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.
Nova’s gift helps ensure that today’s students have access to the same opportunities she had at URochester. As an undergraduate, she received several scholarships that made it possible for her to attend the University. Nova also benefited from her experience on the college’s Debate Union team, where she developed skills and connections that shaped her academic and professional path.
“Generous donors helped me, and now it is my turn to help the next generation,” says Nova. “Qualified, deserving students shouldn’t be limited by financial circumstances—I wasn’t, and I am forever grateful. Both my husband, Josh, and I believe deeply in higher education and are proud to support my alma mater.”
“On behalf of the University, I want to thank Ria for her extraordinary generosity,” says University President Sarah Mangelsdorf. “As an alumna and dedicated volunteer leader, she is committed to expanding access, enriching student experiences, and strengthening support systems, reflecting the very best of our community. Ria’s gift will make a difference for our students now and for generations.”
Nova’s philanthropy also aligns with the University’s Boundless Possibility strategic plan, which outlines a goal of having all undergraduates participate in at least two experiential learning activities during their four years of college. By investing in both scholarships and broader student support—including support for the Debate Union, the Medallion Leadership Society, the Student Food Pantry, and Student Emergency Fund—Nova affirms that access is much more than admission and tuition support.
“We are incredibly grateful to Ria for her partnership, her volunteer leadership, and the very thoughtful way she designed this gift,” says Robert Alexander, vice provost for enrollment strategy and operations. “Providing scholarship funding plus additional resources to support student activities, as she has, ensures that students from a range of backgrounds can take full advantage of the URochester experience.”
At URochester, about 75 percent of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, and philanthropic support plays a vital role in meeting demonstrated need. Without it, financial barriers can limit who can enroll—and what students are able to pursue once they arrive. Scholarships help close that gap, opening doors to opportunity and ensuring students can fully participate in University life.
Nova’s gift includes $400,000 to support the Ria & Josh Nova Endowed Scholarship as part of the Piaker Family Scholarship Challenge. Preference will be given to first-generation students with the greatest demonstrated financial need in the School of Arts & Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences.
Nova’s overall gift will also fund student success initiatives through the George Eastman Circle, the University’s leadership annual giving society. Her generosity will provide immediate, annual support for cocurricular programming, student leadership development initiatives, urgent student needs, and George Eastman Circle scholarships at the School of Arts & Sciences and the Simon Business School. Additionally, her support establishes the Ria Nova George Eastman Circle New Membership Challenge, which seeks to inspire 175 new GEC memberships this year, in honor of the University’s 175th anniversary.
As the For Ever Better campaign continues, comprehensive commitments such as Nova’s show how philanthropy can meet urgent needs while building enduring scholarship support. This gift will support today’s students, grow permanent scholarship funding, and advance the University’s mission to provide a rigorous, fulfilling education.
Nova encourages other alumni to step forward to help URochester students, adding, “I feel fortunate to pay forward, and I hope the next generation will do the same whenever and however they can—through philanthropy or by engaging with the University in ways that align with their interests. My connection to the University is forever because it gave me the foundation for my life—the education that launched my career, the experiences that sharpened my leadership and professional skills, and the relationships that will always matter to me.”
Nova is partner, client and product solutions, at Apollo Global Management, an alternative asset management and retirement services firm. Prior to joining Apollo in 2021, Nova was senior managing director and head of Americas Business Development and Investor Relations at Värde Partners. Previously, she served in various leadership roles at Neuberger Berman across alternative investments in New York and Hong Kong. Nova cofounded the Hong Kong Chapter for 100 Women in Finance, which strives to strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage.
Nova joined the University’s Board of Trustees in 2023 and serves on its investment committee. She is also chair of URochester’s Annual Fund and a member of the School of Arts & Sciences National Council and has helped plan several class reunion celebrations. Nova received a bachelor’s degree in political science from URochester and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. She lives in Westport, Connecticut, with her husband and two children.
Philanthropy and engagement are critical to the future success of the University. Learn how you can support For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester. To support undergraduate students, contact Caroline Butler, executive director of Student Life Advancement.
—Kristine Kappel Thompson, March 2026