Institute Announcements

The Boniuk Institute and its Religion and Public Life Center are celebrating our undergraduate scholars who graduated from Rice University this spring and equipped with all they have learned at Rice and the Institute, are venturing into the world to make meaningful contributions. Congratulations to you all!

Adrienne Bradley

Areas of Study
Sociology, History and Media Studies

Next Step
"I will work for a few years before going on to earn my PhD."

How has your time at the Boniuk Institute shaped your plans for the future?
"The Boniuk Institute has shaped me as a person, developing my technical research and writing skills, while also making me more curious about the world around me and opening my mind to even more perspectives and possibilities."

What will you take with you from your time at the Institute?
"The importance of engaging with a diverse group of people with an open mind, and how coming from different religious, cultural, and academic background can deeply enrich a conversation and workplace."

Kennedi Macklin

Areas of Study
History, Social Policy Analysis, and African American Studies

Next Step
"I will teach 4th grade Social Studies and Science before pursuing a law degree."

What is the importance of the work done by the Boniuk Institute?
"I believe the Institute's work is transforming how we think about religion in professional spaces. Regardless of one's personal beliefs or religious background, religion inevitably surfaces, and we can all benefit from learning how to navigate these moments with greater respect and inclusivity."

What will you take with you from your time with the Institute?
"The RPLC's Religious and Civic Leader Gatherings gave me the opportunity to see how professionals and clergy navigate complex issues. These collaborative discussions helped me realize that, despite our differences, we are often united by a common goal: fostering mutual understanding an working toward a more inclusive, respectful society."

Aditi Velgekar

Areas of Study
Psychology and Neuroscience

Next Step
"I will be starting medical school after graduation."

How has your time at the Boniuk Institute shaped your plans for the future?
"My time at the Institute has helped me to see the ways that religion and faith intersect with different fields. As a pre-med student, the opportunity to learn about and be immersed in the social sciences and humanities has nurtured my interest in the Medical Humanities. I hope that I can bring that sense of perspective and sensitivity to my medical school class and future patients!"

What is the value of the work done by the Institute?
"The community engagement and scholarly work go hand-in-hand in finding a path forward in approaching differences from an interdisciplinary perspective."