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Dear Alumni, Faculty, Staff, and Friends of the School of Social Sciences,
As you are all aware, Rice is lively and abuzz with excitement this time of year! The energy on campus, leading up to summer and the upcoming commencement ceremonies, is palpable, and it is exciting to envision the ways in which our graduates will go on to change the world. With the anticipation of commencement just around the corner, a calendar of events quickly filling up, and a long to-do list that seems to continuously evolve, it is refreshing to take a moment to pause and reflect on the incredible semester we’ve had here at the School of Social Sciences.
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You may have noticed more targeted messaging from us over the past year, focusing on a mission-driven theme of “Shaping the Future” (or, for the social media savvy, #ShapingTheFuture). This intentional message aims to convey that the work we are doing with our students is truly changing the world for the better through innovative social sciences research and experiential learning.
Speaking of shaping the future, I hope you all have had a chance to read “A Thriving Future” from the Spring 2024 issue of Rice Magazine, which features important research led by our faculty. I am also excited to announce that we are involved in two of five research centers that have been funded by Rice; the Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience (CFAR) is led by Jim Elliott, sociology, and Dominic Boyer, anthropology, and the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies is a collaboration with the School of Humanities, co-led by Leslie Schwindt-Bayer, political science. While we are on the topic of centers, I invite you to take a moment to watch a video on Sherwin K. Bryant, as he discusses his role as director of the Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS), his vision for the center, and this year’s Black History Month events hosted by CAAAS.
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Earlier this month, Rice held its annual 24-Hour Challenge. This year, our very own Social Sciences Advisory Board member and alum Walt Greenberg ’78 committed to a gift of $300,000 if over 4,000 alumni and students donated to the challenge, and I am happy to report that the challenge had 4,505 donors! Moreover, because of supporters like you, we raised over $70,000 for the School of Social Sciences Dean’s Discretionary Fund! Thank you to everyone who participated in the challenge, and a special thank you to Walt for his generous support for our School.
Taking on the monumental charge of shaping the future is no easy feat, one that could not be embarked on without the brilliant wisdom of our faculty, the tireless efforts of our staff, and the invaluable leadership of our Advisory Board, pictured here. I look forward to getting to meet with many of you during future events (like this month's lunch and lecture that was held in Dallas!), and I invite you to read on for the latest news from the School; in doing so, I hope that you are as inspired as I am about the ways in which our community is shaping the future.
With best wishes for a great spring and summer,
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Rachel Kimbro, Dean, School of Social Sciences
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School of Social Sciences Advisory Board members at the Spring 2024 meeting
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School to launch Public Service Practicum, led by Parker '78 and Emmett '71
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The School of Social Sciences is excited to announce the launch of the Public Service Practicum, which will start during the Fall 2024 semester under the Gateway Program. The course will be co-taught by Mayor Annise Parker '78 and Judge Ed Emmett '71.
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Fred Oswald serves on panel during AI House Davos
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Fred Oswald, psychological sciences, was a panelist on "The Impact of U.S. and E.U. Regulation on Business and Society" in January at AI House Davos, a multi-stakeholder platform for responsible AI progress, held during the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, Switzerland.
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New York Times features book by Rusk and
Ragsdale
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"The American Nonvoter," a book by Professor Emeritus Jerrold Rusk and the late Dean Lyn Ragsdale was featured in a recent New York Times article. Their book discusses the population of nonvoting Americans and and aims to disprove prevailing assumptions on the topic.
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Rice Sport Management students work NFL
Honors
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Sport management students had the opportunity to work as red carpet talent escorts at the 2024 NFL Honors. “We’re so fortunate to have made a deep connection with the company that hires talent escorts every year...These are truly unforgettable opportunities for our students.” - Tom Stallings; Photo: Dept. of Sport Management
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Old bones come alive at Rice archaeology workshop
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The Department of Anthropology co-hosted the sold-out Zooarcheology and Osteology Academy this year. “People came from all over the state to be here — as far away as El Paso — and there was a huge range of participants, from professors to undergrads and hobbyists." - Mary Prendergast; Photo: Gustavo Raskosky/Rice University
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Research Relay features panel on "Innovation in the Social Sciences"
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The latest Research Relay featured innovative faculty research from anthropology, linguistics, psychological sciences, and the Baker Institute. “Research in the social sciences fosters innovation in unique ways with the aim of tackling some of the greatest societal challenges of our time.” - Paul Cherukuri, VPI
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Awards, Accolades, and Accomplishments
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Flávio Cunha, economics, won the Dennis J. Aigner Award from the Journal of Econometrics.
Fred Oswald, psychological sciences, was named to the International Expert Consortium on the Regulation, Economics and Computer Science of Artificial Intelligence.
Jeremy Fiel, sociology, received the 2023 Doris Entwisle Early Career Award for the Sociology of Education Section of the American Sociological Association.
End of Year Awards and Honors
- Christina Diaz, Sociology - Sarah A. Burnett Teaching Prize in the Social Sciences
- Philip Kortum, Psychological Sciences - Sarah A. Burnett Teaching Prize in the Social Sciences
- Eden King, Psychological Sciences - Social Sciences Distinguished Research Award
- Özge Gürcanlı, Psychological Sciences - George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching
- James DeNicco, Economics - George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching
- Fred Oswald, Psychological Sciences - Rice University Faculty Award for Excellence in Professional Service and Leadership
- Jeff Fleisher, Anthropology - Rice University Faculty Award for Excellence in University Service and Leadership
- Cymene Howe, Anthropology - Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Service
- Eduardo Salas, Psychological Sciences - Exceptional Scholar Award for Sustained Excellence
- Gökçe Günel, Anthropology - Provost’s Award for Outstanding Early Career Achievement
- Christopher Fagundes, Psychological Sciences - Provost's Award for Outstanding Faculty Achievement
- Gökçe Günel, Anthropology - OURI Mentor Award / Shapiro Showcase Finalist
- Altha Rodgers, Anthropology - Staff Service Award, 20 Years
- Chris Rodriguez, Dean's Office - Staff Service Award, 20 Years
- Abbey Godley, Dean's Office - Staff Service Award, 15 Years
- Lilibeth Andre, Linguistics - Staff Service Award, 5 Years
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New NSF-funded Rice research to examine how housing subsidies impact childhood education outcomes
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“This study will give us a clearer picture of how receiving a housing choice voucher in Houston shapes families’ neighborhood contexts, children’s school enrollment and mobility as well as students’ short- and long-term educational outcomes.” - Anna Rhodes, sociology
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Are American voters really as polarized as they seem? Rice research suggests yes
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“[W]e found that people are still becoming more negative toward the other party over time. This shows that the increase in negative feelings toward the other party is real and not just because of how the surveys are done.” - Matthew Tyler, political science
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New NASA-funded Rice research will examine how uncrewed aircraft fleets can navigate safely and efficiently
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“While these systems are uncrewed, humans will still play a role in ensuring their operation and safety in airspaces. Our goal with this project is to pinpoint how to assign the various responsibilities to the humans and the autonomous UAS by considering human factors and the capabilities of the system. At the end of this research study, we hope to clearly map out the role humans will play in multi-UAS operations.” - Jing Chen, psychological sciences
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Rice study: AI provides more accurate analysis of prehistoric and modern animals, painting picture of ancient world
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“[W]e are working already on doing things that archaeologists have been unable to do from screening landscapes as they were millions of years ago and discovering new sites, to identifying the specific carnivore types that were interacting with humans, to a better understanding on how fossils were modified by all of them. The consequences to reconstruct how evolution shaped humans cannot be overstated.” - Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo, anthropology
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Student research highlighted during SSURS event
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Earlier this month, the Social Sciences Undergraduate Research + Creative Symposium (SSURS) showcased an impressive lineup of research from 46 students and student teams. Prizes were awarded for poster presentations and oral presentations. The School plans for this to become an annual event.
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Mishra is shaping the future with healthcare economics research
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“If you consider the last time you thought about any healthcare choice, you would have taken some time to figure it out...it's not a very straightforward decision to make. There are a lot of trade-offs, and that's where economics can really help maximize utility over scarce resources.” - Dibya Mishra
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Gateway students spent Spring Break in Thailand to enhance their reserach
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Over Spring Break, students participating in the Gateway International Research Experience had the exciting opportunity to dive headfirst into their research in Thailand. This experiential learning program immerses students in another culture while helping them enhance and connect their research in a global context.
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MGA alum Patel '20 is shaping the future with her sustainable fashion company
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What does one get when they combine a love for fashion, a passion for sustainability, and an enriching experience in the School of Social Sciences’ MGA Program? Hawá Patel '20 has the answer. Patel's business, Api’s Closet, reflects the mission of the School of Social Sciences by tackling the prevalent environmental issue of clothing waste through innovative means.
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Berry Roberson '90 Provides Valuable Insights During Gateway Event
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This semester, Angela Berry Roberson '90, Senior Advisor of the Departmental Office of Civil Rights for USDOT, spoke with students about her experiences at Rice and her path to Washington, D.C. "If you can find something that you're passionate about and make it a career, it's the best. I love getting to do what I do. I know the impact that it has, and that is just so fulfilling." - Angela Berry Roberson
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