John McClure Jr., Ph.D.  

Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

“Lifelong learner with a zest for discovery and an unstoppable drive that propels me forward.”

Hometown: Bronx, New York City, New York

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve spent approximately 80% of my life in school. It’s simple — I love learning. Who knows? I might even consider a law degree next.

Undergraduate School and Major: Haverford College, B.S. in Psychology; Rutgers University at Newark, Ph.D. in Neuroscience

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: University of Cambridge, Research Associate in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience

What has been your favorite part of Houston so far? Why? Living in Houston for the past four months, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the passion of the sports fans here. From Astros games to Houston Rockets matchups, I’ve been amazed by how engaged fans are. If they keep it up, they might even come close to matching the energy of my fellow New Yorkers.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the one key part of the Rice Jones MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The small, close-knit community at Rice Business was one key aspect that led me to choose this business school. Coming from Haverford, a small liberal arts college, I’ve seen how intimate learning environments foster collaboration, inclusivity and meaningful connections. Rice Business reinforces that experience by integrating small, team-based projects into its core classes, leveraging the small class size to create personalized and impactful learning opportunities. Collaboration and problem-solving are frequently encouraged in my courses, and allow me to work with and learn from my peers.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Rice Jones? The Competitive and Industry Analysis class has been my favorite course so far at Rice Business. I’m an aspiring consultant, and this course introduced me to strategic decision-making skills and challenged me to think outside of the box. I’ve learned how to analyze complex problems more critically and develop actionable strategies, all while applying frameworks that help position businesses as market leaders.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my biggest career accomplishments so far has been successfully networking and navigating the recruiting process before even starting my MBA. Although I wasn’t on campus yet, the Career Development Office offered guidance and support during the process, which helped me secure my dream consulting internship for 2025. This validated the decision I made to join Rice Business and helped me see that I could achieve my professional goals — especially with the right resources and community behind me.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far?  My biggest accomplishment during my time at Rice Business has been participating in multiple case competitions. Working with my peers leading up to the competitions has challenged me to better analyze complex business problems and develop actionable strategic solutions under a tight deadline. Participating in these competitions has allowed me to collaborate with diverse teams, sharpen my communication skills, and gain insights into different industries and functions. These case competitions continue to reinforce my passion for solving problems and my commitment toward a career in consulting.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? My best memory as an MBA student so far has been participating in the Rice Negotiations Intensive Learning Experience (ILE), which helped me improve my negotiation skills using hands-on simulations and real-time feedback. It was incredibly rewarding to learn how to approach complex scenarios strategically while working with classmates to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. The Negotiations ILE not only boosted my confidence in navigating high-stakes conversations, but was an unforgettable bonding experience for my cohort.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE RICE JONES MBA CLASS OF 2026

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