Katherine Jeng '25 makes the most of small classes and the world of opportunities Rice offers

Katherine, an English and Social Policy Analysis major, has taken advantage of a myriad of study abroad programs that have allowed her to combine her passion for literature and social reform.

"Rice has an amazing English program, and when I first started college, I thought I wanted to be an English teacher," Katherine explained. "But after taking Political Science 260 my freshman year, I got to see how political advocacy and social change can be a career."

That year, she learned through the Rice Office of Study Abroad that there was a summer program at St. Peter's College, Oxford University, that would allow her to explore both of her interests through the study of prison literature.

"As a low-income student, my first concern was the cost of participating in the program," Katherine said. "But the Office of Study Abroad was great to work with and made sure that it would be affordable."

For six weeks, Katherine studied works across genres written by authors who had been imprisoned, as well as engaged in discussions about authority, literary culture and resistance. "The class exposed me to so many new perspectives that intersected perfectly between my two majors," she said.

Last May, Katherine was able to pursue another interest when she was admitted into the inaugural class of students studying environmental art at the Rice Global Paris Center. "The program was amazing because I got to explore the city through its art and environment, which opened my eyes to all the ways you can learn about cultures through hands-on learning," she explained. "And I was lucky to have all of my experiences fully covered through financial aid and scholarships."

Later that summer, Katherine pivoted back to her interest in prison reform through an internship at the Sentencing Project in Washington, D.C., organized by Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy. "Being surrounded by young professionals and seeing what my future could look like if I do decide to pursue a career in prison reform was a huge opportunity for me," she recalled.

Katherine says she is grateful for Rice's unique opportunities and generous funding, as well as the incredible faculty and courses that have helped define her own path.

"Being able to experience academia outside of the United States is an incredible privilege. I have loved traveling and would love to live abroad after graduating," she said. "I'm always on the hunt for what I'm going to do next and taking advantage of all the opportunities I can.