Sid Richardson College GovernmentMcKinzie Chambers is a native Houstonian who is majoring in political science and minoring in business. She has just started her tenure as president of Sid Rich College and has definitive plans to guide the college through the transition to the new Sid Rich building.
In what roles have you volunteered for Rice?
I have volunteered in several roles in student government. I’ve served as Sid Rich’s parliamentarian, chief justice and now president. I also currently serve as the student association chief of staff, where I organize and manage different student initiatives and research projects through our temporary committees.
Why do you volunteer for Rice?
I volunteer for Rice to give back to a community that has raised me these last three years. Rice provides so many student resources (Student Success Initiatives, low-income accessibility programs and academic advising, to name a few) that I use regularly to grow as a leader and a student. Sid Rich provides a supportive and inclusive environment that allows all students to thrive. I choose to volunteer in leadership positions and with various organizations to make my campus the best it can be and to enact the change I wish to see in the future.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering at Rice?
I love working with different departments, students and administrators to discuss the best methods for engagement and opportunity at Rice. I find that Rice is incredibly faithful to its mission of diversity and inclusion, and volunteering is one of the many ways Rice challenges students and community members to be a part of change and growth.
I also enjoy seeing how Rice changes in the short term and in the long term. By volunteering, I’m able to really see different perceptions of Rice’s strengths and areas for growth that many students may never discover. Volunteering, for me, is about working with my community, not for it, to express my gratitude for all the ways Rice has invested in me, both financially and personally.
What's a fun Rice fact about you?
I have the BEST view on campus in my dorm at Sid, and my favorite thing to do is hang out on the 7th floor balcony, play music and watch my city.
What would you say to fellow alumni / parents / friends to encourage them to volunteer?
Volunteering at Rice is absolutely the best investment of your time and ideas. To be the change you wish to see in your community, you have to immerse yourself in the culture and services and really work with others. There are SO many opportunities to engage with and give back to Rice, so find your niche and get to work.