Research universities are engines of innovation, economic growth, and social mobility. They educate millions, drive scientific and technological discovery, and help sustain U.S. global competitiveness, demonstrating their vital role as a public good. In an interconnected and rapidly changing world, how can American research universities best serve the public? We hosted a conversation between Rice University President Reginald DesRoches and Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, two distinguished leaders in higher education and public service, as they discussed the role of U.S. research universities in advancing democracy, equity, and innovation in service to the nation.
The event was free and open to the public and took place at The Ion, the anchor of Houston’s Innovation District located in Midtown. This event was co-sponsored by Rice Innovation and the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program.
Follow @BakerInstitute on X to join the conversation online with #BakerLive.
Registration
Registration has closed.
Agenda
5:30 pm CST — Reception
6:00 pm CST — Welcome Remarks
6:05 pm CST — Panel Discussion
6:45 pm CST — Q&A Session
6:55 pm CST — Closing Remarks
7:00 pm CST — Networking Reception
Participants
Welcome Remarks
Paul Cherukuri, Ph.D.
Vice President for Innovation and Chief Innovation Officer, Adjunct Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship Associate Research Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University
Featured Speaker
Michael M. Crow, Ph.D., is an educator, knowledge enterprise architect, science and technology policy scholar, and higher education leader. He became Arizona State University (ASU)’s 16th president in July 2002 and has spearheaded its rapid and groundbreaking transformation into a major public metropolitan research institute. Under his leadership, ASU has advanced its model as a "New American University," emphasizing excellence, inclusivity, and societal impact.
Reginald DesRoches, Ph.D., is an engineer, resilience expert, and higher education leader. He became Rice University’s eighth president in 2022, guiding its growth as a leading research institution with a focus on excellence, inclusion, and societal impact. Previously, he served as provost and dean of engineering, driving major research expansion, new academic programs, and institutional partnerships. An expert in resilient infrastructure, he has played a key role in national disaster response efforts and science policy. A member of the National Academy of Engineering, he holds a doctorate in Structural Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Related Events
