Dean Peter Rodriguez
Entering his nineth year at the helm, Peter Rodriquez has doubled enrollment at the business school and enriched our diverse student body on campus and online. While leading through hurricanes, floods, freezes and a global pandemic, he has built a culture of “attentive, responsive and kind” that defines the school and its community today.
As we look to the coming decade, Peter is working with school leadership on an important strategic planning journey for Rice Business that addresses the constant evolution of global business education and our place in it.
About the Dean
Peter Rodriguez has been dean of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University since 2016. Since then, he has doubled MBA enrollment, grown the tenure-track faculty by more than 40% and introduced the first online graduate degree at Rice, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2023. He also launched a Hybrid MBA program, renovated McNair Hall (including a new public art project), broke ground on a new building set for completion in 2026 and welcomed the Virani Undergraduate School of Business as home to the undergraduate business programs.
His tenure as dean has also ushered in a new Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, established a relationship with The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and increased the enrollment of underrepresented minority students. He formed an operations faculty group, led successful and growing entrepreneurship initiatives at Rice, and integrated a global field experience into the curriculum for every MBA student.
An economist and professor of strategic management, Peter also teaches MBA classes on leadership and has instilled the core values of being attentive, responsive, and kind as central to the culture of Rice Business.
He currently holds a three-year position on The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch board of directors. In this role, he offers insights into regional economic conditions as part of its monetary policy responsibilities. He is also a board member for three nonprofit organizations: Good Reason Houston, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, and Texas 2036.
A recipient of numerous teaching awards from Princeton, Texas A&M and the University of Virginia, Peter holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University and a B.S. in economics from Texas A&M University. He came to Rice from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business where he was a professor, senior associate dean for MBA programs and chief diversity officer. His research interests include corruption, globalization, economic development, and social institutions. He worked for several years as an associate in the Global Energy Group at JP Morgan Chase.
A Texas native, Peter and his wife Kathleen have three children, Gabriella, Sam, and Michael. You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
PODCAST FEATURING DEAN PETER RODRIGUEZ
Business Leaders of America
Dean Rodriguez sits down with host Dylan Bloyed to discuss the future of business education and the evolving landscape of the business world.
Rice Business Wisdom
From the Dean | Commentary
Rice Business' Dean Peter Rodriguez on the power of presenting scientific research in plain language so important ideas are accessible to all.
After Harvey | Commentary
Rice Business Dean Peter Rodriguez reflects on the lessons and surprises brought by Hurricane Harvey.