Leading Owls Podcast

In this episode of Leading Owls, we sit down with Arturo, one of the 2025 O-Week Coordinators, whose leadership is fueled by curiosity, cultural insight, and a passion for building community. As an international student deeply involved in scientific research at both the Bonner Nuclear Lab and the Rice Space Institute, Arturo shares how his experiences in the lab have shaped his approach to teamwork, communication, and leading with ...

On this episode of Leading Owls, we sit down with Yazmine, a powerhouse student leader at McMurtry College and one of this year’s O-Week Coordinators. From her first steps as a First-Year Representative to serving as External Vice President and helping select Resident Fellows, Yazmine shares how her leadership journey has evolved—and what continues to drive her.

We talk about what it takes to create an unforgettable O-Week experienc...

  🎙️ Welcome back to the Leading Owls Podcast! Today, we’re sitting down with an incredible student leader, Nimah, the 2025 Hanszen O-Week Coordinator and incoming Executive Vice President of Rice Program Council. Nimah is involved in so many areas of campus life, from student leadership to leading the MOB to theater production as an independent student lighting designer and operator.

In this episode, we dive into what it takes to ...

In this episode of Leading Owls, we’re joined by Kaitlyn, a standout student leader from Duncan College who wears many hats on campus—including 2025 O-Week Coordinator, Doerr Institute Student Ambassador, Culture & Inclusion Committee Co-Head, RPC College Rep, and SER Research Scholar.

Kaitlyn shares her journey from first-year student to leading one of the most exciting weeks at Rice, how she’s bringing her vision to O-Week whi...

Today, we’re diving into the world of student leadership with Carlos, a standout leader at McMurtry College. Carlos has taken on major leadership roles, serving as the 2025 McMurtry O-Week Coordinator, McMurtry Prime Minister, Socials and Cultural Committee Head, and he’s also involved in Rice Men’s Club Volleyball, the Rice Filipino Student Association, and the Rice Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR).

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Today, we’re joined by Stephanie Taylor, Associate Director of Leader Development at the Doerr Institute for New Leaders. Stephanie plays a key role in shaping the leader development experience at Rice University—overseeing the hiring and training of professional coaches and facilitating programs designed to help students grow into confident and capable leaders.

In this episode, Stephanie gives us an inside look at what makes Doerr ...

Today, we’re sitting down with Lynn-Chi, President of Baker College, to get an inside look at what it takes to lead one of Rice’s residential colleges. From stepping into leadership for the first time to managing campus-wide initiatives, Lynn-Chi shares her path to leadership, the challenges and successes of being Baker College President, and advice for students looking to get involved.

We’ll also talk about exciting initiatives hap...

Welcome back to the Leading Owls Podcast, where we spotlight the stories of student leaders making an impact at Rice University!

Today, we’re joined by Molly, a Doctor of Musical Arts student at the Shepherd School of Music, where she plays the viola and wears many leadership hats. From serving as a Teaching Assistant and Instructor of Record to earning the prestigious Vaughn Fellowship, Molly has shaped both the academic and musica...

Today, we have a truly inspiring guest—Hong Lin, a student leader whose involvement at Rice spans across Brown College, student government, campus organizations, creative projects, and more. From serving as Associates Coordinator at Brown College to leading initiatives in Coalition Rice, Rice Admissions, and the Doerr Institute, Hong has made a lasting impact on the Rice community.

In this episode, we dive into what drives his passi...

On this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we’re joined by Lindsey, a dedicated student leader whose impact at Rice speaks for itself. From serving as Will Rice College Senator to leading as Director of the Students with Disabilities Commission and Undergraduate Ambassador for the Doerr Institute, Lindsey has championed initiatives that make a difference.

Tune in as she shares her journey into leadership, the biggest les...

Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Danielle King, a leading voice in the field of resilience and an associate professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Rice University.

Dr. King is the Principal Investigator of the WorKing Resilience Research Laboratory, where she explores topics like employee resilience, thriving, and workplace dynamics. Her groundbreaking work has been featured in top academic journals and major o...

Welcome back to the Leading Owls podcast, where we highlight the incredible student leaders at Rice University who are shaping our campus and communities.

Today, we’re thrilled to have America joining us—a true powerhouse of leadership and service at Rice. America wears many hats: she’s the Owl Access Student Director, helping to ensure access for all students, as the Beer Bike Campus Coordinator, she’s involved in one of Rice’s mos...

 Today, we’re honored to be joined by Tim Harrison, a Rice alumnus, founder of the Enjoyable Pain of Growth (EPOG) Academy, and a true example of transformational leadership.

Tim’s journey began as a student-athlete, arriving at Rice with dreams of an NBA career. When those aspirations didn’t materialize, he faced a turning point that set him on a path of personal growth and purpose. Through his studies in psychology and involvement...

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Jennie, a dynamic leader whose involvement on campus spans an impressive range of roles and organizations.

Jennie’s leadership journey at Rice includes serving as a 2025 Co-Student Director, a Vietnamese Student Association Co-Event Coordinator, and a FLI Ambassador—all while balancing past roles like O-Week Coordinator, Baker College Socials Chair, and Vice President of Rice SARCOMERE. She’s also ...

In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. David C. Kirkpatrick, PhD, Vice President and Chief of Staff, Office of the President and Dr. Margaret F. Sloan, PhD, Director & Professor, School of Strategic Leadership Studies from James Madison University to discuss JMU’s remarkable journey toward achieving the prestigious Carnegie Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose. 

They share the innovative str...

 As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can grow, lead, and make this our best year yet.

Today, we’re honored to be joined by Bernard "Bernie" Banks, Director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders and a renowned expert in leadership and organizational change. With a career spanning academia, the military, and global consulting, Bernie has a unique perspective on what it takes to lead with impact....

In this episode of Leading Owls, we sit down with Abram, one of the Duncan College O-Week Coordinators and Chaus Managers to explore his leadership journey at Rice. From planning one of the most memorable weeks of the year to managing a beloved campus spot, he shares the challenges, wins, and lessons learned along the way. 

Tune in for insider tips on what it takes to be an O-Week Coordinator, lead on campus, and make a la...

Welcome to our special series, Meet the Classified Campuses, where we spotlight some of the top higher education institutions leading the way in leader development. These remarkable schools have earned the prestigious Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose, a recognition of their outstanding commitment to developing future leaders dedicated to serving the public good.

Each of these institutions has gone t...

In this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down for the second part of our interview with Aaron Pomerantz, PhD, who serves as the Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the Doerr Institute for New Leaders’ Research Team. Aaron dives into compelling questions like:
Does developing leaders increase employee and team retention?
How do leaders shape an organization’s culture and environment?

We also explore the flip side—how...