News Briefs

Three Rice MBA students awarded
National Black MBA Association Scholarships

Rice MBA Class of 2006 students Alicia Yancy, Lavon Washington and Julian Duncan, members of the Black Business School Association (BBSA), have been awarded scholarships by the Houston chapter of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) in recognition of their academic achievements.

Duncan is the president and co-founder of the BBSA. He was a recipient of the NBMBAA scholarships in 2004 and 2005. Washington co-founded the BBSA with Duncan.

Washington and Duncan were pictured in the fall conference issue of Black MBA magazine for their distinctions. Washington and Duncan are also both class representatives on the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management Board of Directors.

Yancy is treasurer of the BBSA and serves as an MBA admissions counselor for the Jones School.

The BBSA is a student organization dedicated to promoting the advancement of African-Americans in business. The club provides professional guidance and support for black Rice MBA students, actively recruits and raises awareness among undergraduates and high school students and provides mentoring in partnership with Leaders of Tomorrow.

More than 4,000 African-American business professionals nationwide participate in NBMBAA. The organization annually awards graduate students scholarships for their excellence in academics.

Rice MBA student selected as director of
National Association for Women MBAs

Laura Wright, Rice MBA ’07, has been named national director of the National Association for Women MBAs (NAWMBA) for 2006-07.
NAWMBA is a national organization that is dedicated to supporting and promoting women with MBA degrees.

The group’s executive team selected Wright after a competitive search for a national director, said outgoing director Kimberly Brown, Rice MBA ’06. “We are very happy that Laura has chosen to dedicate her talents to leading NAWMBA into the next successful year,” she said.

Including the organization’s director and several vice presidents, the executive team comprises members of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management who volunteer their support and dedication to the mission of the NAWMBA while completing their own MBAs. Rice University serves as the organization’s headquarters.

New Fondren Library entrance open

The new entrance on the west side of Fondren Library is now open. This entrance is accessible from Herring Hall and the Rice Memorial Center. The entrance will remain open during regular library hours.

For information on the library’s renovation project, visit <http://blogs.rice.edu/fondren>.

Upcoming HR training courses scheduled

Registration is under way for training courses offered by Human Resources this spring.

“A Taste of FISH!” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon March 29. The class will explore the amount of time faculty and staff members spend at their homes versus their offices. The class will also help employees determine where they focus their passion, energy and creativity.

In “Interviewing: More than a Gut Feeling,” the results of poor hiring decisions will be discussed, and ways to improve hiring procedures will be examined. The class will be held from 8:30 a.m.-noon April 18 and 19.

For more information and a schedule of all upcoming training courses, visit <http://people.rice.edu/training.cfm>.

Rice Wellness Challenge kicks off this month

Partnering with Methodist Wellness Services, Rice University is offering the 2006 Wellness Challenge, which began March 15. The yearlong health challenge allows faculty and staff to track their efforts as they earn points to win rewards.

Faculty and staff accumulate points based on various healthy habits, including walking, eating fruits and vegetables and participating in healthy activities.

At the end of each of the two five-month assessment periods, employees will be compensated with a cash gift. For logging their healthy habits, participants will receive $50 after June 30 and $75 more if they participate until Nov. 30. Those in the top tier after the final installment of the challenge will receive $200 instead.

Sponsored by the University Benefits Committee, the Staff Advisory Committee and Human Resources, the challenge is intended to help faculty and staff enjoy better health, increased energy levels and a renewed spirit.

To learn more about the Wellness Challenge and how to earn points, visit <http://people.rice.edu>.