Name: Mikki Hebl

Welcome to the Miki Hebl love fest. The psychology professor is a favorite among Rice students—she’s a regular winner of teaching awards that are voted on by former students, and she even was selected as the 2004 commencement speaker

And as beloved as she is, Hebl feels the same way about students. “I have a great deal of respect for the students on this campus, and it gives me a good feeling to know that they have respect for me as well,” the Wisconsin native says.

“I am sincere in saying that I think we faculty at Rice are incredibly lucky—we have the best of the best in terms of talent, aptitude, and dedication. It is really exciting to think that some of these students embrace my teaching style and sign up for the classes that I teach.”

Hebl teaches on research methods, social psychology, and the psychology of gender. She doesn’t pick a favorite—she enjoys every course she teaches—but she’s partial to the smaller classes, where it’s easier to get to know each student, which is one of her priorities.

Her research focuses on understanding “mixed” interactions, or interactions between stigmatized and nonstigmatized individuals. Some of her specific research has examined obese customers trying to get customer service, gay and lesbian applicants applying for jobs, and obese patients receiving medical care. One of her most recent studies concerned physically disabled job applicants and whether they should acknowledge their condition during the interview process.

When not teaching or conducting research, Miki can be found training for marathons. Her goal is to run a marathon in every state, and she’s already halfway there. She considers “marathoning” a great metaphor for life—some tough miles, some really great ones.