Dean's Office Staff

Dr. John S. Hutchinson
Dean of Undergraduates
Professor of Chemistry
713-348-4996
dean.hutchinson@rice.edu 

Dean of Undergraduates and Professor of Chemistry
As dean of undergraduates, he is responsible for overseeing the undergraduate curriculum, especially those aspects related to general education, as well as all non-curricular components of student life including the residential colleges. Dean Hutchinson came to Rice in 1983, after completing his bachelor and doctoral degrees at the University of Texas at Austin and his postdoctoral studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder. His research interests are in Theoretical Chemical Physics and Chemical Education. He has taught General Chemistry at Rice since 1988. He is a six time winner of the George R. Brown Awards for teaching and in 2007 received the George R. Brown Certificate of Highest Merit for Teaching Excellence. He and his wife, Paula, served as Wiess College Masters from 1994 to 2001 and as Brown College Masters from 2003 to 2008.
 

 
Dr. Matthew Taylor  - Associate Dean of Undergraduates
713-348-4997
ptt@rice.edu

Dr. Taylor advises Dean Hutchinson on all aspects of the undergraduate experience, coordinates the development of new academic and residential college programs, and serves as a first point of contact and resource for undergraduates and faculty.  After receiving his BA from Southern Methodist University and PhD from Rice, Dr. Taylor taught history at Rice and served as resident faculty associate at Brown College from 1992 to1996.  He joined the Dean of Undergraduates’ Office in March 2005, following seven years as dean of student life and professor of history at Pomona College.

Kate Noonan - Director of Student Development & Retention
713-348-4823
knoonan@rice.edu

Kate serves as a first point of contact and resource for undergraduate students, and collaborates with the division on a variety of student life, training, and retention oriented programs and services. She also provides coordination for student separations, readmissions and incident response. Kate received her BS from Rosemont College and MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania. Before coming to Rice in 2007, Kate worked in Residential Life and Education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

 
Linda Cooper - Division Administrator
713-348-4996
lcooper@rice.edu 
 

• Assists Dean of Undergraduates in day-to-day activities and maintains appointment calendar
• Coordinates the balloting/selection process for the Brown & Salgo Teaching Awards, Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts, the Graham C. Stebbings, Paul Bobb, Barbara Long Chilton, Alan Grob, C. M. and Demaris Hudspeth Awards, and the Linda Williams Prize for Social Justice.
• Coordinates matriculation activities during Orientation Week
• Reviews proposed changes to the General Announcements within the Division of Dean of Undergraduates.
• Assists Dean with administrative duties in managing the office and division
• Review/Process HR paperwork for personnel within the division
• Maintain budget expenditures

Yesenia Montoya - Division Coordinator
713-348-4997
montoyay@rice.edu  

• Receives and reviews petitions to the Committee on Examinations and Standing and informs petitioners of committee’s decision
• Receives and coordinates the submission of college course proposals
• Coordinates the Visiting College Scholar apartments with departments, colleges, housing and dining, and the dean
• Coordinates the annual Outstanding & Distinguished College Associates Reception with the President's office and University Events
• Assigns residential colleges for incoming freshmen and transfer students