Rayna Anderson-Crier joined the Rice Business CDO team in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, relocating to Houston after spending several years in Montgomery, Alabama. Growing up in a small town in Louisiana, she immediately fell in love with the city’s vibrant diversity and the unique caliber of the student body at the Jones Graduate School of Business. Since the launch of the MBA@Rice and Hybrid MBA programs, Rayna has served as the Career Development Office’s dedicated advisor for this dynamic student community. 

When asked about her favorite part of guiding Rice MBA students, Rayna highlights the incredible wealth of knowledge they bring to campus:

“One of my favorite things about working with Rice MBA students is the depth of experience they bring to the table. Every coaching conversation is dynamic because students are balancing impressive careers, leadership responsibilities, and ambitious goals for what’s next.”

How to Partner with Rayna

As the career advisor for students in our working professionals programs, Rayna is dedicated to helping you turn your biggest career aspirations into a series of achievable milestones. You do not need a polished plan to book a session. Whether you are feeling stuck in your current role, trying to make sense of a new opportunity, preparing for your next career move, or simply looking for a trusted sounding board, Rayna is here to support you at every stage of your MBA journey.

Why Do Students Meet with Rayna?

Students typically schedule time with Rayna when they want to take a proactive, strategic approach to their job search, explore entirely new industries, or navigate complex career transitions. Her structured, action-oriented guidance is especially beneficial if you want to establish a clear timeline months ahead of recruiting seasons, or if you simply need help organizing a busy academic schedule around your professional goals.

Comprehensive Career Services She Provides

As a certified professional career coach with an extensive background in higher education and corporate recruiting, Rayna provides targeted support across every phase of your professional development. When you meet, you can collaborate on:

• Personalized Development Roadmaps: Together, you can design a custom career strategy and a detailed timeline to track your milestones leading up to interview and hiring cycles.
• Strategic Material Reviews: Whether you need to consolidate a decade of diverse work experience into a powerful, high-impact one-page resume, craft a tailored cover letter, or optimize your LinkedIn profile, Rayna helps maximize your competitive advantage.
• Interview and Networking Preparation: Work together on behavioral interview frameworks, storytelling techniques, and proactive networking strategies to help you stand out to premier employer partners.
• Offer and Salary Negotiation: When the job offers arrive, Rayna provides tactical advice to help you evaluate opportunities, align choices with your long-term goals, and confidently navigate compensation conversations.

The Action-Oriented Approach: Bite-Sized “Homework”

If you schedule a session with Rayna, come ready to build a concrete plan. Her coaching methodology focuses on clarity, practicality, and forward momentum.

“My coaching style is highly action-oriented,” Rayna explains. “Most meetings end with a clear set of next steps, or what I jokingly call ‘homework.’ Life gets busy, so I focus on helping students make meaningful progress through manageable, bite-sized action items that keep momentum moving forward.”

Beyond basic resume updates, Rayna utilizes a signature strategy to help students chart their paths: the Dream Job Exercise. Designed to be implemented early in the career exploration phase, this exercise helps students uncover unexpected paths and job titles. By looking at the big picture early on, students can completely reshape the roles they pursue, refine how they position themselves professionally, and bring intentionality to their networking conversations.

Professional Wisdom: Take Bigger Chances Sooner

With an extensive career spanning higher education, Rayna has worked at five different universities, gaining invaluable insights at each stop. Looking back, however, she has some poignant advice for early-career professionals and her younger self:

“I would tell my younger self to take bigger chances sooner. The risks that feel intimidating early in your career often become more difficult to take later when family, financial, and professional responsibilities grow. I learned something valuable at each university, but I also wish I had explored opportunities in other industries and even lived abroad.”

Life Outside the CDO

When she is not helping MBAs secure their dream roles, Rayna stays energized through creative outlets. She is an avid cook and crafter. For Rayna, Houston’s expansive retail and cultural landscape mirrors the endless possibilities she sees in her students.

“As someone who grew up in a small town, one of my favorite things about Houston is that there’s truly a place for every interest imaginable,” she says. “Whether I’m looking for a hard-to-find ingredient or supplies for a creative project, Houston never disappoints.”

Ready to Build Your Action Plan?

The most important takeaway Rayna wants students to know? You do not need to have your entire life mapped out before walking through her door.

“It’s never too early to reach out,” Rayna notes. “Once students complete our virtual career course, I encourage them to schedule an appointment through 12twenty. You don’t need to have everything figured out before we meet. I often tell students, ‘Dump it all on my desk, and we’ll make sense of it together.’ That’s what I’m here for.”

Current Rice MBA students can connect with Rayna directly by logging into 12twenty to view her availability and book a one-on-one coaching session.