Rick Mello, Associate Vice President of Campus Services and Sustainability (CS&S), brings 30 years of experience in collegiate athletics to his role. Since joining Rice as Senior Executive Athletic Director in June 2010, Rick has fostered a supportive, team-oriented environment for students, which he now brings to his staff. We had the opportunity to sit down with Rick to discuss his leadership approach, his vision for the future of CS&S, and what drives his passion for his work.
Can you share a little about your background and the pivotal experiences shaping your leadership style?
Most of my career, except for the last year and a half, has been in athletics. There are two aspects of athletics that have really shaped my leadership style. First is the importance of teamwork. To be an effective leader, you must work well with your team. Second is the public nature of athletics. Everything you do is very visible, which means you face a lot of pressure and adversity. These experiences taught me the value of working together, understanding the issues at hand, and being able to handle time constraints and pressure effectively.
In your current role, what are your primary responsibilities, and what does a typical day look like for you?
My portfolio is quite broad. It includes transportation, parking, delivery services, fleet management, the disability resource center, sustainability, and housing and dining. Up until two years ago, these areas all existed as separate units, but now we are unified under Campus Services & Sustainability within OF&S.
As this integrated unit is still relatively new, a significant part of my day involves getting out among my team members, understanding their roles and challenges in depth, and working with leadership to harmonize our operations across the formerly separate units. I’m focused on creating a cohesive team culture, aligned goals, and a shared commitment to service excellence.
We're also heavily investing in enhancing customer service and developing new services that better support our Rice community. This includes initiatives that aim to save time for students, faculty, staff, and visitors and create more opportunities for them to connect, recharge, and focus on what matters most to them. This hands-on, collaborative approach helps me stay closely connected to our team’s needs and continuously improve our offerings for the Rice community.
What are you working on now that you’re excited about?
My current focus is enhancing our service offerings for all our customers, which includes students, faculty, staff, and all campus visitors. We recently expanded our dining services with retail options like Oui Bahn Mi and Local Foods Market. Dandelion Cafe has become a campus favorite, and the feedback from our serveries is strong. We’ve also made significant enhancements to the Cohen House menu and expanded our bus routes.
We’re always looking at how we can further expand our services. The key for us is saving time for our community members and providing opportunities to recharge and connect. This way, our customers can spend more time on their work or research or meeting a classmate or colleague for a cup of coffee or a meal. That's what keeps me motivated.
Can you share your vision for the future? What does that look like for your team and Rice? What are the big-picture goals for your organization in the next five years?
Our vision is for CS&S to set the gold standard in delivering an unparalleled customer experience—one that others aspire to emulate. As Rice University evolves, so must we, ensuring our services not only scale seamlessly but also anticipate the needs of our diverse community, exceeding expectations at every turn.
We see a future where every interaction with our services reflects thoughtfulness and care. Picture this: vibrant dining options that eliminate the need to venture beyond campus, shuttles that offer effortless navigation across the city, and real-time feedback through advanced technology that helps us fine-tune and innovate continuously. Each detail matters because it contributes to making life easier and more enjoyable for our community.
Our overarching goal is to delight and empower everyone who engages with us. By leveraging technology to streamline operations and uncover new opportunities, we aim to amplify efficiency while preserving a personal, human touch. Whether it's through seamless digital services, empathetic interactions, or fostering a culture of transparency and responsiveness, our mission is to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences.
Reflecting on your career, what have been some of your toughest challenges, and what accomplishments are you most proud of?
One of my toughest challenges, which is also something I’m really proud of, is starting a football program from scratch at Florida International University. We went to Division One faster than anyone else in America. I also started the women’s basketball program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Both endeavors came with their share of bumps along the way, but I’m proud of what I built with my teams there.
What I am most proud of overall, though, are the relationships I’ve built with people, especially students. Tasks are one thing, but when you feel like you’ve made a positive impact on someone’s life, that is the ultimate satisfaction.
How do you recharge your battery and have fun?
The two things I really like to do are spending time on our little farm and outdoor grilling. I find grilling incredibly peaceful, especially with my dogs running around the yard while I throw the ball to them. My wife and I also recently inherited a 3-day-old orphan lamb that we’re bottle-feeding. We named him Sammy.
I’m a simple guy at heart—grilling, simple day trips, and working on the farm are the things that help me unwind.