What inspires you to remain so engaged with Rice?
Rice is immeasurably special to me in ways that I’m reminded of each day. For one, I (like many others) met my husband, Matt Carey (McMurtry ’12, Jones School ’16) at Rice. But beyond that, Rice led me to some of my dearest friends. My brilliant professors at Rice encouraged me how to think critically and taught me to write analytically in ways that prepared me well for a future career in the law. Rice was full of experiences both new and mundane, like late night food runs to and chugging and biking at Beer Bike — that grew into many of my favorite memories. And being at Rice instilled in me a passion for political and societal engagement that continues to drive my personal and professional goals. Even seven years after graduation, it’s a privilege to remain engaged with Rice, which has been there for me every step of the way.
How have you grown/changed in your Rice journey since receiving the award?
Since leaving Rice in 2014, I’ve graduated from law school and graduate school with a J.D. from Stanford and a Masters of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. During law school, I got to spend a summer working for the General Counsel’s Office at the Detroit Pistons and for the Commissioner’s Office at Major League Baseball — both were incredibly fun and interesting experiences. Since I took the bar in 2018, I’ve worked abroad in Hong Kong as a lawyer in one of my firm’s international offices, served as a judicial law clerk for a federal district court judge in San Diego, and am now living in New York City where I’m an associate attorney in the litigation and white collar practice of a large law firm.
Sumedh’s advice:
Take the time to deliberately enjoy the Rice experience and everything that the school has to offer. The Rice environment is perfect for trying things outside your comfort zone in a way that’s hard to replicate later in life. Don’t feel like you’re got to adhere to some 4-year plan and definitely don’t be worried if you don’t know you want to do with your life yet! You’ll figure it out in due course. In all likelihood, you’ll change your mind a few times along the way. But the friends, professors, new experiences, and memories that you’ll make behind the hedges are what will endure beyond the hedges.
What’s next for you?
I’ll be in New York for at least another few years, since my husband Matt is an internal medicine resident at New York Presbyterian - Columbia University Medical Center. Professionally, I’m hoping to continue to learn and grow as a lawyer in the near term, and eventually may try to see if a government or prosecutorial role or perhaps in-house position in a company would be a good fit for me. From a personal perspective, I know that I’ll still be engaged with Rice even when I’m a not-so-young alum!