Irene Kwan and Heather Lazare Awarded 2025 Humanities Shining Star Awards
The award recognizes a School of Humanities staff member with a demonstrated commitment to their job and who has made a superlatively positive impact on the School of Humanities and to Rice culture within the past academic year.
Nominations were encouraged from Humanities faculty and staff members. Nominees must have been employed within the School of Humanities for at least two years as of July 1, of the nomination year and be in good standing with the university. All nominations are kept confidential. A committee consisting of the Dean, Associate Deans, Assistant Dean and the most recent recipient of the award review the nominations and the staff members’ contributions to the School, performance record, and engagement at levels above the department/center/programs they work in.
The award recipient becomes the keeper of the School of Humanities Shining Star “traveling trophy” which will reside in their office that year, receives a certificate to commemorate the award, and a small monetary prize. In addition, their name will be added to a plaque recognizing all award winners from 2017-18 forward. That plaque resides in the Humanities building foyer.
Past award recipients include: Linda Evans, Andrew Stefl, Marcie Newton and Christine Medina.
There was no competition in 2023 so we have decided to make an exception and present two Shining Star awards this year. We are proud to award this year's Shining Star Award to Irene Kwan, program administrator in the Department of History and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations Program; and Heather Lazare, center administrator in the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication.
Irene Kwan
Irene Kwan, Program Administrator, Department of Art History and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations Program
Irene came to Humanities from the Office of Development and is currently the Program Administrator in Art History Department. She also administers the Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations Program. She joined Humanities in July of 2017 so she’s been with us for a little over 7 years and 5 months. (Is that correct Irene?) I’d like to share some comments and thoughts from the nomination letters for Irene.
Irene has been a game-changer for our department and is an exceptional contributor to the School of Humanities. It is rare for one person to be as universally loved and admired as Irene is. Irene is the perfect ambassador for the department and is one of the most competent people I know. This was abundantly clear before I joined the Rice faculty. Her organizational skills, thinking of every little detail in very tight timelines and following up, checking-in week-after-week demonstrate her devotion to the care and support for all the members of the department. The chance to work with Irene was part of my decision-making process when deciding whether or not to come to Rice, and I suspect I am not alone in that experience.
Irene has visibly transformed the departmental in her creation of stunningly beautiful posters to promote our courses, programs, events and social media as well as website management and content creation. She never reuses versions from pervious iterations but instead gathers information to create a new overall aesthetic for HART and AMC flyers each semester, visually uniting all the departments’ courses so students can easily recognize them, but also distinguishing each one in a compelling way that attracts students interested in any given topic. Her work here has played a fundamental role in the growing enrollments for the department, as well as attendance at events hosted by Art History and the department trips such as HART in the World.
When Irene was assigned the program in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations program she hit the ground running. Within a few days she had taken the initiative to contact the faculty director and made many much-needed updates to the website so that no one would have known that there had been a program transition. She gives that program the same care and attention as she does the HART department.
Irene writes wonderful student spotlights for HART and AMC which build community and inspire students to take advantage of available opportunities. Students frequently tell faculty that they apply for various programs because they read about another student’s experience in one of Irene’s spotlights.
Writers said that when they mention Irene’s name to other people in the Humanities, their colleagues are always quick to note how much they enjoy working with her and how talented she is as a designer. One commented that “there is an audible sigh, someone saying “Oh, Irene is just the best, and everyone else nodding happily in agreement.”
Finally, one writer who was speaking for a number of faculty wrote: It is not enough to say that we would be lost without Irene, it is true, but it is not enough. Irene does far more than keep things running. She grows HART and AMC, she innovates, she reaches and involves our students. And she does all this with a quiet grace and with an “I’m-just-doing-my-job modesty that belies the enormous contributions she makes to the School of Humanities on a daily basis.”
Congratulations Irene!
Heather Lazare
Heather Lazare, Center Administrator, Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication
Heather, who is currently the Center Administrator for the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communications, came to Rice after holding a senior management position in an investment firm and then as an elementary school teacher. Heather joined the School in December of 2012 so she recently reached the 12-year mark! I’d like to share some of the comments and thoughts from the nomination letters for Heather:
Heather is the heart and soul of CLIC. There is not a question that she cannot answer, a problem that she cannot calmy and conscientiously solve. She routinely goes above and beyond what is necessary to find administrative solutions to the academic needs and proposals and she demonstrates exceptional dedication, hard work and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Heather thinks very creatively and helps others look at work challenges or tricky situations with a broader, more ingenious lens. Heather consistently goes beyond her role as administrator for the CLIC. She has been the cornerstone of CLIC through numerous leadership changes (both faculty and administrative), ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly while proactively identifying ways to improve processes and enhance the experience of colleagues and students alike.
Her ability to manage multiple responsibilities with grace and efficiency is truly remarkable. Whether it’s tackling complex projects like the Language Placement Tests, stepping in to support team members, or taking the initiative to address unforeseen challenges, Heather does so with professionalism and a can-do attitude. Her positive energy, collaborate spirit and eagerness to mentor others fosters an environment where colleagues feel valued and motivated to excel. She takes on new challenges and demands with courage, curiosity and determination. She will often offer to help faculty and staff members in the School outside CLIC and has shown herself to be a patient, dedicated mentor, and a thoughtful supervisor. Heather’s willingness to go above and beyond exemplifies her dedication and team first mindset. Heather inspires others.
Heather has a very empathetic and kind way to approach people and genuinely cares for each lecturer, student and her colleagues at Rice. She is welcoming and engaging and the first one to approach students at academic fairs or student hangouts.
One writer remarked:” I am so thankful to have a colleague like her who makes me want to be and do better every day” and another wrote “it is not an exaggeration to say that I would trust Heather with my life. “
I’ll conclude with this quote from a staff person’s nomination: “Heather exemplifies the best of what it means to be a dedicated and hardworking professional. Their contributions have made a lasting impact on our team and the broader community. I cannot think of a more deserving candidate for this honor.”
Congratulations Heather!