Leaving Rice after graduation was bittersweet for Ishmeal Bradley ’03. Because he wanted to maintain his connection to the university and ensure a unique Rice experience for future students, Bradley began volunteering for Rice while still in medical school. He worked with the Office of Admissions doing high school visits and alumni interviews, and he continued this work through his residency at NYU.
In 2014, Bradley was inspired by the alumni volunteer efforts he saw in Humanitas, the alumni magazine for the School of Humanities, so he reached out to contacts on campus to see how he could help. He was directed towards the newly-formed group, Rice Alumni in Medicine (RAM), and he joined the governing board.
Now, as RAM’s president, Bradley oversees their year-long mentoring program and recently directed the group’s first virtual pinning ceremony. The Rice pinning ceremony, a yearly tradition, honors graduating students who are entering health professions. RAM also awards two scholarships at the event — one for service and one for research.
I volunteer because I am proud to be a Rice alum. I am proud of my college and the education I received. Rice has provided so many of us with a platform that launched us into the world and into meaningful careers. We can trace our success to our time at Rice, so giving back is a great way to say thank you.
If you are interested in volunteering for an alumni affinity group, please visit our volunteer opportunities page to read more and sign up.