Peer Academic Advisors
Peer Academic Advisors (PAAs) are an integral part of the advising community at Rice, and have been nationally recognized by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)!
PAAs…
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are competitively selected and extensively trained by the Office of Academic Advising (OAA)
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serve their respective residential college community by providing peer advice to fellow students about a wide range of academically-related topics
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have personal experience as a Rice student and offer accurate advice regarding specific courses, co-curricular opportunities, academic rules and procedures, and a wide range of other topics
Conner Schultz
In the bustling halls of Will Rice, where the Jedi reign and ambition soars, Conner stands as a beacon of delightful chaos. A pre-med from Belville, TX majoring in Biosciences with a concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics, Conner's mind is as sharp as a light saber. When on the grind, Conner can be found capturing the hidden beauty of campus life through his camera lens, often in the most unexpected places. His collection of bricks and campus artifacts, each a piece of history from the university, speaks to his fascination with the foundations that support our institutions. Venturing into the steam tunnels beneath the campus, Conner's ambitions stretch beyond the classroom. With a heart full of curiosity, Conner embodies the spirit of inquiry and the courage to fight any force in the galaxy.
Zachary Rubio (Jones ‘28)
Julianne Ma
Meet Julianne Ma, your psychology and English double-major PAA! She’s certainly passionate about her majors—if she ever finishes writing her essays, you might catch her updating her Goodreads or copy editing for the Thresher (the student newspaper). At Will Rice, she runs elections and spends too much time reviewing the Constitution as a parliamentarian. Despite her heavy workload, she always finds space in her schedule to walk her friends to class, attend their concerts or presentations, and listen to their life problems. When she wants to have fun, Julianne likes to play her beloved cello (she’s in the orchestra for non-music majors), read poetry, and point out all the questionable characters in the book she’s currently reading. She plans to eventually become a clinical psychologist, but for now, she’s one of the best people you can talk to, whether you need academic or general life advice.
Eileen Chen (Will Rice '28), Ankit Burudgunte (Sid Richardson '28)
Bridget Hale
Meet Bridget Hale, a senior from Chandler, Arizona, which means she starts complaining about the weather once it drops below 70 degrees. (She would still drink iced lattes every day if she had enough Tetra to spend at Chaus.) When she’s not working or doing some ridiculous math or statistics homework, you can find her reading books or consuming her favorite pieces of media. Outside of Will Rice, Bridget works at both the Fondren Library and the Outdoor Adventure Center, with not two but three job titles to her name! Whether you have a question about academics or the outdoors, Bridget will likely have the answer. (Tip: Don’t mention the kayaks.) Through it all, Bridget really cares about her friends and everyone around her, and she will help you make your experience at Will Rice one of the best. If you need movie recommendations or a fun coffee shop in Houston to go to or just any question about academics, I know Bridget will have some advice to offer while also making you smile.
Thomas Lu (Will Rice ‘26)
Margaret He
Meet Margaret, our very own Houston native and junior neuroscience pre-med! While she is reserved on the outside, she’s hilarious once you get to know her! She’ll never fail to brighten your day with a funny remark or unexpected meme. Armed with her knowledge as a Peer Career Advisor, Academic Fellow, and Peer Academic Advisor, Margaret always has the answers to all your academic and career questions! When she is not working with mice in her research lab, Margaret is busy honing her musical genius. A multi-instrumentalist, she is proficient in piano, bass guitar, violin, while dabbling in guitar and drums! She also loves playing games with her friends, just challenge her to a game of Jenga! Warm-hearted, caring, and level-headed, she is also someone you can always count on whenever you are experiencing set-backs or need guidance. Whatever question you throw at her, she will answer it cleverly, always pointing you in the right direction. She’ll frequently check-up on you and ensure you feel extra special and loved.
Zoë Chavez (Will Rice ‘25), Aditi Srinivasan (Will Rice ‘27), and Tiana Wang (Wiess ‘27)
