Rice is growing—on campus, in Rice Village, at The Ion, and beyond. That growth brings new opportunities, but it also requires clearer structure, stronger coordination, and focused leadership in the teams that support the university every day.
Two recent organizational updates reflect how Rice is preparing for this next phase: the evolution of Campus Safety & Research Security and a restructuring within Real Estate & Facilities. Together, these changes allow for better alignment of resources as each unit aims to provide better service to the entire Rice community.
Introducing Public Safety & Research Security
As Rice’s footprint expands into more public-facing environments, safety and security now extend beyond the core campus. To reflect this reality, the unit formerly known as Campus Safety & Research Security is now Public Safety & Research Security. This renaming includes the formation of the Department of Public Safety, bringing together:
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Rice University Police Department (RUPD)
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Rice Emergency Medical Services (REMS)
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Rice Emergency Management
Lieutenant Tom Hudak will serve as Interim Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police while a nationwide search is conducted.
Aligning these teams under one department improves communication, reduces silos, and supports faster, more coordinated responses. It also creates a single point of contact, removing the guesswork on who to call when an emergency arises, whether it’s a weather event, public health crisis, or criminal activity.
The Department of Public Safety joins Research Security and Export Controls to make up the Public Safety & Research Security unit.
To continue the conversation around these updates, the campus community is invited to join an upcoming Lunch with Leaders co-hosted by Executive Vice President Kelly Fox and Associate Vice President Tam Dao, which will offer faculty and staff an opportunity to engage directly with leadership and discuss key initiatives shaping this work.
Real Estate & Facilities: Creating focus for major campus priorities
To support Rice’s continued growth and long-term development, Real Estate & Facilities has separated into two distinct units. This change recognizes the size, complexity, and importance of both portfolios.
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Rice Real Estate Company, led by Ken Jett, who will continue as President, will focus on managing and advancing Rice’s real estate assets and development opportunities beyond the core campus.
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Facilities, Planning, and Capital Construction will oversee campus operations, long-term planning, and major construction projects. A national search for the Associate Vice President of Facilities, Planning, and Capital Construction is underway.
Both units play a critical role in shaping Rice’s physical environment—from maintaining existing buildings and infrastructure to delivering new spaces that support teaching, research, and community engagement. Separating these portfolios allows each team to focus more clearly on its goals, strengthen leadership support, and position both units to be successful as Rice continues to grow.