For more than a decade, Harrell Huff has invested in the students and infrastructure of Rice University’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK), turning the flagship undergraduate experiential learning program into a thriving hub of innovation.
In recognition of his longtime support, Luay Nakhleh, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of Engineering and Computing, has selected Harrell Huff as the recipient of the 2026 Dean’s Appreciation Award. Established in 2018, the award honors a non-alumnus whose contributions have made a significant impact on the school.
“Harrell’s extraordinary dedication and decades of mentorship at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen leave a lasting legacy on engineering education at Rice,” said Nakhleh. “The sustained investments from Harrell and his late wife Carolyn—a Rice alumna— have expanded experiential learning opportunities for our undergraduate students, equipping them with the leadership and problem-solving skills needed to tackle global challenges in their future careers. It is a privilege to present Harrell with the Dean’s Appreciation Award.”
Harrell, a retired chemical engineer, spent more than three decades at Dow Chemical working across process and product research. During the latter half of his career, he oversaw discovery research and helped bring numerous innovations to life. His work included a series of patented technologies that established the groundwork for future Dow products.
As an engineer, Harrell’s own work was fueled by curiosity. When he and Carolyn decided to invest in Rice University students, he knew he wanted to instill that same sense of curiosity in the next generation of engineers.
The Huffs established multiple endowments supporting the OEDK, funding initiatives ranging from student design teams to faculty and staff positions. They directly sponsored more than 60 teams over the years, taking an active role in the students’ development. Carolyn reviewed presentation materials, while Harrell provided technical guidance on project designs.
In 2023, the OEDK’s annual engineering design competition was renamed the Huff OEDK Engineering Design Showcase in honor of years of the couple’s longstanding contributions. Harrell continues to invest heavily in the future of the OEDK, carrying forward the legacy he and Carolyn built together.
For Harrell, one of the greatest rewards of mentoring is watching how experiential learning sharpens students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills. “They haven’t been exposed to how to solve the problem until they get to the OEDK,” said Harrell. “Here, they are working on a real problem, not some computer simulation. They just blossom as they get into the project and learn what they didn’t know before.”
Harrell will be formally honored at the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing Alumni Awards Celebration on October 22, 2026.