Get to Know Akilah

Executive Biography

Mance is general counsel and director of government affairs for the Houston Forensic Science Center. She is a career-long public servant and has held leadership roles in several professional and civic organizations, most recently being appointed to the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults Board. She has remained actively engaged with Rice through alumni leadership, advisory boards and university initiatives, including the School of Social Sciences, Center for Civic Leadership and Association of Rice University Black Alumni. She received the Association of Rice Alumni’s Builders Award in 2016. Mance earned bachelor’s degrees in English and political science from Rice and a law degree from the University of Georgia. Her brother, Omar-Seli Mance ’03, is also a Rice alum.

What part of serving on the ARA Board are you most excited about?

To come back and serve some 10 years later is really a special experience. I am excited to see how the Board has changed and how the University has changed during that time. As an alumni trustee, I am excited to serve as a liaison between the ARA Board and Board of Trustees to follow in the tradition of so many outstanding alumni who served in this position previously.

What is your favorite “Only at Rice” memory or story?

Only at Rice were students jumping into the President's pool to celebrate big wins like conference championships, matriculating, and graduation. Back then, the President's house was the current Huff House/ Alumni office by Jones and Brown College. Sometimes with permission and other times probably without, students would run into the president's backyard and jump in his pool. I don't know of too many schools where that would be allowed.

If you could give one piece of advice to Rice students, what would it be?

You don't have to figure out your life's plan right now. Even as an adult, you will constantly be figuring out what is the next step, the next goal, what adjustments to make. There's no amount of knowledge you could possibly acquire to predict and prepare for all that lies ahead so continue to dream and plan but give yourself grace as you take the next step along your journey.