We are excited to kick off our Real Humans: MBA Students series for students matriculating in the Fall of 2024; as we meet new MBA students studying around the world, our first stop is Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business (Rice Business).
158 students joined the Rice Business MBA Class of 2026. Thirty-nine percent are women and 37 percent are international students. U.S. underrepresented minorities make up 28 percent of the new class.
During their undergraduate years, the class averaged a GPA of 3.46. Twenty-three percent of the new students were first-generation college students. When it came time to take the GMAT, Rice Business MBAs landed an average score of 694. Those who opted to take the GRE submitted an average score of 157 in the Verbal section and 159 in the Quant. Students matriculated with an average of 5.1 years of work experience.
Get to know some students behind the stats in the following pages.
To start, Dr. John McClure Jr., a former research scientist from the Bronx, explains how he aims to bridge the gap between science and business, leveraging his expertise to drive impact in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. We also hear from Lindsey Pesqueira, a software engineer from Tucson, Arizona, who is eager to transition from technical roles to strategic decision-making, drawn by Rice’s collaborative environment and strong alumni network. From New York City to Texas, Joyce’Alyn “Joy” Payne brings her background in content production and client relationship management, seeking to grow her business acumen and start her own venture. Arden Barnett, a Mississippi native with experience in economic development for Tribal Nations, is passionate about finance and entrepreneurship, looking to help businesses unlock their full potential. Inspired by the welcoming culture at Rice Business, Leah Susan Dy, a non-binary student from California, hopes to foster inclusivity while pursuing a career in marketing or corporate finance. Finally, Nina Maelin Briones from the Philippines, with over a decade of experience at Shell, is focused on energy and sustainability, drawn to Rice for its location and strong connections to the energy sector.
Together, this cohort embodies a rich blend of technical expertise, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit, ready to make their mark in industries ranging from consulting and finance to sustainability and technology. Read on for more.
