Rice University Professor Richard Tapia, a National Medal of Science winner and renowned leader in preparing women and underrepresented minorities for advanced degrees in science, engineering, and mathematics, will be celebrated for his 50 years of service to the university on April 3 at Rice’s Faculty Club. Tapia has received numerous awards during his illustrious career, including the Presidential Award for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in 1996 and the National Medal of Science in 2011. He is the first Hispanic to receive this prestigious honor. In addition to his accolades, Tapia has made significant milestones in his career. He was the first Hispanic elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1992 and served on the National Science Board from 1996-2002. Tapia also chaired the National Research Council’s Board on Higher Education and the Workforce from 2001-04. At Rice, he has held key roles such as director of the Rice Graduate Education for Minorities and Empowering Leadership Alliance Programs, associate director of graduate studies in the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, and director of the Center for Excellence and Equity in Education.
Through his work at Rice University’s Center for Excellence and Equity in Education, Tapia created the Tapia Camps, a series of residential STEM camps for rising eighth-12th graders that help students experience life as a Rice student for a week while completing STEM projects and presentations. The camps have won awards over time and are instrumental in guiding students towards careers in STEM fields. Media interested in covering this event celebrating Richard Tapia’s contributions to Rice University can contact Amy McCaig, senior media relations specialist at Rice University for more information.
