The Director's Welcome

As an integral part of Rice University, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy is dedicated to lending a meaningful voice to domestic and foreign policy issues through its research and programs, which bring together both scholars from academia and practitioners from the public, private and nongovernmental organization sectors.

The Baker Institute is ranked consistently as a leading global think tank. Our location and Rice University affiliation provide a strong comparative advantage, and we further integrated with Rice’s faculty by inviting several professors in science, architecture and social sciences to join the institute as Baker Institute Rice scholars. 

Looking ahead to our 20th anniversary in 2013, we are expanding our primary research programs into new areas of public policy. Some recent research and program highlights include:

• The Energy Forum conducted in-depth examinations of carbon policy, shale gas and Mexico’s oil industry.
• The Health Policy Forum studied cancer treatment, obesity and health information technology and appointed of Dr. John Mendelsohn as our L.E. and Virginia Simmons Senior Fellow in Health and Technology Policy.
• The Latin America Initiative selected former Governor Bill Richardson as our senior fellow for Latin America.
• The Tax and Expenditure Policy Program’s report calling for comprehensive tax reform was disseminated at the highest levels of our government.
• The Science and Technology Policy Program examined Texas’ stem cell policy and the research and business ramifications.
• The Conflict Resolution Program concentrated on the territorial issues of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and the implications of the Arab Awakening.

Our recently expanded board of advisers comprised of 28 prominent individuals lends support to our strategic goals, facilitating the Baker Institute’s participation in some of our nation’s key domestic and foreign policy challenges.

As we increase student involvement in our educational programs, a generous lead gift from Jim Crownover, chairman of Rice’s board of trustees, and his wife Molly will support summer interns at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).

None of our achievements would be possible without the strong support of our friends and donors, to whom I express my most sincere gratitude.  We welcome your interest and participation in the work of the institute.

Edward P. Djerejian
Founding Director