Karen Lozano ’96, ’99, Trustee Professor and Chair of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice University, has been named the 2025 Higher Education Professional of the Year by the Sloan Scholars Mentoring Network (SSMN). The SSMN Higher Education Professional of the Year award recognizes an outstanding Sloan Scholar alum who has made major contributions to their field and the areas of teaching, mentoring and other forms of service in higher education.
The award represents a full-circle moment for Lozano, whose Rice University graduate studies were supported in part by funding from the Sloan Foundation. Lozano graduated from Rice with her M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and materials science in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Lozano said, “I received Sloan support to help me succeed when I was a student at Rice, and now I receive this recognition from Sloan when I have returned to Rice. It’s wonderful to complete that circle.”
Now a nationally recognized leader in nanotechnology and innovation, Lozano has mentored hundreds of students, fostering inclusive environments where high expectations were rooted in deep care. Her students knew she believed in them, and they rose to meet the challenge.
“This award is meaningful because it reflects the purpose of that early investment,” she said. “The Sloan Foundation believed in me as a student, and now they are recognizing the long-term return on investment in someone who would go on to invest in others.”
Her mentoring philosophy focuses on cultivating a sense of purpose and achievement through hard work, personal responsibility and innovation. Whether guiding students through research challenges or inspiring them to dream beyond their current circumstances, Lozano leads with empathy and a people-first approach.
“The most meaningful part of mentoring is helping students see what’s possible, especially when they haven’t imagined it for themselves,” she said. “If I can inspire students to follow a path like mine, they’ll go on to influence thousands. That’s how real, lasting change begins.”
Lozano’s impact has been deeply personal for many students, some of whom she’s inspired as early as middle school. Over the years, she has heard stories of students who chose to attend Rice after participating in summer camps or outreach activities she led. Her connection to Rice runs deep. She has hosted Rice undergraduates in her lab during the summer months, and several of her own former students have gone on to complete PhDs at the university. “These moments remind me that the long hours and hard work matter,” she said. “My motivation has always been people: my family, my students, my colleagues. When I can see a person at the core of what I want to do, that motivates me to keep going. When you center people in your work, success follows.”