Events

The Gateway Event series brings Rice alumni, community partners, and career leaders to campus 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 field. The goal is for students to leave with a better understanding of how to translate their academic studies into challenging and rewarding careers. The monthly events and panels highlight various industries and allows attendees the opportunity for rich Q&A.

Students can RSVP to join the career panels for a special opportunity to network with accomplished alums and Houston career leaders.

Fall 2026

  • Sept 1st (3:30-5:00 p.m.)- Gateway Open House- Kraft 130
  • Sept 16th (5:30-6:30 p.m.)- Simon Kucher Information Session- Kraft 130
  • Sept 22nd (12:00-1:00 p.m.)- How to Form a Research Topic- Rayzor 119
  • Oct 6th (12:00-1:00 p.m.)- How to Apply to Graduate School- Rayzor 113
  • Oct 20th (4:00-6:00 p.m.)- Meet the Majors- Kraft 130
  • Nov 10th (6:00-7:00 p.m.)- OwlConnect- Careers in Government & Public Service
  • Dec 1st (5:30-7:30 p.m.)- Gateway Study Break + Resume Review- Kraft 130

Past Events

Spring 2026
  • Feb. 25th (12:00 – 1:00 pm): OwlConnect Alumni Panel- Owls in Innovation
    • Joyce Olewe, '19
    • Pedro Silva, '12
    • Autumn Horne, '23
  • March 25th (12:00 – 1:00 pm): OwlConnect Alumni Panel- Owls in Healthcare
    • Sylvia Hysong, Ph.D., '00
    • Hannah Todd, '18
    • Christopher Douglas, '09
Fall 2025
  • Fri., Sept 5th (11:30-1:30 p.m.)- First Friday with Gateway- Learn more about all our Gateway programs.
  • Sept 23rd (4:00-5:00 p.m.)- OwlConnect Alumni- Social Sciences Alumni in California
    • Amy Mellor, '95- Strategic Communications Consultant
    • Jenna Fisher, '95- Managing Director, Russel Reynolds Associates
  • Oct 8th (12:00-1:00 p.m.)- Spring 2026 Practica Information Session
  • Oct 21st (4:00-6:00 p.m.)- Meet the Majors Fall Block Party
  • Oct 27th (4:00-5:00 p.m.)- OwlConnect Alumni Panel- Owls Just Out
  • Nov 5th (3:00-4:00 p.m.)- How to Apply for a PhD in the Social Sciences
  • Dec 2nd (2:00-3:30 p.m.)- Gateway Study Break
Spring 2025
  • Feb 18th (6:00 p.m.)- OwlConnect: Owls in New York
    • Varun Kukunoor, '22
    • Matthew Weingast, '10
    • Elizabeth Kalomeros, '18
    • Kaiqi Bao, '19
  • Feb 25th (12:00-1 p.m.)- OwlConnect: Owls in Innovation
  • March 25th- OwlConnect: Owls in Chicago
    • Denis Maldonado, '24
    • Walt Greenberg, '78
    • Emery Engling, '24
Fall 2024
  • Sep 6th- Weeks of Welcome with Gateway
  • Sept 18th- Social Sciences Entrepreneurs w/ LILIE
    • Jessica Faith Carter
    • Dylan McNally
    • Fahad Punjwani
  • Oct 9th- Spring 2025 Practica Informational
  • Nov 14th- How to apply for PhD Programs
  • Dec 3rd- Gateway Study Break
Spring 2024
  • Consulting
  • Energy
  • UX/AI
Fall 2023

Careers in Finance

  • Aerin Smith ‘08 - Managing Director, Citi (B.A. Political Science)
  • Patrick Steed ‘08 - Director - Chemicals Investment Banking, Citi (B.S. Chemical Engineering)

Careers in Public Service

  • Raj Salhotra ‘13 - Co-Founder/Executive Director, Momentum Education (B.A. Economics and Policy Studies)
  • Karthik Soora ‘11 - Project Development Manager, Pattern Energy Group (B.A. Political Science, History, Asian Studies, and Global Health Technologies)

Careers in Law

  • Teddy Adams ‘91 - Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Crown Castle (B.A. Economics and Sociology)
  • Anuj Shah ‘92 - Owner, The Law Offices of Anuj A. Shah (B.A. Sociology, French, and Cultural Studies)
  • Marilyn Groves Moreno ‘15 - Law Student, South Texas College of Law (B.A. Psychology)
  • MAJ Tanya Mayes - Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 75th United States Army Reserve Innovation Command
Spring 2023

Journey to Entrepreneurship

  • Cindy Dafashy '12 - Physician/Owner, Archway Family Medicine (B.A. Cognitive Sciences)
  • Tim Harrison '20 - Founder/CEO, EPOG Academy (B.A. Psychology)
  • Brock Wagner '87 - Owner, Saint Arnold Brewing Company (B.A. Economics and Managerial Studies)

Careers in Tech

  • Paul Cruz '10 - Deputy Manager, NASA (PH.D I/O Psychology)
  • Sangeeth Jeevan '22 - UX Researcher, UserZoom (M.A. Human Factors & HCI)
  • Shruthi Velidi '18 - Responsible AI Lead, Visa (B.A. Cognitive Sciences)

Coffee and Consulting

  • Expressworks International, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations navigate the maze of transformation and change, provided 3 senior and junior consultants to share how the field relates to understanding human behavior within people-oriented projects.
Fall 2022

Careers in Medicine

  • Adam Griffin '15 - Psychiatry Resident, BCM (B.A. Psychology & Sports Medicine)
  • Sylvia Hysong '00 - Professor, BCM (Ph.D. I/O Psychology)
  • Farrell Johnson '92 - Medical Director, Aetna (B.A. Anthropology)
  • Winston Liaw '01 - Chair, UH (Biochemistry) (Magister, Duncan College)
  • Miriha Meghani - Medical Student, SHSU College of Medicine
Fall 2020

Careers in Finance

  • Alex Kumar, ’16 - Associate, Clovis Point Capital (Economics)
  • Maury Bronstein, ’97 - Partner, 1912 Ventures (Jones Graduate School of Business)
  • Meg Brigman, ’18 - Principal, The Yield Lab (Economics)

View archive of OwlConnect events prior to Fall 2020