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Sunit patel joins Rice University trustees’ board
Patel, a Rice Distinguished Alumnus, returns to serve the university in its highest leadership role.
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Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 29, Jun 2026
- 17:47 EDT
- 38
Sunit patel / Rice University
Rice University has announced the addition of Indian American business leader Sunit Patel to its board of trustees, with his term set to begin July 1.
Patel, a 1985 Rice graduate, joins the university's highest governing body along with Barbara Jenkins Gibbs, John V. Jaggers, Rob Kaplan and Akilah Mance.
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"On behalf of the Rice community and the board of trustees, I am pleased to welcome our newest trustees," said Robert T. Ladd, chairman of the Rice Board of Trustees. "All have distinguished themselves in their careers and in service to their communities. We have much to accomplish in the years ahead at Rice, and their wisdom and leadership will help shape the university's path forward."
Rice president Reginald DesRoches said the new trustees would play an important role in the university's continued growth.
"Rice is fortunate to welcome this accomplished and dedicated group of leaders to the board of trustees," DesRoches said. "Each brings a deep commitment to the university and a wealth of experience that will help guide Rice as we build on our extraordinary legacy and momentum to shape the future."
Patel currently serves as chief financial officer of Crown Castle International Corp., a leading wireless infrastructure company. Before joining Crown Castle in April 2025, he served as chief financial officer at consumer technology company Ibotta, where he led the company's finance, accounting and investor relations functions.
Over a career spanning the telecommunications and technology sectors, Patel has held senior leadership positions at several Fortune 500 companies, including T-Mobile, CenturyLink, Level 3 Communications, MCI WorldCom and MFS Communications. Throughout his career, he has led mergers, acquisitions and financing transactions valued at several hundred billion dollars.
At T-Mobile, Patel served as executive vice president and led the integration of Sprint following the companies' merger. Earlier, as chief financial officer at Level 3 Communications, he helped drive the company's expansion through major acquisitions, including Global Crossing, TW Telecom, Broadwing, Wiltel and Genuity.
A longtime Rice volunteer, Patel currently chairs the university's School of Engineering and Computing Advisory Board and also serves on the board of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. He was recognized as a Rice Distinguished Alumnus in 2022 for his professional achievements and service to the university.
Patel earned bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering and economics from Rice University in 1985. During his time on campus, he was a member of Wiess College, the Marching Owl Band and Indian Students at Rice.
He later earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Patel and his wife, Tina Patel, are the parents of Rice alumna Risha Patel, who graduated in 2016.
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