Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing has named Karen Lozano director of the Tapia Center for Empowerment through STEM Education.
Lozano, chair and trustee professor of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, succeeds the center’s late founder Richard A. Tapia, a pioneering mathematician and National Medal of Science recipient.
Established in 1995, the Tapia Center works to help students build the skills, confidence and sense of belonging needed to pursue higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Lozano is a materials scientist and engineer whose research focuses on composite materials and nanofiber manufacturing.
Her work has helped advance the design and scalable production of lightweight, high-performance materials for applications spanning healthcare, energy, environmental protection and advanced manufacturing.
Lozano is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Inventors and American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
She has also received the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.
Over more than 25 years, Lozano has developed research programs and educational opportunities while mentoring hundreds of students who have pursued careers across industry, academia and government laboratories.
Lozano grew up in a working-class family in Mexico, became a first-generation college student and was the only woman in her graduating class at the Universidad de Monterrey.
As director, Lozano plans to focus on three primary priorities.
The center will seek to expand access to residential summer programs for middle and high school students, develop programming and resources that educators can incorporate into K-12 classrooms and summer camps, and strengthen relationships with corporate and technical partners.
Lozano also plans to deepen collaboration between the Tapia Center and Rice’s Center for Engineering Excellence Through Equity.
Graduate students affiliated with CEEE are expected to participate as mentors, speakers and role models in Tapia Center programs, including initiatives serving K-12 students.
KEY QUOTES:
“Professor Tapia understood that excellence and opportunity are not competing values. They are inseparable. Karen shares that conviction. She has built an extraordinary career as a scholar and engineer while opening doors for students who too often have not seen a place for themselves in STEM. Her leadership of the Tapia Center brings together her commitment to academic excellence, her experience as a mentor and educator and her deep understanding of the transformative power of opportunity. I can think of no better person to carry professor Tapia’s vision forward.”
Luay Nakhleh, William and Stephanie Sick Dean of Engineering and Computing and Professor of Computer Science at Rice University
“On behalf of the Tapia Center’s advisory board, I am deeply honored to welcome professor Karen Lozano as the new director of the Tapia Center. She brings the passion, vision and experience needed to build upon professor Richard Tapia’s legacy of inspiring and empowering future generations of students from all walks of life to pursue rewarding careers in engineering and computing.”
Nicolas Medina, Chairperson of the Tapia Center Advisory Board
“Professor Tapia leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of excellence, mentorship, courage and service. I am deeply honored to follow in his footsteps because the mission of the Tapia Center is closely connected to my own life and career. I understand personally how one opportunity, one mentor or one moment of encouragement can change the trajectory of a student’s life. Much of my career has been dedicated to creating those opportunities and helping students recognize abilities and possibilities they may not yet see in themselves.”
Karen Lozano, Director of the Tapia Center for Empowerment through STEM Education
“My vision is to expand the center’s reach and create sustained pathways and support that help students discover their potential in engineering and computing. Ultimately, I want the center to not only inspire students for a few weeks but to remain part of their educational journeys as they become engineers, computing professionals and leaders of the future.”
Karen Lozano, Director of the Tapia Center for Empowerment through STEM Education
“Dr. Karen Lozano’s appointment is an inspiring win for Rice. We look forward to aligning our efforts with professor Lozano and the Tapia Center team to fulfill our shared mission: preparing responsible, compassionate and purpose-driven leaders who engineer solutions for social good.”
Renata Ramos, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Rice’s Brown School of Engineering and Computing, and Cecilia H. Fernández, Assistant Director for CEEE
“Together, the two centers will create a continuum of mentorship and service, cultivate a sense of belonging and build students’ confidence. By engaging Rice faculty, graduate students, alumni and industry partners to serve as mentors and role models, I hope to open new opportunities and empower young people to pursue ambitious educational and career goals, a mission very close to professor Tapia’s heart.”
Karen Lozano, Director of the Tapia Center for Empowerment through STEM Education
