If you are looking for other ways to get involved, please reach out to our director of development, Sylvia LeBlanc.
With so much going on in our School, it is impossible to cover it all in this letter! Please read on for more highlights of the exciting ways we are pushing the boundaries of research and teaching, both here in Houston and across the globe.
With best wishes for a great fall,
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Rachel Kimbro ’01, Dean, School of Social Sciences
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Welcoming nine new faculty members
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This semester, the School of Social Sciences welcomed nine tenure-track faculty members to six of its departments. These faculty provide expertise in unique and innovative areas that support the School’s strategic plan and mission to shape the future and connect teaching and research with policy for the betterment of society.
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Stein honored through new civic engagement fund
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As a tribute to the legacy of beloved political scientist Bob Stein, Rice launched the Robert M. Stein Fund for Social Policy Research. The fund will help create opportunities for students and faculty to engage in research and partnerships that strengthen civic life — causes that Stein championed throughout his 46-year career at Rice.
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The MGA aims to expand students’ worldview
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Rice Magazine recently highlighted the Master of Global Affairs, which provides students with experiential learning, setting them up for successful careers in international contexts. Furthermore, as Tony Payan, a Baker Institute expert in U.S.-Mexico relations and cross-border studies, noted, "A real strength...is the program’s diversity of students."
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The exciting growth of Rice archaeology
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The archaeology program is expanding, marked by the addition of new faculty and a large grant from the European Research Council for a project that includes Jeff Fleisher as a senior staff member. Rice archaeology focuses on Africa and the African diaspora, spanning a broad geographic and chronological range.
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MEECON powered by Baker Institute partnership
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The Master of Energy Economics (MEECON) is the result of a partnership between the Baker Institute and the School of Social Sciences, providing students opportunities to engage in meaningful experiences. Such experiences include the Future Leaders Program that features top corporate leaders. Photo: Brandon Martin
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Rice Social Sciences at Venice International
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The School of Social Sciences is at the heart of a new partnership between Rice and Venice International University (VIU). Faculty will teach in VIU's globalization program, sharing their expertise on global challenges, such as public health and sustainability, with students from across the globe. Photo: Brandi Smith
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Awards, Accolades, and Accomplishments
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Margaret Beier, psychological sciences, was awarded the inaugural School of Psychology Distinguished Alumni Award from Georgia Tech.
Luz Garcini, psychological sciences, was elected to the board of directors at Mental Health America.
Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman, sociology, received the award for Best Advocacy Film at the International Black and Diversity Film Festival in Toronto for "Journey Towards Justice."
Liz Roberto, sociology, received an NSF CAREER award to support her research on how features of the built environment shape patterns of neighborhood separation and access to opportunity across U.S. cities.
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Anthropologist uses AI to uncover new clues about early humans
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In a recent study, Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo, anthropology, used AI to analyze tooth mark patterns on Homo habilis fossils. Domínguez-Rodrigo and his team found that the AI consistently identified leopard bite marks, which suggests that Homo habilis were still prey, about 2 million years ago. The finding challenges the longstanding belief that these early humans were predators.
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Economist Makes the Case for Early Childhood Investment
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Flávio Cunha, economics, sheds light on the "30 million word gap," asserting that conversation, not just income, shapes early childhood development. He designs scalable, real-world parenting interventions, such as the Jumpstart Program (JSP) with Alief ISD. Cunha's work aims to use economic policy to improve home environments and enhance school readiness for economically disadvantaged children.
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Housing instability shapes lives while hitting some harder than others
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Research by Brielle Bryan, sociology, found that four types of housing instability (frequent moves, lack of permanent residence, living in temporary quarters, and falling behind on payments) indicated negative outcomes in health, employment, and family life, but these experiences often did not overlap. The study also found that the impacts of housing instability vary across race, gender, and socioeconomic class.
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New study seeks to help bring fairness into AI-powered hiring
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Tianjun Sun, psychological sciences, received an NSF award to conduct research that explores fairness in AI-powered job interviews. The project will study bias at three levels and aims to help establish benchmarks for more ethical AI hiring tools and offer employers recommendations for designing systems that better serve human purposes.
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Students are seeking — and finding — opportunities for international learning
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Rice is expanding global learning, and social sciences students are eager to take part. Arryana Lyon, cognititve sciences, explored clean water access in Brazil; Cory Voskanian, social policy analysis, investigated AI’s potential to prevent natural disasters in Taiwan; and Noor Ayache, who is minoring in politics, law, and social thought, spent time in Jordan working on Arabic.
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Binkovitz, pscyhological sciences, earns Pulitzer Prize
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Leah Binkovitz, sociology Ph.D. student, was part of the Houston Chronicle editorial board that won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. Their series, "The Tracks We Leave Behind," used Binkovitz's academic research on segregation and neighborhood barriers to expose how train blockages in Houston disproportionately affect working-class and minority neighborhoods.
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Social sciences student researchers aim to make ‘real impact’
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The Social Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Symposium (SSURS) fosters curiosity and innovative research skills, showcasing student work aimed at real-world impact. 2025 topics included gender and anxiety's influence on memory (Best Overall Poster, Ahi Ajayan) and Alzheimer's disease in Latinx communities (Best Poster-Research Methods, Giselle Rodriguez-Chavez). Photo: Kat Cosley Trigg
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Plae Wyatt, MGA, awarded for community service, nominated for captaincy
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Rice football player Plae Wyatt, MGA, was named to the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team® for his notable commitment to community service. Wyatt co-founded the Plae Wyatt Free Youth Football Camp and helps with his father's nonprofit, the McKinney Yellow Jackets, to support at-risk youth. He is also a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy and Good Works Team captain. Photo: Rice Athletics
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New Rice board of trustees members include two social sciences alumni
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Rice recently welcomed three new trustees, including two economics alumni: A. Lanham Napier '93, technology entrepreneur and CEO of BuildGroup, and Charlos C. Ward '98, a product developer at Replenishment. These alumni, along with Bill Neville '84, bring expertise, commitment to innovation, and strong track records of service to Rice and society at large.
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Babalola '11 '15 honored with international award for archaeology research
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Abidemi Babatunde Babalola '11 '15, anthropology and African archaeology, won the Dan David Prize for his innovative work, which demonstrates that highly sophisticated glassmaking developed independently in West Africa with a workshop centered in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Babalola's research reframes early West African societies as central players in early global trade networks.
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DeCaprio '25 Hired at Astros as Content Creator
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Recent grad Liza DeCaprio '25, sport management, was hired as the full-time social media coordinator for Major League Baseball team the Houston Astros. DeCaprio's success was built on her coursework, particularly the sport management practicum, where she learned practical job skills, as well as her experience creating social media content for Rice Baseball, which she used to enhance the team's presence.
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Haymon ’65: A Lifelong Commitment to Rice
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Social Sciences Advisory Board member Cordell Haymon '65, economics, is recognized for his 45-year streak of annual giving to Rice, ensuring future students benefit from the same transformative education he received. Haymon, a lawyer and community advocate, has been a dedicated supporter of the School of Social Sciences, the Rice Fund, the Rice Investment, and the Owl Club Athletic Fund.
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