Alaina Schuhsler

Alaina Schuhsler is a strategic communicator and relationship builder with more than 20 years of experience advancing mission-driven organizations. As senior director of external relations – development at Rice Business, she plays a key leadership role in fundraising and engagement strategy for the school’s campaign to construct a new home for Rice Business. She also leads the Rice Business Fund and annual giving team, while advancing major gift development across strategic priorities including energy, artificial intelligence and health care.

Known for her clarity under pressure and collaborative leadership style, Schuhsler builds high-trust relationships with internal and external stakeholders and cultivates strong, mission-aligned teams. She is known for mentoring talent, building inclusive team cultures and aligning people around shared goals. Throughout her career, she has partnered closely with boards and senior leadership, shaping executive communications and helping organizations navigate periods of growth and change.

Schuhsler earned her Executive MBA from Rice University in 2025, where she held multiple leadership roles and completed a global elective in energy transition at the Rice Paris campus. She served as alumni and community relations liaison for the Rice Business Student Association for Executives and was a member of the external relations committee for the 25th annual Women in Leadership Conference, where she helped secure corporate sponsorships, build community partnerships and shape conference programming. She co-directs the Valhalla Investment Network, an angel investing group for Rice MBA students and alumni, and served as a judge and investor in the Rice Business Plan Competition. She was recognized with a cohort leadership award for her contributions to the Rice community and was an active member of the Rice Business Golf Club.

In her final semester, Schuhsler worked on a global consulting project focused on AI integration and digital transformation for a Latin American digital marketing and communications agency. She also wrote a series of entrepreneurship cases developed for future use in MBA courses, based on real-world founder interviews and focused on strategic decision-making and business growth. Outside of Rice, she advises select companies on stakeholder engagement, growth strategy and communications. She holds undergraduate degrees in corporate communications and public affairs (public relations) and Spanish from Southern Methodist University.