OwlConnect

The OwlConnect 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.

Fall 2024 Events

  • Sept 6 (12-1:30 p.m.)- Weeks of Welcome with Gateway
  • Sept 18 (12-1 p.m.)- Social Sciences Entreprenuers w/ LILIE
  • Oct 9 (12-1 p.m.)- Spring 2025 Practica Informational
  • Nov 14 (12-1 p.m.)- How to apply for PhD Programs
  • Dec 3 (3-5 p.m.)- Gateway Study Break


Students can RSVP to join the career panels for a special opportunity to network with accomplished alums and Houston career leaders. More details will be shared through the Listserv.

Past OwlConnects

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)
Fall 2018

Careers in Finance

  • Lin Giralt '82 - Financial Advisor (Architecture)
  • Jarret Mathwig '04 - Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual (Mechanical Engineering)
  • Maury Bronstein, ’97 - Co-Founder & Partner, 1912 Ventures (Jones Graduate School of Business)
  • J. Michah Johnson - Senior Analyst at Smith Warren & Associates, Merrill Lynch
  • Nicole Ventura - Director of Operations, Legacy Asset Management, Inc
Spring 2017

Careers in Law and Government

  • Scott Arrington '90 - Partner, Locke Lord LLP (Linguistics)
  • Gerald Holtzman '68 - President, Personalized Media Communications (Political Science)
  • Catherine Ozdogan '91 - Partner, Latham & Watkins (Economics and Managerial Studies)
  • Anuj Shah '92 - Law Firm of Anju Shah (Sociology)

Careers in Medicine

  • Michael Wilson '93 - Director, NuMotion (Economics)
  • Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby - Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
  • Estevan Delgado '13 - Research Staff, Baylor College of Medicine (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
  • Joey Steele '98 - Texas Children's Hospital (Economics)
  • Courtney Holladay '04 - Director, MD Anderson (Psychology)
Fall 2016

Careers in Consulting

  • Purvez Captain '94 - Global Leader, Ernst & Young (Economics)
  • Emily Emmett '05 - Partner, Bain (English)
  • Mitra Roehr '92 - Managing Partner, Sphairo LLC (Managerial Studies, Political Science)

Careers in Energy

  • Charles Caldwell '85 - Attorney, Caldwell, Boudreau, Lufler (Political Science, History)
  • Carl Williams '00 - Partner, Riverstone (Economics, Chemical Engineering, Management)
  • Michael Maher '80 - former Exxon (Economics)
  • Edward Aviles '92 - Senior Counsel, LyondellBasell (Economics)

Careers in Finance

  • Alison Thacker '96 - President, Rice Management Company (Economics)
  • Lee Straus '71 - COO, OnStead (Economics, Mathematics)
  • Stephen Davis '05 - VP, VaughanNelson (Economics, Managerial Studies)
  • Ryan Tull '94 - Managing Director, Credit Suisse O&G (Economics, Managerial Studies)
Spring 2013

Careers in Medicine

  • Michael Gonzalez '93 - Associate Medical Director, City of Houston (Economics, Political Science)
  • Enstin Ye '11 (Psychology)
  • Ken Janda '77 - President/CEO, Community Health Choice (Economics, Managerial Studies)
  • Trisha Harris-Odimgbe, MS, PA-C '97 - Director, Baylor College of Medicine (Human Performance)

Careers in Legal

  • Russell Hall '86 - Shareholder, Russell W. Hall & Associates, P.C. (Sociology)
  • Vineet Bhatia '87 - Partner, Susman Godfrey LLP (Political Science)
  • Jon-Ross Trevino, '11 (Economics, Political Science, Philosophy)
November 2011
  • Purvez Captain, PhD. '93- America's Leader, EY (Economics)
  • Ken Janda, '77- President and CEO of Community Health Choice (Economics, Managerial Studies)
  • Allison Thacker, '96- President, Rice Management Company (Economics)
February 2010
  • Ian Bott '14 (Political Science)