News & Events
Peter Rodriguez, dean of Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business and the Virani Undergraduate School of Business since 2016, today was named the 15th president of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He will begin his new role July 1.
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In The Media
The Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University announced the appointment of Peter Rodriguez as the University’s 15th President. A distinguished economist and transformative academic leader, Rodriguez currently serves as the dean of Rice University’s School of Business. He will begin his presidency at Wake Forest on July 1, 2026.
20 May
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School Updates
Congratulations to Rice Business professor Diana Jue-Rajasingh on being named to Poets&Quants’ 2026 40-Under-40 list, recognizing her innovative teaching and research that help students think critically and lead through uncertainty.
18 May
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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.
A new study co-authored by Rice Business’ Tommy Pan Fang provides the first large-scale statistical analysis of data center location strategies across the United States. It offers policymakers and firms a clearer starting point for understanding how different types of data centers get located in response to economic and strategic incentives.
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.
Poets&Quants highlights 2025’s most disruptive undergraduate startups, showcasing student founders applying business education to launch ventures across tech, health, education and consumer markets.
Rice University ranks first in Texas for 10-year return on investment, with alumni seeing roughly $334,000 in gains. Its strong earnings outcomes keep Rice at the top of both short and long-term ROI comparisons statewide.
Rice Business professor Mijeong Kwon finds that viewing passion for work as a moral virtue can harm employees and teams, leading to guilt, burnout and biased treatment of colleagues who are seen as less passionate.
Rice Business professor Mijeong Kwon argues that moralizing a love of work can undermine workplace well-being. Her research shows that treating intrinsic motivation as a virtue fuels guilt, burnout and biased judgments that disrupt team dynamics.
Rice Business Executive Education strengthens retention by giving leaders practical training in strategy, innovation and digital transformation. Expert faculty offer programs that build capability, support advancement and create real organizational impact.
A panel featuring Rice University provost Amy Dittmar highlighted how universities must actively engage with AI.
In a city that prizes bold ideas and champions risk-taking, the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (LILIE) at Rice University has, over the past decade, become one of the country’s leading academic incubators, launching an array of inventive global ventures born in the Bayou City.
