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2 weeks ago | 
rochester.edu | Sheila Rayam
A study of fire ants reveals the surprising power of genetics in shaping social organization and group behavior. Majority rules … until it doesn’t. Groups of social animals, including humans, can make complex decisions without a central leader. However, those choices aren’t always made by the bulk of the group.
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1 month ago | 
rochester.edu | Jim Mandelaro
The University’s chapter of the national program Eye to Eye engages and uplifts area middle schoolers with learning differences. It’s Wednesday morning at Rochester Prep Middle School—time for another classroom visit from a group of University of Rochester students. The impromptu questions start immediately.
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1 month ago | 
rochester.edu | Jennifer Roach
Professional organizations across numerous disciplines have recognized Rochester faculty contributions and achievements.
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1 month ago | 
rochester.edu | Jim Mandelaro
They’ll head to nations around the globe to pursue their academic passions. University of Rochester students will perform research and volunteer service—both home and abroad—while others will further their education after receiving merit-based national awards during the 2024–25 academic year. This year’s recipients will travel to France, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, Tanzania, and other parts in between as scholars and researchers honored by prestigious programs. Meet this year’s honorees.
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1 month ago | 
rochester.edu | Jim Mandelaro
A University program trains faculty to embrace mindfulness in the classroom, with instructors and students alike benefiting. Kate Soules began teaching at the University of Rochester in the fall of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What she observed in her classroom caused great concern. “I saw students struggling to complete their work due to anxiety or other mental health issues,” she says. “Others showed an inability to focus, complete tasks, or participate in class.
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2 months ago | 
rochester.edu | Sheila Rayam
Winners of the prestigious national honor pursue research careers in science, mathematics, and engineering. 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.
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2 months ago | 
rochester.edu | Jim Mandelaro
Four juniors and one graduate are behind Penpal, the first digital business card created by students for students. Ameenul (Gem) Haque ’26 was amazed by the frenzied networking that took place at the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers conference in Boston last fall. “It was really fast-paced, and the recruiters just wanted to know if you were a perfect fit for their companies or not,” he says.
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2 months ago | 
rochester.edu | David Andreatta
Gretchen Helmke, a University of Rochester political science professor whose research focuses on the rule of law and democratic erosion in the United States and Latin America, has been named a Guggenheim Fellow for 2025. The fellowships, among the most prestigious awards in academia and artistic communities, provide support to outstanding scholars and artists in midcareer, allowing them to pursue their work without restrictions.
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2 months ago | 
rochester.edu | Jim Mandelaro
At Rochester, the German native forged her path to a career analyzing international relations in an interconnected world. Lea Thome ’22 has lived all over the world, but Rochester, New York, holds a special place in her heart. “Rochester is where I found myself and discovered what I wanted to do with my life,” she says. Thome spent her first 15 years in Germany, then attended boarding school in China for a semester and in Slovakia for two years before enrolling at the University of Rochester.
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Mar 25, 2025 | 
rochester.edu | Jim Mandelaro
Seven years after leaving the University to play professional baseball, the Virginia native earned a bachelor’s in engineering science. John Ghyzel ’24 spent his baseball career trying to throw a ball over home plate. Once that ended, he looked home again—to the University of Rochester. The Northern Virginia native was part of the Class of 2018 but left during his junior year to pursue a career in professional baseball.