Since opening its doors in 1912, Rice has celebrated many milestones. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the leadership and tenure of its presidents - all of whom contributed to make Rice the esteemed university it is today.

A mathematician and astronomer at Princeton, Rice's founding president, Edgar Odell Lovett, laid the foundation for the university's commitment to undergraduate research. His extraordinary vision continues to guide the university's tradition of academic excellence.

After visiting and studying educational practices at esteemed universities around the world, Lovett assembled an inaugural faculty dedicated to both teaching and scholarly research. Rice opened with 12 faculty members from seven disciplines. By 1946, the faculty grew to 62 members across 20 disciplines with two main courses of study - academic and science-engineering.

William Vermillion Houston, a physicist who assisted in the development of quantum theory, served 19 years on the faculty at the California Institute of Technology before coming to Rice as its second president.

Under Houston, the foundations for Rice's graduate programs were established. He greatly expanded research programs, initiated a five-year engineering program and established the residential college system.

Lauded for his contributions to the field of theoretical chemistry, Kenneth Sanborn Pitzer, Rice's third president, was the former dean of the College of Chemistry at UC Berkeley. Pitzer attracted first-rate faculty to Rice by creating tenure and faculty retirement. Under his leadership, the number of graduate students and faculty doubled.

Pitzer created the nation's first space science program developed what has become a strong research relationship between Rice and NASA. He also expanded the humanities and social sciences departments, increased the size of Fondren Library and opened the university to students of all races.

Prior to being appointed Rice's fourth president, Norman Hackerman served as president at the University of Texas at Austin. A respected chemist, he was internationally known as an expert in metal corrosion, worked on the Manhattan Project and developed equipment that homogenized milk.

During his tenure, Hackerman spearheaded the creation of the esteemed Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business and the prestigious Shepherd School of Music. He enabled a greater focus on both science and engineering by dividing the two disciplines into two schools: the Wiess School of Natural Sciences and the George R. Brown School of Engineering.

George Erik Rupp, Rice's fifth and youngest president at the time of his appointment and the first without a scientific background, served as professor and dean of divinity at Harvard University prior to his presidency.

Known for his forthright administrative style, Rupp significantly raised the university's national profile. By capitalizing on Rice's small size, Rupp helped establish six interdisciplinary research centers, including the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

S. Malcolm Gillis spent the first 25 years of his professional life teaching and applying economic analysis to public policy in almost 20 countries, and taught 15 years at Harvard. Before serving as Rice's sixth president, Gillis was an economics professor and dean of the faculty of arts and sciences at Duke University.

Rice arrived on-time to the 21st century thanks to Gillis's development and implementation of Rice's first comprehensive strategic plan, including a foresighted investment in nano, bio, info and enviro sciences; the rise of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business; a dedication to diversity; numerous academic infrastructure improvements including buildings; a deeper involvement in the community; and a significant enhancement of Rice's international presence.

The seventh and current president, David W. Leebron, came to Rice in 2004 from Columbia University, where he served as dean of the law school for eight years. A graduate of Harvard and expert in international trade and human rights law, Leebron taught at UCLA and NYU before joining the Columbia faculty in 1989.

Leebron brought to Rice powerful international vision and commitment to the local community. Under his leadership, a 10-point strategic plan called the Vision for the Second Century was adopted. As a result, Rice has experienced a 30 percent growth in undergraduate enrollment, increased its international profile, expanded its research enterprise and deepened its engagement with Houston. The Rice campus has been transformed with two new residential colleges, a new physics building, a new recreation center, the BioScience Research Collaborative and a public art program, among many other enhancements.

As Rice nears its centennial celebration in 2012, we recognize the individual achievements of each Rice president, as well as the faculty and students who have left indelible marks on the university.

KNOW MORE: Woodson Research Center, in Fondren Library, maintains a vast collection of personal papers, photographs and archival information about Rice's presidents. Short biographical sketches are published on the library's website, and more information can be found by searching each president individually.