Jorge Gómez Fernández joined the SSI team as the Assistant Director for the Rice Emerging Scholars Program (RESP) in June 2022. He was born in Brownsville, TX and was raised on both sides of the border between Brownsville and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Jorge left the Rio Grande Valley for Bowdoin College where he received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in Japanese. After Bowdoin, he taught high school chemistry in San Antonio, TX for two years, and served as a senior college counselor for an additional year at the same school. He then left Texas once again to attend the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he received his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship with a concentration in Higher Education. In addition to his interest in guiding underrepresented students in STEM, Jorge is always looking for a solid movie/TV show recommendation, loves to be challenged in general trivia, and is on a mission to find the best tacos in Houston.

Advising philosophy: Individual student needs vary so much that they require special care and attention, but, in general, Jorge want his students to know that ‘success’ should not just be defined by the grades on your transcript or the job you secured post-Rice. The transformational [social AND/OR emotional] experiences that happen in between your first and last day at Rice are equally as important and will surely follow you on your journey as well.