Reginald DesRoches

Reginald DesRoches serves as the eighth President of Rice University and holds the academic rank of Professor in both Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. He previously served as Rice’s Howard Hughes Provost and Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering, leading initiatives to expand research, graduate programs, and interdisciplinary efforts in neuroengineering, synthetic biology, and data science. His academic journey includes roles as Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech and Faculty Athletics Representative, where he contributed to institutional policies and NCAA compliance.

DesRoches’ research focuses on resilient infrastructure systems under extreme loads and smart materials applications. Notable contributions include post-2010 Haiti earthquake technical leadership and congressional advocacy for infrastructure resilience. He has authored over 200 publications, emphasizing machine learning in earthquake engineering and SMA-based damping systems.

He earned BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical and Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley. Awards include membership in the National Academy of Engineering, AAAS, and PSoT, alongside prestigious honors like the ASCE Walter L. Huber Prize and PECASE.

His leadership has driven Rice’s academic expansion, including online programs in engineering and business, while prioritizing diversity and hurricane resilience in infrastructure systems. Collaborative efforts with the Texas Medical Center and Atlanta’s athletics leadership highlight his multidisciplinary impact.