For Jeanine Khoury ’82, staying connected to the Ģ����ý isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about purpose.

After decades of professional experience that took her from the corporate world to executive coaching and nonprofit leadership, Jeanine could have easily stepped back. Instead, she leaned in—reengaging with the University not just as an alumna, but as a mentor and guide for others navigating their own career crossroads.

“I had the privilege of a fulfilling career,” Jeanine says. “And I wanted to give back to a community that helped shape the person I became. That’s what led me to the alumni career programs.”

From C-suite to coach

Jeanine’s career began with a strong foundation in collaboration and communication. Over the years, she climbed the banking corporate ladder, overseeing operations and technology integrations resulting from large-scale mergers and acquisitions. Along the way, she developed a passion for helping others grow—engaging in executive coaching, leadership development, and serving on nonprofit boards while transitioning away from the corporate world.

That evolution wasn’t by accident. It came from careful self-reflection and a desire to make her next chapter one of impact and service. So, when the opportunity to mentor fellow Ģ����ý alumni came her way, she welcomed it.

“What I love about the Rochester approach is that it’s holistic,” she explains. “It’s not just about landing the next job. It’s about connecting values to career choices and recognizing that transformation can happen at any stage.”

A new kind of fulfillment

Jeanine currently serves as a mentor in The Meliora Collective Mentoring Program, which pairs alumni and students with experienced volunteers across industries and career levels. While she shares her expertise with others, she’s quick to note the relationship is mutual.

“Mentoring isn’t a one-way street. I’m constantly inspired by the creativity, courage, and resilience of the people I meet. I’ve had conversations with alumni making major career shifts, returning to the workforce after time away, or launching second careers post-retirement.”

She also praises the structure and accessibility of the program. With flexible virtual conversations, thoughtful matching, and a vibrant online community, The Meliora Collective offers a low-barrier, high-impact way for alumni to connect.

A call to fellow leaders

Jeanine believes seasoned professionals and retirees are in a unique position to give back—and get something deeply meaningful in return.

“As a C-suite alum or someone who’s retired, you have a wealth of insight that others are eager to learn from. Sometimes we underestimate how valuable our lived experience really is. The perspective we can offer is something no article or webinar can replicate.”

Whether it’s mentoring, leading a virtual workshop, or simply having an informational coffee chat, she encourages peers to explore ways to stay involved.

“T���re’s something incredibly energizing about helping someone find clarity in their next step,” she says. “And it reminds you of your own growth. It reconnects you to your ‘why.’”

Lifelong belonging

Jeanine sees her continued engagement as a reflection of the University’s enduring mission.

“Rochester has created a space where belonging doesn’t end at graduation. These programs are about community, curiosity, and contribution. And the results speak for themselves—from job offers and new ventures to meaningful personal reinvention.”

For Jeanine, that sense of purpose is what keeps her coming back.

“It’s easy to think you’ve done your part once you retire or reach a certain level,” she says. “But I’ve found that there’s always more to give—and so much more to gain.”

How alumni resources guided Mary Bucklin ’16 from research to industry success

Mary graduated from the Ģ����ý with an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering in 2016.

Making a career pivot can be daunting—especially when you’re stepping into uncharted territory. For Mary Bucklin ’16, shifting from academic research to a role in industry wasn’t just about changing jobs. It was about discovering new strengths, building confidence, and finding a support system that could help guide her through an uncertain transition.

Even after completing a PhD in biomedical engineering and working as a postdoctoral researcher, Mary was still figuring out her path. She had developed a passion for scientific writing—drafting grant proposals, preparing award-winning conference presentations, and realizing how much she enjoyed translating complex research into impactful narratives. But like many professionals looking to pivot, she was unsure how to take the first step.

“I had the skills,” Mary says. “But I didn’t know how to apply them in a different setting, or even what roles might be a good fit. That’s when I turned to the Career Resources offered to Ģ����ý alumni—and it changed everything.”

From uncertainty to action

A single email to the University unlocked a flood of opportunity. Mary was introduced to Mentorship Program, one-on-one career coaching, and a calendar of virtual events designed to empower alumni at any career stage. She jumped in with both feet.

“Working with a career coach and participating in mentoring gave me clarity,” Mary explains. “T���y helped me update my resume, refine my networking approach, and develop the confidence I needed to move forward.”

Mary also discovered how to use LinkedIn as a strategic tool. After attending a virtual workshop on personal branding and outreach, she began connecting with professionals in medical writing—a field she hadn’t previously considered. That single tactic sparked more than 50 conversations, opened doors to job interviews, and even led to direct referrals.

Community that lifts you up

For Mary, one of the most powerful takeaways has been the feeling of support and belonging.

“Getting a job is often about who you know,” she says. “T��� Rochester community has been that network for me. From coaches to mentors to fellow alumni, I’ve had people cheering me on and guiding me at every step.”

Her mentor offered firsthand insight into careers in industry and helped Mary understand the value of her academic background in new contexts. Meanwhile, her career coach encouraged her to reflect on what she really wanted and what she was capable of.

“It was about more than resumes or interviews,” Mary says. “It was about realizing that I had options, and I wasn’t alone in figuring them out.”

Encouraging others to reach out

Now actively pursuing roles in medical writing, Mary feels energized by the possibilities ahead. And she’s passionate about helping other alumni see what’s possible, too.

“My advice? Just send the email,” she says. “Explain where you are in your career and what you’re looking for. That’s exactly how I started, and I was blown away by the response.”

Mary’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to have all the answers to begin. What matters is taking that first step—and being open to what comes next.

“I’m so grateful for the guidance I received,” she says. “It’s made me more confident, more connected, and more excited about the future.”

**After this story was posted, Mary started a new position at Orthofix as a medical writer. She shared, “I’m very excited to start my new position, as I have both a deep passion for and a personal connection to the work I’ll be doing to improve musculoskeletal health.”

This matching challenge will inspire a new wave of philanthropy and generate up to $3 million in student support.

Randi and Steve Piaker

Rochester Trustee Steve Piaker ’84 and his wife, Randi, have committed $1 million to launch a new scholarship challenge benefiting undergraduates at the University’s Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences and School of Arts & Sciences. The Piaker Family Scholarship Challenge has the potential to generate up to $3 million in financial aid for students with demonstrated need.

The Piaker Challenge is designed to spark generosity and amplify impact through matching gifts—encouraging others to start endowed scholarships of their own. For each new endowed scholarship that qualifies, matching funds will be added to increase the total scholarship value. For example, if a donor contributes $100,000, the Piaker Challenge will contribute an additional $50,000—bringing the fund total to $150,000. Likewise, if a new donor makes a $67,000 commitment, the Piaker Challenge will add $33,000, for a total value of $100,000. Each year, a portion of the fund’s value will be used to provide student aid, ensuring ongoing support, while the principal remains invested to benefit future generations.

“We are grateful to the Piakers for making this generous gift and inspiring others to give too,” says Rob Alexander, vice provost and University dean of enrollment. “Because of the Piakers’ leadership—and the support of others who will join them—many students will receive the financial aid they need to access a Rochester education, now and for years to come.”

“Like so many other alumni, my time at Rochester was truly transformative,” says Steve. “It was—and still is—a special place for me. Randi and I are honored to make this gift knowing it will serve as a force multiplier. Establishing a matching fund is a powerful way to help others maximize the impact of their giving. Together, we can support even more students.”

A legacy of student support

Steve and Randi have a long history of supporting Rochester’s undergraduate students. In 2020, they established an endowed scholarship through the Nataraj Scholarship Challenge, an initiative launched by Rochester Trustee Naveen Nataraj ’97 and his wife, Courtney, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within a year, that challenge raised $2.6 million and created 22 endowed scholarships—illustrating the power of matching challenges. “It’s our hope that this new challenge will have a similar impact,” says Steve.

The Piakers have also supported students through the Brady Scholars Program, established by Elizabeth Pungello Bruno ’89, another Rochester trustee and alumnus as well as a parent of a Rochester graduate. This is one of the University’s premier scholarship programs, providing ongoing financial support and individual academic advising, peer mentoring, and special academic and social opportunities.

“Rochester students share an ethos,” adds Steve. “It’s a real community here, full of young adults with a passion for learning—students who are intellectually curious, socially engaged, and rooting each other on. It’s a privilege to make a gift that adds to this momentum.”

Another inspiration for the couple’s support is Steve’s father. “As a World War II veteran and son of immigrants, he was only able to go to City College in New York because it was free,” says Steve. “He was always grateful for that opportunity and worked so hard to provide for his family and give back to the community supporting innumerable causes. My parents sacrificed a lot to ensure that my brother and I could attend a university of our choice. Attending the Ģ����ý and graduating without a mountain of debt was a privilege. Underwriting this challenge—and providing financial assistance to students over the years—has been a meaningful way for Randi and me to honor my parents while helping students realize their full potential.”

Committed to excellence and education

Steven Piaker is co-founder and managing partner of Ten Coves Capital, a financial technology- focused growth equity firm based in Darien, Connecticut. He has more than 30 years of experience investing at the intersection of technology and financial services. Before forming Ten Coves, he served as co-head of Napier Park Financial Partners, was among the founding partners of Napier Park Global Capital, and served as managing partner at CCP Equity Partners. He also held various investment positions with Conseco Inc., GE Capital’s leveraged buyout division, and Chase Manhattan Bank. Steve received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rochester and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Steve has served on the University’s board of trustees since May 2024 and is a member of its investment committee. A former trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, he serves on the boards of Cassini Systems Limited, Inbox Health Corp., PointPredictive, Inc., and Steeleye Limited. The Piakers are longtime members of the George Eastman Circle, the University’s leadership annual giving society.

Burger’s latest gift continues her legacy of philanthropy and engagement, establishes a new directorship, and launches a pilot undergraduate research program.

Rochester Trustee Barbara J. Burger ’83—a respected leader in energy transition, corporate and non-profit board member, thought leader, speaker, and community builder—has made a $2,000,000 commitment to support research, innovation, and the student experience at the URochester. Burger’s philanthropy builds on a series of gifts she has made to the University, aligning her lifelong dedication to fostering exceptional education, research excellence, and the success of faculty and staff—cornerstones of the University’s 2030 strategic plan. This gift is a continuation of Burger’s years of support, furthering the impact of her overall philanthropy while exploring new areas of discovery.

Burger’s gift will specifically provide $1,000,000 to establish the Barbara J. Burger iZone Directorship. Her commitment to iZone began in 2015 when she made a lead gift of $1,000,000 to River Campus Libraries to create the space. Named in her honor, the Barbara J. Burger iZone is a collaborative creative problem-solving environment that opened in 2018, providing students with resources to explore ideas and develop innovative projects that drive social, cultural, and community impact.

Burger’s latest gift will also provide more than $250,000 to launch the Barbara J. Burger Chemical Sustainability Scholars pilot program. Open to chemistry and chemical engineering majors after their first or sophomore year, the pilot program will provide a new pathway for exploring professional interests during a 15-month research project.

Having dedicated her career to the energy industry, Burger is keenly interested in energy transition, focusing on improving the energy system’s access, reliability, and affordability, and reducing its impact on communities and the environment. This pilot program at the University, she says, will provide an opportunity for students to address this issue directly. Additionally, $750,000 will be allocated to a general fund, reserved for future designation to support initiatives that align with the University’s priorities and Burger’s philanthropic goals.

“Barbara’s multifaceted gift highlights her unwavering advocacy for education and innovation, and underscores her dedication as an alumna, volunteer leader, and trailblazer in science and technology,” says Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, Ģ����ý president and G. Robert Witmer, Jr. University Professor. “We are tremendously grateful for her ongoing partnership and her tireless pursuit of excellence.”

Says Burger, “When I was a student here, people invested in me, sharing their time, knowledge, and financial resources. This is a key driver in me helping the next generation. Today, I have the opportunity to give back, both philanthropically and through my ideas, energy, and the relationships I develop within the Rochester family.”

A history of impact

Burger has been a longstanding supporter of the University, contributing significantly to enhance the student experience, making gifts that complement and amplify one another. For instance, her $1,250,000 gift two years ago doubled the number of students receiving the Barbara J. Burger Endowed Scholarships in the Sciences. It also provided funds for iZone to support staff and student professional development, technology, and student-centered programs. Additionally, her 2022 gift launched a five-year within the University’s River Campus Libraries, offering 22 students hands-on experience in areas like publishing, event programming, marketing, and curriculum design, all under the mentorship of library staff.

Burger’s significant influence as a University philanthropist began in 2006, when she, along with other chemistry alumni, faculty, staff, and friends, established an endowed professorship in honor of Professor Emeritus Andrew S. Kende. A few years later, she became the lead funder to a second professorship named for a mentor and key figure in her life, Professor Emeritus Richard S. Eisenberg. Over the years, Burger has also generously given to the Department of Athletics and Recreation. This includes significant support for the Timothy G. Hale Endowment for Competitive Excellence in athletics, a fund that benefits the University’s cross country and track and field programs. As an undergraduate, Burger participated in both sports as well as on the field hockey team.

“Barbara’s deep interest in student success and in providing opportunities for learners to flourish in and out of the classroom is a testament to her commitment to academic excellence,” adds Nicole Sampson, University provost. “She is completely dedicated to creating experiences and opportunities that advance discovery and innovations across many fields, and to inspiring meaningful outcomes for students, faculty, staff, and the entire University community. Her focused and far-reaching support is truly inspiring.”

A distinguished career

Barbara J. Burger is a Chevron “graduate” where she finished as the vice president of innovation and president of Chevron Technology Ventures. During her career, she held leadership positions across the company’s businesses as well as a wide range of civic and industry organizations.

Today, Burger remains focused on the challenges in energy transition, equity, and access to education. She has built an advisory and director portfolio with firms including Bloom Energy, Heliogen, Milestone Environmental Services, Emerald Technology Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, Marunouchi Innovation Partners, Syzygy Plasmonics, and Epicore Biosystems. She also proudly serves as the board president of the Houston Symphony.

Burger is an alumna of the URochester, where she serves on the Board of Trustees and chairs the University Libraries National Council. In addition to establishing the Barbara J. Burger Endowed Scholarship in the Sciences and the Barbara J. Burger iZone at the URochester, she supports graduate women in chemistry who will pursue careers beyond academia and serves on the Resnick Sustainability Institute Strategic Advisory Board at Caltech. She holds a bachelor’s in chemistry from the URochester, a PhD in chemistry from Caltech, and an MBA from UC Berkeley.

Update: Learn about the inaugural cohort of Barbara J. Burger Chemical Sustainability Scholars in this May 7, 2025 Ģ����ý New Center story.

Gift recognizes the couple’s commitment to research excellence and honors her late husband, University Trustee Emeritus Hugo Sonnenschein ’61, ’17 (Honorary)

Rachel Mossi, Leah Schraudenbach, Hugo Sonnenschein, Beth Sonnenschein, and Amy Venetianer

Elizabeth “Beth” Sonnenschein ’61, ’62N has established the Hugo Freund Sonnenschein and Elizabeth Gunn Sonnenschein Research Endowment in Mathematics within the Ģ����ý’s School of Arts & Sciences. Her generous $1 million gift honors her late husband, University Trustee Emeritus Hugo Sonnenschein ’61, ’17 (Honorary), an acclaimed economic theorist and academic leader, and recognizes the couple’s shared commitment to research excellence.

Specifically, the new Sonnenschein Research Endowment in Mathematics will equip faculty and students with resources to integrate ideas from diverse disciplines—including physics, economics, engineering, and DNA biology–to drive solutions to challenges best addressed through mathematics collaboration.

“We are tremendously grateful to Beth for this gift and to Hugo for his scholarly impact and dedication to Rochester,” says Duje Tadin, interim dean of the School of Arts & Sciences. “Because of Beth’s vision and support, future generations can carry on Hugo’s legacy and apply mathematical concepts to advance transdisciplinary innovation.”

“This gift is a way to honor my appreciation for the role Rochester played in our formative years, and Hugo’s years as a board member and volunteer,” says Sonnenschein. “He loved math, Rochester, and the institution of higher education—he dedicated his life to all of this and more.”

Hugo Sonnenschein

Sonnenschein adds that Hugo majored in mathematics at Rochester, and, during his senior year, he found a reference in an economics journal that inspired him and became the basis for his lifelong work: the idea that important economic concepts could be modeled and hence better understood, using mathematics. For him, she underscores, it all started at Rochester.

Paul Funkenbusch, chair of the mathematics department, underscores that mathematics is foundational to many disciplines, often driving discoveries in engineering and the sciences and moving us toward solutions to such global issues as sustainable energy, cryptography, public health, and economic systems. “Because of this gift, the department will always have dedicated resources to help faculty and students pursue high-reward projects, giving them the freedom to study difficult questions and problems that span these areas and beyond.”

Hugo and Beth met during their first year at the University and married one year after graduation. Their three daughters, Rachel Mossi, Leah Schraudenbach, and Amy Venetianer were mathematics majors in college and, like their parents, have applied lessons learned from math into their careers and daily lives.

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. “T���ir 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.

“T���re 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.

The First-Generation Network connects students with alumni who have walked a similar path.

Transitioning to college can be challenging for any student, but those who are the first in their families to attend college face unique hurdles. That’s why Rochester launched the in June 2021. The network serves first-generation alumni, students, families, friends, and supporters, offering mentorship, networking, and community building.

“T��� college experience can be incredibly isolating and intimidating without a community of those with shared backgrounds,” says Celeste Glasgow Ribbins ’91, a facilitator and consultant who cochairs the network with Doug Austin ’98, ’04S (MBA) and Jessica Colorado ’12, ’20W (MS).

Austin, a health plan operations, finance, and IT specialist echoes Ribbins. “T��� network provides opportunities for first-generation students to ask questions that they might not be able to ask of their families because—as much as those who are closest to them may want to help and have encouraged them along the way—they haven’t gone through the same experiences.”

Each of the cochairs wishes they’d had more guidance both on their paths to college and once they arrived. “Many high school students don’t even realize college is a possibility or understand the application process,” says Colorado, who grew up in New York City and majored in chemistry. She credits her high school English teacher, Dr. Barbara Rowes—who was awarded the University’s Singer Family Prize for Excellence in Secondary Education in 2012—with helping her navigate applications and better understand her choices.

Colorado faced an additional challenge in that her parents immigrated to the US from Colombia in the 1980s and didn’t know English well. “When they came to campus for orientation and other events, they couldn’t ask questions, and I didn’t know what I should be asking for them,” she says. “T���y also needed me to translate. It was a lot.”

Colorado has dedicated her career to helping underserved populations. She’s a policy analyst at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association in Washington, DC, and a member of the University’s Diversity Advisory Council. Earlier in her career, she worked at the University’s David T. Kearns Center.

Ribbins, who is from Cleveland, chose Rochester for its proximity to home, its relatively small size, and its rigorous academics. She sang in the Gospel Choir and in Vocal Point, was a resident advisor, and was a member of the Black Students Union.

Austin grew up in the Catskills, where he says the “cows outnumbered the students.” In addition to his leadership role within the network, he serves as a mentor through his local Chamber of Commerce. He’s also served on many College class reunion committees and is a member of the University’s Diversity Advisory Council.

Claudia De Leon, Rochester’s associate director of affinity networks and equity, diversity, and inclusion programs, was a first-generation student herself. “T��� First-Generation Network amplifies the voice of first-generation students and alumni by connecting them with those who have already navigated college’s challenges and many of life’s ‘firsts,’” De Leon says.

The cochairs encourage first generation alumni to join the network, and they want current student and recent alumni to know the network is here help them on their paths.

Adds Colorado, “I had to figure out a lot on my own, but I made it to Commencement, and they can, too.”

Entrepreneur Yohay Wakabayashi ’10, ’11S (MS) shares some of his favorite things to do in one of the world’s top destinations for culture and cuisine.

Tomohiro Ohsumi/AP images for the Ģ����ý (Wakabayashi); courtesy of Maison Rococo (food)

Since starting as the University Record in 1873, the paper known affectionately as “CT” has never stopped informing, entertaining, opining, and offering its staff a training ground for journalism and life.

A NEW RECORD: What is now the Campus Times began its life in October 1873 as the University Record. The Record featured editorials, news on undergraduates and alumni, poems, jokes, and advertisements.

Alyssa Koh ’24 enjoys poring through old issues of the Campus Times, as well as its predecessors, dating back to 1873. She looks at digitized versions of the oldest papers on the University Archives website and flips through more recent bound copies in the paper’s office in Wilson Commons.

“It’s amazing to see how many different people have contributed to so many different stories over the years,” says the editor-in-chief of the paper students call “CT.” “I’m proud to be a small part of its history.”

This fall marks 150 years of almost continuous student reporting. From the inaugural issue of the University Record, launched as a monthly in October 1873, to the most recent CT, published weekly online, undergraduate journalists have informed and entertained the University community from a student perspective. In the process, they’ve trained themselves for distinguished care.

“T��� Campus Times has been a campus family for many students over the years,” says Anne-Marie Algier, interim dean of students and the paper’s longtime advisor. And because it places big demands on students’ time, “many have gone on to careers in journalism, law, and other fields where the CT laid the foundation for their work ethic.”

“Working on the Campus Times taught me a ton about reporting, writing, and editing, but it also taught me a lot about teamwork, time management, and accountability,” says Rachel Dickler Coker ’96, editor-in-chief in 1994. “It was not easy to make our weekly deadline as full-time students. I felt tremendous satisfaction when I saw a good piece in print under my name.”

A newspaper for students, by students

Twenty-three years after the University opened its doors, eight students established the University Record, the first campus newspaper at the then all-male institution located on Prince Street. The inaugural edition that rolled off hand-cranked presses in the fall of 1873 looked more like a magazine than a newspaper.

“T��� primary objective of this journal is to furnish friends and patrons of the University with reliable information concerning its workings and history,” the editors wrote. “We are confident that it will meet a want long felt by the students.”

The Record featured editorials, news on under-graduates and alumni, poems, jokes, and advertisements. It came with a subscription price: $1 for the year, equivalent to about $25 today.

Forty-five years later, as the Campus, the paper brought news of the Great War home. The June 6, 1918, edition, a special war issue, reported news of the first casualties among the student body.

News from the home front

World War I affected the University deeply and directly, and the Campus provided news of enlistments, promotions, and casualties among members of the community. But the paper was also a cherished source of home front news for students like Alfred Veness, a member of the Class of 1920, who had joined Britain’s Royal Flying Corps in 1917. Veness was in basic training and nearing an assignment to France when he received a copy of the paper. An excerpt from his letter of gratitude was published on January 31, 1918:

I received the last edition of The Campus about a week ago and was very pleased indeed to have it and learn all about the activities in dear old Rochester. . . . It means a lot to have such news when one is away from the University.

A newspaper rivalry

Students in the College for Women—lacking representation in the men’s Campus—launched their own paper, the Cloister Window. Competition between the Campus and the new upstart was fierce. In the 1920s, the Campus published an article declaring that the women were not “welcome” on its Prince Street campus. Annette Gardner Munro, dean of women from 1910 to 1930, responded by canceling her subscription to the Campus and banning it from the women’s enclave on the other side of University Avenue.

In 1932, two years after the College for Men moved to the River Campus, the women, now with the Prince Street Campus to themselves, renamed their paper the Tower Times—a reference to its office location high up in Cutler Union.

MEDIA MANIA: Students at the College for Women created the Cloister Window, which became the Tower Times in 1932. Times staff and their male counterparts at the Campus enjoyed a friendly rivalry—to wit, the Tower Times’s publication of the Crampus on April 1, 1949.

HARD TIMES: Its staff having dwindled to just a few juniors and seniors, CT ran a stark editorial at the close of the 1962 fall semester (right). “We find that increasingly, and for the first time, the most intelligent and able students are not entering extra-curricular activities,” the editors lamented.

The dry spell came a mere seven years following the merger of the Tower Times and the Campus to become the Campus-Times (left). The step coincided with the merger of the colleges into a single coeducational institution on the River Campus in 1955.

Introducing the Campus Times

Although students published five issues of the “Campus-Times” during the brief merger of 1943, the CT, as it’s known today, traces its birth to 1955. That was the year the women moved from Prince Street to join the men on the River Campus. Women continued to play a large role in campus journalism: the last editor of the Tower Times, Sally Miles ’56, became the first editor of the new Campus-Times.

Paper nearly folded

In December 1962, the very existence of the Campus Times (now sans hyphen) was tested when its staff had dwindled to just a few juniors and seniors. The editors published a two-page edition, with the front page a stark, two-column editorial titled “An Announcement.” The paper, published twice weekly, would be reduced from 12 pages to four. The editors decried the state of extracurricular activities on campus, attributing part of the lack of student interest to “the infusion of a few exciting new faculty members.”

A year later, the paper continued to struggle, according to Christian Yves Wyser-Pratte ’65, elected editor-in-chief in December 1963. “I inherited a dying rag,” he recalls. The paper, which received funds from student government, was back to eight pages but over budget, and the federal government had banned cigarette ads—which Wyser-Pratte says was the paper’s largest source of revenue—in college and university settings. He asked a Simon Business School professor to give him the name of the best business student, whom he could recruit as a business manager. Richard Hall ’66 took the role—a big part of a turnaround, Wyser-Pratte recalls. “I had a great team to work with,” he says, citing Hall, managing editors Cliff Fishman ’66 and Joyce Inglis ’65, and Marjorie (Mac) McDiarmid ’67, who became CT’s next editor-in-chief.

Telling it like it is

By the late 1960s, with war protests common across college campuses, many student newspapers were printing the speeches of visiting activists verbatim—obscenities included. The Campus Times was among them. Laura Drager ’70 was editor-in-chief when Black Panthers leader Eldridge Cleaver spoke at Strong Auditorium in 1968. The CT quoted him word for word, including language that offended some members of the local community.

“Most of the students heard Cleaver’s talk,” Drager told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “T���y’d think we were misrepresenting the man if we didn’t use his words in the story.”

Some students felt the Campus Times devoted too much attention to the war and other controversial issues. Drager, who went on to a distinguished legal career, serving on the New York State Supreme Court, recalls the criticism. Some students “started a competing paper that focused on more typical student activities,” she says. “But I don’t regret the choices we made for the Campus Times.”

On-the-job training

In 1973, the Campus Times marked 100 years of student journalism at Rochester by becoming a daily. Staff often worked through the night several times a week. “My attendance in class became increasingly spotty,” Marc Rosenwasser ’74, editor-in-chief that year, told Review in 2013. “At one point, my father asked me what exactly he was paying for.”

Rosenwasser went on to serve as Moscow correspondent for the Associated Press and as a television producer the CBS Evening News, NBC’s Date-line, and PBS NewsHour Weekend.

Coker says being on staff presented “incredible opportunities” for student journalists. “I interviewed Elie Weisel and Kurt Vonnegut and had a standing weekly meeting with the University president,” adds Coker, who went on to a long career in journalism and is now director of research advancement at Binghamton University.

ROOM 102: “T��� Weekly Miracle of Room 102” is what Review called CT in 1988. Staff in that year (left), in 1997 (right), and in nearly every other year since the late 1970s have made the first floor of Wilson Commons a hive of activity.

FEATURED: Managing editor Dwayne Samuels ’93 (left) and syndications editor Louise Aibel Litt ’94 pause during production to pose for photo editor Allegra Boverman ’96. CT pages were spread across the office walls to make them easy to refer to. Samuels and Litt occupied the “features section” of the office in this image from 1993.

CT’s “Honorary Uncle”

When the staff worked through the night to put out a Thursday morning paper, Ray MacConnell, the University’s graphic arts manager, supplied the staff with dozens of homemade chocolate chip cookies. And when someone from the suburban shop where the paper was printed failed to show on a Thursday, it was MacConnell who drove the pages to the printer.

“Ray was an incredibly special person,” Coker says of MacConnell, who worked at the University for 30 years and died in 2019. “He never had kids of his own, but he was an important friend and mentor to decades of Campus Times editors. He was an honorary uncle to all of us.”

CT today

In 2018 the Campus Times went mostly digital. A print paper—about 2,000 copies—is still published once a month. The staff of about 25 is headed by editor-in-chief Alyssa Koh ’24 and publisher Sarah Woodams ’24 (T5).

The Wilson Commons office is quieter than in eras past. Sundays are busy, with staffers com-ing in to edit stories, but editors also can work remotely on their own laptops. Much activity takes place on social media. Today’s Campus Times has a social media editor, Alice Guzi ’26, who manages CT accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and X (for-merly Twitter) along with Karis Kelly ’27 and Jane  Oliver ’25.

Woodams, a double major in environmental studies and studio art, is thinking of working in social media. At the Campus Times, she says, “I’ve learned how to manage people and the importance of deadlines in the business world,” she says.

Koh, who is studying English and linguistics, is considering a career in journalism. And though she will leave the Campus Times when she graduates, Koh says the Campus Times will never leave her.

“A student newspaper is where people in the campus community can become aware of import-ant goings-on outside their standard scope, and that makes it crucial that it’s run by and for the students,” she says. “To get a view of the University that the University wants you to see, take a campus tour. To really understand what’s happening on campus—to me, that’s the point of the Campus Times.”

21ST-CENTURY EDITION: Editor-in-chief Koh and publisher Woodams lead a staff of about 25 that includes three members devoted to maintaining CT social media accounts. Student journalism, Koh says, helps students “really understand what’s happening on campus.”

This alumnus has set running records, earned career-related accolades, and was recently honored by her alma mater

Jackie Blackett ’81

For more than four decades, Jackie Blackett ’81—a Columbia University coach and athletics administrator—has been a driving force in women’s sports and athletics management. In recognition of her achievements, the Ģ����ý inducted Blackett into its Athletics Hall of Fame in the fall of 2023.

“Throughout her life, Blackett has redefined excellence,” says Terry Gurnett, associate director of Athletics. “When she was a collegiate runner, she set records. As a Rochester cross country and track & field coach, she led the Yellowjackets to their best-ever NCAA track & field finish in 1989. Remarkably, seven of the eight women’s cross country and track & field members of the Rochester Hall of Fame competed under Blackett’s leadership.”

During her 30-year career at columbia, Blackett has played a pivotal role in the athletic department’s senior management, steering the success of more than 5,000 student athletes. Wearing multiple hats as deputy athletics director, senior woman administrator, and deputy Title IX coordinator, she oversees crucial programs and ensures compliance with University policies.

Blackett’s foray into sports started unexpectedly, when a friend invited her to a track and field meeting during the first few weeks of her first year on campus. “Much to my surprise, that meeting was held in the men’s locker room,” she recalls. “That’s the first time I met Coach Hale, who told us that if we were serious about running to come see him the next day.”

Blackett and her friends were serious and did go back to Coach Hale. Encouraged by him and the men’s team, they competed in as many events as they could. Over the years, the number of events increased and, then, in 1978 the women’s varsity team was officially established. “Coach Hale ended up paving the way for us,” she says. “His support truly marked the beginning of an unforeseen path for me and others.”

Here, Blackett talks about her life and career in sports.

What was it like being inducted into Rochester’s Athletics’ Hall of Fame?

It was humbling. Initially, I thought others were more deserving, but a former teammate reminded me that I represented a group of women who may not have the opportunity to be individually inducted into the Hall of Fame. I came to realize that this honor wasn’t just about me; it was about the early days of the sport and  the women who sacrificed to build a women’s cross country and track & field program.

What was your childhood like?

I grew up in Barbados, which was part of the British educational system. Students earned points for academics, community service, and athletics. That’s when I discovered I had some talent in running and netball. After emigrating to the US at 13, I attended an all-girls high school in Brooklyn, where I didn’t play sports—I did take up dancing though, which I still love.

Why Rochester?

I came to Rochester to be a teacher. I was on track to be one and then, immediately following my senior year, I received a call for the athletic director at RIT who was looking for a part-time coach for their women’s program. I took the job as an opportunity to give back to students what I had gained from the sport.

Did you know you were making history at Rochester?

Absolutely not. Back in the late 1970s, making history was far from my mind. Without a women’s varsity team, I was, along with my teammates, simply track & field athlete who entered several events. It wasn’t until senior year, qualifying for nationals, that I realized the significance of what I was doing.

What might surprise people to know about you?

I never really liked running, but I really loved competing. Ask any of my former coaches, training was never my forte. I did what was necessary to do well in an event.

What are some memories of your time at Rochester?

The lifelong friends that allowed me grow. On the track, I remember deliberately keeping one shoe slightly untied during our daily mile warm-up so I had to strategically stop to re-tie them. Coach would shout, “Can’t you keep your shoes tied?” There was also the perpetual struggle of being fashionably late to practice due to General Hospital ending at the same time that practice started. I remember the bubble chairs in Wilson Commons, too, which, by the way, aren’t there anymore. We spent a lot of time in those chairs solving the world’s problems.

What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities in sports today?

In D1 collegiate sports, we’re at a turning point, grappling with questions about our identity, educational value, and the purpose of athletics. The recent spotlight on NIL—Name, Image, and Likeness—in televised congressional hearings caught my attention. This NCAA rule allows students to earn from their personal brand. Despite its complexity, one thing became clear to me: high school and collegiate sports mattered to every senator who spoke during those hearings. As someone deeply involved in NCAA and Division 1 governance issues, I know that these are conversations that will determine the future of sports.

What are you most proud of?

I take pride in two things. Firstly, the Hall of Fame ceremony, where my great nephews witnessed a different side of me and had the chance to glimpse the value of life’s work. Secondly, when former students bring their own children back to campus, it tells me that they had an experience that was so positive it’s worth sharing with their children.

What makes today’s generation of students and athletes stand out?

Their grit and determination to make a difference. This generation wants to be part of the decision-making process. Even if they don’t have all the info, they want to have a voice if it involves them. They want a say in the process.

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading by James Kerr, which delves into the story of New Zealand’s All Blacks, the world’s most successful rugby team. I work long and late office hours, so my reading time is limited, but Kerr’s book always accompanies me in my bag. For a more leisurely escape, I turn to Walter Mosley, an American novelist who writes a lot of crime fiction revolving around a Black private investigator—I love his work.