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Boundless Opportunity

Gift from Lee Backus ’62 and Cicily Backus supports graduate students at the Warner School

September 1, 2026
As part of For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, community advocates Lee Backus ’62 and Cicily Backus have made a $1 million gift to strengthen financial aid for graduate students at the Warner School. Through a combination of endowed scholarship support and a matching challenge fund, their generosity has the potential to generate up to $2 million in financial aid for future graduate students.
Alisa Jimenez wearing glasses and white blouse
Uncategorized

Alisa Jiménez ’14 shares her journey as a first-generation student and why she took on the role of co-chair with the First-Generation Network

June 5, 2026
The first-generation student experience doesn’t fade after you earn your degree. It continues to shape how you move through the world and it can be a powerful way to connect with others. Alisa Jiménez ’14 was motivated to become co-chair of the First-Generation Network because she wanted to have a community with similar shared experiences as she continued to navigate professional life.
A monitor that shows brainscans in a surgery room
Philanthropy

Thomas G. Rodenhouse ’73M (Res) creates an endowed fellowship for pediatric neurosurgery

May 27, 2026
As part of For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, Thomas G. Rodenhouse ’73M (Res), a faculty member at the Medical Center, has established the Howard J. Silberstein Neurosurgery Fellowship Fund in honor of a recognized clinician, innovative researcher, and respected colleague. Rodenhouse’s $1 million endowed gift will support early- to mid-career faculty engaged in pediatric neurosurgical care and novel pediatric research at URMC.
Alka Dalal, Nemil Dalal, Preeyel Dalal ’06, and Sid Dalal ’71 (MA), ’73S (MBA), ’76 (PhD) family photo
Brilliant Minds

Dalal family establishes fellowship in artificial intelligence ethics

May 19, 2026
As part of For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, Siddhartha “Sid” Dalal ’71 (MA), ’73S (MBA), ’76 (PhD) and his children—Nemil Dalal and Preeyel Dalal ’06—have committed more than $1 million to establish the Dalal Family Postdoctoral Fellowship in AI Ethics at the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The new fellowship will advance research and teaching focused on responsible design, development, deployment, governance, and societal implications of AI systems.
University Trustee Tyler Zachem ’88 headshot
Boundless Opportunity

Historic gift establishes the University of Rochester’s first endowed coaching position

December 15, 2025
In a historic milestone for the University of Rochester, University Trustee Tyler Zachem ’88 and Karen Zachem have established the first-ever endowment supporting a coaching position. Made during For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, the gift establishes the Michael & Connie Neer Family Head Men’s Basketball Coach fund and marks a significant milestone toward the Department of Athletics and Recreation’s 2030 campaign goal.