Preparing the next generation of Rice student-athletes

Preparing the next generation of Rice student-athletes
Boué named school’s first assistant athletics director for life skills

FROM RICE ATHLETICS

Nearly two decades after she departed South Main for the business world, Suzanne Balchunas Boué ’91 has returned to Rice to accept the challenge of helping a new generation of Rice student-athletes reach their full potential in a much larger arena. Previously Boué worked as an athletic trainer responsible for helping Rice student-athletes reach their full potential by treating their injuries, aches and pains.

	SUZANNE BOUE

Boué joined the Rice Athletics Department last week as the school’s first assistant athletics director for life skills. It is her task to create programs for Rice student-athletes that will develop the skills and strategies needed to navigate the transition from high school to Rice as well as develop the skill set to effectively enter the workforce after graduation.

“I had reached a point in my professional life when I felt it was time to look for a way to give something back to Rice,” Boué said. “Over the years, I had witnessed the lack of knowledge that so many of our clients possessed when it came to the tools needed to be successful in the next stage of their lives. To be in a position to prepare the next generation of Rice student-athletes for a successful transition into their careers is exciting.”

Boué returns to Rice from Game Plan Management in Chicago, where she was a partner and director for client services. She was a co-founder of the firm, which specializes in athlete representation. She was directly responsible for all off-field aspects of its clients’ careers, including marketing, community and nonprofit relations, public relations, career development and life skills.

“A degree from Rice is an incredible advantage for each of our student-athletes,” said Chris Del Conte, Rice athletics director. “But it became apparent in my time here that we needed to do a better job of preparing our men and women to maximize the power of that degree. The development of a life skills program is exactly what was needed.”

In her short time on campus, Boué has begun to reach out to former Owls in the business community, and she has been excited by their responses.

“Everyone I have asked is thrilled to see Rice begin a life skills program, and they are eager to be involved,” Boué said. “It’s a different way for them to give back to Rice and is a way to prepare our future student-athletes to enter the workforce as tremendous representatives of our school.”

For more information on Rice Athletics, visit www.riceowls.com. For more information on Boué, visit http://riceowls.cstv.com/genrel/boue_suzanne00.html.