Rice University’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies has announced a strategic lineup of key leadership appointments and internal promotions designed to advance its mission of transforming lives and communities through lifelong education. The announcement positions the school for an ambitious new era of academic innovation, community impact and operational excellence.

"The strength of the Glasscock School has always been its people, and these appointments represent a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to elevate lifelong learning at Rice," said Robert Bruce, dean of the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. "By promoting exceptional internal talent who deeply understand our mission and adding vital administrative leadership, we are strengthening our foundation to meet the evolving needs of the Houston community and learners worldwide. I am equally confident and enthused by the vision, dedication and expertise this leadership team brings to their new roles."

The transitions, spanning the school's finance, community engagement, language education and interdisciplinary studies, underscore the Glasscock School’s commitment to academic rigor and inclusive, student-centered education.

Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration

Jessica Khalaf, Ph.D., joins the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies as the new assistant dean of finance and administration, bringing a wealth of higher education leadership experience. In this role, Khalaf serves as the chief administrative officer of the school, providing overarching strategic leadership and oversight of finance, human resources, procurement, grants management, compliance and legal coordination across the dean’s office and its affiliated organizations. As a member of Dean Bruce’s senior leadership team, she reports directly to the dean and acts as a vital strategic partner in driving the school's administrative, operational and academic mission forward.

Khalaf oversees the Glasscock School’s shared services model, ensuring that administrative functions remain centralized, efficient and fully aligned with university policy. She advises the dean and program leadership on complex administrative matters, manages a dedicated team of administrative professionals, and represents the school in university-wide forums. A familiar face on the Rice campus, Khalaf previously served as the director of operations and partnerships and the associate director for the Center for Civic Leadership at Rice, and prior to that, as the assistant director for policy and community engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Rice University, as well as a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, both from UT Austin. In addition to her new role, Khalaf also continues her active campus service as a member of Rice's Staff Council.

Director of the Center for Community Learning and Engagement

Korin Brody, M.Ed., has been promoted to Director of the Center for Community Learning and Engagement (CCLE). Brody joined the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies in 2017 as the center’s assistant director and was promoted to associate director in 2022. In her new role, she will oversee the planning, curation and management of community programming, directing the school’s signature short, non-credit courses for the Houston community and beyond. Brody works closely with Rice faculty, community experts and partnering organizations to design and expand accessible, enriching and engaging educational opportunities for adults of all ages. Additionally, she leads the strategy, execution and collaborative development of Rice’s Lifelong University initiative, an innovative learning program tailored for retirement community residents.

Brody holds a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education from Penn State University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Lawrence University. Active in the campus community, she co-chairs the Glasscock School’s art committee, served on Rice’s Staff Council as vice chair, chair and immediate past chair from 2021 to 2024 and received the Glasscock School’s Mary McIntire Staff Excellence Award in 2025.

Director of Language Programs

Rachel Kraut, Ph.D., has been named Director of Language Programs, stepping into the role after serving as Associate Director starting in 2016 and Director of Innovative Academic Programs, Language Programs since 2022. Kraut is charged with the strategic promotion, structural development and overall administration of the school's robust language portfolio, which encompasses the ESL Part-Time Program, Foreign Language Program, Intensive English Program, ESL Communication Skills Program, and high-impact digital initiatives like the Online English Success in the Workplace Program and the Online English and Academic Preparation Program.

An innovator in digital education, Kraut served as the lead developer and instructor for the award-winning ‘English and Academic Preparation: Pre-Collegiate’ course on Coursera, recognized as a Top 10 New Course globally in 2021. Her extensive service to multilingual education earned her the title of "TexTESOLer of the Year" in 2019 for Texas ESC Region 4. Armed with over 15 years of international and domestic experience across K-12, adult education, and higher education, Kraut holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Second Language Acquisition & Teaching from the University of Arizona, as well as an M.A. in Theoretical Linguistics and a B.S. in Education & Spanish from the University of North Texas. She remains highly active on national boards, serving as a Director-at-Large for EnglishUSA and as a volunteer peer reviewer for the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA).

Executive Director of Interdisciplinary Studies

Rebecca Sharp has been elevated to executive director of Interdisciplinary Studies, building on her longstanding leadership of the program since its inception in 2005. With more than three decades of experience in higher education, Sharp has led key initiatives in curriculum development, interdisciplinary program design and academic innovation. In her expanded role, she continues to lead the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies program and serves as the Glasscock School’s primary liaison to the broader university on credit-bearing programs and accreditation, supporting academic policy, program compliance and institutional alignment. She also serves as an adjunct lecturer in Interdisciplinary Studies, teaching the graduate Capstone Seminar and guiding students as they develop culminating projects that connect their academic, professional and intellectual interests.

Sharp’s contributions extend across Rice and the national interdisciplinary studies community. At Rice, she has co-chaired the Rice Staff Advisory Committee, served on the University Committee on the Library, participated in Voices for Rice, was recognized as a Centennial Star in 2012 and received the Rice Board of Trustees Staff Recognition Award in 2026. Nationally, she has served on the board of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs since 2015 and currently serves as Executive Board Treasurer. Sharp holds a B.S. in Geography and an M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University.

Charting the Path Forward

With this dynamic blend of seasoned internal visionaries and reinforced structural leadership, the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies solidifies its status as a premier hub for non-traditional education and civic engagement. These appointments fortify the school's capacity to build bridges between Rice University’s world-class academic resources and the diverse educational aspirations of learners at every stage of life.

Continue Exploring

Strategic Plan: continue.rice.edu/strategy

Rice Continuing Studies: continue.rice.edu

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