Rice University inaugurates eighth president, Reginald DesRoches, in historic ceremony

Rice University inaugurated its eighth president, Reginald DesRoches, in a historic celebration Saturday, marking a new era of leadership and diversity for the 110-year-old institution. DesRoches, an engineer who is also the university’s first Black and foreign-born president, assumed the post in July but marked the start of his tenure at Saturday's investiture ceremony, where he pledged to continue the major growth that has transformed Rice over the past two decades and solidified its place among top-tier American schools. Rice’s continued success will be defined by three values: curiosity, excellence and courage, DesRoches told the crowd.

“Rice University is at an inflection point,” DesRoches said. “As we move forward, we must value and commit to the courage of our convictions. The courage to grow and the courage to evolve. The courage to explore new territories and to take risks. The courage to stand up for what is right and just. And the courage to make hard decisions that may not be popular or easy but are necessary to realize our ambitions.” Representatives from around 150 universities and educational societies joined Rice’s board of trustees, faculty, staff and students for the ceremony in the Academic Quadrangle, one of the oldest and most storied parts of campus. University leaders there presented DesRoches with a university robe and a presidential medal, two symbols of his new office. The quadrangle has become known lately for its central statue of founder William Marsh Rice, and speakers overlooked the effigy on Saturday. The irony — and even more, the significance — of DesRoches’ presidency cannot be overlooked, said Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University and a former Rice trustee.