David W. Leebron became Rice University’s seventh president in 2004. Under Leebron’s guidance, the institution has undergone a period of growth and transformation. During his tenure, the university has increased its undergraduate student population, enhanced the vibrancy of the campus with $800 million in new construction, extended its research endeavors and international presence, deepened its relationship with its home city of Houston, and earned greater visibility locally, nationally and internationally.

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Early in his presidency, Leebron engaged in extensive consultations that produced the Vision for the Second Century (V2C), a plan for Rice’s growth and advancement as one of the world’s premier research universities. As Rice enters the next phase of strategic planning, the Vision for the Second Century/Second Decade (V2C2), the university is well positioned for its second hundred years.

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Perhaps the biggest change has occurred in undergraduate enrollment, which has increased 30 percent since 2004. The number of applications received for fall 2018 set a record at approximately 21,000. President Leebron, as part of the V2C2, also introduced The Rice Investment - groundbreaking financial aid initiatives for the middle class, offering free and reduced tuition and fees to families in America's largest economic class. International applicants have increased fivefold, and undergraduate and graduate students now come from more than 90 countries.

 

Under his watch, the student body has become more diverse and more international. The Among the domestic student population, Blacks increased from 7 percent to 10 percent; Hispanic students increased from 11 percent to 16 percent and the Asian- Americans representation went from 14 percent to 32 percent. The international students boomed during this period from 3 percent to 12 percent, representing more than 70 countries. The increase in student diversity led to the creation of a multicultural center to provide a space in which a diverse Rice community can collaborate on diversity and inclusion programs and initiatives.

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Leebron led the efforts to grow the student population and create a more generous financial aid program to allow more students of color to attend Rice. As president, he saw the student population almost doubled from 4,855 to 8,500. He created a financial aid program that benefits all students, especially low-to-middle- income students. Students from families with under $65,000 in income receive free tuition, fees and room and board. Students from families who make between $65,000 to $130,000 receive free tuition.

Leebron also increased the diversity of the faculty. Black professors in 2005 made up 1.9 percent of the faculty; today it is 2.6 percent. The percentage of Hispanic professors increased from 3.2 percent to 6.8 percent. Leebron also hired the first Asian provost, the first Black provost, the first Latino vice president of enrollment, the first Latina vice president of enrollment, the first Latino dean of the Jones School of Business, the first Black dean of the School of Engineering, the first Black vice president of Human Resources, the first Black vice president of Development, the first female vice president of Public Affairs, the first Black magister of a college (dorm), the first Black police chief, and the first Latino police chief. Diversity climbed to the very top as more Black and Latino members took their seats at the board of trustee table.

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During his tenure, the number of diverse student groups flourished. Where at one time there was only one Black student group, there are now nine: Black Business Student Association, Black Graduate Student Association, Black Male Leadership Initiative, Black Student Association, Caribbean Student Society, DAWA Pre-Health Society, National Society of Black Engineers, Rice African Student Association, Rice Black Women’s Association.

Hispanic student groups also grew. There are now five: The Hispanic Association of Cultural Enrichment (HACER), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Rice Mariachi Luna Llena, Rice Salseros and the Latino Graduate Student Association.

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Because of his commitment to diversity, almost every major department or school at Rice now has a diversity and inclusion officer or committee. For example, the Athletic Department, the business school, the engineering School, the Admissions Office and the Alumni Relations Department have people assigned to lead diversity efforts. Most recently, Leebron created the position of vice provost of diversity, equity, and inclusion to overlook all the diversity efforts at Rice.

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Under his leadership, Rice created a series of centers that provide students with a variety of ethnic and cultural studies. They include the Chao Center for Asian studies, the Center for the United States and Mexico, and the Center for African and African American Studies.

Leebron was also instrumental in establishing an array of institutes and programs to address social issues that affect our communities. These include the Boniuk Institute for the Study of and Advancement of Religious Tolerance, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research and the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.

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Most recently, Leebron created the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation and Racial Injustice whose mission is to investigate Rice’s past with respect to slavery, segregation, and racial injustice; to encourage frank and honest discussion about the past; and to identify suggestions for Rice’s future.

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His efforts to make Rice more diverse has paid off. Rice was named the No. 1 school for “race/class interaction” by the Princeton Review. Under the guidance and vision of Leebron, Rice has come a long way since it was founded to provide a college education to the white residents of Texas. Once again, Rice is one of the most diverse universities of the country, reflecting the demographics of Houston, the most diverse city in the country.

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