Juliana Crim, Rice University’s Global Travel Safety Manager, brings a blend of international experience and risk-management expertise to a role that supports the university’s global engagement. Her interest in international education began early, first through study abroad as an undergraduate, and later as an international student during graduate school. Those experiences sparked a lasting interest in helping others navigate the opportunities and complexities of traveling abroad. 

Before joining Rice, Juliana spent seven years working for AIG Travel, a leading provider of global travel risk services. There, she gained deep exposure to the operational side of international safety, developing an understanding of crisis response, risk monitoring, and the support structures that enable travelers to respond effectively to emergencies. “Working on the corporate side gave me an inside look at how risk is evaluated and how travelers can be supported in difficult circumstances,” she explains, “It gave me the context I needed to help academic travelers make informed decisions.”

When Juliana joined Rice, she started a centralized travel safety program. Since arriving at Rice, she has developed systematic practices, improved risk visibility, and strengthened support for faculty, staff, and students traveling abroad. Much of that work centers around Rice’s Travel Registry, where Juliana reviews travel registrations to analyze destinations and itineraries for safety concerns and reaches out to community members when additional planning or mitigation strategies may be needed. For elevated-risk locations, she conducts detailed risk assessments to help travelers think through challenges proactively. 

“My role isn’t to approve or deny travel,” she notes. “It’s to identify risks and help prepare for them. The goal is always to support travel whenever possible.”

Juliana spends considerable time collaborating across campus, working closely with Research Security and Export Controls, Risk Management, and Emergency Management. Together, these groups contribute to Rice’s review model, which evaluates safety and security risks, corruption, sanctions and embargo restrictions, counterintelligence concerns, and cultural or environmental factors. Juliana leads the safety component, drawing on data from the U.S. Department of State, Transparency International, and other reliable sources. 

She also regularly connects with peer institutions to learn from their approaches and identify best practices that can benefit Rice. “A lot of what we’re doing is building,” she says. “We’re shaping a program that will continue growing as our community’s needs evolve.”

Juliana emphasizes three key steps for anyone preparing to travel internationally on behalf of Rice: 

1. Register your trip in the Rice Travel Registry. Doing so connects travelers to Crisis24 for real-time alerts, emergency support, and Rice’s travel insurance.

2. Register with your county’s embassy or consulate. For example, U.S. citizens can enroll in the State Department’s STEP program to receive location-specific updates and enable government assistance.

3. Review destination-specific safety and cultural considerations. “Understanding local norms helps travelers avoid unintended conflicts,” she explains. “Cultural awareness is a safety tool, too.”

Rice’s Travel Registry plays a central role during emergencies. When major events occur, such as natural disasters, political disruptions, or security incidents, Juliana can identify who may be affected and coordinate support. The registry also provides key information if a traveler faces issues at a border or checkpoint, enabling Rice staff to clarify travel purpose, visa type, and relevant affiliations.

“Having accurate information available quickly makes a significant difference,” Juliana explains. “It helps us support the traveler and communicate effectively with the appropriate authorities.”

The global travel environment continues to shift, shaped by geopolitical developments, rapid regional changes, and evolving visa and entry requirements. Juliana works alongside OISS to support travelers navigating these challenges. 

With Policy 852 as a key foundation, Rice’s travel safety program is becoming an increasingly important resource for the university community. Through consistent processes and informed guidance, the program helps ensure that Rice travelers remain prepared while the institution meets its obligation in an evolving risk environment. Juliana continues to stay focused on expanding travel safety resources, refining travel risk assessment processes, and continuing to strengthen Rice’s global travel safety framework.