Meet the Dean: Rebekah Rice

Rebekah Rice, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Within the College of Arts and Sciences, I serve as interim dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities — comprising the departments of Art, Communication and Journalism, English, History, Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, Music, Theatre, and Philosophy. This also includes master’s programs in Creative Writing (MFA).

Students in our programs enjoy working closely with their professors — in rehearsal spaces, around seminar tables, in the studio, or while crafting a story for the campus newspaper. Our students are inquisitive, expressive, and attentive to deep questions and nuanced answers. Together we consider some of life’s most perplexing questions and engage in constructive conversations about faith, equity, beauty, justice, and value — with awareness of our shared and divergent histories and perspectives. Our programs are integral to the life of the university. 

As an SPU student, you may find yourself taking an afternoon walk across campus, enjoying the sound of orchestra or choir or jazz band rehearsals, or happening upon a group of students rehearsing for a theatrical production, or a room full of history students discussing current events in light of past occurrences.

I am proud of the ways in which the transformative experiences students have in our programs translate into sustained success on the job market. Whether it be Visual Communications majors landing positions at Amazon, Disney, Nordstrom, and PushPay, Philosophy graduates finding work at Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and Premera (We have a Philosophy Tech Track for that!), or Social Justice majors entering law school, or using their skills in the nonprofit sector, opportunities abound! And of course many decide to pursue graduate degrees in competitive programs at prestigious universities, including Oxford, Princeton, University of Chicago, and Seattle’s own University of Washington. 

Even more important than the particular path chosen, however, is the desire I see in our students to live a life of service, compassion, and purpose, which the reading of literature, the study of culture, the appreciation of artistic expression, and the contemplation of vexing questions effectively fosters.

Welcome!

Rebekah Rice
Interim Dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities
College of Arts and Sciences

Rebekah Rice, interim dean of the Arts and Humanities Division in the College of Arts and Sciences

Meet Rebekah Rice

Rebekah Rice is interim dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is also associate professor of philosophy. Dr. Rice holds a PhD from Brown University, and her teaching and research focuses on issues in philosophy of mind, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion. Her book, Death and Persistence, is forthcoming from Cambridge University Press.

Dr. Rice enjoys time at the beach, in the redwoods, and sailing on Puget Sound. Each of these is made all the more enjoyable when she shares them with her husband of 23 years and their two children.