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.

Each fall, dozens of students gather for a poster session on the Ģ����ý’s River Campus, sharing research they’ve spent months exploring—from engineering innovations to social science discoveries. For many, it’s the first time they’ve seen themselves as real researchers. And for most, the opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of Richard “Dick” Schwartz ’63, ’66 (MS) and his late wife, Vicki Proschel Schwartz ’62.

“It’s an amazing experience to stand in a room full of undergraduates who are thrilled to talk about what they learned over the summer,” says Dick. “That kind of feedback is powerful.”

So powerful, in fact, that Dick and Vicki have increased their support every year for the Schwartz Discover Grant for Undergraduate Summer Research program, which began in 2022. Their goal: to help students engage in research early, giving them the confidence and experience to pursue opportunities that will enrich their lives and careers.

Ģ����ý 70 grant recipients each year receive up to $5,000 to help cover cost-of-living expenses during the summer. The funding allows them to fully focus on research, which often requires 40 hours of dedicated work per week.

Lilli Tamm ’25, a biochemistry major graduating this spring, says receiving the Schwartz Discover Grant for the summer after her sophomore year marked a turning point in her life. “Thinking back to the researcher I was becoming then, I could only spend a few hours each week dedicated to research during the academic year,” she explains. “Then, when I received the Schwartz Discover Grant, I could spend the summer dedicated to my research and really became a full-time scientist.”

And become one she did. That research project spanned three semesters and gradually narrowed to focus on cell membrane proteins—vital structures that influence how the body functions and responds to disease. Receiving the Schwartz Discover Grant opened the door to a competitive summer internship in pharmaceutical research following Tamm’s junior year. The experience also helped her stand out as the University’s 2024 Astronaut Scholar, a national honor recognizing the country’s top undergraduate STEM researchers. Ultimately, it culminated in her acceptance into a PhD program at Stanford University in cellular and molecular physiology.

Deep and lasting impact

Dick and Vicki Schwartz at the Schwartz Discover Grant Research Showcase, 2023

The Schwartz Discover Grant program is just one way Dick and Vicki have shaped the undergraduate experience. Over the years, they’ve established a variety of funds to support immersive learning in research, internships, the arts, and community engagement. In 2002, the couple established a student scholarship, which they later enhanced with additional funding and renamed the Proschel/Schwartz Meliora Scholarship—further amplifying support for students with demonstrated financial need

“Dick and Vicki have changed so many lives,” says Emily Rendek, director of the University’s Office of Undergraduate Research. “With all the programs they’ve supported, they’ve made experiential learning possible for thousands of students, creating pivotal opportunities that benefit our students right now. They’ve had a direct role in the future of research, scholarship, creativity, and engagement in a variety of scientific and technological areas as well as the humanities.”

For the couple, supporting experiential education has always been rooted in a shared belief that learning happens everywhere, not just through lectures and labs, but through collaboration, curiosity, and real-world application. That philosophy continues to guide their giving: help others, see the impact, and do good right now.

A legacy of learning and service

Schwartz Discover Grant Research recipients with Emily Rendek (first row, far left) and Vicki and Dick Schwartz (first row, far right), 2023

Dick says his own values of service and education were modeled by his parents, especially his father, a surgeon with the Department of Veterans Affairs. “My dad chose a medical career path with regular hours because it gave him more time to dedicate to our family and to those activities he believed in,” he says. Vicki’s parents, both teachers, also emphasized the power of education to transform lives.

As undergraduates, both Dick and Vicki were deeply involved in campus life. Dick spent his summers interning in a variety of settings, including Tropel, a Rochester-based startup founded by his professor, optics legend . For his second summer internship, he joined a friend in San Diego to assist with optics projects at the University of California. After that, Dick interned at an aerospace technology company in Boston. By the time he earned his master’s degree from the Institute of Optics, Dick had also interned with Xerox—setting the stage for a smooth transition into full-time work and a 30-year career in research and development there.

“Those internships were invaluable to me,” he says. “They gave me confidence, expanded my networks, and gave me a chance to apply what I’d been learning in a professional setting. Vicki and I always wanted others to have these kinds of vital opportunities, which is why we’ve established them.”

Vicki, whose roots were in the humanities, earned her degree in English with honors, completed a master’s in teaching at Harvard University, and then taught high school English for several years. The couple’s distinctive academic paths helped shape an approach to philanthropy that will benefit students in both STEM and the arts for years to come.

Philanthropy as a shared commitment

Giving back was always a personal decision and a shared commitment for the couple, who had two children together, Steven and Douglas, and were married 57 years at the time of Vicki’s passing in 2023. “Every year, we’d look forward to meeting students who participated in the programs we supported,” Dick says. “We loved hearing their stories, why they chose the University, and what they hoped to do in the future.”

Today, Dick continues their legacy through a donor-advised fund (DAF), which offers flexibility and transparency. It allows him to support the causes he and Vicki have cared about the most while staying actively involved in choosing when and how to give.

In addition to their philanthropic support, Dick and Vicki spent decades as volunteer leaders at their alma mater, serving on reunion committees and class councils as well as the Lifelong Learning Advisory Council and the University Libraries National Council. They have also been members of the University’s Wilson Society, which honors and celebrates those who have established life-income plans or named the Ģ����ý as a beneficiary of their estate, and the George Eastman Circle, the University’s leadership annual giving society. Additionally, Dick serves on Hajim’s National Council and the Rochester Philanthropy Council and has chaired or supported many nonprofit organizations throughout the Rochester community.

Throughout all his involvement, Dick’s greatest joy comes from seeing tangible outcomes: students exploring their potential, the University offering transformative programs, and communities made stronger in the process. “It’s a win-win-win,” he adds. “Students benefit, the University benefits, and society overall benefits. Plus, I get the joy of knowing I helped make a difference.”

Gift supports faculty excellence and innovation and completes the distinguished professorship part of the Wyant Challenge.

Joanne Y. Law at the University’s 1998 Commencement ceremony

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 URochester’s . Her generous $800,000 gift will be amplified by an additional $1.2 million from the Wyant Challenge, a historic initiative launched in 2022 by the late optics pioneer James C. Wyant ’69 (PhD), trustee emeritus, and his wife, Tammy.

“I believe in science, research, and education, and I am deeply committed to supporting them all—especially now when the need is so great,” says Law. “Earning my PhD at the Institute of Optics shaped my career and life, and I am profoundly grateful for the education and opportunities I received because of that. This is my way to pay it forward.”

“We are thrilled that Joanne has established this gift,” says Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. “She joins a distinguished group of benefactors and dedicated leaders committed to making a lasting investment in the institute—advancing education, pushing the boundaries of research, and creating a meaningful impact on society. We are grateful to Joanne for her generosity.”

Heinzelman emphasizes that the Wyant Challenge and the matching gifts made through it will empower top-tier faculty to address the leading challenges in the field and the increasing need for skilled optics graduates. These professionals will contribute to advancements in precision manufacturing, national security and aerospace, biomedical imaging and diagnostics, renewable energy, and other industries.

Established in 2022 through a $12 million gift from the late optics pioneer James C. Wyant ’69 (PhD), trustee emeritus, and his wife, Tammy, the Wyant Challenge is transforming the Institute of Optics. As the largest gift in its history, funds from the challenge and matching gifts, including Law’s contribution, will increase the number of full-time faculty at the institute from 20 to 30 over the next decade. The challenge will ultimately support 10 endowed professorships—five for distinguished faculty and five for early-career scholars—along with a visiting professorship and a staff position. This growth will support the institute as it plans for its 100th anniversary in 2029.

Law’s generosity marks the fifth and final distinguished professorship to be funded through the Wyant Challenge. Additionally, two early career professorships have already been established through it. To date, the challenge has generated an additional $5.2 million in new donor funds. When completed, matching gifts will account for $8 million, bringing the total impact of the challenge to $20 million.

“Through this challenge, I can help future scientists and engineers have the same opportunities I had to learn, grow, and contribute to this important field,” says Law. “I am excited that this professorship will attract top talent and bring a positive spirit to scientific research.”

Noting that the Wyant Challenge presented a compelling opportunity to make a difference in alignment with her values, Law adds, “Because the challenge offered matching funds, I was able to establish this professorship at this point in my life. It helped me meet the financial requirements to create an endowed professorship.”

“It is especially meaningful to me to see a former student invest in the institute like this,” says Tom Brown, the director of the Institute of Optics and a Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor. “Joanne’s generosity, along with the collective support of the Wyant Challenge, allows us to invest in faculty excellence in a way that will positively impact many generations of graduate and undergraduate students.”

Ģ����ý Joanne Y. Law

Law attended the Ģ����ý in 1994 as a Sproull Fellow, conducting research on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers under the guidance of Professor Govind P. Agrawal. After receiving a PhD in optics from the Institute of Optics, she moved to California, where she spent 16 years in industrial research and product engineering at Therma-Wave, Agilent Technologies, and Nanometrics. Her work focused on optical design and system analysis for semiconductor metrology.

In addition to the newly established distinguished professorship, Law has supported the University’s Student Emergency Fund, which began during COVID-19. In 2021, she created the Law Optics Scholarship to further her commitment to helping others reach their full potential. She plans to continue with charitable giving to science advancement and education as a long-term goal.

Beyond science, Law spends time crafting art with a 5W diode laser at home and sharing her creations with the community. She enjoys giving back through her artwork.

Through his journey, Thomas exemplifies the lasting bonds between alumni and their alma mater and inspires others to stay connected and give back.

Clayton Jones, Robert DeLeon ’21S (MBA), Tochukwu Iyke-Nzeocha ’25, Katherine Thomas ’22, Eugene Nichols III ’20, Courtney Thomas, Jr. ’18

Courtney Thomas, Jr. ’18 knows the power of giving back. As a student at the URochester, he immersed himself in campus leadership, serving as a Student Alumni Ambassador (SAA) and a member of the Senior Giving Committee. Today, as an alumnus, Thomas continues to make an impact, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to supporting the university that shaped his path.

Thomas’s journey to Rochester began with the Posse Foundation, a program that provides full-tuition scholarships to students from select cities. From his first campus visit, he was captivated by the university’s dynamic environment and open curriculum, which allowed him to craft a unique academic experience.

Arriving in the winter of 2014, Thomas quickly sought ways to stay engaged indoors (and in the warmth). This led him to explore student leadership roles, working in Wilson Commons, getting involved in student government, and joining key organizations like the Minority Male Leadership Association and the Douglass Leadership House. These experiences taught him valuable lessons about university operations, funding structures, and the critical role that alumni support plays in sustaining student initiatives.

Passion for staying connected

For Thomas, graduation was not a farewell—it was a transition into a new chapter of involvement. Recognizing that his own success was built on the generosity and dedication of others before him, he felt a deep responsibility to continue the cycle.

Courtney Thomas, Jr. ’18

Since graduating, he has remained actively involved in multiple alumni organizations, including the Young Alumni Council and the Black Alumni Network. He also mentors the Minority Male Leadership Association, helping to guide students. His dedication extends to the Posse Foundation, where he continues to support and engage with new cohorts of scholars.

A career rooted in service

Thomas’ commitment to public service is evident in his professional life as well. Currently serving as a key aide to the mayor of Rochester, he works at the intersection of community engagement, policy, and advocacy. His path to city government was unexpected but serendipitous. A chance encounter with then-City Council Member Malik Evans ’02, now Rochester’s mayor, at a URochester event led to an opportunity to become a City Council aide. That experience ignited a passion for civic engagement, and today, Thomas plays an integral role in city leadership, embodying the university’s motto, Meliora—ever better.

Encouraging others to give back

Thomas is a firm believer that every contribution to the university—whether time, resources, or mentorship—makes a meaningful difference. His advice to fellow alumni and students? Start small.

Liam Kirsch ’23, Franklin Hong ’23, Ben Schwartz ’23, Mayor Malik Evans ’02, Professor Gerald Gamm, Ari Drotch ’23, Blaine Doyle ’23, James Bentayou ’23, Courtney Thomas Jr. ’18

He emphasizes that giving back is not just about sustaining the university but also about creating opportunities for future generations. From participating in panels and speaking engagements to supporting fundraising initiatives, he encourages all alumni to find ways to stay engaged.

When Thomas reflects on the legacy he hopes to leave behind, he envisions a thriving, interconnected community of alumni who continue to uplift and empower students. He wants to see more students embrace study-abroad opportunities, take advantage of the university’s fifth-year programs, create their own majors, and immerse themselves in the city of Rochester’s cultural and professional offerings.

“Don’t just come here—stay connected,” he urges. “The Ģ����ý is a lifelong community, and staying involved is one of the best ways to make the most of that connection.”

Through his unwavering dedication, Courtney Thomas, Jr. exemplifies the best of what it means to be a URochester alumnus. His story is one of gratitude, service, and a commitment to ensuring that the doors of opportunity remain open for those who follow. In doing so, he continues to make both his alma mater and his community ever better.

The gift is part of the Wyant Challenge, a fund designed to boost optics faculty by 50 percent within a decade.

Richard Zuegel and Barbara Blake (Zuegel) model the “bachelor’s gown” as featured in the May 1957 issue of Rochester Review.

Barbara Zuegel ’57 has established the Zuegel Family Professorship in Optics in honor of her late husband, Richard Zuegel ’57, and in recognition of her family’s ties to the URochester. Her generous gift will be matched by the Wyant Challenge, a $12 million fund established in 2022 by the late trustee emeritus James C. Wyant ’69 (PhD) and his wife, Tammy, to create 10 new endowed professorships at the  within 10 years.

Barbara’s gift marks the first fully funded early-career professorship and the fifth professorship inspired by the Wyant’s matching challenge fund. The Zuegel Family Professorship is designed to support a promising new faculty member engaged in research and development related to laser science, technology, or engineering. It will help fill a vital pipeline of innovative and dedicated scholar-researchers, ensuring a lasting impact on both the institute’s future and the broader optics industry.

“We are deeply grateful to Barbara for her tremendous generosity,” says Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. “An early-career professorship like this, focused on laser science within the Institute of Optics, will inspire the kind of teaching and research that can transform industries, improve lives, and address some of society’s most pressing challenges, from creating new energy solutions to driving technological breakthroughs that improve our quality of life.”

“When the opportunity arose to join the Wyant Challenge, I saw it as a chance to further important research and support the institution that has meant so much to our family,” says Barbara. “Three generations of Zuegels—starting with Rick and me—attended the University, so I have a deep appreciation for it and for education, having spent my career in it. Naming this professorship on behalf of our family underscores its importance in our lives.”

Says Tom Brown, the director of the Institute of Optics and the Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor, “Thanks to Barbara and the Zuegel family, the Institute of Optics is in an excellent position to build a faculty that will inspire the next generation of optics students, especially future leaders in laser science and engineering. As we celebrate our centennial in 2029 and look to the next 100 years of optics at Rochester, I especially appreciate investments in early career faculty. Barbara’s gift is significant—it helps bring in faculty who will work to continue the institute’s rich legacy, and to build a community that improves our University, our country and our world.”

“My mother has dedicated her life to education and our family has always recognized the importance of helping people reach their potential,” says Jon Zuegel, ’96 (PhD), the Laser and Materials Technology division director, a distinguished scientist at the University’s , and a professor of optics. “This professorship is an extension of what both my mother and father have always done—supporting excellence and providing opportunities to advance the public good. I am proud of and inspired by her generosity, confident that it will make a real difference in the future of laser science and optics. I know that this gift would make my father very happy.”

Barbara’s gift aligns with the University’s leadership in these areas. In 2023, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded the University a $1 million Regional Innovation Engines Development Award grant to begin developing the next generation of lasers and laser applications. Lasers are found in medical devices, telecommunications, manufacturing, and fusion energy research. They drive advances in precision medicine, enable the backbone of global communications, revolutionize industrial processes, and hold the potential to unlock clean energy solutions.

The NSF grant brings together a variety of institutional, industrial, and business partners that will lay the groundwork for an innovation and economic hub built around the Science, Technology and Engineering of Lasers and Laser Applications Research (). The effort promises to position Rochester as a national leader in the field, addressing significant gaps in the US education system. “Few universities can play the kind of crucial role that we can in these areas,” adds Jon, who works closely on the project with Tom Brown.

The Zuegels have a deep connection to Rochester—the community and the institution—and a strong commitment to science, photography, and education. Barbara and Rick met at the University as undergraduate students. After graduating with his general science degree, Rick worked at Kodak for 32 years. He was an avid nature photographer and a dedicated leader in the Kodak Camera Club, serving in various roles, including president. He also held leadership positions in regional photography associations and was a founding member of the North American Nature Photography Association, where he chaired its first two internationally attended conferences. A sought-after teacher, lecturer, and photo judge, Rick also shared his passion through travelogues inspired by his and Barbara’s extensive travels.

Barbara, a history major, was a librarian for the Greece Central School District for more than 20 years. Together, they had three children: Stephen, a mechanical engineering major from the Class of 1983; and twins Jim and Jon. Jon earned his PhD from the Institute of Optics and his daughter, Hannah, continued the family tradition, graduating from Rochester in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in studio arts and minors in chemistry and business.

Adds Barbara, “The Wyants had great vision establishing this funding challenge. They made it possible for others like me to participate and make a bigger difference, together.”

Meet Rochester’s Leadership Committee Member of the Women’s Network, Member of the Simon Women’s Alliance, and Co-Chair of the Women’s Summit Alliance Rose Cooper ’10S (MBA)

What Rose is up to now and reflecting on her time at the University

Share a bit about yourself and your current endeavors. What excites you most about your work or personal projects?

After graduating from Simon, I began my career in advertising and integrated marketing. Six months ago, I transitioned into Revenue Operations at Paychex as a Sales Acceleration Manager within the Sales Acceleration Center of Excellence (COE). Our COE develops innovative, data-driven strategies to drive revenue and transform our go-to-market strategy.

In my current role, I combine my passion for operations, project management, and data with relationship building. By leveraging automation, AI, and 360° problem-solving, we are revolutionizing how our sales teams engage with clients and prospects. I’m proud to contribute to initiatives that are transforming Paychex, especially knowing that our solutions empower businesses to grow. What makes this journey even more meaningful is that my parents were once Paychex clients, leveraging payroll solutions for their contracting firm.

Reflecting on your time at the URochester in Simon, what are your most cherished memories?

Can I say all of them?
If I must choose, three experiences at Simon stand out for me.

1. Finals Week at Elmwood Inn
   Gathering with classmates and professors in an informal setting during finals week showed me how much our professors were invested in our success—not just as students, but as individuals.
2. Serving as a TA
   Working as a teaching assistant for Professor Ron Schmidt’s business strategy class deepened my understanding of the material and reshaped my perspective on “leading with influence.”
3. Entrepreneurship Class – “Shark Tank” Style
   Developing and pitching a product concept challenged me to take a 360° approach to product development and marketing—skills I use daily in my career. My team pitched “datesmartpeople.com,” a dating site for those with advanced degrees. Despite initial skepticism, we secured the majority of the investment, proving that with a solid strategy and market analysis, any idea can succeed. This experience taught me the value of taking calculated risks and backing intuition with data.

How did your involvement with campus activities and the Simon Business School shape your personal and professional development?

Being a student at Simon was both academically challenging and personally fulfilling—I’d go home exhausted but inspired! The rigorous coursework and collaborative environment allowed me to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds, boosting my confidence and relationship-building skills.

My involvement in Simon Volunteers fueled my passion for community service and led me to join the Junior League of Rochester (JLR), where I later served as President. During my tenure, the JLR launched the region’s only diaper bank, which has distributed over 1 million diapers—a testament to the coalition-building skills I gained at Simon.

Through the Marketing Club, I attended a talk by Sharon Napier, head of Partners+Napier. A simple thank-you card (shoutout to Career Services for the advice!) led to an internship that launched my career in advertising—proving that small actions can have a lasting impact.”

Giving back and making an impact

What inspired you to get involved with the Women’s Network and Simon Women’s Alliance?

I strive to live the “lift as you climb” philosophy, and University volunteering allows me to do that. As a young professional, it was challenging to find professional development opportunities. I was looking for new and creative ways to grow and flex my leadership skills, plus build my network. Joining (SWA) allowed me to find those opportunities and build connections, leading to me joining the leadership committee for the Women’s Network and co-chairing our upcoming Women’s Summit in March. I was also able to use my University volunteer leadership to build my professional profile and showcase leadership to my management team.

Can you share some of your most rewarding experiences or impactful moments from your leadership and volunteer roles?

Joining the Women’s Network from the ground up has been an incredible experience. Seeing the University’s dedication to empowering women and addressing important issues has been truly rewarding. We’re creating a network for women (and allies!), by women. As a leadership committee member, I have the opportunity to help shape the future of this impactful organization.

In SWA, our biggest impact is supporting women scholars, with a scholarship, at the Simon School. Each year, 100% of our membership dues support at least two women attending the school. Last year, I had the opportunity to meet our current SWA scholars at the fall SWA conference. Hearing about their experience and learning more about the impact the scholarship was having on these talented women was a game-changer! It brought the meaning of “ever better” to life.

What are some of your favorite events or initiatives you’ve participated in as part of the Women’s Network or Simon Women’s Alliance?

My favorite event is always the SWA conference, which is why I’m so excited to co-chair the Women’s Summit! The SWA conference focuses on collaboration, connection, and learning. I always leave the event with a new approach or strategy, be it one for my personal development or professional career. Some of the most impactful lectures and development sessions I have attended have been at the SWA conference.

How has staying connected with the University and Simon impacted your personal and professional networks?

Engaging with the University and Simon community has connected me to a variety of talented alums that I would not have crossed paths with ordinarily. Through SWA, I have reconnected with former classmates, as well as developed relationships with alums from different class years. I now have connections for career brainstorming, networking advice, and support as a parent of young children.

How you can get involved like Rose

What advice would you give to fellow alumni considering leadership or volunteer roles within the University or Simon community?

Don’t wait for “one day”—make today “DAY ONE” of your leadership and volunteer journey. As we look ahead, it’s time to bet on ourselves, take risks, and silence self-doubt. Too often, we ask, “What if I don’t have enough time, skills, or what if I fail?” But what if we succeed? What if we just try and learn from the experience? Take the leap—send the email, ask for the promotion, get involved, and bet on yourself. Make today day one.

Check out volunteer opportunities with the University today!

The couple’s gift will name the new adult waiting room in the emergency department.

Kathy and Peter Landers

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, the largest capital project in the Ģ����ý’s history. The couple’s gift will name the Landers Adult Waiting Room in the soon-to-be-expanded emergency department (ED) that will serve generations of future families.

“We are immensely grateful to the Landers for this forward-thinking gift,” says Kathy Parrinello ʼ75N, ʼ83N (MS), ʼ90W (PHD), president and CEO, Strong Memorial Hospital. “Their generosity will help us create an exceptional, nurturing space where families can find solace during life’s unexpected challenges.”

Planned for completion in 2027, the five-year-long Strong Expansion Project will increase the size of its ED more than three times and include space for psychiatric emergency care. The project will also add a cardiovascular pavilion, with floors for diagnostic and treatment services, cardiac care, and the Medical Center’s inpatient hospital. Additionally, it will feature individual rooms that allow for personal support and meet the latest requirements in patient safety and infection control. The project will ultimately that the community has faced for years.

“There is a great need for providing better access and facilities for emergency care in our community,” says . “We have witnessed first-hand the capacity constraints and backlog of patients in hallways. Making this gift now in support the new emergency tower will help alleviate this ongoing crisis and better serve the health care needs of the community.”

Adds Kathy, “Our family members have experienced the remarkable compassionate care provided by the nurses, staff, and emergency care doctors. The new expansion will provide a state-of-the art environment and resources for hospital teams to deliver that kind of exemplary care to more people, to help them recover, heal, and have better outcomes. We are pleased to be part of this expansion project and know it will transform the way emergency care is delivered.”

The Landers are long-time champions of the Rochester community. More than 30 years ago, they founded Landers Communities, a full service local real estate company that develops, owns, and manages high quality apartment communities, senior housing, and commercial space in the greater Rochester area.

Both Peter and Kathy earned degrees at the University and have generously supported the University’s James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute, Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Eastman School of Music, the Memorial Art Gallery, and Ģ����ý Athletics. Peter is a board member at the URochester Medical Center and the Memorial Art Gallery, while Kathy serves on the board of the Wilmot Cancer Institute and on the gallery’s council. They are also members of the University’s Rochester Philanthropy Council. In 2020, the University honored the Landers with the in recognition of their exemplary service.

Nicholas Wodo ’14N, ’19N (MS) is answering the call.

Nicholas Wodo ’14N, ’19N (MS)

Almost 60 years ago, the Ģ����ý School of Nursing’s founding dean Loretta Ford and pediatrician Henry Silver pioneered the nurse practitioner (NP) role. There are now more than 355,000 NPs improving the health and lives of millions of patients across the U.S.

For almost a decade, Nicholas Wodo, ’14N, ’19N (MS) has been caring for the Rochester community as a nurse at the URochester Medical Center. After earning his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Canisius College, Wodo applied for UR Nursing’s accelerated bachelor’s in nursing program to utilize his science background in health care.

Wodo pursued his master’s in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specialty to make a difference in children’s lives, and to “help them grow and live the healthiest life possible.” Working in the pediatric emergency department at Golisano Children’s Hospital has helped Wodo achieve that goal.

Learn more about what drives Wodo—in his own words.

What makes you passionate about your specialty area?

I currently work in the Pediatric Emergency Department and love the wide variety and ever-changing nature of this environment. It brings a measure of uncertainty not knowing what you might see next, but this is also exhilarating. I enjoy being able to care for the most vulnerable of our population and be able to provide comfort and care to a family on one of their worst days.

How did the School of Nursing prepare you for your career goals?

My UR Nursing education gave me with the background to pursue any field of nursing I wanted to work in. It provided me the experience of doing my capstone in the Pediatric Emergency Department and additional opportunities to experience endocrine and diabetes management which is my other passion.

Tell us about a faculty member or preceptor who has shaped your educational journey.

I have had numerous people shape me into the provider I am today. As a provider, my previous colleagues Elizabeth Vaczy ’88 (MS), ’93N (MS) and Christa Ward taught me the skills of being a provider in pediatric endocrine. That said, the most influential person in my career in emergency medicine was my previous nurse manager Marcy Noble. Marcy took a chance on an inexperienced nurse who had a passion to learn pediatric emergency medicine and management and for this, I will be forever grateful.

What kind of support helped you balance work and life commitments with school?

My family and friends were a great support as I went back to school for my master’s degree. I worked weekends for four years and missed many family gatherings over the years, but everyone was so understanding that this was my passion and the career I wanted for myself.

During school, while working as a nurse, I also officiated semi-professional soccer, which helped me get outside and get much-needed exercise while still making money.

What is a day in your current role like?

In the Pediatric Emergency Department, I see a range of children. I can see a child in one room with a common cold and leave that room to see a child with new onset cancer in another. We see a huge variety of people and situations that usually bring families in on one of their worst days, and the goal when seeing each person is to provide them passionate patient and family care no matter the outcome.

How does your work as a nurse practitioner make an impact?

The work of myself and my colleagues helps to make the children of our community healthier, with the goal of living long, healthy lives.

What are some of your proudest moments as a nurse?

My proudest moments as a Nurse Practitioner are when I can settle the nervousness on a parent’s face, given the concern for their child, by caring for, reassuring, and safely discharging that child home—with a smile on their face.

Through nursing, Thaw Htoo ’23N supports Rochester refugees

Thaw Htoo ’23N

Thaw Htoo ’23N felt emotional when he visited the Children’s School of Rochester No. 15 early in the fall semester for the community health rotation of his clinical experience.

By a total coincidence, he’d been placed at his own elementary school. It holds a special place in his heart: Htoo came to the in 2008 as a refugee, having spent the first 11 years of his life at a camp on the border of Myanmar and Thailand.

After leaving Myanmar with his parents for an unknown future, Htoo recalled the Children’s School feeling like a safe haven. The school, a longtime partner of the Ģ����ý School of Nursing, is known for its robust refugee community and English-language learning support. Its student population represents nearly 40 countries and languages.

Years later, as an adult, Htoo joined two of his colleagues from the , to spend a morning delivering a presentation on healthy communication for sixth-graders, leading activities such as “emotion charades” and a question game with a multi-color beach ball focused on listening skills.

It was a perfect opportunity to give back to the community that once helped him find a sense of belonging in a brand-new country.

“It was really hard, because I remember when I first came to the United States, I did not know any English, but I was able to learn and catch up,” he recalled. “It was through hard work, dedication, and support that I got through the program.”

Nursing students have been working with the Children’s School as part of their community health clinical experiences since 2010. The relationship started when Assistant Professor Leann Patel, MSN, RN, and sixth-grade teacher Telesta Rice collaborated to create a program that helps refugee parents understand American health care systems. Eventually, the pair also noticed a need to expand the health education curriculum for students, and Patel pitched a program in which nursing students could fill the gap by teaching kids about topics such as hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention.

Spending time in the community, in settings such as schools, senior living facilities, and prisons, helps nursing students see the day-to-day lives of the people they’ll soon be caring for, Patel said. Experiences like that of Htoo and his colleagues at the Children’s School exemplify her vision for community health clinicals brought to life.

Visits from the School of Nursing offer a window into what opportunities might be available to Children’s School students in the future, said Principal Jay Piper.

Colleagues from the accelerated bachelor’s program join Dean Lisa Kitko, Assistant Professor Leann Patel, and Thaw Htoo at the Children’s School

“The nursing students are the vision we want for our students,” he said.

Piper had vivid memories of Htoo as a student, and held onto a copy of Htoo’s 2011 class photo to show him when he visited.

A fast learner, Htoo quickly grasped the English language, and wasted no time utilizing his new language skills to help others. He translated for parents and other new students from Myanmar’s Karen community, volunteered to help younger students onto their buses at dismissal, and became one of the school’s “fuss busters”—an older student who helps the younger ones work through problems and conflicts.

“He was a real leader who would embrace the younger kids and take them under his wing,” Piper said. “Looking back, it makes sense to me that he would take the path of nursing. He’s so nurturing. It’s a great honor to see him follow that path. It was meant to be.”

Htoo would agree—but it took a while for him to realize nursing was his calling.

“I had always wanted to work in the health field, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” said Htoo, who earned his first bachelor’s degree in biology from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

He worked in labs and pharmacies and spent the past three years working as a hair transplant technician at the nearby Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery. He felt a craving to do more, and remembered wishing he could perform injections like the nurses and physicians he worked with. Htoo began to realize that nursing would offer him a way to make a meaningful impact.

Htoo discovered interests in nephrology and pediatric nursing during his time at the University Rochester, but his overall goal, however, is to pay it forward.

The City of Rochester has been helping refugees resettle since the 1980s. In the past two decades, the city has welcomed more than 8,000 refugees, including nearly 1,500 from Htoo’s home country.

Leading by his gentle, humble example, Htoo wants to show what is possible for those who resettle in Rochester.

“Even though you might not know the language, or you’re introduced to a new culture, once you are adapted to the culture, the beliefs, and everyday living, you’ll be able to learn so many new things,” he said. “If you put in the hard work, you’ll be able to move forward.”

Natalie Lewis ’22N and Evelyn Santos ’23N (MS) are nursing champions for their communities.

Natalie Lewis ’22N

Nurses have always been at the forefront of addressing health disparities and that’s a role Natalie Lewis ’22N and Evelyn C. Santos ’23N (MS), RN, PMHN-BC have never shied away from. They’ve both committed to making a difference as nurses by caring for the mental health and well-being of their communities.

Since finishing her bachelor’s degree in 2022, Lewis has been passionate about contributing to her community through psychiatric and mental health nursing—it’s her way of staying connected to her city. In addition to her studies, she is a per-diem member of the City of Rochester’s Person in Crisis Team, a group who accompanies police on mental health calls. She also previously worked as a nurse at the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center.

Lewis spends most of her week either at school or her two jobs as a nurse and emergency response social worker. Recently, she returned to the Ģ����ý Medical Center as part of the .

Natalie Lewis ’22N

“It’s always been mental health for me. That’s my niche,” said Lewis, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in the family psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner specialty. “It’s so important, especially for African American families. Most people will tell you— ‘you’re not depressed,’ or ‘you’re not stressed.’”

Growing up, Lewis said she experienced “old-school” beliefs about mental health in the Black community, but she has also seen attitudes start to shift. Her interest in mental health, combined with a natural gift for math and science, led Lewis to pursue her first bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University at Buffalo.

Afterward, Lewis knew she would need an advanced degree if she wanted to work in a clinical setting. She had considered pursuing a master’s in mental health counseling, but she also felt drawn to nursing. A job as a crisis specialist at Strong Memorial Hospital, where Lewis worked alongside the various members of a behavioral health team, helped confirm her interest in psychiatric nursing.

That has also been one of the most rewarding parts of her work as a nurse so far, at both the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center and the hospital. “I’m able to make an impact on the youth and have conversations with them about their current situation and how they can make changes in the future,” she said.

Continuing her education is one of Lewis’ proudest achievements. She is the youngest of six siblings, and the first to go to college. She is grateful not only for the chance to build a better future for herself, but to make her family proud as well.

“Seeing my mom happy and proud is the most important thing to me,” Lewis said. “I want to make her life easier and be able to take care of her. I like knowing she doesn’t have to worry about me.”

Evelyn C. Santos ’23N (MS), RN, PMHN-BC

When Santos joined the School of Nursing’s (LHCS) master’s program, she had already built a reputation at the URochester Medical Center as a fierce advocate for underserved populations.

Her years of experience in psychiatric and mental health nursing have inspired her work. Santos is the former lead nurse of , Upstate New York’s only bilingual outpatient mental health clinic. It’s a role that she developed and implemented herself, leveraging the ability of nurses to build strong ties with the communities they serve.

“Working with the Latino community was personally important to me. I knew my work made a significant impact on patient outcomes,” Santos said.

Rochester’s Latino population has more than tripled since the 1980s, . Nationally, Hispanic and Latino communities in the U.S. to mental health care, such as a lack of cultural competence among providers, immigration status, stigma, or language barriers.

Her LHCS capstone project focused on optimizing depression screenings among the local Latino community.

“The most rewarding part of the role is being an advocate for cultural awareness and providing equitable health care services,” she added. “I completed a needs assessment through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens and implemented the utilization of iPads at my working site to capture depression screens electronically in Spanish,” she explained.

“This project provided an opportunity to improve depression screening rates among our Latino patient population, and also helped improve our collaborative decision-making strategies within the program I support.”

Santos’ graduate capstone is the latest highlight of a career defined by breaking barriers for this growing population. In addition to her role at the Lazos Fuertes Clinic, she served as a consultant to help expand UR Medicine’s Spanish-language neurology clinic, and created a guide dedicated to helping English-speaking nurses overcome language barriers that often interfere with care.

During her time at the School of Nursing, Santos was honored with the Paul J. Burgett Nursing Student Life Award, which recognizes a graduating student who enriches the School’s environment and serves as a positive catalyst for change.

Evelyn C. Santos ’23N (MS), RN, PMHN-BC

Just a few months after finishing the LHCS degree, Santos accepted a promotion within the Department of Psychiatry to a new role as a quality and education nurse. She looks forward to utilizing her nurse educator role to bring diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, trauma-informed care, and the impact of adverse childhood events (ACEs) to the forefront of the department’s educational curriculum.

Both Lewis and Santos knew they were in the right place at the URochester School of Nursing.

Eager to widen her scope of practice as a nurse, Lewis already felt a strong sense of belonging during her time as an accelerated bachelor’s student. Santos knew she could advance her work as an advocate for health equity.

“I enjoy the community within the school,” Lewis said. “I have developed friendships in nursing school that I feel I will have for a lifetime.

“What stood out to me as I explored opportunities for my master’s degree was the UR School of Nursing’s mission to be an inclusive environment,” Santos recalled. “The School of Nursing makes diversity, equity and inclusion efforts a priority. As a minority student, this was important to me.”

One family’s tradition and a Rochester legacy

A family legacy continues at the URochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD). From left: Kevin J. Geary ’83M (MD), ’88M (Res), ’90M (Flw) poses with his nephew, Michael Geary ’16M (MD), and his father, Joseph Geary, at Michael’s graduation from SMD.

Deciding to pursue vascular surgery was like entering the family business for Kevin J. Geary, MD, whose father was part of a noteworthy line of surgeons who established the field in Rochester, NY. Joseph E. Geary, MD, was urged to come to Rochester by Charles Rob, MD, to practice as one of the first fellowship trained physicians in the city. Geary describes how, “back then, in 1960, there were only a couple of vascular surgery fellowship programs in the country. Dr. Rob, of course, had become a renowned pioneer in the field, after his team performed the first carotid endarterectomy in England. Rob then came to the United States to become chief of surgery at the URochester Medical Center (URMC).”

The oldest of six children, Kevin Geary was a young child when his family moved to Rochester and remembers his father making rounds at the old Park Avenue Hospital, and all of the local community hospitals, to do surgeries. When he was eight or nine years old, Geary would go along with his father on these rounds.

Geary always planned to follow his father’s footsteps as a physician. His mother was a nurse, so it felt very natural to go into the medical field, but his father encouraged him to study other subjects on the side. Growing up, the family worked on many creative projects together. Once they built a 45-ft African mahogany schooner. “It took seven years, through high school and college, and my dad taught me and my siblings all about woodworking,” Geary recalls.

Geary went to Union College and became a language major, studying abroad in France and Germany. When it was time to take the MCAT, he showed up much to the surprise of all the pre-med students who had never seen him before in their classes.

The Ģ����ý was looking for well-rounded medical students, so it was a good fit. Geary remembers the rigorous curriculum, how much emphasis there was on the biopsychosocial approach, and how he and his peers joked a bit about it, until they met George Engel, MD, and John Romano, MD, and then understood—without a doubt—how significant that model was. Looking back, Geary says, “I enjoyed the camaraderie among my classmates, and the closeness that still remained when we recently celebrated our 40^th medical school reunion.” In those years, the medical students often socialized with nursing students. That was how Geary met his wife, Holly Simpson ’83N, ’09N (MS). In spite of the demands of his training, he shares, “those were fun and hilarious times.”

Geary changed his mind repeatedly about what direction he wanted to take in medicine and recalls how supportive his advisors were. He started out with an intention to pursue ophthalmology, with James Aquavella, MD, as his mentor, but ultimately, he was drawn into surgery. When his fellow anatomy partners heard about his plans, it came as no surprise to them. From day one, working side-by-side on a cadaver, they knew he was going to be a surgeon.

After looking at residencies all over, Geary ultimately matched at Ģ����ý and started his internship in 1983. “In those days,” Geary says, “residents worked about 100 hours each week, before there were limitations on the schedules. My peers and I emerged from our surgery training, ready to set up shop on our own.”

Geary intended to go into plastic surgery. “There was a laboratory, a little room with a microscope,” he recalls, “where the plastic surgery residents learned how to do vascular surgery by practicing on parts of chickens and rat femoral arteries.” Later this became a true lab rotation. That’s when he started putting together little blood vessels, and by the end of residency he knew he was meant to go into vascular surgery instead.

At the time, all the vascular surgery fellows rotated with Geary’s father. By the third year, Geary remembers that’s when the fun really began, “When we worked together in surgery,” he says, “I would make a suggestion, ‘Dad, let’s do it this way,’ and the nurses would laugh. They had never heard anyone talk back to my father before. To me it wasn’t talking back. It was just as natural as suggesting another type of tool to use in our woodworking project.”

In addition to his father, Geary had many mentors who made an impression throughout his training. “You can get great experience from a lot of great surgeons,” Geary says, “if you take away little bits to make a whole. The more mentors you have, the better.” James DeWeese, MD—the former chair of vascular surgery who helped build the division—was one who stood out to Geary and who helped convince him to go into the field. Another was James Adams, MD. Geary remembers that an article came out at the time calling his father “the man with the golden hands,” and “Dr. Adams joked that if my father was the hand, then I must at least be one of the fingers.” From then on, Adams called him “golden thumb” or “thumb” for short.

After completing his education, Geary joined his father in practice at Vascular Surgery Associates. He is affiliated with Rochester Regional Health and also sees a lot of potential for collaboration with the URochester. “All my partners trained at Strong,” he says. “The connection goes all the way around.”

In honor of James DeWeese, Geary has supported the DeWeese Endowment. Thinking about what motivates him to contribute toward vascular surgery education at Rochester, Geary says, “the legacy of vascular surgery at the URochester is huge, and I’d like to see it remain that way.”