University alumni, community members, and friends celebrate the annual Meliora Weekend traditions of reunions, thought-provoking conversations, performances, and family fun.
Headlining performers include聽Soledad O鈥橞rien, award-winning journalist, speaker, and author;聽Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow;聽 innovative multi-genre musical group Pink Martini; political commentator and former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele; and聽聽Nasim Pedrad,聽former聽Saturday Night Live聽comedian and actress from聽New Girl听补苍诲听Curb Your Enthusiasm.
From left, Meghan Daly Lippman, Douglas Stiller, and Jennifer Carpenter Siedman鈥攁ll members of the Class of 1988鈥攕how their Rochester spirit at the Meliora Village. (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
In her keynote address, Soledad O鈥橞rien talks about the importance of storytelling鈥攁nd of diversity of stories and storytellers.”We have an obligation to hear people鈥檚 stories and maybe even more importantly to share our own stories. I don鈥檛 know if we can move forward as a community if we don鈥檛 do that,” she told a packed Palestra.听(暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Pulitzer颅 Prize鈥搘inning writer Ron Chernow talks with Joanna Scott, the Roswell Smith Burrows Professor of English following his lecture, which focused on his critically acclaimed biography Grant. “I have used my books, not necessarily to write about a person, but as prisms to view a period,鈥� he says. Chernow, who also wrote the biography of Alexander Hamilton that inspired the Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, notes that since the musical, 鈥淚鈥檓 known as the hip-hop historian.鈥� (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Michael Steele stops by the voter registration table after his talk in Strong Auditorium to talk with, from right, Prashanta Augustine 鈥�19, Merve Gulbay 鈥�20, and Hager Elkhidir 鈥�21. Steele, an MSNBC political analyst and former Republican National Committee chairman and lieutenant governor of Maryland, urged people in the audience to vote, elevate good candidates, and stay engaged after the elections. (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Gretchen Birbeck, the Edward A. and Alma Vollertsen Rykenboer Professor in Neurology, delivers a talk on her work researching neurologic disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. 鈥淭he shrinking global condition of our fellow humans is more relevant now than ever,鈥� Birbeck tells the audience at the School of Medicine and Dentistry鈥檚 鈥淢EDTalks鈥� event. 鈥淩esearch conducted off the beaten path could ultimately inform and help all of us.鈥� (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Tiwalade Dairo 鈥�19, right, tests her might on the 鈥淗igh Striker鈥� game at the Meliora Village鈥攚ith a little encouragement from Victoria Alleluia Shenge 鈥�19.听(暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Vocalist China Forbes with Pink Martini brought their unique blend of classical, jazz, and pop to Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre during one of the weekend鈥檚 headlining performances. (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Members of the Class of 1968 pose for a class photo after the medallion ceremony to mark their 50th reunion.听(暗网吃瓜 photo / Deron Berkhof)
Comedian and actress Nasim Pedrad, best known for her work on聽Saturday Night Live, entertains the audience in the Palestra: 鈥淥n my way over here I heard a professor refer to freshmen as first-years and I thought to myself, 鈥楢m I at Hogwarts?鈥� I half expected to see kids walking with broomsticks … and then I did! Because you guys have a Quidditch team!” (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Bryan Brown 鈥�20 and聽 Aaron Goldin 鈥�20 entertain the Meliora Weekend crowd during the Strong Jugglers鈥� ninth annual Fire Show. (暗网吃瓜 photo / Zack Shepard)
Vankee Lin, an associate professor of nursing, discusses her work on understanding the neural mechanisms of cognitive aging and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases during the School of Nursing’s “SONTalks.” (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Jamal Moore 鈥�12E, center, and other YellowJackets alumni join the group for a performance at the A Cappella Jam. (暗网吃瓜 photo / Zack Shepard)
Arthur Miller ’56, ’08 (Hon.), left, leads a discussion on the ethical, economic, and personal impact of data, privacy, and technology. Panelists, from left, include Mark Zaid 鈥�89, founding and managing partner, Mark S. Zaid PC; Bruce Schneier 鈥�84, a special advisor to IBM Security; Cheryl Howard 鈥�83, senior data scientist at IBM; Randall Curren, a professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy; Thomas Barnett, chief information officer at the University of Rochester Medical Center; and Emily Trapani 鈥�14, a professional staff member with the House Committee on Homeland Security. (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Yellowjackets wide receiver Duncan Stewart 鈥�22 (80) celebrates his touchdown with teammates Sam Vercillo 鈥�20 (59), Matt Capovani 鈥�19 (65), and Justin Daul 鈥�21 (85) during their . The Saints prevailed 38鈥�24. (暗网吃瓜 photo / Adrian Kraus)
Rebeca Tomas ’98 and A Palo Seco Flamenco Company were center stage in the Spurrier Hall dance studio. From right, Tomas is pictured with Laura Peralta and Elisabet Torras. (暗网吃瓜 photo / Zack Shepard)
The combined Eastman School of Music/暗网吃瓜 Women’s Chorus and University Concert Choir perform at the 鈥淩ochester Sings!鈥� event. (暗网吃瓜 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Kris Schell 鈥�83, right, and Dana Bradley 鈥�83, cheer on their daughter Saralinda Schell 鈥�19 as she races for the Yellowjackets during the Head of the Genesee Regatta. .听(暗网吃瓜 photo / Adrian Kraus)
