New technology TA positions empower students to partner with professors

Based on his experience transitioning to dual-delivery classes when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring, Tom Phalen — a Professor in the Practice in the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) — knew the juggling act that hybrid courses demand: delivering quality material in class while also managing the technical aspects of online learning tools like Canvas and Zoom.

Continue reading

An inside look at Rice’s outdoor classrooms for in-person classes

“Our goal at the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) was to create an environment where students can learn technical and leadership skills at an elite, Rice-like, online engineering camp, one with a low student-teacher ratio,” said C. Fred Higgs III, RCEL faculty director, vice provost for academic affairs and John and Ann Doerr Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Continue reading

From the Student Director: RCEL shows you how to develop the leader in YOU.

There isn’t just one type of leader, and RCEL teaches you that from the beginning. In RCEL classes, you’ll learn a lot about your personal attributes, and you’ll use that information as you develop into the kind of engineering leader that works best for you. Furthermore, whether your goal is to enter industry, academia, entrepreneurship, or research, RCEL can support you and will give you the tools to succeed in those pathways.

Continue reading

RCEL’s online camp offers high school students technical, leadership skills

“Our goal at the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) was to create an environment where students can learn technical and leadership skills at an elite, Rice-like, online engineering camp, one with a low student-teacher ratio,” said C. Fred Higgs III, RCEL faculty director, vice provost for academic affairs and John and Ann Doerr Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Continue reading
Rice Center for Engineering Leadership

“A dream worth giving oxygen to…”

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was pinned down by two Minneapolis, Minnesota police officers, as a third one kneeled on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds until he was dead. The victim was African American, handcuffed and unarmed, and the police officers were White. A fourth police officer stood guard to prevent interference from pleading civilian onlookers. Although safely tucked away for days in my home due to COVID-19, one can imagine that it still did not take long for me to feel the existential threat here because when they called in Mr. Floyd’s description – Black, 6-4, around 220 pounds – they were calling in my same description. 

Continue reading