Rice Dems with State Rep. Ann Johnson

Aj Jacobs ’26 (Duncan) is on the move.

A political science major with an infectious smile, Aj can be seen around Rice campus going for a run, working at the late-night eatery The Hoot or volunteering behind-the-scenes on local political campaigns. One thing you won’t see him doing is sitting down.

A native of Pembroke, North Carolina, and a member of the Lumbee Tribe (the largest tribe east of the Mississippi), Aj learned about Rice through Questbridge, a national program that provides encouragement and guidance to low-income, high-achieving students for navigating the college application process, specifically for selective and private institutions.

Aj admits he knew little about Rice when he was matched through Questbridge, but its nationally recognized architecture program — his intended major at the time — and small student population appealed to him. His choice of schools ultimately came down to two universities: Rice and an in-state public university that was close to home with a large indigenous population. His scholarship from The Rice Fund was the determining factor in choosing Rice.

When I compared the aid packages, I knew Rice was the choice for me. I also felt like I could grow more here as a person. Choosing Rice is probably the best decision I ever made.”

Aj Jacobs with The Hoot management team

In 2023, Aj was approached by fellow student Isabella Bourtin ’26 for help in reactivating the Rice Native American Student Association (RNASA). The student organization had disbanded in 2015.

“We had a slow start, but we’ve had a lot of support from faculty and other student organizations,” Aj says. “One of the things that was missing the most from my early Rice experience was having an indigenous community. With home being so far away, I was really missing the chance to be around Native people and engage in Native culture. Restarting RNASA reaffirmed to me that I belonged at Rice. The representation I feel now is priceless, and I only hope we can keep this a reality for future Native students.”

What’s next for Aj? He can see a future in campaign management, lobbying or even running for office himself. Regardless, his focus will be on giving back to his indigenous community.

“I love being on campaigns. I love the behind-the-scenes of it. So I’ve been thinking of getting my master’s in campaign management,” he says. “I feel like that would enable me to go back to my community and help my tribe, especially in the fight for federal recognition.

“I’m from a rural community that is honestly very poor and underfunded. The knowledge I have gained at Rice is going to be very helpful in pushing for the policies that are going to help my community move forward in the way that I’ve been able to move forward.”

Aj is both humbled by and appreciative of the opportunity to study at Rice. “Rice’s aid package showed me that they trust me with the opportunity to be here. They know I can go out in this world and do something … maybe even change the world.

“To Rice donors: thank you. Whatever your motivation — whether it’s your passion for learning or passion for this school — you’re giving a gift to someone who really needs it. Thank you for having that confidence in me and my generation.”