In the Media
Rice University student-founded companies took home a total of $115,000 in equity-free funding at the annual Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship's H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge last week. 2025 Rice Innovation Fellow Alexandria Carter won the top prize and $50,000 for her startup Bionostic.
“As a result, Fortune’s methodology doesn’t account for the true price tag of an MBA education. That’s particularly noticeable at generous programs like Rice University’s Jones Graduate School, where 95% of students receive support…with the average annual award being $40,000 per year according to the school.”
Congratulations to Robert J. Gaudette on being named President of NRG Energy, and on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 30, 2026. Rob is a distinguished Rice Business alum and continues to give back to the school through the Board of Advisors and joined us this year as a speaker at the Rice Energy Finance Summit.
New research co-authored by Jing Zhou finds that generative AI can enhance employee creativity—but mainly for those with strong metacognition. Employees who actively plan, monitor and refine their thinking benefit most from AI, highlighting the need to pair AI tools with training that develops these skills.
In less than a decade, Rodriguez has transformed Rice Business in nearly every dimension. Beyond creating a thriving undergraduate offering, he has overseen a 192% increase in student enrollment. The growth stems from a doubling of MBA students and the launch of an online MBA—the university’s first online degree—along with a hybrid MBA option.