We eagerly look forward to celebrating the opening of Susan and Fayez Sarofim Hall, our new home for the Department of Art with ribbon-cutting tentatively scheduled for September 2025. This stunning and much-anticipated addition to Rice’s arts corridor will highlight the pivotal role of the creative arts in a liberal arts education and will be a place where creativity, collaboration and exploration can flourish, marking a true homecoming for the visual arts on campus and in our community.

At the same time, our Creative Writing Program in the Department of English is flourishing. The program is not growing just in terms of faculty; the academic powerhouse has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of students, sparking a surge of interest that far exceeds available capacity. Most creative writing classes have waitlists at least 20 students deep, while the waitlists for intro workshops are closer to 75.

Creative Writing faculty members are exploring the possibility of establishing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), which reflects the program’s commitment to furthering its impact and engaging with a broader community of writers.