Pillar 2
Leadership and Oversight
We are committed to ensuring that every member of our Rice Business community is confident that the leadership team is addressing strategic priorities related to diversity, equity and inclusion, including the creation of equitable policies and practices that foster a sense of belonging, where every person feels wholly accepted, included and valued, especially those who are from historically excluded and/or under-resourced populations in higher education.
Rice Business Senior Leadership Team
Dean Peter Rodriguez has cultivated a diverse senior leadership team with the breadth of experiences and perspectives that fosters inclusive, innovative and equitable decision-making.
Dean-Level Leadership of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In 2021, Dean Rodriguez appointed Professor Constance Porter as senior associate dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to lead the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Senior Associate Dean Porter’s appointment signaled the expansion in the scope of the mission of the pre-existing Diversity and Inclusion Office. Under Senior Associate Dean Porter's leadership, the Office for DEI has expanded to include four other staff members including an executive director, director, DEI specialist and office administrator.
Rice Business Office for DEI Collaborates with University Partners
The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion actively partners with DEI-focused leaders across the university to collectively share best practices, collaborate on joint efforts and initiatives as well as ensure that Rice Business DEI-related policies and practices are visible and aligned at the institutional level. Key partners in our collaborative efforts include Professor Alexander Byrd, vice provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion who provides strategic leadership for DEI initiatives; and Dr. Richard Anthony Baker, executive director for HR People, Equity, & Development, University Title IX Coordinator, Office of Access, Equity and Equal Opportunity.
Rice Business Alumni Association
The Rice Business Alumni Association Board DEI Task Force took a proactive measure to integrate DEI thinking into board operations. To that end, DEI facilitator Sonya Ware of Blue Beagle Consulting was hired to bring DEI into deeper focus in FY23.
Sonya was a guest speaker at our board retreat as well as several board meetings. Topics covered included inclusive leadership, creating belonging by including non-dominant groups, and imposter syndrome. She also worked with each of our board task forces to make sure that their work was inclusive.
The board also created the expectation that each meeting would begin with a DEI moment, and a different board member has presented these at each board meeting thus far. Learn more about the Rice Business Alumni Association.
Members of the Rice Business Alumni Association Board. Note: not all members of the board are captured in this photo.
Office of Business and Operations
In 2022, Dean Rodriguez appointed Dean Christian Rafidi as Chief Business Officer and Associate Dean to lead the newly established Office Of Business and Operations. Over the past year, Dean Rafidi has grown the office to include:
- Business Information Center: Nicolas Oscar Castellanos, Director
- Building Operations: Deanna Golden, Senior Director
- Events and Venue Management: Victoria Nguyen, Manager, Events and Venue Management Operations and Barbara Brave, Manager, Event Logistics & Venue Management
- Faculty Services Administration: Owen Amadin, Director
- Financial Services: Phalon Ervin, Sr. Procurement Analyst
- Office of Technology
- Staff Administration: Jessica Krom, Director
Chief Business Officer and Associate Dean Christian Rafidi speaks about the impact of DEI on business and operations at Rice Business.