Peterson named director of alumni affairs and university events at Rice

Mark Davis will serve as assistant to the president full
time

BY B.J. ALMOND
Rice News staff

Rice University alumna Ann Peterson has been named director
of alumni affairs and university events for Rice and also will serve as
executive director of the Association of Rice Alumni (ARA).

Since 1994, Peterson has worked in the alumni office, where
she quickly assumed increasing levels of responsibility. She currently
serves as the director of alumni programs and services.

Peterson received her B.A. from Rice in 1986, triple-majoring
in economics, policy studies and anthropology, and earned an M.A. in
anthropology from the University of Texas in 1990.

PETERSON

”Ann is viewed within the alumni department, the Resource Development
division, and the university as a creative thought leader who is
energetic, collegial and hard-working,” said Darrow Zeidenstein, vice
president-designate of resource development at Rice.

As alumni director, Peterson will oversee the team that is
charged with developing and cultivating relationships, through
communications, programs and activities, between Rice University and
its alumni and also coordinate the involvement of the volunteer board
of the ARA with the university.

”Ann has an extraordinary level of understanding of the Rice
alumni population and is an insightful leader,” said Harry Gee ’60,
current ARA president. ”We look forward to her leadership in the alumni
office and her expanded role with the alumni association.”

Peterson will succeed Mark Delos Reyes Davis, who has served
as director since December 2002. Last August, Davis also began serving
as assistant to the president. He will assume the role in the
president’s office full time and will become the team leader for
international collaboration strategies in the president’s
office.

During Davis’ tenure in alumni affairs and university events,
he strengthened the relationship between the university and the alumni
association through increased communication and interaction. He led a
team that expanded electronic programs and services, enhancements in
alumni communications and marketing, and regional programming and
institutional messaging. He worked with on- and off-campus leaders in
securing expanded space for the alumni office and the ARA, resulting in
the department’s recent move to the renovated O’Connor House.

”Mark and his team have made Rice one of the best alumni
programs in the nation,” said Eric Johnson, vice president for resource
development. ”Much of this success can be attributed to an effort that
effectively leveraged each team member’s strengths. Ann and the alumni
team have the experience, ability and energy to continue on this
trajectory, keeping Rice a leader in alumni relations and university
events programming.”

”It has been a true honor to serve the alumni of Rice and an
extraordinary privilege to work with such a fantastic team,” said
Davis. ”I look forward to seeing the advances they will make in the
years ahead.”

Peterson and Davis will assume their new positions July
1.