Important Will Ricers

Familiarize yourself with these key figures of Will Rice. They're great to talk to and a knowledgable resource in navigating Will Rice, Rice and life.

Bridget Gorman & Mike Reed, Masters

We are Bridget Gorman and Mike Reed, Masters of Will Rice College and it is our great pleasure to welcome you to Rice University and the Will Rice College community! Being admitted to Rice is a big achievement, representing years of hard work, but it also marks the start of what is to be an exciting journey, part of which will occur here, at Will Rice -- a wonderful, smaller community that will come to define a large part of your life over the next four years.

What are college masters? Well, first and foremost, Bridget and Mike live in a house (the master’s house) right next to Will Rice “new” dorm. We are your “grown up” friends, tasked with running the college and helping students make the most out of their time at Will Rice – think of us as the head cheerleaders, facilitators, and problem-solvers for all students affiliated with the college, whether they live on or off campus. We are here to help Will Rice, as a community, accomplish its shared goals, solve challenges, celebrate its many achievements, and most of all: be a voice of experience when needed. We are also here to help you personally, should you need us, for advice and assistance in navigating academic or personal challenges – and we also look forward to being here over the coming years to help celebrate your accomplishments as you plan and prepare for life after college.

So who are your Masters, exactly? Bridget Gorman is professor and chair of the sociology department, and during her 13 years at Rice she has been actively involved in the residential college system the entire time. She teaches undergrad courses on medical sociology and research methods, and during the day you can often find her in her office, hunkered over a computer and running statistical models for her research, which primarily examines racial and gender disparities in various aspects of physical and mental health. Originally from Seattle, Washington, she has lived all over the country for her studies and research, is an avid tennis fan, but perhaps most importantly: she has serious baking skills that you will be the fortunate benefactor of, especially cookies.

Mike Reed is a native Houstonian who received a BA from the University of Houston in Literature. He is owner/operator of a small, niche party rental company, and during the week can likely be found working in his office at the Master’s house or walking our two dogs, Steve McQueen and Alabama. We also have a sleepy cat, Alice, whom you will find lying about our house.

Overall, our purpose as Masters is to assist every student in making the most of the academic and social opportunities available at Rice, and especially Will Rice. So remember: If you need assistance of any kind, feel free to ask because we’re here to listen, and help when need be. We also hope to see you at the many social events at our house and across the college that occur each year, as Will Rice is filled with friendly, engaging people who make this community a special place, one that we think you’ll enjoy and value while a student at Rice, and for all the years that follow.

Again, welcome to Will Rice College! We can’t wait to meet you!

- Bridget + Mike, Will Rice College Masters

Joyce, College Coordinator

Welcome new Will Ricers! I am your friendly College Coordinator. What does the College Coordinator do? Well, I’ll be one of the first folks you meet on move-in day, because I’ll be handing out your room and mailbox keys. But during the year, think of me as your “one stop shopping” resource: I handle your mail, notify you when you have a package, sell you a stamp (and, if necessary, show you where on the envelope to put it), hand out aspirin and band-aids, help you make copies, and send faxes. But more importantly, I answer questions and help you make sense of all the new stuff that you have to deal with as a new student at Rice. If there is anything you need help with, come see me first – if I don’t know the answer, I will find someone who does! Maybe the most important part of my job, and the part I like best, is providing a place where you can sit down, have some candy from the big white owl on my desk, and chill, vent about the killer test you just took, or talk about the kind of day you’ve had. I’m looking forward to meeting you soon!

- Joyce Courtois, Will Rice College Coordinator

Tami & Jake, Resident Associates

Tami and Jacob (Jake) are super excited to be RA’s and can’t wait to share their enthusiasm for WRC and Rice with you. They are looking forward to supporting you throughout your college experience at Will Rice with their two lovable cats and dog, their plethora of video games, and their home-cooked Italian cuisine.

When not at Will Rice, Tami and Jacob can be found at Anderson Hall hanging out with the Archies, where Tami works as the Graphic Designer and Event Coordinator for the Architecture Department and where Jacob studies his way through graduate school for his Masters in Architecture.

Before moving to Houston in 2012, this dynamic duo (both originally from the tri-state) met in New Jersey after college when Jacob went in search of a pool table in Jersey City but found the love of his life instead. They bonded over their shared passion for rare and unusual literature and eventually moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico for a few years where Tami received her M.F.A. in Photography at UNM.

Tami and Jacob are (almost annoyingly) excited to plan a slew of events to get to know you and let you get to know them. From Pixar Movie Nights to Geocaching picnics, they are here to help make your college experience everything you want it to be by being there for the casual conversation to the ‘I-just-need-to-pet-a-cat-and-watch-a-movie-in-order-to-feel-normal’ sort of situations. They are very excited to meet you and know that you’ll love it here at Will Rice!

- Tami + Jake Andrew

Jason Sosa, Resident Associate

My name is Jason Sosa and I am one of your RAs. I have been here at Rice University for seven years and have served as an RA for part of that time. My faculty role on campus is within the Sport Management Department. Professionally, my background is in College and Professional Sports and it is my teaching and research area. Just recently I finished my Law Degree as well.

So what is an RA? Well think of me as someone you can rely on, talk to, and help you. In no way am I a regulator, or someone who is looking out to get ya! Believe me, once you arrive you will realize that “I’m not about that life!” Seriously, I am here for you. My role as an RA allows me to serve you in many ways from helping you think about activities to engage in at Rice University, what major you may want to “switch” to, or just general advice on life. Outside of the serious stuff, I often grill for the college, train with the AMAZING BIKE TEAM THAT HAS SWEPT 5 TIMES, and often chill and hang out with my dog Moose at my side. I am really excited about your arrival during O-Week. SWEEP!

- Jason Sosa + Moose

Doc C, RA Emeritus

Gilbert Cuthbertson is the legendary Will Rice Resident Associate known to all as “Doc C.” Doc is an amazing storyteller, and he has a story for every occasion. You may notice that most of his stories are about former Will Rice students – well, that’s because he has been a devoted member of WRC for many years. Just this past year we will celebrate his 50th anniversary as a Will Rice RA, a record that will surely never be broken! Doc’s favorite activities include hunting down bargains, both at antique shops and on eBay; being a legendary card shark (bridge and liar’s poker are his personal favorites); teaching his outstanding and entertaining political science classes; teaching newcomers that they aren’t the foosball experts they think they are; and greeting Will Rice students with a warm smile and emphatic “No problem!” Doc is the most pro-Rice and pro-Will Rice person you will meet. Due to his many years of dedicated service to Will Rice, Doc has been awarded the status of Resident Associate Emeritus. While he no longer lives on campus, you’ll see him often – at meals, in the gameroom, and classroom. He is never far from life at Will Rice.