From the Dean

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Together, We Will
At Rice Business, we talk a lot about community — the relationships between faculty and students, the bonds among cohorts, and the ways we engage with both the broader Rice campus and the city of Houston. Very little here is done alone. Every program we’ve built — from multiple MBA formats to our undergraduate program to the online MBA — is a product of collaboration.

I was reminded of this collaboration recently when I attended our annual scholarship luncheon in March — a chance for us to recognize the donors who make student journeys through Rice Business possible and the students who earn these scholarships. It’s also a chance to recognize this important aspect of our tight-knit community. When talented and aspiring business students who want and deserve a Rice Business education reach out for financial support, our alumni and the broader Rice Business community steps in to bring that talent forward and make those aspirations a reality. 

That same spirit has shaped two major milestones this year. Our new building, recently “topped out” (see Page 11), was designed from the ground up with community in mind. And the naming of the undergraduate program — the Virani Undergraduate School of Business — reflects a generous gift from Farid and Dr. Asha Virani, Houston business and community leaders who share our belief in preparing the next generation (see Page 42). Their support will fund not only the undergraduate curriculum, but also new cocurricular opportunities, career readiness resources and a dedicated associate dean. 

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In January, we launched a new brand campaign to reflect the core value of community. The “Together, We Will” campaign, which complements our longtime tagline, “You Belong Here,” feels to me like the perfect expression of our culture. I’ve loved seeing it out in the world — billboards around Houston, airport security trays at IAH, and across our social and digital platforms. 

It’s important that prospective and current students alike understand that earning a Rice Business degree means joining a supportive network — expert faculty and staff at the school itself, and a powerful alumni community, bound together by shared experiences and a commitment to helping one another succeed. 

To me, “Together, We Will” is more than a campaign. It’s a rallying cry — one that was shared in partnership with alumni, faculty, staff and students — and a reflection of how we work, dream and build. It also honors everything we’ve accomplished in our first 50 years, together. 

I can’t think of a better way to begin our next chapter. Together, We Will. —Peter