Nearly 270 incoming doctoral students officially began their graduate journeys at Rice University by signing the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies doctoral matriculation book on Aug. 19.
Held during graduate orientation, the doctoral matriculation ceremony welcomed the students to Rice, introduced them to faculty and campus resources and marked the beginning of their work toward the university’s highest academic degree.
“Dear doctoral students, we convene this morning to welcome you to your new academic home, Rice University,” said Seiichi Matsuda, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies. “Today, you embark on a grand adventure to explore the world of the unknown on your way to creating new knowledge.”
Matsuda told the students that doctoral research would take them beyond established paths as they work with their mentors to identify unanswered questions, challenge incomplete understandings and contribute new knowledge to their fields. He also encouraged them to build relationships within and beyond their academic programs.
“Wherever you go, go with friends,” Matsuda said. “You will not succeed without camaraderie, advice and support.”
Three distinguished Rice faculty members shared lessons from their own academic journeys: Caleb McDaniel, the Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Humanities and professor of history; Flávio Cunha, the Ervin Kenneth Zingler Professor of Economics; and Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor and professor of bioengineering.
McDaniel encouraged the new students to recognize the importance of the work they are beginning.
“Now is the time,” McDaniel said. “This is your time to make your mark on your field.”
Cunha spoke about approaching research with care while maintaining a life beyond academic work. He encouraged students to remain open to changing their conclusions as they continue to learn.
“The findings, hold them more loosely,” Cunha said. “Hold yourselves more carefully.”
Richards-Kortum discussed mentorship, collaboration, finding meaningful research questions and building a healthy balance between graduate school and the other parts of life. She closed with a direct reminder for the incoming class.
“Believe in yourself,” Richards-Kortum said. “You got in. You were admitted for a reason. You belong here.”
The doctoral orientation and matriculation ceremony was organized by Vanessa Espinoza ’22 (Ph.D.), program administrator for student academic success, and the GPS team to help students build connections and learn about the support available throughout their first year.
“We want you to succeed here, and having a strong foundation in your first year will really help you,” Espinoza told the students.
The students then signed the doctoral matriculation book, adding their names to the official record of Rice doctoral students.
“Doctoral studies are a serious endeavor, and they deserve a serious beginning,” Matsuda said. “Please use this moment as your starting point, so that through every victory and obstacle, you have a chance to reflect on your growth and progress.”
For the students, the ceremony helped make the beginning of graduate school feel real.
“It didn’t really hit me that I was in graduate school and at Rice until the ceremony,” said Kade Davis, an incoming sociology doctoral student. “The professors started speaking and everybody started talking about what grad school means, and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m here, and it’s about to start, and it’s something big.’”
Fulbright student Johanna García Montemayor said the day gave her an opportunity to meet people from her department and across the university.
“It’s kind of like the beginning of my journey at Rice,” García Montemayor said. “I’m excited. Pure excitement.”
Following the ceremony, the new doctoral students joined other incoming graduate students for a walk through the Sallyport, symbolically beginning their Rice experience. The celebration continued at President Reginald DesRoches’ graduate welcome party, where students met members of their new community and learned to line dance alongside Sammy the Owl and the Houston Rodeo Howdy Dancers.
For incoming applied physics doctoral student Aubrey McNiel, the experience exceeded her expectations.
“It was even better than I thought it would be,” McNiel said. “Everyone has such passion for what they’re doing, and all of them have such interdisciplinary interests. It’s just so cool to hear about everyone’s past and what everyone’s about to do, too.”