Peter Rodriguez

From 2016-2026, Peter Rodriguez was dean of Rice Business, which today includes the Jones Graduate School of Business and the Virani Undergraduate School of Business. 

During his tenure at Rice, he doubled MBA enrollment and increased the number of tenure-track faculty by more than 40%. He introduced Rice’s first online graduate degree and launched the Hybrid MBA program. Under his leadership, McNair Hall was renovated — complete with a new public art installation — and construction began on a second building, scheduled to open in 2026. He also oversaw the founding of the business major in 2021 and the naming of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business in 2024. Additional accomplishments include forming a new operations faculty group, launching the faculty insights magazine Rice Business Wisdom, expanding Rice’s entrepreneurship initiatives and integrating a global field experience into the curriculum for every MBA student.

An economist and professor of strategic management, Rodriguez taught MBA classes on leadership and instilled the core values of being attentive, responsive and kind as central to the culture of Rice Business.

Peter holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University and a B.S. in economics from Texas A&M University. While at Princeton, he studied under Ben Bernanke, former chairman of The Federal Reserve.

Rodriguez came to Rice from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business where he was a professor, senior associate dean for MBA programs and chief diversity officer. His research interests include corruption, globalization, economic development and social institutions. He worked for several years as an associate in the Global Energy Group at JP Morgan Chase.

A Texas native, Peter and his wife Kathleen have three children: Gabriella, Sam and Michael. You can follow him on Instagram and X.
 

HEAR FROM THE DEAN ON OWL HAVE YOU KNOW

Houston Loves Risk Takers

Peter Rodriguez reflects on a decade of transformation at Rice Business, sharing the lessons he’s learned guiding a rapidly growing business school, his take on AI and the evolving energy landscape, and details on the school’s new building.

The Intersection of Art and Business

Alison Weaver and Peter Rodriguez give the inside scoop on building Rice Business’ public art collection, its alignment with our teaching approach, the overarching theme, and the significance of public art.

Attentive, Responsive and Kind

Peter Rodriguez, our former dean, discusses the future of the business school, who his mentors are, and a new appointment that will give him a front-row seat to what’s happening in the economy.