Irene Mendez joined Rice Global in April 2023. Irene is responsible for managing Rice Global student programs, overseeing logistics, and supporting students through every stage of their global learning experience. She is passionate about creating meaningful, well-organized opportunities that foster academic and personal growth. 

Irene was born in Costa Rica and moved to Houston when she was 8 years old.  She speaks both English and Spanish fluently, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College. Prior to joining Rice Global, she worked for 5 years in the Office of International Students and Scholars at Rice. Her previous work sparked a strong professional interest in intercultural exchange and international engagement—an interest she has continued to deepen through her role at Rice Global.