Rice University. President's Office

Malcolm Gillis was born Dec. 28, 1940, and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1968. Before entering university leadership, he spent the first 25 years of his professional life teaching economics and applying economic analysis to public policy in almost 20 countries, from the United States and Canada, to Ecuador, Colombia, Ghana and Indonesia. His research and teaching have mainly been in the areas of fiscal economics and environmental policy. His first faculty post was as an assistant professor of economics at Duke University, followed by a 15-year stint at Harvard University. He returned to Duke in 1984 as a professor of economics and public policy, was awarded a distinguished named chair, became Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and then Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Gillis took office as the sixth president of Rice University on July 1, 1993 and was formally inaugurated on October 30, 1993.

During his tenure at Rice, Gillis worked with the Board of Governors to develop the first comprehensive strategic plan, approached the $415 million mark of Rice's first comprehensive fund-raising campaign, and laid the groundwork for the largest building program in Rice history.

According to Board member Bill Barnett, "in addition to the strategic plan, the campaign and the building program, Malcolm guided an unprecedented period of collaboration with other institutions; a deeper and more fruitful involvement in the community; an enormous enhancement of Rice’s international presence through such things as the Baker Institute for Public Policy, study abroad and International University Bremen; a successful effort to maintain diversity under difficult circumstances; a very substantial expansion of the faculty; a foresighted investment in nano, bio, info and enviro science and technology; the biggest expansion of Humanities facilities ever; the first addition to the college system in 30 years; the rise of the Jesse Jones Graduate School of Management; and on and on."

Gillis stepped down in 2004, and resumed his teaching career under the title University professor, which is the highest faculty designation at the university.

From the guide to the Guide to the Rice University President's Office Records: Malcolm Gillis, UA 100., 1993-2004, (Rice University Archives, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)

In 1987, Rice president George Rupp formed a Commission on Women to investigate matters related to working women at Rice. Following an election, he appointed sixteen women from the faculty and staff to serve on the commission, which accepted the following charge: "The Commission will explore and evaluate issues relating to Rice women, especially in areas where inequities may exist, formulate specific recommendations to the Administration based upon its analysis, and educate the Rice community about behaviors and attitudes that operate to the detriment of women. The ultimate goal of the Commission will be to ensure a positive environment for women on campus."

The Commission, chaired by Professor Hally Beth Poindexter, set up task forces to study campus visibility, salaries, hiring practices, promotion and employee review practices, campus climate, benefits, and policies related to part-time employment. Over a hundred volunteers, both women and men, worked on the task forces, which met as often as weekly. However, before the task forces went into action the Commission felt it needed to address an immediate issue, the summer working conditions of college maintenance employees; an ad hoc subcommittee was formed in August 1987 and its report was issued September 1987.

The report of the Commission on Women 1987-88 consists of a summary report plus the reports of the seven task forces. The Commission also made recommendations, organized according to the individuals or departments responsible, so that each administrator can see the recommendations from the various task forces that would apply to his or her office or function.

In April and May 1989, Commission members met with three deans and the provost to discuss and take notes on the latters' "ideas for the future role of the Women's Commission, issues that needed clarification, and future problems that they could anticipate." In the spring of 1990 the Commission sent a memo to vice presidents and deans summarizing the Commission's five themes deemed to be of utmost importance of women on the Rice Campus and asking the VP's and Deans to identify "both general and specific points of progress and programs that have addressed these deficiencies, " which they did, some at length.

In September 1990, some of the original Commission members stayed on and others phased out, to allow for a mix of new blood and continuity of experience.

The Commission continued for several years thereafter. In the early 1990s, the Commission analyzed issues as child care needs for employees and students, and suggested creating an on-campus facility. During the mid-1990s under President Malcolm Gillis' direction, the Commission revisited the original 1988 report to determine whether recommendations and concerns were addressed by Rice University since that time.

Recently, President David W. Leebron established a new advisory group that will counsel the president and provost on issues facing women faculty. Based on the findings of a 2003 report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee, the report indicated a favorable campus-wide climate, however women faculty expressed lower degrees of satisfaction than men on most measures. The 2003 report is included in the collection.

Historical sketch prepared by Nancy Boothe, and updated by Anthony Potoczniak. More recent information from the Rice News (vol. 14, no. 32, April 28, 2005)

From the guide to the Rice University Commission on Women UA 061., 1985-2003, (Rice University Archives, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)

On Friday, October 25, 1985, George Erik Rupp was officially inaugurated as the fifth president of Rice University, after having taken office as President on July 1, 1985. Dr. Rupp began his education in the public schools of New Jersey, worked a paper route with his brothers, and worked through high school as a grocery store checker and stocker. He then became a carpenter, built houses, saved money, and went on to study English and German literature at the University of Munich in Germany and at Princeton University, where was a Phi Beta Kappa member and was awarded a B.A. with high honors in 1964. He then pursued graduate study in theology at Yale Divinty School (Bachelor of Divinity magna cum laude, 1976) and then at Harvard University (Ph. D. 1971). During his schooling, Rupp received a number awards and scholarships, including a Danforth Graduate Fellowship, a Dwight Fellowship, the Tew Prize, the Mersick Prize, and the Daggett Prize.

After receiving his doctorate, Rupp served as Faculty Fellow at Johnston College, part of the University of Redlands, in Redlands, CA. He was appointed Vice Chancellor in 1973 and assumed responsibilities as the school's chief academic officer. Soon thereafter, in 1974, he returned to Harvard's Divinity School, teaching theology and taking a leave of absence in 1976 to conduct research at the University of Tubingen in Germany.

In 1977, Rupp was appointed Prof. of Humanistic Studies and Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, and was responsible for all of the school's instructional, research, and outreach programs.Rupp then served as Dean of Harvard University's Divinity School from 1979-1985.

In signing on as Rice University's president in 1985, he became the youngest Rice president (Lovett was 36 at the time of his appointment in 1908) and as a theologian, he was the first non-scientist president. He served Rice for eight years. During that time, two major buildings opened, one for music and one for biosciences and bioengineering (1991). Six interdisciplinary research centers were established, including the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. He also led a revision of the core curriculum to require students to explore fields outside their majors. Research grants doubled, the quality of graduate students improved, and the number of undergraduate applicants tripled.

During his tenure at Rice, Rupp was quoted as saying "Ideas may be important, certainly individuals are important, but institutions shape both individuals and ideas in a very profound way. It's a mistake to underestimate the extent to which institutional patterns make a real difference in people's lives." Additionally, he said "I have a sense that the thousands of bit decisions that someone like the president of a university makes every day do have a cummulative effect, and it's worth making them seriously and carefully because over the long haul, it makes a difference whether they are made responsibly or indifferently or casually."

Rupp was known for his strong administrative style and for significantly raising the national profile of the university. A disagreement with the trustees over fundraising tactics (trustee's reticence to aggressively develop new resources, depending instead on generosity of past donors) reportedly led him to announce in Fall 1992 that he would step down, which he did in June, 1993. Rupp went on to become president of Columbia University in Fall 1993.

From the guide to the Guide to the Rice University President's Office Records: George Rupp, 1985-1993, (Rice University Archives, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)