Philanthropy
Mary Ellen Burris makes landmark gift to support free admission at the Memorial Art Gallery
March 10, 2026
Story library
Boundless Opportunity
New Hire Rochester Internship Program opens doors to paid professional experiences
March 2, 2026
Engagement
Taking Home Gold: Joe Carson ’76 shared his journey to medal contention at the National Senior Games
February 18, 2026
Doing what you love and competing at the highest level doesn’t have to end when you leave URochester.
Brilliant Minds
Eric T. Lincke ’54, ’57M (MD) establishes the John F. Randolph Professorship in Mathematics
February 10, 2026
Eric T. Lincke ’54, ’57M (MD) has given $1.5 million to establish the John F. Randolph Professorship in Mathematics within the University’s School of Arts & Sciences. The endowed gift honors Randolph—Lincke’s late mentor and provides vital, permanent support for faculty in the math department.
Philanthropy
A simple invitation, a lifelong calling
February 6, 2026
Philanthropy
Investing in possibility
February 5, 2026
Philanthropy
From Medical training to a lasting impact
February 5, 2026
Brilliant Minds
Gift establishes a new early-career optics professorship at the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
February 3, 2026
As part of For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, Govind P. Agrawal—the Dr. James C. Wyant Professor of Optics and a world leader in optical communications—and Anne Agrawal ’93W (MS) have established an endowed early career professorship at the University’s Institute of Optics. Their generous $600,000 gift establishes the Dr. Govind Agrawal and Anne Agrawal Professorship in Optics and will be amplified by an additional $900,000 from the Wyant Optics Challenge.
Boundless Opportunity
Why we support University of Rochester Athletics
February 3, 2026
Boundless Opportunity
Honoring a legend: Joseph Eberly’s family endows physics professorship and research fund in his memory
January 26, 2026
The Eberly family established two funds in Joe’s memory: the Joseph H. Eberly Endowed Professorship in Physics and the Joseph H. Eberly Endowed Professorship Research Fund.
Brilliant Minds
Transformative $10 million gift will establish Hajim School deanship
January 14, 2026
As part of For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, University of Rochester Trustee Emeritus John Bruning ’24 (Honorary), an optics and engineering leader and entrepreneur, and Barbara Bruning, a business and community leader, have committed $10 million to establish an endowed deanship.
Brilliant Minds
Longtime donors Arnold and Anne Lisio give $1.75 million to support the humanities
December 31, 2025
Their gift will support visiting professors and scholars focused on Italian and Mediterranean cultures, languages, and literatures.
Philanthropy
University Trustee Jay S. Benet ’76S (MBA) and Jeanne Benet establish an endowed scholarship for Simon Business School students
December 24, 2025
Their $1 million investment strengthens affordability and will help educate the next generation of business leaders.
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.
Engagement
University trustees share a “duty of care” for the University of Rochester Women’s Network
December 15, 2025
Kathy Waller ’80, ’83S (MBA) passes the torch to Judy Reinsdorf ’86. Together, Waller and Reinsdorf embody what it means to lead with purpose. They have shown that volunteer leadership is not just about giving time, it’s about creating impact.
Engagement
From Rochester to the Pacific, and everywhere in between
November 17, 2025
Marceline Martynek ’18 is currently a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania. She works with the Barott Lab, aiding in the investigation of how corals and other marine organisms interact with their surroundings and coping with climate change. Her work regularly brings her to Hawaii and has taken her as far as Australia.
Engagement
Showing Up: How Victoria Liverpool ’22 found community beyond campus
November 12, 2025
After graduation, Victoria Liverpool ’22 quickly realized that life after college comes with its own set of challenges (and opportunities), especially when it comes to finding community.
Thriving Communities
Finding the magic in mentorship
November 12, 2025
Omar Asghar ’94 shares why he believes in the power of mentorship and its importance in our personal and professional lives.
Engagement
Every step of the way
November 12, 2025
Brett Sonnenschein P’28 shares his journey with his son, Owen, and why he helps others on the same path.
Thriving Communities
Taking a chance
November 5, 2025
When Lisa Jones (Wilson) ’16S (MS), ’17S (MBA) earned her degrees from Rochester, she was working full-time as a social worker and supporting her family. She went to classes on weekends, and while the process was hard, she said, “It’s one of the best things I’ve done.” It was a doorway to the Rochester network that showed up when she needed it most.
Thriving Communities
Helping others succeed
November 5, 2025
Mary Skow ’07, PhD, is the agency risk management officer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), where she has worked for more than 15 years. When she isn’t overseeing NASA's holistic enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, she finds the time to volunteer with the University of Rochester.
Engagement
The Value of Mentorship
November 5, 2025
Laura DiChiacchio ’12M (MS), ’13M (PhD), ’15M (MD) relied on mentorship to navigate medical school. She now looks to help others in the same way.
Brilliant Minds
Investing in the future of education: Mary Ellen Burris ’68W (EdM)
November 3, 2025
A newly endowed professorship at the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education and Human Development—established by longtime benefactor Mary Ellen Burris ’68W (EdM)—will provide vital, ongoing support for early-career faculty.
Philanthropy
Transformative gift helps Memorial Art Gallery get closer to its free admission goal
October 27, 2025
Abby and Doug Bennett, with the Sands Family Foundation, give $3 million to support permanent free access—and invite others to join their challenge.
Brilliant Minds
Bob and Pam Goergen give $2 million to Wilmot Cancer Institute
October 22, 2025
Gift establishes a professorship recognizing Jonathan Friedberg, MD, MMSc, Wilmot’s leader and a renowned oncologist.
Boundless Opportunity
R. William Cornell, Jr. ’64D (Pdc), DDS, and Chloe T. Cornell establish a $2 million research fund at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health
October 8, 2025
R. William “Bill” Cornell, Jr. ’64D (Pdc), DDS, and his wife, Chloe Cornell, have made a historic $2 million gift to UR Medicine's Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH) during For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester.
Boundless Opportunity
Alumni Joan and Jeff Beal make record gift to the University’s Eastman School of Music
September 22, 2025
Vocalist, music and education champion, and University Trustee Joan Beal ’84E and Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal ’85E have made a historic, multimillion-dollar gift to the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.
Boundless Opportunity
Meet your campaign co-chairs
September 17, 2025
Answering the call: Meet the alumni and friends leading the For Ever Better campaign. Behind every bold plan to make the world a better place is a group of passionate individuals who answer the call of leadership: to act and to inspire others to action.
Boundless Opportunity
Rochester students win national awards and fellowships
September 17, 2025
From Fulbright awards to Projects for Peace funding, the honors recognize the scholars’ academic achievement, research potential, and commitment to service.
Boundless Opportunity
Four Rochester students earn Goldwater Scholarships for science achievement, research promise
September 17, 2025
Four University of Rochester students—Maria Ahmed ’26, Wimeth Dissanayake ’26, Aashay Mardikar ’26, and Marvin Wu ’26—have been selected as 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholars. This year’s class marks the second time that Rochester has had a record four recipients in a single year.
Boundless Opportunity
University of Rochester Trustee Barbara Burger ’83 gives $2 million to support research, innovation, and the student experience
September 12, 2025
Burger's latest gift continues her legacy of philanthropy and engagement, establishes a new directorship, and launches a pilot undergraduate research program.
Thriving Communities
Leading with purpose: Tess Troha-Thompson ’06 on advocacy, female empowerment, and mentorship
September 11, 2025
Meet Washington, D.C. Network Leadership Council Member and Women's Network Co-Chair Tess Troha-Thompson ’06
Brilliant Minds
Mary Ellen Burris ’68W (EdM) will establish a deanship, professorship, and scholarship at the Warner School of Education and Human Development
September 11, 2025
Mary Ellen Burris ’68W (EdM) will establish a deanship, professorship, and scholarship at the Warner School of Education and Human Development
Boundless Opportunity
Creating pivotal student experiences: Dick and Vicki Schwartz
September 11, 2025
By establishing the Schwartz Discover Grant for Undergraduate Student Research and other experiential learning funds at Rochester, this alumni couple has made a difference in thousands of lives.
Boundless Opportunity
The new Piaker Family Scholarship Challenge will expand undergraduate financial aid
September 11, 2025
The new Piaker Family Scholarship Challenge will expand undergraduate financial aid - This matching challenge will inspire a new wave of philanthropy and generate up to $3 million in student support.
Brilliant Minds
Joanne Y. Law ’98 (PhD) establishes a distinguished professorship in optics
August 27, 2025
Joanne Y. Law ’98 (PhD), an inventor and optical engineer, has established a new endowed fund—the Joanne Y. Law Distinguished Professorship in Optics—at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics.
Boundless Opportunity
The Kessler family invests in the future of Hillel at Rochester with a new gift
August 27, 2025
Rochester Trustee Larry Kessler; his wife, Karen; and his brother, Dennis—the Edward J. and Agnes V. Ackley Clinical Professor in Entrepreneurship at the University’s Simon Business School—have made a $1 million commitment.
Boundless Opportunity
Two alumni generously give $1 million each to support Simon Business School
August 27, 2025
Ron Fielding ’73 (MA), ’76S (MBA), ’18 (Honorary) and University of Rochester Trustee Juan Jones ’88S (MBA) have each made new $1 million gifts to support students at Simon Business School.
Next-Generation Spaces
Peter J. Landers ’83 (MS) and Kathleen E. Landers ’82 commit $1 million to support Strong Memorial Hospital Expansion Project
August 27, 2025
Rochester business leaders Peter J. Landers ’83 (MS) and Kathleen “Kathy” E. Landers ’82 have committed $1 million to support the Strong Memorial Hospital’s Expansion Project.