Parent Regional Event Hosts and Volunteers
The Parent and Family Engagement office works with parents and alumni who are interested in helping with New Student Send-Offs and other social events where Rice parents connect outside of Rice’s campus. Interested volunteers are invited to host social gatherings for Rice parents, volunteer at pre-existing Rice events hosted regionally, or suggest ideas for additional events catered to Rice parents.
Center for Career Development, Owl Edge Externship Mentor
Owl Edge Externships are an essential experience for all students at Rice, made possible by alumni volunteers and friends of the university. These externship opportunities connect classroom learning to real-world problems and prepare students for their future careers. They also expand interactions between students and professionals, offering early career insights and mentorship.
Gateway OwlConnect Panels
Each month, Gateway hosts OwlConnect panels that touch on a variety of career fields in order to provide current students with experienced perspectives on career paths, job progression, and other tips on how to market their degree in social sciences to a particular industry. Panelists get to connect with Rice students eager to learn from real career journeys, and your story could help a student see a path they hadn’t considered. We’d love to have you share your experience with students!
Association of Rice Alumni Board of Directors
The Association of Rice Alumni (ARA) is governed by a 28-member board that advises Alumni Relations staff on operations and programs, representing alumni to the university and the ARA to its alumni constituents. All Rice alumni are eligible to apply. Members serve three-year terms and commit to attending three in-person board meetings annually, serving on working group committees, contributing to the Rice Fund, and supporting ARA programs and activities throughout the year.
Annual Giving
Rice Fund Volunteers are ambassadors for the university, making important connections and encouraging classmates and peers to participate in the university’s tradition of giving back.
Volunteer positions within the Rice Fund provide several great ways to stay in touch with your classmates and peers while making a positive impact on the current student experience at Rice.
Alumni Regional Group Opportunity
Volunteers in this role work alongside fellow Owls in their regional network to foster a strong sense of community that extends beyond their time at Rice. They help plan and support a variety of events, ranging from philanthropic service opportunities to festive holiday parties, creating meaningful opportunities for alumni to connect, build relationships, give back, and stay engaged with Rice in their region.
Alumni Affinity Group Volunteers
Rice Alumni affinity networks are formed around shared identities, interests or professional paths. These volunteer-led groups offer opportunities for meaningful engagement, networking and celebration with the Rice community through events and programs. For a list of established affinity networks, please visit the alumni website. Complete the volunteer application, and a Rice staff member will connect you with a network leader.
Rice Business Alumni Volunteer Opportunities
Rice Business provides several opportunities to support our alumni community. These include but are not limited to: calling prospective students who have been admitted to Rice Business, supporting Career Development Office events and initiatives, representing Rice Business to regional communities outside Houston, being a part of Reunion Committee to encourage classmates to register for Alumni Reunion Weekend, and more.
Alumni Recognition Committee
The Alumni Recognition Committee helps foster a culture of appreciation across the Rice community by sending thoughtful, hand-written notes that acknowledge professional and personal accomplishments and milestones. Through these personal messages, volunteers help ensure that alumni, faculty, staff and current students of the university feel seen, valued, and connected. This opportunity offers a simple yet impactful way to strengthen relationships, celebrate the people who make Rice exceptional, and support a welcoming and engaged community.
