After years of captivating audiences around the globe as a professional opera singer, Anna Christy Stepp ’98 found her way back to Rice through the same community that nurtured her talent as a student at the Shepherd School of Music. Below, she shares how her Rice experience shaped her career and why she’s giving back as an Association of Rice Alumni Board member, community associate and regional co-chair in Denver.
What first inspired you to start volunteering with Rice?
My biggest inspiration was Bob Yekovich, the former dean of the Shepherd School of Music. As a professional opera singer, I'd hear from him whether I was performing in San Francisco or London.
Rice alumni would often come to my performances too, and I’d meet up with them afterward. That sense of connection was always there, and it was fostered by Dean Yekovich. Now that my career has settled a bit and I’m home raising my children, I finally have the time and ability to give back. The support I felt from Shepherd and Rice alumni made me want to be that same kind of presence for others.
Initially, I didn’t even know the Association of Rice Alumni existed until they gave me a Distinguished Alumni Award. That moment pushed me to learn more and get involved. Now, my favorite part of serving on the ARA Board is connecting with other alumni who care deeply about Rice. I love that the feedback we provide helps the university understand and engage its alumni, and I’m also serving on a committee focused on bringing more alumni back into the fold. Rice Owls are a unique group, and helping the university understand the alumni body is so meaningful.
How has your involvement with the alumni community allowed you to stay connected to campus?
During my first year on the board, then-president Tania Min encouraged us to connect with students. We’re not just here to serve alumni; we’re here to serve future alumni as well. That inspired me to become a community associate at my residential college, Sid Richardson. It’s been so much fun. Even though I live out of town, I’ve been able to host a Target run and a study break, and I try to get to the Associates’ lunches with students. For one event, I cooked Japanese chicken curry at home in Denver, froze it, and flew it to Houston so I could serve it to students in the Sid kitchen late one Friday night. They were so grateful. It was a sweet, rewarding experience and a wonderful way to reconnect with campus life. I also enjoy my experience volunteering with the Rice Alumni Volunteer Admissions. I love, love, love talking to prospective students about Rice, and I love hearing their stories.
How are you building connections with Owls in your home city?
In Denver, I co-chair our regional group with two other Rice alums, representing three generations. That mix of experience helps us plan events that appeal to everyone. Alongside annual events like our holiday party and NeighborHOOT, we host an event at the summer Shakespeare Festival at the University of Colorado Boulder. Katherine Eggert ’84 teaches there and gives us a talk under a beautiful tree before the show, and then we enjoy a play together. It’s one of our most popular and beloved events. What’s amazing is that it doesn’t matter whether someone graduated 30 years before I did or 30 years after — that Rice connection is instant and genuine.
How did your Rice experience shape your career and your sense of community?
My Rice experience was an integral part of my journey. The education I received wasn’t just academic; it developed me as a whole person. Many of my closest friends weren’t musicians, and that diversity of perspective enriched my artistry. Shepherd taught me the fundamentals and gave me the confidence to launch my career without imposter syndrome. Rice was a safe space to grow, and that made all the difference.
What makes contributing your time and talent to Rice meaningful for you?
When I go back to campus, I feel like I'm re-engaging with my 19-year-old self . The students are so much like we were. Anything we can do to support them or help the university understand us as alumni feels like the least we can do.
Rice gave us something so crucial and important to who we are that it’s hard not to give back. When you meet another Rice alum, you go through the usual questions — college, major, graduation year — but underneath all that is a unique experience in common. For me, when I arrived at Rice, I felt like I had found my people. That feeling never goes away. You go to an alumni event, and it feels the same.
What stands out about your experience on the ARA Board?
The board’s discussions and tours offer a window into Rice today. We’re not just reminiscing; we’re learning how the university continues to grow and make an impact. Collaborating with Owls from different generations has been deeply rewarding.
What would you say to a Rice Owl who's considering volunteering for the first time?
If you reach out and meet other Rice alumni, the connection you’ll feel is unlike any other. It’s incredible to give back to a place that gave us so much.
I’ll add a little friendly competition. There are a lot of very engaged Sid Richardson alumni on the ARA Board. I’d love to see the other colleges pick up the pace! (All three co-chairs of Rice Denver are Sid alums, after all.)
