Four honored for meritorious service to Rice

Four honored for meritorious service to Rice

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

Three alumni and one professor have earned the Association of Rice Alumni’s Meritorious
Service Award, recognizing their significant, sustained and voluntary
contributions of energy, time and creativity toward the advancement of
the university.

Margaret Ann Mauk Barnett ’55

	MARGARET ANN MAUK BARNETT

Margaret Ann Mauk ”Peggy” Barnett has been involved with the greater Rice community throughout many decades of service and has proven to be an extraordinary giver of her time, talents and energies.

Barnett received a B.A. from Rice in 1955. Since then, many groups have benefited from her efforts as an enthusiastic and ever-present alumna and volunteer, including the Friends of Fondren Library, The Shepherd Society, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Wiess College and Rice Athletics. She has been an active participant in university fundraising and has served as class chair, as a member of her class’s Golden Anniversary Scholarship Committee and as a regular telefund volunteer. In 2007, Barnett chaired the Friends of Fondren Library Gala and delighted in bringing guests to the library so that they could experience Rice. Thanks to her leadership and determination, it was one of the most successful events in the history of the society, both in terms of money raised and in goodwill generated for Fondren Library.

But Barnett has gone above and beyond even these endeavors. She was constantly involved in all aspects of university life during her husband’s tenure as chairman of the Rice University Board of Trustees, and her commitment to those activities deepened as the university entered into its first capital campaign in 2000. Over the years, Barnett has worked tirelessly to help raise money, entertain visitors, attend functions on Rice’s behalf, chair committees and meet with students. As an associate of Wiess College, she has hosted O-Week groups in her home and has made many friends among students — friendships that continue to this day even though those students have long since graduated. In particular, the friendships made as she herself studied Russian alongside undergraduate students were among the most lasting.   

Barnett is a quintessential Rice ambassador. Knowledgeable, supportive, eager and hardworking, she capitalizes on every opportunity to shine the spotlight on Rice.

Hally Beth Walker Poindexter ’47

	HALLY BETH WALKER POINDEXTER

Hally Beth Walker Poindexter’s incredible commitment to Rice has truly been a lifelong endeavor. As an undergraduate, she was very active on campus and was known for her fun and outgoing personality. After receiving a B.A. in 1947 from Rice, Poindexter went on to earn a B.S. in 1949 from the University of Houston, an M.A. in 1950 from the University of Northern Colorado and an Ed.D. in 1957 from Columbia University. During her nearly 20-year tenure as chair of the Department of Kinesiology, the department sent more students to medical school than the biology department. Poindexter also managed faculty-student recreation programs, intramurals and club sports and maintained the gym’s facilities. She was a vocal member of the Faculty Council, active always in the cause of equality for women in varsity sports and a major reason that Title IX was successfully woven into the fabric of Rice Athletics.

A longtime associate of Jones College, Poindexter was an astute counselor for undergraduates. She has been a part of the Rice community during the tenure of every president from Lovett to Leebron and served as a treasured adviser. Presidents Hackerman, Rupp and Gillis put her on countless special committees, including the Rupp-initiated Rice University Commission on Women that looked for the first time at conditions for female employees. The committee also was instrumental in developing a structure for assessing and redressing Rice’s policies and practices regarding female faculty and staff. For many years, Poindexter served as the university’s chief marshal. That important and visible role of leading the board, faculty and graduates during commencement is an appropriate illustration of her contributions to Rice.

Poindexter’s dedication to the institution that is both her alma mater and her professional home is exemplary. She is full of energy, interested in others and constantly attentive to the needs of her family, friends and the university community. Her loyalty to Rice is unending, and she embodies the true spirit of the university.

Dan C. Steiner ’77

	DAN STEINER

Dan C. Steiner’s high level of involvement at Rice began when, as a student, he was an active member of the Rally Club. After earning a B.A. in 1977, Steiner took a few years off to start his own business and then resumed his role as a dynamic member of the Rice community. He has served as a member of the Association of Rice Alumni board and on several ARA committees and was a founding member of the Rice Historical Society.

The largest commitment of his time and energy has been to the university’s fundraising efforts, particularly the Rice Annual Fund. Steiner has chaired the Class of 1977 giving effort several times and was the Annual Gifts chair for all classes during 2001 and 2002. He also served on the 30th Reunion Giving Committee this past fall. Steiner has been active in the Rice University Fund Council and, more recently, served as a member of the Rice Board of Trustees Resource Development and Public Affairs Committee.

For many of those who have worked with him, Steiner is someone who comes to mind as an extraordinarily devoted alumnus. He has been a passionate leader who demonstrated his commitment to Rice by spreading the word about the accomplishments of the university. The number of hours that he has given on behalf of his volunteer endeavors is both inestimable and priceless. Steiner consistently has been available for reunion and homecoming efforts and has accepted many positions and assignments.

It is thanks in large part to his enthusiasm and dedication that Rice has re-engaged many alumni volunteers who had drifted away. After encouragement from him, they have returned to the community with zeal. Steiner is very proud of his alma mater and believes that Rice holds a place of value in Houston, the nation and the world. He is an example of volunteerism at its best. For more than 30 years now, he has contributed his time and energy toward making Rice the best it can be.    

Richard A. Tapia

	RICHARD TAPIA

A nationally recognized scholar and teacher, Richard A. Tapia, the Maxfield-Oshman Professor of Computational and Applied Mathematics, has worked endlessly during his tenure at Rice to enhance faculty and student diversity. As a researcher and academician, he is the first Hispanic named to the nation’s highest scientific governing body, the National Science Board, and the first Hispanic elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering. Tapia is well-known for his exemplary career as a mathematician and researcher. He is one of only six professors in the history of Rice to have achieved the rank of University Professor, the highest academic rank a professor can attain.

Tapia has been recognized nationally for successfully mentoring the largest number of minority graduate students in recent years. His energy and devotion to helping minorities and women pursue careers in math and science is boundless. He recently organized, and now acts as director for, the Center for Excellence and Equality in Education. The center’s programs include a computer science camp for high school girls that seeks to reverse the declining enrollment of women in university-level computer science courses.

Tapia was the first Mexican-American professor on campus when he came to Rice in 1970 and was the catalyst for the 1972 formation of the first Hispanic student association, now known as the Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice. With financial support from the National Science Foundation, Tapia has funded the Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate program, which also is aimed at underrepresented minorities in the sciences. For more than 35 years, he has acted as a mentor and friend to countless Hispanic faculty members and students.

His indefatigable efforts over the past four decades have fostered a better academic environment for all students, faculty and staff. Through Tapia’s dedication, Rice’s nationwide stature has been enhanced significantly as a diverse and robust university.