Rice University Master of Global Affairs

05/05/2026

"Houston At Large" is a new podcast by MGA students Luísa Tolda and Dante Garcia, which is supported by the Global Dispatches podcast. Serving to analyze Houston's role in various international matters, the first episode features Tony Payan, Director of the Claudio X. González Center for the U.S. and Mexico. Payan discusses how immigration impacts Houston, how current events like the Iran conflict have affected Houston, and more.

🎙️Check it out!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-houston-at-large-a-new-podcast-about/id593535863?i=1000766084167

Podcast Episode · Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters · May 4 · 45m

02/05/2026

"At Rice, you don't have to choose between competing at a high level and earning an elite degree. You're doing both." 🦉🌎

Meet Trae Broadnax. Named American Athletic Conference Honorable Mention multiple times, Trae is a force on the court for Rice University Men's Basketball. Trae is also dedicated to his studies as a Master of Global Affairs (MGA) student.

The Rice MGA is more than just a degree—it’s a two-year professional journey co-sponsored by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and Rice University School of Social Sciences.

Trae’s experience highlights exactly what makes this program special: ✅ Strategic Location: Being in Houston means direct access to the intersection of global business, energy, and international nonprofits. ✅ Practical Impact: Our curriculum connects classroom learning to the world’s most pressing challenges. ✅ Deepened Perspective: We prepare our students to understand the world more deeply and lead with confidence.

We are proud to have student-scholars like Trae who represent the Rice's commitment to excellence in the classroom and beyond.

Watch his story below! 👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g-76pqDNUw

Rice Athletics

What does it mean to be elite — on the court and in the classroom?Meet Trae Broadnax, a graduate student guard for Rice men’s basketball and a student in Ric...

01/27/2026

There’s no better classroom than the world! 🌍

Right now, second-year Rice MGA students are in the heart of Paris for an International Masterclass, taking a deep dive into the world of global negotiations. Our students are:

➡️ Learning directly from leading international experts.
➡️ Engaging in high-level discussions with peers from across the globe.
➡️ Building a professional network that spans continents.

We are so proud of the work they're doing to connect with one another and sharpen their skills on the global stage. ✈️

Rice University School of Social Sciences

11/06/2025

Four second-year MGA students recently teamed up to compete in The Geneva Challenge, which invites master’s students from around the world to address a global concern. Their competitive proposal earned them a spot as a semifinalist and shed light on a pressing issue faced by international migrant communities. Learn more about their experiences as MGA students and as a Geneva Challenge semifinalist team:

https://socialsciences.rice.edu/news/rice-master-global-affairs-students-address-migration-challenge-real-world-solution Rice University School of Social Sciences

09/10/2025

The latest issue of Rice Magazine highlights the incredible global reach of Rice University, including our very own MGA program!

"A real strength, he [Tony Payan] says, is the program’s diversity of students. A cohort might include recent graduates, former or active-duty military, professionals seeking intellectual and professional growth, diplomats, and students from many different nationalities. 'I think they are all richer for it, as they get to exchange views and know that there are many people that think differently.'" https://magazine.rice.edu/fall-2025/global-lens Rice University School of Social Sciences Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

09/03/2025

The Fall 2025 professional master's newsletter is hot off the press and full of exciting news about MGA students and alumni: https://riceconnect.rice.edu/emailviewonwebpage.aspx?erid=519d5114-b7cf-4cb4-8b95-1a6f1355aedc&trid=519d5114-b7cf-4cb4-8b95-1a6f1355aedc Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

Another academic year is in full swing for our professional master’s programs, and we have an exciting year ahead. Our new MEECON, MSPE, and MGA students are bringing palpable, fresh energy to their programs, and our returning Master of Global Affairs (MGA) cohort hasn’t skipped a beat; the facu...