Victoria Langlais, senior assistant dean of human resources and administration in Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, was named this year’s winner of the Elizabeth Gillis Award for Exemplary Service at President Reginald DesRoches’ annual event celebrating staff accomplishments April 23.
The most prestigious prize given to university staff each year, the award is named after the wife of former Rice President Malcolm Gillis. It is presented to staff who demonstrate exemplary commitment and service to the university, just as Elizabeth Gillis did during her years of service. Fittingly, Gillis presented the honor to Langlais as the award entered its 25th anniversary this year.
Langlais has been a member of the Rice community since 2011. She has served as a client manager in executive education at the Jones Graduate School of Business and as an associate director at the Ken Kennedy Institute. She joined the Brown School of Engineering and Computing in 2019 as an associate director of human resources and administration, was promoted to assistant dean in 2021 then to senior assistant dean in 2024.
In her 17 nomination letters, Langlais was commended for her exceptional commitment, initiative and leadership.
“Victoria’s impact has been particularly profound in her current role, where she has transformed human resources practices and administrative processes within the School of Engineering and Computing,” one letter detailed. “She played a pivotal role in navigating the complexities of the iO system launch, a period that created substantial challenges across campus. The transition to iO disrupted payroll and HR processes, leading to widespread issues and uncertainty. Amid this turmoil, Victoria took the initiative to create a dedicated human capital management team within the dean’s office, assigning specific experts to oversee tenured and tenure-track faculty, nontenure-track faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate student employment. This proactive approach not only stabilized our operations but also set a precedent for other divisions, many of which have since adopted a similar model.
“Victoria’s influence extends across Rice University, where she has earned a reputation for her collaborative approach and dedication to improving processes. She frequently partners with key campus offices, including the provost’s office; the Office of Operations, Finance and Support; Human Resources and the vice provost’s office for academic affairs. In these partnerships, Victoria brings the unique perspective of the School of Engineering and Computing, helping to shape university policies and procedures that benefit all divisions. She does not hesitate to dive into the details when necessary and is always ready to go beyond her job description to find solutions to complex problems. Her presence in university committees and task forces has brought a positive, solution-oriented tone to discussions, fostering a spirit of cooperation and shared purpose.”
Langlais shared her reaction after learning she is this year’s Gillis Award recipient.
“I was really surprised and honored,” she said. “There are so many amazing people across campus doing meaningful work every day. I feel fortunate that I was chosen. I’m especially grateful to my team here in the School of Engineering and Computing. This recognition also reflects the talent and commitment of the people I work with every day.”
She also imparted words of wisdom for other staff looking to make a difference in their roles.
“I’ve always felt that showing up with a positive attitude can make a big difference,” Langlais said. “Consistency, reliability and collaboration go a long way. Some of the most meaningful contributions happen behind the scenes — it’s really about being present, following through and supporting others in ways that aren’t always visible. Kindness matters, and how you show up for your team and your colleagues shapes the culture around you.”
