How do you best tell the story of a research university, from campus lab to Genesee River and everything in between? For senior University photographer J. Adam Fenster, itā€™s about accessā€”and looking out for what might be just beyond the lens.

2025 at the °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ was ripe with progress, passion, and possibility. And as the year draws to a close, we talk with Fenster about his favorite photos from the last 12 months, and what might be on the horizon for the future. Hereā€™s to whatā€™s nextā€”Ever Wonder. Ever Better.

Tour de force

Lauren Tagliaferro, a curatorial assistant at the , speaks to visitors in the painting storage room during a tour of the museumā€™s art storage areas. The museumā€™s gives visitors a chance to go behind the scenes and uncover a new perspective.

ā€œI think I read about the tour in @Rochester,ā€ says Fenster. ā€œHaving been here for a while now, Iā€™m always looking for a new angle on an old thing. At the museum, for every piece of art you see, there are probably 10 you donā€™t. And here we finally get to see where and how all the other stuff is stored. Equipment-wise, using the fish-eye lens helps to capture all the visual layersā€”people, art, storage areaā€”contained in the scene.ā€

Clean machine

David Canning, facility manager for the , inside the grating compressor chamber (GCC) of the Omega EP Laser at the .

Thereā€™s a safety talk and protocols to keep a dustless space dustlessā€”including wiping down gear and wearing specific clothingā€”but, shares Fenster, ā€œAny time you go inside the laser bays, itā€™s a big deal, especially the GCC. Dave was very accommodating in letting me in thereā€”our visit was the only time the entire year that the chamber was open for maintenance.ā€

In a stainless steel chamber, itā€™s hard to control the light. ā€œItā€™s one giant reflectorā€, he says, but bringing in a powerful light can lead to some surprising results. ā€œI like the iridescent colors of the grating glass contrasted with the metallic sheen everywhere. And then you have Dave reflected in the panel on the right.ā€

Mentorship in action

ZoĆ« Miles ā€™25 (T5), Sree Chatterjee ā€™26, Jenna Savino ā€™26, and Maddie Bellamy ā€™27 are pictured with Rochester Prep student Marquez Smith (center). These °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ students volunteer with Eye to Eye, a national nonprofit organization that pairs neurodivergent middle school students with learning and attention differences with college and high school students who share a similar label to help mentor the next generation.

ā€œItā€™s good to show these outreach efforts. I feel like I donā€™t get a lot of opportunities for this kind of work, so when they do come up, itā€™s good to get in there. And it probably wasnā€™t too long ago that our students were the age of the students behind the desks.ā€

A material world

Viewed with polarized light, photoelastic materials display distinct patterns of birefringence and force chain propagation after a collision. This experiment was conducted by Sarah Williams, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the DRIP (Dirt, Rivers, Ice, Particles) Lab, an interdisciplinary group of scientists in the department.

ā€œFor someone who doesnā€™t quite understand all the science behind it, I donā€™t want to say it doesnā€™t matter what this is, but Iā€™m attracted to the colors and the patterns in this image,ā€ laughs Fenster. ā€œI see an abstract story that I havenā€™t seen anywhere before. And so that makes me want to look closer. And then you learn about birefringence and other earth science terms. Itā€™s a cool photo that introduces you to the science.ā€

Spark of interest

A composite of multiple images, here a laser etches nanostructures into a highly absorbent black metal surface in the lab of Chunlei Guo, a professor of optics and of physics, and a senior scientist at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. This technique, developed by Guo, enhances solar absorption but minimizes infrared emissions to create highly efficient solar thermoelectric generators.

Notes Fenster, ā€œIā€™ve been documenting Chunleiā€™s research almost as long as Iā€™ve been at the University. But I had never photographed the process that he uses to create this material. And Iā€™ve always wanted to do that. This surface is moving and creating these sparks that are flying everywhere. It would be cool enough to have one exposure, but I thought, ā€˜Why donā€™t I combine several of them and get even more stuff flying?ā€™ Itā€™s kind of like photographing fireworks, but on a much smaller scale.ā€

Flex messages

Workers gather for a morning stretch and flex session at the Strong Emergency Department expansion project construction site. Through this project, the Emergency Department will nearly quadruple in size and include space for psychiatric emergency care.

In the course of documenting this milestone construction, Fenster heard about the stretch and flex session that precedes work every morning and thought it might make for an interesting, offbeat image. ā€œJust not something you typically see at a construction site. They bring out a little PA system, they blast upbeat rock tunes, and they go through their stretches. This photo also helps show just how many people are involved in a project of this size.ā€

Among several rocks and a hard place

Anshul Yadav, a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Rachel Glade, an assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences and of mechanical engineering, uses a self-made device to track the movement of RFID-tagged rocks in a stream in nearby Webster, New York.

ā€œHere was an opportunity to show field research taking place at °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ,ā€ says Fenster. ā€œAnd,ā€ he added, ā€œan opportunity to explain why that research is important. That ā€˜whyā€™ is essential in answering the bigger question: Why do universities exist?ā€

When asked how he captured this shot, Fenster gave a surprising answer: itā€™s a drone photo. ā€œItā€™s a lot trickier flying in a space like this, over a stream bed deep in the woods, than up over the Genesee River, which Iā€™ve also done. This is basically flying in a tunnel, with lots of overhanging branches and stuff sticking out. But itā€™s worth it for the unique angle it provides.ā€

Letā€™s focus

An intraocular lens is photographed on a fingertip to show its scale. Earlier this year, Susana Marcos, the Nicholas George Endowed Professor in Optics and the David R. Williams Director of the Center for Visual Science, served as the lead guest editor of a special issue of the journals of Biomedical Optics Express and Optics Express exploring the state of the technology.

Before you ask: Yes, that is Fensterā€™s finger supporting the lens. And while he did also photograph an intraocular lens insertion surgery, ā€œI thought it would be helpful for the story to make photos of the lens itself, showing its odd galaxy-esque shape and including a finger for scale. And while it was challenging to photograph, it makes you appreciate just how much more challenging it must be for the surgeons to insert these precisely.ā€

It was the fest of times

Jeff Campbell (bass) and Clay Jenkins (trumpet), both professors of jazz studies and contemporary media at the Eastman School of Music, perform with Eastmanā€™s Jazz Honors Unit 2 during the . Eastmanā€™s faculty, alumni, and students performed throughout the week at various locations.

ā€œThis is a good example of a locator photo,ā€ notes Fenster. ā€œYou donā€™t need to read the caption to know where this is. Itā€™s peak musical action.ā€

Bloom where youā€™re transplanted

Roberto Hernandez-Alejandro, center, chief of the Transplant Institute at the Medical Center, and fellow surgeon Koji Tomiyama, left, perform a living donor liver transplant surgery in July 2025. ±«øé“Ē³¦³ó±š²õ³Ł±š°łā€™s pioneering living donor liver transplant program was profiled in the most recent issue of Rochester Review.

ā€œThis photo took a lot of planning and was made possible by the great access I was provided by Medical Center staff, the donor and recipients who gave their permission, and the time I was permitted to work inside the OR. With a narrower window, I would not have been able to capture this brief moment when all the room lights were turned off, which creates a nice contrasting scene that highlights the team and the action at the center.ā€

Do we want to know one more thing, asks Fenster. ā€œYou hear about doctors playing music in their ORs. Dr. Hernandez-Alejandro is a big fan of 80s pop music. So while this very serious operation is taking place, heā€™s blasting A-ha and Duran Duran. There was something kind of surreal about that.ā€

(Gene)see you out on the water

Earth and environmental sciences professor John Kessler and PhD candidate Katherine ā€œKatieā€ Gregory ride specially equipped kayaks down the Genesee River to gather continuous measurements of methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. These ā€œfloating laboratoriesā€ are collecting real-time data.

ā€œI love the concept of using tricked-out kayaks to study greenhouse gasesā€”they are basically miniaturized versions of the much larger boats he and the Atlantic to make similar measurements. They let me join them for the day in my canoe, which I was standing in for this photoā€”never a good idea. But I needed to get that angle.ā€

Preventative measures

°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ football players Daniel Santos ā€™26 and Lucas Villanueva ā€™26 undergo an EEG (electroencephalogram) in the Goergen Athletic Center. Theyā€™re part of a study looking at repetitive head hits led by Jeff Bazarian, a professor of emergency medicine and of neurology.

ā€œAnytime youā€™ve got electrodes attached to peopleā€™s heads, youā€™ve got to get photos. And Iā€™ve been wanting to photograph Bazarianā€™s work for years. While not every concussion is sports-related, the research they get from this will help anyone with a concussion. Again, it comes back to: Why do research universities matter? Why do they need funding? This is why.ā€

Pier to pier research

Toxicology PhD candidate Alma Avila Oropeza retrieves a sample jar from Lake Ontario from Charlotte Pier. The research is part of the efforts of the , jointly hosted by °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ and the Rochester Institute of Technology. The center is a hub for research, translation, and community engagement around how different types of plastics enter and move through the Great Lakes ecosystems and how microplastics may affect human health under different environmental conditions.

ā€œThis one took a lot of planning, but it was a great opportunity to learn just how they get their data. The sampling itself is one thing, and then they have to go back to the lab and analyze it. Itā€™s important to show just how much work goes into the process.ā€

And the dog? ā€œIt adds a bit of comic relief, and helps situate the viewer: You can tell where this is taking place.ā€

Scoping it all out

Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Marisol Herrera-Perez and PhD student Maria Camila Ferrucho are using a fluorescent microscope to activate an optogenetic tool to observe how manipulating proteins affects the condensation of the ventral nerve cord of flies. Herrera-Perez received a National Institutes of Health MIRA grant to investigate the mechanical signals that guide how a single cell becomes a complex organism.

ā€œThis is sort of a standard lab photo, but the key is proper lighting,ā€ shares Fenster. ā€œThis is not how the lighting looked when I went in there. And as a photographer, you want to highlight the essence of whatā€™s going on, what theyā€™re doing. And thatā€™s the microscopes and what the microscopes are pulling up on the computer screens.ā€

Catching the good light en garde

Jacqueline Hsiao ā€™27, UR fencing club president and 2024 Fencing Junior Olympics competitor, is photographed outside during a practice.

ā€œIt was all about timing,ā€ Fenster says. ā€œI got nervous watching the nice golden hour light melt away while making action photos inside the gym, knowing I wanted to leave enough time for an outdoor portrait with what promised to be a beautiful sunset. By the time I dragged all my gear out there, the sun had already set. Fortunately, there was enough glow left in the sky for a dramatic portrait using a single light off to the side.ā€

A closer look

Staff scientist Preeti Maurya spins down and vacuums cells in the tissue culture room in the lab of Craig Morrell, Deanā€™s professor of medicine and codirector of the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Medical Center.

Here comes the blue science gel. ā€œIf this photo looks staged, thatā€™s because it is! Do you think the lab is always blue? No,ā€ jokes Fenster. ā€œDo you think thereā€™s a tiny spotlight on Mauryaā€™s face all the time when sheā€™s at that microscope? No. Everything is lit and staged by me. Whatā€™s not staged is the research that a photo like this helps to illustrate. Itā€™s worth putting in the time when possible to make a space look extra special if it leads people to take a closer look.ā€

Homeward bound

Dora Biro, the Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, works with homing pigeons at their coop near the Larry and Cindy Bloch Alumni and Advancement Center. Biro and fellow Brain and Cognitive Sciences Associate Professor Takao Sasakiā€™s Collective Cognition Lab explores how the perceptual and cognitive capacities of different speciesā€”as adapted to their varying ecological needsā€”shape the challenges and opportunities that come with living in groups, including conflict resolution, behavioral coordination, knowledge accumulation, and collective decision-making.

Like Bazarian, Biro is someone that Fenster has wanted to photograph for a while. It took a bit of direction and more than a few takes, but the result was worth it. ā€œThis is one of hundreds of photos that I made that day, both inside and outside of the coop. We probably made five or so attempts at this. The overcast sky was actually advantageous because I had nice uniform light everywhere.Ģż

ā€œI also like that you can see the coop in the background, which is on the Advancement campus,ā€ reflects Fenster. ā€œItā€™s offbeat, itā€™s eclectic, and it again demonstrates the range of research we do here. And thanks to Biro for recognizing the value of capturing an image like this.ā€

Stellar performance

Roger Sayer, the original organist for the film Interstellar, plays his arrangement of the music from the original soundtrack by composer Hans Zimmer at Third Presbyterian Church during . The festival, which took place in the fall, was the first of its kind in North America.

How can you really illustrate sound? ā€œWeā€™ve got the guy who performed on the original score for Interstellar? And heā€™s going to come here, and play it live on a gigantic organ, in this cool old church? Thatā€™s it. Thatā€™s the photo.ā€ Again, access was everything. ā€œIā€™m up in the balcony, trying not to make any noise, trying to be discreet because all around you, people are trying to enjoy the show.ā€

On the cutting edge

Biology and psychology major Amanda Lee ā€™27 uses a plasma cutter to fabricate an archive-themed sculpture project for ā€œWhat We Chronicleā€ in a hybrid drawing sculpture class led by Allen Topolski, chair of the Department of Art and Art History.

ā€œMuch like in the photo from Chunlei Guoā€™s lab, we have sparks flying. Only this time, theyā€™re much larger. And you have the cool reflections in the visor, with a lot of colors.

ā€œI only got hit a couple of times with those hot shards,ā€ he adds. ā€œThey did have me wear safety glasses.ā€

Weight for it, weight for it

As part of the curriculum in Professor of Mechanical Engineering Chris Muirā€™s ME 204 class, students test the efficiency of balsa wood structures. The structure with the highest strength-to-weight ratio receives an A for the class. Here, senior Amel Rouabhia reacts as her teamā€™s structure comes apart. Beloved by students for years, Muirā€™s class might make you want to head back to school.

ā€œThis photoā€”this experienceā€”is all about faces and reactions. Iā€™ve been photographing this event with Muir for years. And while there is real science behind it, he makes it visual, approachable, and exciting for all his students. This always seems to be the best angle, too, compressing the structure, the team, and the onlookers all into one tight frame. They know whatā€™s going to happen to the structure, but they donā€™t know when, so theyā€™re still surprised. Theyā€™re never really ready for it, and thatā€™s what gives you these great reactions.ā€

ā€œAJ [Pow, senior video producer] had the genius idea to light it this year by strapping video lights to the railings overhead, which helped immensely with having more light on the subjects, and the blue evening sky filtering in from outside helps it feel more dramatic.ā€

Photos by senior University photographer J. Adam Fenster unless otherwise noted.

SWATCH ME NOW: As seen under a microscope, a cross-section of paint layers taken from the main tunnel under Eastman Quad, measuring approximately 8 mm.

UP TO SOMETHING: A student sits in an oak tree on Eastman Quad during a mild fall day in Rochester.

DONā€™T LET YOUR (EN) GARDE DOWN: Patrick Knecht Prange (left) and Alexander Bae, both of the Class of 2027, spar during a practice.

GETTING INTO GEAR: Members of the student-run affix protective gear to one another before a practice.

BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL: Preeti Maurya, a staff scientist, spins down and vacuums cells in the tissue culture room within the lab of Craig Morrell, a deanā€™s professor in the department of medicine and associate director of the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute.

BUILDING ON A LEGACY: (NROTC) students engage in morning battalion physical training in Fauver Stadium as the °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ unit commemorates its 80th anniversary.

OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING: ±«øé“Ē³¦³ó±š²õ³Ł±š°łā€™s River Campus and Rush Rhees Library as seen via aerial drone at sunrise.

EVERY DAY YOU GET OUR (EVER) BEST: Jillian Geib ā€™25 selects items from a Wegmans Meals Market display in Hillside Market inside Susan B. Anthony Halls. Under a new partnership, University dining locations are now stocking many of the grocery chainā€™s most popular prepared foods.

TAKING THE SCENIC ROUTE: A bike rider travels along Wilson Boulevard during an autumn afternoon. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Gary Kong)

NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS: Dora Biro, the Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, works with homing pigeons at a coop near the Larry and Cindy Bloch Alumni and Advancement Center. Together with Takao Sasaki, an associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences, research from the Collective Cognition Lab explores how the perceptual and cognitive capacities of different species shape the challenges and opportunities that come with living in groups.

A STELLAR PROGRAM: Organist Roger Sayer performs at Third Presbyterian Church in downtown Rochester during Eastman School of Musicā€™s . The program featured Sayerā€™s arrangement of the music from the original score to Christopher Nolanā€™s Interstellar.

WILL BRAKE FOR SMILES: Shuttle driver Joe Hill poses for a quick photo during a stop on the River Campus. Shuttle rides are free with a University ID. Check the schedule here.

I SAW SPARKS: Amanda Lee ā€™27 uses a plasma cutter and rod cutter to fabricate an archive-themed sculpture project, What We Chronicle. The work is part of a hybrid drawing sculpture class in Sage Art Center taught by Allen Topolski, a professor of art.

EVER VIGILANT: A red-tailed hawk takes in the sights of Eastman Quad as trees change to fall colors.

IN THE AIR TONIGHT: A student walks past a steam outlet near Susan B. Anthony Bowl on the River Campus.

DON’T YOU JUST LOVE NEW YORK IN THE FALL?: The Universityā€™s River Campusā€”and the Genesee Riverā€”in all its fall glory seen via aerial drone. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / AJ Pow)

STUDY GROUP IN SESSION: A student, accompanied by a four-legged friend, studies on the Hajim Engineering Quad. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Gary Kong)

CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE: Wilson Commons, on the Universityā€™s River Campus, seen via aerial drone.

REALITY SIGHTS: A student tests out VR equipment in the Mary Ann Mavrinac Studio X in Carlson Library.

LIQUID COURAGE: Chemistry PhD student Alejandro Alvarez uses liquid nitrogen in the lab of Associate Professor of Chemistry Michael Ruggiero.

MERRILY, MERRILY, MERRILY, MERRILY:ĢżMembers of ±«øé“Ē³¦³ó±š²õ³Ł±š°łā€™s womenā€™s rowing team practice on the Genesee River.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: University President Sarah MangelsdorfĢżadds her signature to the final beam that will be placed in the structure of Strong Memorial Hospitalā€™sĢżemergency department expansionĢżduring a ceremony at the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the project will add more than 650,000 square feet of hospital space, tripling the size of the current emergency departmentā€”including a nine-story inpatient bed tower and more than 100 private inpatient rooms.

TO THINE OWN SELFIE BE TRUE: Class of 2027ā€™s Aminah Muhumed and Nima Mohamud pose for selfies in front of Rush Rhees Library, lit blue for Meliora Weekend. Check out more moments from Meliora Weekend 2025.Ģż

RUNNING MAN: Yellowjackets football running back Cole Raux scores a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against St. John Fisher University during Meliora Weekend. Rochester took home the win, 28ā€“21.

A SIGN FROM ABOVE: The Meliora letters on Eastman Quadrangle in front of Rush Rhees Library, seen via aerial drone.

TIME FLIES: Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Marisol Herrera Perez and PhD student Maria Camila Ferrucho use a fluorescent microscope to activate an optogenetic tool to observe how manipulating proteins affects the condensation of the ventral nerve cord of flies.

TRUSS EXERCISE: Construction continues on the Joseph P. Mack Catholic Center next to the Goergen Athletic Center on the Universityā€™s River Campus, as workers use a crane to lower the last timber frame truss.

TEAM UP: Daniel Oh, a biochemistry major and member of the Class of 2026, prepares an experiment known as a Bradford Assayā€”used to determine the protein concentration in a sampleā€”in the lab of Anne S. Meyer, an associate professor of biology. Oh is a member of Rochester’s team for the competition, a worldwide synthetic biology competition intended to push the boundaries of synthetic biology by tackling everyday issues facing the world.

F-STOP RIGHT THERE: Evelyne Leblanc-Roberge, a professor of art who specializes in lens-based media, leads a workshop with SLR 35mm film cameras at .

BRUSH HOUR: Students take an advanced painting class at Sage Art Center, led by Emily Tyman, a lecturer of art.

From September 18 to 21, Meliora Weekend 2025 played host to more than 9,000 attendees across the °µĶų³Ō¹Ļā€™s campuses. A combination of homecoming, reunion, and parents and family weekend, this Rochester tradition gave students and families, alumni, community members, faculty and staff, and distinguished guests countless ways to celebrate, while also marking the Universityā€™s 175th anniversaryā€”plus centennial milestones for the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Strong Memorial Hospital, and the School of Nursing. It was also an opportunity to turn an eye toward the future, as Rochester officially launched For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, which aims to raise $1.75 billion for Rochesterā€™s future and engage 250,000 people.

Continue the celebration with a look back at the weekendā€™s festivities!

QUAD GOALS: Meliora Village (better known as the Wilson Quadrangle) was the place to be, and where much of the weekendā€™s celebrating happened.

BUMP, SET, SPIKE: Members of the community play recreational volleyball behind Susan B. Anthony Hall during a July sunset.

GOTTA JET: A US Navy EA-18G Growler jet belonging to VAQ-135 (Electronic Attack Squadron 135) makes a low wheels-down pass over the Eastman Quadrangle.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE: Earth and Environmental Sciences professor John Kessler and PhD candidate Katherine Gregory ride specially equipped kayaks down the Genesee River and Erie Canal to gather continuous measurements of dissolved methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen.

THE YEAST WE COULD DO: Department of Biology professor Justin Fay samples bark and soil around a tree for the presence of yeast in the Tionesta Scenic Area of Pennsylvaniaā€™s Allegheny National Forest. By probing proteins from the yeast, Fayā€™s research shows how organisms may adapt to rising global temperatures.

TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE: A bumblebee visits a plant in a River Campus pollinator garden. The Suboptimal Sanctuary, an environmentally themed bee domicile, highlights the vital role of native bees in local ecosystems and the suboptimal conditions they face due to human activities causing habitat destruction, deforestation, and pollution.

THE EYES HAVE IT: Derek Power, lab manager, is photographed in the lab of Jesse Schallek, an assistant professor of ophthalmology, at the Flaum Eye Institute. Together, .

SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT: From left, Yellowjacket football players AJ Bicksler ā€™28, Daniel Santos ā€™26, Lucas Villanueva ā€™26, and Jake Adelmann ā€™26 share a laugh as they prepare to undergo a blood draw in the Goergen Athletic Center. The lab of Jeff Bazarian, a professor of emergency medicine and of neurology, along with four other institutions, is recruiting football players for baseline data for a study on repetitive head hits.

A FRESH COAT: Melody Gebremedhin receives a white coat from Erik Rueckmann, an assistant professor of emergency medicine, at the School of Medicine and Dentistryā€™s.

TAKE A HIKE: Students in the Universityā€™s First-Year Orientation Outing Treks (UR FOOT) program hike through Letchworth State Park. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Lauren Petracca)

HAVE CART, WILL TRAVEL: Residence assistant Joey Stempien helps first-year students in the Class of 2029 move in. Relive Welcome Week here. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Lauren Petracca)

CLOSE QUARTERS: Ella Zack throws a stuffed animal over to her new roommate, Mia Sakonju, in their dorm room at the Eastman School of Music Student Living Center. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Lauren Petracca)

PRESIDENTIAL AID: University President Sarah Mangelsdorf talks with students during move-in at Susan B. Anthony Hall. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Lauren Petracca)

NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Members of the Class of 2029Ģżenjoy the Candlelight Ceremony, which gathers new students for a moment of tradition, history, and celebration. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Adrian Kraus)

WEā€™LL KEEP THE LIGHTS ON: Itā€™s a sight that never gets old: Rush Rhees Library pictured via aerial drone at twilight.

POPCORN FOR DINNER: Students gather on Wilson Quadrangle to watch A Minecraft Movie during Welcome Weekā€™s Outdoor Movie Night.

PIER EVALUATION: Toxicology PhD candidate Alma Avila Oropeza retrieves a sample jar from Lake Ontario, off of Charlotte Pier, as part of research through the . Hosted jointly by the University and Rochester Institute of Technology, the center is a hub for research, translation, and community engagement on how different types of plastics enter and move through the Great Lakes ecosystems, and how microplastics may affect human health under different environmental conditions.

MULCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: Melissa Dong ā€™29 shovels mulch at the during Wilson Day, an annual tradition that increases incoming studentsā€™ awareness and knowledge of the local community and introduces community engagement as part of their undergraduate experience.

WEā€™VE GOT CLASS: Eastman School of Music students walk to class on the first day of the fall semester.

BRANCHING OUT: Justin Lipschutz ā€™27 studies in a hammock on the Eastman Quadrangle on the first day of classes. Hot tip for students: Relaxing in a hammock on River Campus is one of our top essential experiences during your time at Rochester. Start your to-do list now.

Every school year brings with it a host of new startsā€”from freshly sharpened pencils to pristine notebooks, changes of address to updated course schedules.

But thatā€™s not all thatā€™s new at the °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ. Weā€™re always updating our 200-plus programs of study to meet the needs of our students and the workforce. Read on to discover the latest academic offerings for the 2025ā€“26 academic year.

Aerospace, the final frontier

MS in Aerospace Engineering

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of aerospace engineers from 2023 to 2033ā€”faster than the average for all occupations. Enter the ā€™s new , designed to equip students with the advanced technical expertise and cutting-edge knowledge demanded by the rapidly evolving aerospace industry. Rochesterā€™s curriculum is designed to tackle the most complex challenges in aerospace design, systems, and innovation, with students students learning to design, build, analyze, and work with technology related to air and space travel and related systems.

21st-Century health analytics

Online MS in Healthcare Data Science and AI

In a world awash with healthcare data, the competitive edge comes in knowing what to do with it. Our blends data science fundamentals, real-world clinical applications, and ethical rigorā€”all guided by Rochesterā€™s renowned experts from the (GIDS-AI) and the Medical Centerā€™s . And because itā€™s offered 100 percent online, the program gives working professionals the opportunity to upskill or change career paths.

High-return learning

MS in AI and Business

AI continues to make waves on the business end of things, too. At Rochesterā€™s , the new MS in AI in business program blends analytical rigor with practical AI applications. This fullā€‘time, STEMā€‘certified masterā€™s degree program teaches you not just how AI works, but also how it drives business value. No coding background? No problem. In just two semestersā€”or with an optional internshipā€”youā€™ll lead AI projects that solve real-world problems.

Is there a doctor in the C-suite?

Doctor of Business Administration

For mid- to senior-level working professionals who already have a business-related masterā€™s degree, the Simon Business School has you covered with its newĢż (DBA). But the DBA is not just another credential. Two custom tracks mean you focus on what matters most to your career: solving strategic business problems or mastering business education. While this part-time, three-year program is primarily online, it also includes in-person residencies and hybrid-flexible intensives.

5-Year BA/BS + MS

Business Masterā€™s Pathway for University Undergraduates

Heads up, Rochester undergrads (current or future): The Simon School now offers a Ģżthat fast-tracks you directly into one of the b-schoolā€™s full-time masterā€™s programs: accountancy, AI in business, business analytics, marketing analytics, or finance. That means a lighter graduate load, more electives or networking opportunities in the fifth year, and a head-start on your career. Bonus: No GRE, no application fee, no waiting.

License and registration, please

Masterā€™s Direct Entry into Nursing Practice

For college graduates without a nursing background, the now offers an . In 16 monthsā€”four fast-paced semestersā€”you build a foundation in nursing while developing leadership skills. Small cohorts, top-tier simulation labs, and clinical rotation sites like Golisano Childrenā€™s Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital, and Wilmot Cancer Institute ensure depth and community.

Interdisciplinary + Intercultural

BA in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies

Latin America and the Caribbean are as diverse as they are dynamic. Rochesterā€™s new major and minor in equips you to meet complexity with creativity through interdisciplinary coursework and intermediate-level Spanish or Portuguese. As a result, you gain cultural and linguistic fluency along with practical tools for careers in health, education, sustainability, law, and advocacy.

With the arrival of new and returning students, Rochesterā€™s campuses are abuzz with school spirit for the 2025ā€“26 academic year.

The °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ welcomed thousands of new students to campus for the 2025ā€“26 academic year. From first-year undergraduates and transfer students to international arrivals and graduate scholars, these newest Yellowjackets are settling in, exploring campus, and beginning their journeys in a community defined by curiosity, creativity, connections, and the Universityā€™s motto: Melioraā€”ever better.

ALL HANDS ON DECK: Many hands do, in fact, make light work. Across two days, members of Rochesterā€™s incoming class moved into their new homes on the River Campus and at the Eastman School of Music, assisted by family members, friends, and current members of the University community.

A FRESH COAT: Members of the School of Medicine and Dentistryā€™s Class of 2029 received their white coats during the , marking their entry into the medical profession.

STANDING ON CEREMONY: It may have been a drizzly afternoon on the quad, but President Sarah Mangelsdorf and University leaders were in high spirits as they formally welcomed new students, their families, and friends during the Convocation ceremony. Adding to the joyous mood, Studentsā€™ Association President John Conduah and Eastman School of Music Studentsā€™ Association President Nichole Waligora pose for a selfie with the audience during the ceremony.

ROLL WITH IT: Following Convocation, undergraduate students signed the class roll to symbolically join the University community. Class rolls are preserved in Rush Rhees Library and displayed at Commencement and class reunions.

INTO THE WILD: Each year, the University of Rochester First-Year Orientation Outing Treks (UR FOOT) program leads a group of new students on a scenic hike through nearby Letchworth State Park.

FRAMING FRENZY: The Simon Business School MBA Class of 2027 kicked off their academic journey with the in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Together, they helped build the frame of a new home in Rochester. They also heard from Sabrina Lippman ā€™06, CEO of Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester, who shared powerful insights on purpose-driven leadership and how the organization continues to impact communities worldwide.

WEā€™VE GOT SPIRIT, YES WE DO: Members of the Class of 2029 sported their personalized Rochester jerseys, handed out during pre-Candlelight Ceremony festivities.

TONIGHT WE’RE GONNA PARTY WITH THE CLASS OF ā€™29: Itā€™s always a night to remember. The annual Candlelight Ceremony gathers the incoming class on the Eastman Quadrangle for a moment of history and tradition. But the evening wouldnā€™t be complete without a celebrationā€”DJed by Vice President for Student Life John Blackshear.

LETā€™S GET IN FORMATION: Incoming students in the School of Arts & Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences posed for the traditional group photo on the Wilson Quadrangle on the Universityā€™s River Campus, while members of the Eastman School of Musicā€™s Class of 2029 posed in the historic Eastman Theatre.

LOOK FOR THE HELPERS: A cherished tradition for more than 30 years, Wilson Day introduces community engagement as an important part of the undergraduate experience at Rochester. This year, students volunteered their time at the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and the Greenovation thrift store, among other locations.

CELEBRATE US: showcases the best of what the University has to offer outside the classroom. First-year students came together in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre to celebrate with an evening of song, dance, poetry, and music from around the worldā€”including performances from Rochester Bhangra and Eastman Quartet.

GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD (FIELD) DAY: Field Day comes at the perfect time, as Welcome Week winds down and students prepare for the first day of classes. A little friendly competition with lawn games and outdoor yoga filled out a robust schedule of activities.

TUNNEL VISION: Before students arrive, the tunnels connecting Eastman Quad, Wilson Commons, Meliora Hall, and Simon Business School are given a fresh coat of neutral paint. Why? So that incoming students can immediately (and literally) leave their mark on our hallowed halls.

June was bustinā€™ out all overā€”with Jazz Fest, sunny days, outdoor happenings, and intrepid research. Explore how we spent the busiest of months at the °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ. Photos by senior University photographer J. Adam Fenster unless otherwise noted.

LASER POWER: In this composite image, a laser etches nanostructures into a highly absorbent black metal surface in the lab of Chunlei Guo, a professor of optics and of physics and a senior scientist in the . This technique enhances solar absorption while minimizing infrared emissions to create highly efficient solar thermoelectric generators.

TAKING THE FIELD: The Universityā€™s ā€œSpirit Rā€ photographed in Fauver Stadium via aerial drone.

HEADS IN THE CLOUDS: Storm clouds roll past Rush Rhees Library, as seen from the top of Hylan Hall.

PROJECT RUNWAY: Seniors and masterā€™s students in the display their projects during the schoolā€™s annual Design Day. The students completed 79 capstone projects this academic year, providing businesses and nonprofits with solutions to real-world problems.

HOVER UP:ĢżDesign Day attendees react as senior mechanical engineering student Ian Yao from Team Alligator competes against Team Crocodile in hovercraft racing.

LEARNING FACES ACTIVATED: Participants engage in a marketing photo shoot for the Universityā€™s Learning Center, which offers study skill support, workshops, tutoring, and other resources to help Rochester students in the School of Arts & Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences succeed.

THE GOODEST BOY (OR IS HE?!): Sprite, a Belgian Malinois, wears a tinfoil hat to illustrate the conspiracy theory research of Scott Tyson, an associate professor of political science. Read more about Tyson’s research and in the ā€œEver Wonderā€ series.

M IS FOR MELIORA: MSM Inc. staffer Eric Belanger sets up the traditional ā€œMelioraā€ letters on the Universityā€™s Eastman Quadrangle, in advance of Commencement.

ALL YOU NEED IS A LIGHT JACKET: Dakota Gruber of University Facilities and Services applies a biannual coat of paint to the dandelion roundel below the clock tower on Wilson Quad.

CAN I GET A LIFT?: Members of the Class of 2025 John Alex (left) and Sung Jae pose for photos on Eastman Quad in front of Rush Rhees Library.

SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS: Rochester graduates tour the Rush Rhees Library Tower ahead of Commencement. are typically offered only twice a year: during Senior Week in May and for the River Campus Libraries’ annual Scare Fair in October.

HATS OFF: A mortarboard flies through the air as members of the Class of 2025 celebrate. Revisit moments from this year’s 175th Commencement.

PRETTY IN PINK: The Meliora letters amid flowering crab tree blossoms on Eastman Quad.

COME ON AND RAISE YOUR GLASS: Devin Murphy-Stanley (left) and Haley Trehern share a post-rehearsal toast outside Strong Auditorium the day before Commencement, part of Rochester’s annual .

STRIKE A POSE: A photographerā€™s light flashes as graduates pose for photos on Eastman Quad.

REGALIA US: Hunter LaChance of the Class of 2025 wears four mortarboards while posing for a photo.

THIS IS THE MOMENT: The University conferred academic degrees to more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students during this year’s Commencement. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Lauren Petracca)

ODE TO JOY: Graduates from the Eastman School of Music celebrate. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / Keith Walters)

MEDITATION EDUCATION: Mindful Leadership Consultant Lisa Critchley leads a meditation session for faculty as part of the Mindful Professor Training program.

FLIGHT SAFETY: As part of Smash the Crash, students in Assistant Professor of Art Mizin Shinā€™s SART 282 class design decals to be affixed to large windows on campus. The goal? To reduce the number of birds crashing into them. Above, Vanessa Bernie OtaƱo ā€™25 uses a power washer to clean a screen as Ella Smith looks on.

PREP IN OUR STEP: Eye to Eye is a national nonprofit organization that pairs neurodivergent middle school students with learning and attention differences with college and high school students who share similar labels. Here, Rochester student volunteers work with students at Rochester Prep.

GOOD TO BEE HOME: Students and faculty meet to plant flowering trees and dedicate Suboptimal, a new art installation on the Universityā€™s River Campus that provides solitary bees a place to nest. Students in Advanced Sculpture, taught by Allen Topolski, an associate professor of art and art history, constructed the bee domicile.

SOUND OF SILENCE: Class of 2025 audio music and engineering students Haochen (Glenn) Xiong, Zian (Alan) Wang, and Yunji Kim work on their senior design project. Sponsored by the Sri Vidya Temple Society, the students took acoustical measurements at the temple, tested different treatments using simulations, and are fabricating prototypes of soundproof panels to cut down on the intense reverberation in the templeā€™s gathering space.

COUNTDOWN TO COMMENCEMENT: Class of 2025 members Navya Soogoor, Chrysolite Dhinakaran, and Rafael de Farias pose for photos before picking up their regalia for this yearā€™s Commencement Weekend.

LIGHT MY WAY: Viewed with polarized light, photoelastic materials display distinct patterns of birefringence and force chain propagation after a collision. The experiment was conducted by Sarah Williams, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the DRIP (Dirt, Rivers, Ice, Particles) Lab, an interdisciplinary group of scientists in the department.

QUITE A STRETCH: Workers gather for a morning stretch and flex session at the construction site for the new Strong Emergency Department expansion project.

SOMEWHERE THATā€™S GREEN: Green Reps members and the Universityā€™s Bee Campus Committee, along with Horticulture and Grounds, host a planting event in front of the Hylan Building on the Hajim Engineering Quadrangle in celebration of Earth Day.

LAY OFF THE HIGH ONES: Softball player Sara Mazur throws to the infield after making a diving catch in the fifth inning for an out as teammate Jensen Sminchak reacts.

STRINGS ATTACHED: Killian Simonson ā€™28 and Grace Widjaja ā€™26 play violin and viola, respectively, on Wilson Quad as Rochester students enjoy the warm weather.

ABOVE AND BEYOND: Students, seen from above via aerial drone, enjoy a warm afternoon on Eastman Quad. (°µĶų³Ō¹Ļ photo / AJ Pow)

SPRING SING: Charlotte Bowder ā€™25 performs on during Springfest, a and the last Community Weekend of the year.

THATā€™S A BINGO: Students in ASL 101 and 102 play bingo to practice their proficiency with signing numbers on Eyeth Day, the American Sign Language programā€™s largest event of the year. (UR Photography Club photo / Odin Choy)