Engagement

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.

Alayna Leestma ’27, Claire Cho ’28, Triet Ly ’29, and Ivan Cea Gomez ’27. Not pictured: Pieran “Levi” Li ’27. This summer’s inaugural Hire Rochester undergraduates are building skills, confidence, and professional connections.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, Alexander A. Levitan ’63M (MD) earned international recognition as an oncologist, educator, and expert in clinical hypnosis. Yet those who knew him best often spoke first about his generosity—his unwavering commitment to helping others succeed, and his belief that education could change lives.

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of its members and the community, the University of Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) will open its doors to all—free of charge—sometime in 2027, much sooner than anticipated.

As part of For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, Trustee Ria Nova ’98, a finance and investment industry executive, has committed $1 million to support scholarships and student success initiatives at the University of Rochester. The gift will provide both immediate funding and permanent support for undergraduate students.

When Dr. Donald A. Grover ’62, ’66M, ’73M (Res) returned to the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Eye Clinic in 1974 to start his career, he was taking the first steps that would shape the future of ophthalmology in Rochester. At the time, the program was small, running on dedication more than space.

New Hire Rochester Internship Program opens doors to paid professional experiences: Exclusively for URochester undergraduates, the program is made possible through a generous leadership gift from Trustee Judith Reinsdorf ’86.