Good afternoon colleagues,
This week marked the launch of the next phase of iO work. I participated in many meetings where I listened and learned a lot about what is working well, what needs improvement, and the opportunities people see in our iO system. The engagement has been terrific, and many different perspectives were at the table. I appreciate everyone who has raised their hand to participate in this next phase, as engagement from the community is important for our success. As President DesRoches announced last week, Paul Padley, Chief Information Officer, and I are leading this effort focused on the end-user experience. Please look for more information from the two of us in the coming week.
This week I also had the pleasure of attending my first Rice Public Art Committee meeting. I learned about the extraordinary works of art that have already been brought to campus. I was so impressed with the thoughtful approach and discussions that transpire to select future pieces on campus. I appreciated the university’s commitment to quality pieces and that different perspectives are thoughtfully brought to campus through this work. My deep appreciation goes to Allison Weaver, Executive Director- Moody Center for the Arts, for including me on this committee. If you’re interested in learning more about public art at Rice, make sure you follow this link: https://moody.rice.edu/rice-public-art.
Thank you, Facilities, Engineering and Planning, for hosting the annual United Way Hot Dog Fundraiser. The event was a huge success, serving hotdogs and donations for the United Way, which pushed the university's campaign over the $200k mark! Way to go, FE&P! If you haven't yet donated to the United Way this year, there is still time to do so. You can donate at this link: https://unitedway.rice.edu/.
Building on our coffee and conversation sessions, I learned that, really, what works best for conversation is lunch! I am pleased to tell you that we are moving to monthly Lunch and Listen events. The first such lunch will be Tuesday, November 15. This will continue to be a time for me to meet and learn from you about your concerns and aspirations. To sign up for this session, use this link: https://events.rice.edu/#!view/event/event_id/325725. RSVPs are required as space is limited to eight participants.
I am grateful to be able to work with you all each day. You all make Rice the special place that it is.
All my best,
Kelly Fox Vice, President for Finance and Administration