Dear Rice colleagues,
I’m pleased to share with you that Tom Killian has been reappointed dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, effective July 1, 2025. Tom began his term in January 2021 after 20 years at Rice in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and, as dean, has led significant growth of the school’s faculty, established new programs, and worked collaboratively and creatively to improve the school.
Under Tom’s leadership, the Wiess School of Natural Sciences has experienced the most significant faculty hiring for the school in 15 years. In his first four years, the school has increased its tenured and tenure-track faculty from 120 to 138, with plans to reach 150. Outstanding junior faculty and established scholars have joined the school through these recruitment efforts, including recipients of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas funding.
Natural sciences faculty have significantly increased external research funding, with awards surpassing $50 million for the first time in fiscal year 2023. Tom’s efforts have led to the establishment of new research centers and initiatives, including the Houston Methodist-Rice University Center for Human Performance, and natural sciences faculty play key leadership roles in the university’s new research institutes and centers. These initiatives foster interdisciplinary collaboration and position Rice at the forefront of addressing global challenges in biological sciences, materials science, human health, and Earth and the environment.
In addition to these advancements, Tom has prioritized expanding undergraduate access to excellent teaching and research. The Foundational Course Learning Community and the Russell Shearn Moody Pathway to Research program are just two examples of initiatives aimed at enhancing student outcomes and providing valuable research experiences. The Foundational Course Learning Community, funded by natural sciences and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant, adds instructional faculty and creates an interdisciplinary community to share best practices for holistic advising in partnership with Student Success Initiatives and the Center for Teaching Excellence. The Russell Shearn Moody Pathway to Research, funded through the generosity of the Moody Foundation, expands access to undergraduate research experiences to improve student recruiting and retention and increase support for faculty who sponsor research projects for undergraduates.
Tom has identified new ways to enhance alumni engagement and garner support for the school’s mission. One prime example is the Great Owl Eclipse Weekend in Bandera, Texas, which brought together more than 300 Rice alumni, faculty and staff to view the last total solar eclipse in the contiguous United States for the next two decades. Science Café events convened every semester offer alumni and community members an opportunity to discuss current topics in science and technology.
Tom remains a scholar and passionate about his own area of research, ultracold atomic physics. Since becoming dean, five students from his laboratory have earned their Ph.D.s, and he provides research experiences for undergraduates every year. In 2023, he and Rice statistics professor Marek Kimmel were named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society and the publisher of the journal Science.
Please join me in congratulating Tom on his reappointment and in supporting the School of Natural Sciences.
Warm regards,
Provost Amy Dittmar