About the Student Center
The Rice Student Center provides facilities, resources, events, and services that enrich the social & educational development while allowing for the self-directed engagement of the Rice Community Members and university visitors.
Student Center Staff
Boyd Beckwith
Assistant Dean/Director
Hired as the Director of the Student Center in 1998, I also served as the Director of the Recreation Center from 2001-‘07. In 2008 when the Recreation Center began reporting to Athletics I was asked to take on the role of Director of Campus-wide Programs instead. Now I have the opportunity to advise the Rice Program Council (which includes Beer-Bike), coordinate the Passport to Houston program, chair the Brochstein Pavilion Advisory Committee and oversee the operation of the Student Center. It was my experience as a member of the Concerts Committee of the UAO (University Activities Organization) when I was student at BGSU (Bowling Green) that led me to my 20+ year career in Student Affairs. I've worked with several programming boards over the years and I'm excited about including RPC in the Student Center family.
Phone: (713) 348-3718
beckwith@rice.edu
Pamelyn Shefman
Associate Director
I became part of the Rice Student Center family in 2004 and have loved everyday! I have an MBA from Duquesne University and a BS from Carnegie Mellon University both in Pittsburgh, PA and have used every ounce of my 10+ years in student affairs work helping our students bring their best to every day. I have the privilege to work with some of the best professionals in the field and also our Information Desk, Rice Coffeehouse and Willy’s Pub students as they do amazing things. As a non-native Houstonian, I am one of the most enthusiastic transplants on our staff and can even appreciate the humidity. Hey, after seeing a blizzard in late March you really learn to love what you get! My husband (and now daughter) spend a least one night a week on campus with Rice’s ballroom dancers as volunteer teachers and are looking forward to our roles as associates for Wiess College.
Phone: (713) 348-3713
pamelyn@rice.edu
Erin Dement
Assistant Director, Programs & Marketing
I joined the Rice Student Center in 2008 and am learning more and more each day. I have a B.A. in Graphic Design from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. As a junior at SEU, I was a Graphic Designer for the Student Life office and also served as a Resident Assistant in Basil Moreau Hall. As a senior, I was a Department Assistant for the Graphic Design faculty as well as a Graphic Design Intern at Sweet Leaf Tea Company. I spent a little over a year at Sweet Leaf and realized how much I missed student affairs, so here I am! I have the privilege of assisting Willy's Pub and Coffeehouse with their marketing endeavors as well as co-advising the Rice Program Council.
Phone: (713) 348-3530
ed7@rice.edu
Christina Reyna
Reservationist
I’ve been employed at Rice University since September of 2007. I started out as a temporary vending assistant for Housing and Dining. About a year later, I was hired on as the Reservationist for the Student Center. I am responsible for all reservation inquiries, coordinating event locations, setup requests and special events from students, staff and external affairs held in the Student Center and Brochstein Pavilion. I was born and raised in Houston, TX. I attended North Shore High School and graduated in 2002. I then went to San Jacinto community college where I obtained my associates degree. Between working and maintaining a household, I’m attending University of Houston part-time to obtain my BS in Interdisciplinary Studies. In my spare time I like to socialize with family and friends, and if possible, sneak in a little traveling!
Phone: (713) 348-3778
Christina.M.Reyna@rice.edu
Timothy Abraham
Facilities Coordinator
I am a native Texan born and raised here in Houston. After completing high school I attended Lamar University as an engineering major. I later went on to start a small trucking company that transported oil field equipment. I came to Rice as a member of the custodial SWAT team in 2003, and six months later I moved to the Student Center and was placed in charge of event set-up. In March of 2007, I was promoted to Facilities Coordinator where I am now responsible for special events, key distribution, safety issues, a/v rental, and scheduling maintenance. In my off-time I enjoy fishing and riding four wheelers and dirt bikes with my 2 boys.
Phone: (713) 348-3777
tabraham@rice.edu
Henny Halliburton
Department Coordinator
I started working at Rice in 1999 and after having a few “homes” on campus I’m now at the Student Center. I love interacting with students and thoroughly enjoy the academic and social student life on campus. In July 2006, I had the privilege of becoming one of the Resident Associates (RAs) at Hanszen College. Yeahhh Hanszen!!! I have a BBA from the University of Houston. I’m a native Chilean who came to visit the U.S. during my third year at the Universidad de Chile in Santiago. I wanted to become an English teacher, so I took a leave for a year to travel and develop my language skills. Once in the States, however, I fell in love with the country and its people, and I never returned for good to Chile. Of course, I do go back every year, usually during the winter holidays since that’s summer time in Chile!
Phone: (713) 348-3064
hbh@rice.edu
Kerim Davis
Operations Supervisor
As the new kid on the block, I joined the Rice University Student Center team in February 2009 to supervise and advise the daily operations of Willy’s Pub and Coffeehouse. Whether it’s learning to make double espresso mocha’s or serving amazing subs and beverages, I’m excited to be part of the two greatest student run establishments at Rice University. Born in Turkey, lived in Florida, but am a Texan at heart and call Houston my home. I graduated from the University of Houston in 2005 “GO COOGS!!!!” with a BBA in Marketing and Management and was President of Sigma Phi Epsilon Texas Delta Fraternity amongst other cool positions throughout the years. Before coming on board at Rice, I had the opportunity to manage numerous political printing marketing campaigns in Washington D.C. prior to the 2008 elections. Georgetown is amazing! I have a Great Dane named Anya, she eats like a horse, competed in Tae-Kwon-Do for 15 years and always interested in learning different martial art styles, food and the Food Network are my friends, working out and cross-training are my drugs of choice and would love to travel to Europe and Australia when I get rich!
Phone: (713) 348-3539
kerimdavis@rice.edu
Mission Statement
The Student Center is a gathering place for the campus where a sense of community can be developed among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Rice University. It provides the Rice community a clean, safe and comfortable place to pursue interests outside the classroom in a relaxing atmosphere. The Student Center houses many of the largest student-led, campus-wide organizations that help enrich Rice University.
As one of its priorities, the Student Center promotes student-led programming that fosters the appreciation of diversity in all its forms. The Student Center Development program empowers students from around the campus to interact and lead on a daily basis.
The Student Center aims to provide services, and events that lead to increased interaction
between Rice and the Houston community, between the graduate students and undergraduate students,
and between the residential colleges. The Student Center will continue to meet the needs of the
changing Rice environment while upholding these goals and priorities.
The facilities that comprise the Student Center include the Rice Memorial Center (RMC), built through the generosity of friends and alumni and dedicated on Homecoming weekend in 1958. The Rice Memorial Chapel, built through the generosity of the Rayzor family, was dedicated at the same time. The Ley Student Center (LSC) was added later to the west end of the building through similar generosity by the Ley family in honor of their parents, and was dedicated in 1986.
The Student Center is a department within the Division of Student Affairsas well as a proud member of Region 12 of the Association of College Unions International.