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.

Spring 2024 Events

• OwlConnect- Social Sciences in Consulting - February 21 |12:00-1:00 | Duncan 1046
• OwlConnect- Social Sciences in Energy - March 28 | 12:00-1:00 | RMC Miner Lounge
• OwlConnect- Social Sciences in UX/AI - April 16 | 12:00-1:00 | Kraft 130

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

Past OwlConnects

November 2023 - OwlConnect: 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)

October 2023 - OwlConnect: 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)

September 2023 - OwlConnect: 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

April 2023 - OwlConnect: 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)

March 2023 – OwlConnect: 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)

February 2023 – OwlConnect: 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.

November 2022 – OwlConnect: 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

October 2020 - OwlConnect: 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)

November 2019 - OwlConnect: Careers in Government

Fall 2018 - OwlConnect: 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

April 2017 - OwlConnect: Remarkable Alumnae Luncheon

• Judy Le '00 - Founder & CEO, Take Root (Sociology)

• Kathleen Bellah '84 - Managing Director, Accenture (Managerial Studies, Sociology)
• Mitra Roehr '92 - Consultant, Sphairo, LLC (Managerial Studies, Sociology)

• Allison Thacker '96 - CIO, Rice Management Co. (Economics)

• Mary Kathryn Campion '84 - CEO, Champion Capital Research (Music)

• Ann Ziker '98 - YES Prep (Political Science, Sociology)

• Charlos Ward '98 - Project Manager, BP (Economics, Chemical Engineering, MBA)

• Juliet Stipeche '96 - Director of Education, HISD (Policy Studies, Political Science)

• Merinda Watkins-Martin '93 - LeMond New World Cuisine (Managerial Studies)

• Sue Oldham '90 - Executive Director, Jones Graduate School of Business (English)

• Sparky Frost '07 - SHF Enterprises (Kinesiology, English, MBA)

• Julie Do '00 - CFO, National Space Biomedical Research Institute (MBA)

March 2017 - OwlConnect: Careers in Law & 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)

February 2017 - OwlConnect: 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)

November 2016 - OwlConnect: 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)

October 2016 - OwlConnect: 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)

September 2016 - OwlConnect: 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)

April 2013 - OwlConnect: 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)

March 2013 - OwlConnect: 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 - OwlConnect Alumni Career Panel

• 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 - OwlConnect: Careers in Education

• Ian Bott '14 (Political Science)