# @ucberkeleyofficial on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DVH5q6NFDn-
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/64635233-ucberkeleyofficial-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/a2e4055dd7.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-02-24T02:12:35.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UC Berkeley (@ucberkeleyofficial) — https://gondola.cc/ucberkeleyofficial

## Caption

“At Berkeley, I met the love of my life and my best friends. I got a great education that prepared me for a career in higher ed. I had a great time. It was transformational.”

Dr. Reginald DesRoches — president of Rice University and, incredibly, a three-time UC Berkeley alum (BS ’90 Mechanical Engineering; MS ’92 Civil Engineering; PhD ’98 Structural Engineering) — grew up in Queens, NY as the youngest in a Haitian immigrant family. 

In a home where expectations were clear, his father had a mantra: “Be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, or disappointment.” It only made sense that the kid who loved tinkering and watching airplanes fly would choose engineering.

His curiosity led him to UC Berkeley as a mechanical engineering undergrad, when the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake hit. “It really changed my perspective on what I wanted to study,” he says — a tectonic shift that led him to structural earthquake engineering.

At Berkeley, he found community in BESAC (Black Engineering and Science Alumni Club), met his future wife Paula, and learned from “legends in the field” like civil engineering professor Greg Fenves.

Later, the 2010 Haiti earthquake became another defining moment. “It was transformative to use the skill set I obtained through my time at Berkeley to help the country of my birth,” he says. He was on the ground within weeks, leading teams to assess damage and support recovery.

Today, Reggie is the eighth president of Rice University, and the first engineer, Black American, and immigrant to hold the office. “My favorite moments as president are connecting with the students,” he says. His “Rides with Reggie” golf-cart tradition, where he drives students to class, has become a casual yet powerful way to hear their stories.

Looking ahead, his POV is broader than his father’s: “We need more of everything… people out there changing the world.” His advice for students? “Take full advantage of what the university has to offer. Don’t be afraid to do things that are uncomfortable. That’s when you grow.”

#UCBerkeley #CalAlumStory

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ucberkeley, calalumstory

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