Vanessa's focus in the GPS office is to support graduate students throughout their academic journeys at Rice University. Doctoral Students will meet her on their first day during the in-person orientation. She also provides support with the candidacy and defense process, all with the goal of helping our Rice Graduate Students cross the stage at commencement.

Vanessa is passionate about student academic success because she is a former doctoral student of Rice University, having earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry in July 2022. She understands many students' challenges and recognizes the importance of support in reaching their goals. Before joining Rice, Vanessa was a first-generation college student at Texas Lutheran, where she received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics while also being a member of the university soccer team.

Vanessa enjoys spending time with her family when she is not working with students. She loves to be with her toddler, husband, and three fur-babies. Since earning her Ph.D., she has developed a new hobby of leisure reading, so there are fewer carbon nanotube papers saved on her web browsers. You might catch her around Houston at a brewery, playground, or local half-priced bookstore.