Alana Holmes began working at Rice in 2010, first as the Program Manager for the GeoPRISMS, a NSF-decadal program housed at Rice University. She was responsible for administrative operations of the program, including finance, information technology, conferences, events, and publications. Upon the program’s planned transition to the University of Michigan, Alana took an 18-month sabbatical following the birth of her daughter.

Alana returned to Rice in 2015 in a part-time capacity as Executive Assistant to James Tour, a world-renowned chemist and nanotechnologist. In that role, she managed projects, information technology, travel and communication. 

Alana currently serves Rice University in three roles: Program Manager for the University’s Building Research on Inequality and Diversity to Grow Equity (BRIDGE) Initiative, Center Administrator for the Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience (CFAR), and Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Innovation.  Roles she assumed in 2021 and 2024, respectively. Alana has worked for Rice University collectively for more than a decade, supporting award-winning faculty, project management and event production. Previously, she worked for the British Consulate Houston.

Alana is a 2007 graduate of the University of Houston with a degree in communications. Originally from Galveston, Alana and her husband, Eric have two children, Adelaide and Eliza.