2 staff members honored with RICE MILE Award

Rice staff members Juan Carlos Rodriguez and Veronica Leautaud have been honored with the RICE MILE Award.

Rodriguez, a support specialist in campus services, has always been supportive, effective and quick to lend a helping hand to the Office of Research, according to a letter nominating him for the award.

“He has always been discreet and trustworthy as well as consistent in his efforts to make our jobs easier,” the letter read. “There are so many more things that I can include about his dedication and tenacity to resolve issues, but his work speaks for itself.”

Veronica Leautaud

Leautaud, director of Beyond Traditional Borders at the Rice 360° Institute for Global Health, was honored for her thoughtful, devoted and focused mentorship of students, according to the letter nominating her for the award.

“Veronica has overseen the significant growth of the Global Health Technologies minor, been lecturer and advisor to the 100-plus students each year in GLHT 201 Introduction to Global Health and mentored numerous undergraduate students in Rice 360°’s educational programs both at Rice and its partner institution in Malawi,” the letter read.

All levels of staff are eligible for consideration for the RICE MILE Award and can be nominated by peers, colleagues, co-workers or supervisors as long as they have at least one year of service and are in good standing. Nominations must be submitted through the RICE MILE Award online nomination form and require approval from senior leadership in the nominee’s school or division.

For more information or to nominate a staff member for the award, visit http://people.rice.edu/careersrice/awards-and-recognition/the-rice-mile-award/.