On this episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down with Maria, a first-year student at Rice University and New Student Representative (NSR) for Lovett College in the Student Association. Maria shares what motivated her to jump into leadership early in her Rice journey and how her passion for equity and access is shaping the projects she’s working on—particularly efforts to make academic resources more accessible for FGLI and low-income students.

Throughout the conversation, Maria reflects on balancing academics, leadership, and community life as a first year, lessons she’s learned about collaboration and decision-making, and how Doerr Institute programs like Catalyst Leadership Workshops have helped her align her time with her values.

NEW AND INCOMING STUDENT TIPS! She also offers thoughtful advice for new students looking to get involved, insights on building trust in diverse teams, and what legacy means to her at this stage of her college experience.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring registration is OPEN! Register today at riceleader.org.
• Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

In Part 2 of this powerful episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we continue our discussion with Saran, a first-year student at Rice whose leadership journey began long before she arrived on campus. At just 16, Saran became the first Mongolian American government-appointed official in California—and in U.S. history, representing more than 850,000 students with disabilities statewide. Her early work in policy and advocacy has already contributed to six bills signed into law and reached hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

Saran shares how she stepped into policymaking spaces typically dominated by adults, the challenges she faced as a young woman of color, and how she learned to transform individual stories into systemic change. She also opens up about the biggest gaps she sees in youth mental health policy today and what she’s learned from working with organizations across the country and internationally.

Now at Rice, Saran is continuing her impact through Political Science and Global Affairs while holding multiple leadership roles at Sid Richardson College—from Associate Justice to DRC Chair. She discusses how she’s navigated leading in a completely new environment, her work with Students with Disabilities SA, and her vision for improving accessibility and inclusion on campus.

Saran reflects on how her definition of leadership has evolved, the skills young policy leaders need today, and how she stays grounded while working on issues that shape people’s lives. She also shares her hopes for the legacy she wants to leave at Rice, her long-term goals in public service and global policy, and the message she wants to send to other young people ready to make a difference.

This conversation is inspiring, energizing, and full of wisdom from a leader who has already made history—and is just getting started.

If you missed part 1, listen here!

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The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring registration is OPEN! Register today at riceleader.org.
• Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log

In Part 1 of this powerful episode of the Leading Owls Podcast, we sit down with Saran, a first-year student at Rice whose leadership journey began long before she arrived on campus. At just 16, Saran became the first Mongolian American government-appointed official in California—and in U.S. history, representing more than 850,000 students with disabilities statewide. Her early work in policy and advocacy has already contributed to six bills signed into law and reached hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

Saran shares how she stepped into policymaking spaces typically dominated by adults, the challenges she faced as a young woman of color, and how she learned to transform individual stories into systemic change. She also opens up about the biggest gaps she sees in youth mental health policy today and what she’s learned from working with organizations across the country and internationally.

Now at Rice, Saran is continuing her impact through Political Science and Global Affairs while holding multiple leadership roles at Sid Richardson College—from Associate Justice to DRC Chair. She discusses how she’s navigated leading in a completely new environment, her work with Students with Disabilities SA, and her vision for improving accessibility and inclusion on campus.

Saran reflects on how her definition of leadership has evolved, the skills young policy leaders need today, and how she stays grounded while working on issues that shape people’s lives. She also shares her hopes for the legacy she wants to leave at Rice, her long-term goals in public service and global policy, and the message she wants to send to other young people ready to make a difference.

This conversation is inspiring, energizing, and full of wisdom from a leader who has already made history—and is just getting started.

🎧 Listen now on the Leading Owls Podcast.

The Leading Owls Podcast is hosted and produced by the Doerr Institute for New Leaders.
Edited by: Blake C. Hollaway

Ready for more insights from inspiring leaders at Rice University?
Subscribe to the Leading Owls Podcast and stay updated on our latest episodes!

The Doerr Institute for New Leaders helps Rice students unlock their leadership potential.

Because leaders are not born; they are grown.
We offer programs to Rice University students that expand upon your diverse qualities and increase your capacity to make a difference in the world.

Connect with the Doerr!

• Spring semester registration opens in December!
• Sign-up to be notified when new programs launch!
• Follow Doerr on TikTok
• Follow Doerr on Instagram
• Get Matched! Take the Doerr Institute Match Survey and find the perfect program to start your leadership journey.
• Download our Leader Development Log