Anne Chao ’05, ’09 Shapes Rice University Through Service

Anne Chao’s ’05, ’09 steadfast commitment to education and community service has profoundly impacted Rice University and the broader Houston community. With her active participation across various boards and advisory roles, Anne has become a cornerstone of support and advocacy within the Rice community.

Anne’s dedication to Rice stems from a deep passion for education and service. After earning her Ph.D. later in life, raising a family and traveling, Anne became an adjunct lecturer at Rice and helped establish Rice’s Houston Asian American Archive. These experiences enhance her work in advisory roles. “I have one foot in academia and another in the community through various nonprofit boards, so I see things from both perspectives and try to help wherever support is needed,” she said.

Anne’s journey with the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality (CSWGS) began through a course on poverty, justice and human capability taught by her friend Diana Strassmann, Carolyn and Fred McManis Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Humanities. Impressed by the program, Anne joined the CSWGS board and has been a dedicated member for years. “It’s important to educate students about gender inequality, especially considering the violence that still exists in the 21st century,” she said. Her involvement extends beyond meetings, as she works to enhance the center's impact and address gender issues.

Beyond her work with CSWGS, Anne contributes to the humanities advisory board, supporting and improving the school’s programs. As a humanities academic divisional advisor for Lovett College, she advocates for the importance of studying humanities. “To better understand the human condition, you need to study humanities, history and philosophy,” Anne explained. “Regardless of your career — scientist, engineer, doctor or financial analyst — humanities courses are vital.”

Anne’s dedication to Rice extends to the Shepherd School of Music, where she has served on the advisory board for over a decade. Recently, she has taken on a prominent role, co-chairing the 50th-anniversary celebration of the school, honoring the school’s legacy and contributions. “Our role is to design the program and bring together as many community members and supporters as possible to celebrate the Shepherd School,” she said. “These institutions, such as the Shepherd School of Music, are amazing jewels in Rice's collection, and celebrating them not only honors their long-standing impact but also reminds the Houston community of the richness of our local organizations and their significant contributions.”

Her connection to the Shepherd School is also personal, as her son, a former Rice chemical engineering student, also took many courses there. “We’ve established a scholarship in his name to support this wonderful institution,” Anne added. Committed to giving back, Anne and her family have made significant contributions to various organizations on the Rice University campus, reflecting their support for the university's mission.

Anne’s influence also reaches to the Moody Center for the Arts, where she has been involved since its early days as a Rice art gallery. Her initial work with Kimberly Davenport, formerly the chief curator at the Moody, helped build support for the center, and she now serves on its advisory board working alongside Alison Weaver, the Suzanne Deal Booth Executive Director of the Moody. "It is great to see Alison build up the Moody Center to a prominent art institution in Houston," Anne said. “I run an oral history archive at Rice, so we often collaborate with the center. I had a Chinese American artist in residence in my archive, and she is working with Alison now for an installation in the spring.”

In addition to her board roles, Anne serves as an associate at Lovett College, illustrating her commitment to mentoring and guiding students. “A student from my modern Chinese history class encouraged me to become a Lovett associate,” she said. “We have meals with students, help them find internships and connect them with our networks." Anne finds engaging with students deeply rewarding. “Meeting these amazingly smart, fun students is fulfilling — they teach me a lot,” she shared.

For Anne, volunteering is deeply fulfilling. “Meeting people and seeing the small impacts I can make is very encouraging,” she said. “You will be very surprised how much you learn and get back from giving.”