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)

An alumna and her husband retired, sold everything, and now live full-time on their 56-foot sailboat

On their 38th wedding anniversary, Jill Hummel ’81 and her husband, Zack—otherwise known by their self-appointed titles of Captain Zack and Admiral Jill—moved out of their three-story home in Connecticut and onto their 500-square-foot sailboat. It was August 1, 2020, and the couple decided to brand their new home Che Figata, which means “totally awesome” in Italian slang—an apt description for this exciting new phase of their lives.

Today, the couple’s address is wherever the wind takes them. So far, that’s included the entire east coast of the United States, the Caribbean Islands, and even the Galapagos. Their ultimate plan is to circumnavigate the world over the next few years. “We love adventure, learning, and taking on a challenge,” says Jill. “Sailing brings it all together for us.”

This spring and early summer, the Hummels are sailing to Australia and New Zealand with about 30 other boats affiliated with the World Sailing Club. When they get to Australia, they plan to rent an RV and explore by land for about six months before charting a course to Indonesia and Thailand.

Fate, the Hummels say, brought the two of them together. Forty-three years ago, they were college students participating in the same Semester in Politics program in London. Jill hailed from the URochester, and Zack from the University of Michigan. They hit it off, returned home, and maintained a long-distance relationship before marrying in 1982.

Since then, they’ve both earned law degrees, raised three children together, and welcomed two grandkids. They also pursued busy, high-profile careers. Most recently, Jill served as the president of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut, and Zack was a partner at the Shipman & Goodwin law firm working out of the Stamford, Connecticut, office.

The couple’s love for sailing started 16 years ago when they bought their first sailboat. Zack, who grew up sailing on Lake Michigan, introduced Jill to the sport. After years of sailing together, they started talking about the possibility of selling everything and living on a boat. A few years ago, the Hummels said, “If not now, when?” That’s when their daydreams started turning into real plans—they prepared their lives, plotted their routes, and got a bigger boat.

And off they went. “We love this life,” Jill says. “By no means is it easy, though—it requires careful planning, constant vigilance, and tireless maintenance.” The couple wouldn’t have it any other way. “We get through challenges every day—that’s just the way of life on a boat,” adds Zack. “We also have a lot of joy in our lives and appreciate everything more, from sunsets to snorkeling to each other.”

A conversation with Shane Campbell-Staton ’08

This scholar, evolutionary biologist, and master storyteller uses classrooms and lecture halls along with podcasts, television, and film to attract a broad and diverse audience to science. His goal? To help people see how science plays such an important part in our past, present, and future.

, a biology professor at Princeton University, has dedicated his life to exploring human activity as a force for evolutionary change. He studies the Anthropocene—the geological period we’re in now—during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. His lab, the Campbell-Staton Group, looks at animal performance, gene expression, and genomics to understand how human activity affects evolution.

“We study all kinds of creatures—from Russian wolves to tuskless elephants to mountain mice—to learn about how various species adapt to urbanization, climate change, invasive species, and natural as well as human-caused events and disasters,” says Campbell-Staton. “Our work is like putting together a puzzle—each piece is important and, when they are linked, we get a bigger, better picture of our place in this world and our impact on it.”

Campbell-Staton hosted , a six-part PBS documentary series in which he traveled from farms to restaurants, high-tech labs to street markets, and ancient forests to the back alleys of big cities to gain insights into human nature, human impact, and what it means to be a human being. Audiences can also tune into Campbell-Staton on his ongoing podcast. Inspired by comic books, graphic novels, movies, and television, each episode tracks the boundaries of where science meets fiction.

In June 2023, Campbell-Staton gave the keynote presentation at the University’s Juneteenth Celebration, where he delved into the challenges he overcame at Rochester and elsewhere, the opportunities he’s cultivated, and the life lessons he’s learned along the way. He also discussed the connections between biology and human history, science, politics, economics, culture, and structural racism.

How did you get interested in science?

Growing up in Sumter, South Carolina, I didn’t have easy access to nearby woods or tidal pools, but I was captivated by science through television shows like those hosted by Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin. My neighborhood was home to many small lizards, called anoles. So, TV and lizards were what first sparked my interest in science.

What important life lessons did you learn at Rochester?

One of the most important lessons was how to fail successfully. During my first year, I struggled with math, calculus, and chemistry classes, which left me feeling dejected after failing some of them. I even considered leaving school. However, my mother encouraged me to persevere and not quit because I was afraid to fail. Her support inspired me to spend the summer devouring high school science books to prepare for my sophomore year.

What do you think makes a great scientist?

A great scientist is not someone who has all the answers. In my personal statement to Harvard, I talked about how the giants of science are those who persevere when they hit a wall. I have experienced my share of failures and setbacks, but I have never given up. I am tenacious and curious, and I keep trying until I get it right. These qualities have helped me to succeed and get accepted into several graduate schools, including Harvard, where I earned my PhD and focused my dissertation on my favorite childhood lizard: anoles.

What sparked your interest in comic books?

As a graduate student, I was drawn to “Superman vs. Muhammad Ali” in a bookstore window in Harvard Square. I was intrigued and had to find out who won the battle. That launched my interest in comic books. After an intense day working on my dissertation, I really liked reading comic books and escaping into another world. One night during that time, I had a dream that combined science and superheroes, which led me to start the Biology of Superheroes podcast with Arien Darby ’07, a fellow comic book fan and friend I met at Rochester.

Who is your biggest role model?

I have many role models, but I have to say that my mother is the most important one. She has always encouraged me. When I was a kid, she told me that people can take just about anything from you. They can take your money, your power. But, she said, once you learn something, it’s yours—you get to keep it. And she underscored that you can actually give away what you know and still keep your knowledge.

Here are some of our alumni guides’ recommendations for what to do and see in LA.

Sean Allen ‘11S (MS)

Recruited from the Simon Business School as an engineer and team lead for the oil and energy company Andeavor Logistics, Allen moved to California in 2011.

“If you have a strong drive, you’ll thrive here,” he says. “LA is filled with a lot of highly motivated people who inspire me every day.”

It’s an ideal place to live, he says.

“San Diego is only two hours south and Mexico is just 15 minutes from there. Napa Valley and Northern California aren’t too far away either. Then there’s LA itself, with a lot to do right here.”

A) Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
6300 Hetzler Road, Culver City
Allen enjoys taking visitors to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, also known as the Culver City Stairs. Hike 250 steps up to a 500-foot peak for 360-degree views of the city. “Some of these cobblestone steps are two and three feet wide,” he says. “Hundreds of years ago, there was a village here and now just these steps remain.”

B) Pho Ever Restaurant
2228 Rosecrans Avenue, Gardena
Allen recommends Pho Ever for authentic Vietnamese fare. “When you walk in, you feel like you’re on a street in Ho Chi Minh City. Your food is even served in traditional, small metal bowls.” For Japanese, try Wokcano (multiple locations). According to Allen, it serves up the best crabmeat fried rice ever. It also offers the unusual, from salsa dancing to piñata parties to reverse happy hours.

C) In-N-Out Burger
9149 South Sepulveda Boulevard
Allen, who is also a licensed real estate agent, often takes visitors to an iconic In-N-Out Burger located about a thousand feet from a runaway at the Los Angeles airport. “While eating a burger, you can look up and see a plane about 200 feet high in the sky.”

D) Dockweiler Beach
12001 Vista del Mar, Playa del Rey
“You can’t visit Southern California and not go to the beach,” says Allen. With three miles of shoreline, Dockweiler Beach features 40 bonfire pits available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“If you want one, get there early, or be open to sharing a pit with another group or two.” If you can’t get a pit, just enjoy the beach or take a hang-gliding lesson.

Wallis Nash ‘15

After graduating from the University as a double-major in international relations and anthropology, Nash taught for a year in China. Then she earned her master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California. Today, she works as a management analyst at Pasadena City Hall, which doubled as Pawnee City Hall in the hit sitcom Parks and Recreation.

“My job is very similar to Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope,” says Nash, who is a member of the LA Network Leadership Cabinet and leader of the new LA Women’s Network. “I help manage the city’s capital improvement budget, which supports our transportation, public works, and parks programs.”

P) WB Studio Tour
3400 Warner Boulevard, Burbank
Nash recommends taking in a tour of the famous Warner Brothers studio. “You see everything from Batmobiles to the gazebo from The Gilmore Girls to the café from La La Land.” After the tour, she likes to dash over to Portos (3614 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank), a family-run Cuban bakery famous for its potato balls – deep-fried balls of mashed potatoes stuffed with meat.

Q) The Original Farmer’s Market
6333 West 3rd Street
To experience the city’s cultural and dining diversity, Nash enjoys the Original Farmer’s Market. “It’s so LA to see an Iranian woman selling traditional food next to Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts, which is next to Nonna’s Empanadas,” she says. She recommends that visitors go to Zia Valentia, where they can get coffee served in waffle cones. Check out the French Crepe Company, too. Her favorite is the la poissonière, which is filled with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, capers, and chives.

More Parks and Rec

R) Hollywood Sign, Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs Drive

S) Manhattan Beach
1400 Highland Avenue

T) Reunion Park
43234 LA-445, Ponchatoula

U) Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Avenue

For those who love being outside, hike up to the Hollywood Sign from Griffith Park. Or, venture to Reunion Park, where you might catch celebrities walking their dogs. Check out Manhattan Beach, too. “It’s a great place for families, easy to get to, and much closer to LA than the often-touted Malibu Beach, which is an hour north of the city.”

If there’s time, take in some tunes at the Hollywood Bowl.” This is a great live music venue that features sings-alongs to movies like Grease and music-and-film concerts with the LA Philharmonic,” adds Nash. “Bring a picnic or get one there.”

Nick Brandt ‘98

“For me, LA is the embodiment of the American Dream,” says Brandt, a member of the University’s LA Network Leadership Cabinet. “It’s beautiful here year-round, and it’s a place you can grow and become whatever you want to be.”

As a writer, Brandt has crafted screenplays, comic books, and even musicals. His most recent work, Glass Ceilings, takes the stage in Los Angeles in March, and his graphic novel Joshua Jace: Minimum Wage Henchman is currently available digitally and in print.

L) The Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive
Brandt recommends a trip to The Getty. Inside, tour an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, and decorative art. Outside, take in the gardens. “If you need creative inspiration and a jolt to the soul, this is the place. I once wrote an entire screenplay sitting in the museum’s courtyard.”

M) Rockwell Table and Stage
1714 North Vermont Avenue
Enjoy live musical performances and great food. “I may be biased because some of the songs from a few of my musicals have been performed here, but it is a great venue that offers something for everyone.” Take in burlesque shows, musical parodies, theme nights with Broadway talent, and more. Brandt notes that Jeff Goldblum regularly plays jazz there, too.

N) Grab a Beer
N Golden Road Brewery
5410 West San Fernando Road

O) Bruery Terreux
1174 North Grove Street, Anaheim
Raise a glass in Glendale at the Golden Road Brewery. If you have children, they can enjoy an outdoor game and play area. Bring your dog, too, as four-legged friends are welcomed. Brandt, a Buffalo native, has high standards for his chicken wings and recommends the ones at the brewery – but, as a true western New Yorker, just blue cheese for him, no ranch.

Brandt also recommends the Bruery Terreux for a pint. Located not far from Disneyland, the craft brewery specializes in sour beers – fruit-oriented, with a hint of cherry, peach and a bit of tartness – that are brewed onsite. Patrons can also order regular, barrel-aged, and imperial beers, which are brewed at a sister location nearby so as not to cause cross-contamination.

Jeff ‘85E and Joan Beal ‘84E

A composer for film, television, and concert hall, Jeff Beal has received 19 prime-time Emmy nominations and has won the award five times. He and his wife, Joan Beal, a University trustee, studio singer, and vocal contractor for film, media, and television, have lived in the Los Angeles area since 1992.

A few years ago, the couple purchased an apartment in the heart of LA. “Downtown is home to our concert halls, museums, restaurants, jazz clubs, renovated movie houses, and lots of exciting new developments, as this once-abandoned area is being revitalized,” says Joan.

As city dwellers, the Beals are enjoying their time in what is becoming a walkable city. “The accessibility is great, and it provides a central place to collaborate with directors, editors, and other musicians,” adds Jeff.

Downtown LA

E) Grand Central Market
317 South Broadway

F) Horse Thief BBQ
324 South Hill Street

G) Angel’s Flight
350 South Grand Avenue

H) Broad Museum
221 South Grand Avenue

I) Disney Concert Hall
111 South Grand Avenue

J) Bradbury Building
304 South Broadway

K) bluewhale
123 Astronaut Ellison South Onizuka Street

The couple recommends taking a walking tour of downtown, starting at Grand Central Market on South Broadway. “This large indoor marketplace features many vendors and restaurants,” says Joan. “You’ll find great egg sandwiches, falafel, tacos, and coffee.” Jeff particularly likes the Horse Thief BBQ. “My assistant and I go there as often as possible and get all the things Joan tells me not to eat,” he says. “The pulled pork is amazing.”

After that, head to Angel’s Flight, which is next to the market on South Grand Avenue. “You have two options here,” says Joan. “You can take a steep set of stairs up to Bunker Hill or ride a convenient trolley nearly 300 feet.” (She notes that if you take the stairs, you can eat more at the market.) Then, continue on South Grand to the Broad Museum, known for its collection of contemporary art (and free general admission) and the Disney Concert Hall, an iconic building designed by Frank Gehry. “You don’t need tickets to go into the hall,” says Joan. “Acoustically, it has the best sound, comparable only to Kilbourn Hall.”

If time allows, meander over to the Bradbury Building on Broadway. The historical landmark is open to the public and has been featured in TV shows and movies. For music, head to bluewhale, a jazz club tucked away in Little Tokyo. “Have a drink and soak in the talents of some of the best musicians out there,” adds Jeff.

Home to nearly 1,200 alumni and friends, Houston is one of the country’s friendliest and most diverse cities, say members of the University community who live and work in the East Texas city.

Meet Your Guides

Members of Houston’s growing network of alumni and friends in Houston, Gonzalez, Frazier, Burger, and Robinson meet for a photo in Buffalo Bayou Park, a 160-acre green space that stretches along a 10-mile waterway in the heart of the city. Opened to the public in 2015, the park is one of the country’s great urban green spaces, says Robinson.

Barbara Burger ’83

“This is my second rodeo in Houston,” says Burger, who arrived six years ago from Northern California. “I love it here—it’s an incredibly welcoming, inclusive place. When I came back, everyone made me feel right at home.” A University trustee and the president of Chevron Technology Ventures, Burger first lived in Houston from 1997 to 2000.

Burger is also a member of the Houston Network Leadership Cabinet, a growing group of alumni and friends committed to celebrating their connections and building their network. “I embrace where I live, and here in Houston, there is so much to do and there are many ways to make a difference. I’ve seen that in my role at Chevron, in the community, and as part of the Rochester alumni network here.”

“Houston is growing so fast, and will soon overtake Chicago in terms of population,” she says. “People come from everywhere—for jobs and opportunity, and because the city is, on average, very affordable. The expression ‘dream it, do it’ is really the mind-set here.”

Todd Frazier ’92E

Frazier is system director of the Center for Performing Arts Medicine at Methodist Hospital, part of the Texas Medical Center. Known as TMC, the complex brings together clinical and research programs of Rice, Baylor, the University of Texas, and other universities, as well as prominent hospitals and health care organizations into the world’s largest medical center.

A native Houstonian and a sixth-generation Texan, Frazier says his favorite places represent the soul of the city, a perspective that first blossomed at the Eastman School of Music.

“I left Eastman wanting to broaden the definition of professional success beyond the traditional orchestral and teaching roles,” he says. “This is why I have been so committed to developing music programs within the health care environment—there is such great potential there.”

J.J. Gonzalez ’11

Gonzalez grew up in McAllen in the Rio Grande Valley, just a few miles from the Mexican border and five hours south of Houston. He moved to Houston to expand his law practice in 2017.

“The people of Houston are what make it such a great city,” says Gonzalez.

A scholarship student who served as 2011’s class president, Gonzalez was active on campus in fraternity life and LGBTQ initiatives. He spent a semester in Ecuador and did a Take 5 program in which he studied Islam.

“Rochester changed my life,” says Gonzalez, who practices real estate law. “A lot of the things I love about Rochester, I love about Houston. Both are filled with exceptional, inspiring people.”

Ebon Robinson ’01S (MBA)

Like Burger, Robinson is on his second tour of Houston, having arrived last year after spending four years in Brazil with Chevron, where he’s business finance manager.

Houston has the kinds of opportunities in energy and finance that Robinson was looking for when he enrolled at the Simon Business School.

“Simon didn’t offer this as a concentration, but they saw potential in it, gave me a scholarship, and believed in me,” he says. “I’m forever grateful.” He also knew of Rochester through his grandfather, Harry Bray ’38, one of the University’s earliest African American graduates.

When Robinson isn’t spending time at home, he and his family can be found at their favorite Houston locales.

Houston Regional Network

Houston is home to one of the University’s regional networks, which offer alumni, students, parents, and friends opportunities for networking and volunteering.

Providing ways to engage with other members of the University community, the networks organize social events and outings, help welcome new alumni to an area, interview and mentor students, and serve as social media ambassadors.

For more information on activities an programs in Houston, visit

Regional Networks and You

Based in metropolitan and geographic areas across the United States and internationally, the University’s regional networks organize social events, networking opportunities, and community service projects for alumni, parents, students, and friends close to home.

For more information on how you can get involved, visit .

Dr. Arnold Lisio ’56, ’61M (MD) grew up hearing stories about Italy from his Italian father and Italian American mother. Though he wouldn’t actually visit Italy until his early 30s, he was quickly hooked.

Arnold recalls the importance of that first visit. “Up until that point, I had only seen Italy through motion pictures and photographs, which just wasn’t the same as actually being there,” he says. “I remember one particular moment when I was sitting in a little piazza having coffee with a friend of mine. Suddenly, I realized something very important. It was one of the first times I wasn’t having to do anything yet I was accomplishing something—I was experiencing the beauty of this amazing country.”

“After experiencing the richness of the culture, I wanted to share my love for Italy with students at my alma mater, the URochester,” he says. “I wanted them to have an opportunity to live and study in a country where beauty, art, history, and spirituality are a part of daily life.”

Arnold and his wife, Anne Lisio, have done just that. They’ve supported the University’s Italian studies programs for more than 10 years. Their recent $2 million gift from them endows the Lisio Program in Italian Studies, ensuring that undergraduates will always have opportunities to enhance their understanding and appreciation of Italy’s language, art, culture, and history.

The Lisios’ generosity specifically supports, but is not limited to, student scholarship prizes, summer fellowships, and faculty and program grants for such programs as the University’s Arezzo program, the San Martino Field School, the Roman Structures program, and a new experiential summer learning program in Procida, off the coast of Naples. Their generosity has the potential to support a wide variety of other Italian studies-related programs, too.

“All of the University’s Italian programs are important, and the faculty involved are excellent,” adds Arnold. “Each instructor is passionate about his or her field of study and each has such a tremendous depth of knowledge. I’ve experienced it first hand, and can only imagine how students benefit and learn from them.”

The Lisios have been to Italy more than a dozen times, and met some students in Procida in the summer of 2017. “I was so impressed with them,” adds Arnold. “I saw such intelligence and enthusiasm for living and studying in another country.”

Arnold recounted one particular inspiring moment when he and his wife went out to eat with a group from the University. A young man—a student from the group—broke out in Italian song, which prompted the entire restaurant to erupt in applause.

“There are always surprises to be had in Italy,” says Arnold. “You can experience something special any time of the day, from an unexpected song in a crowded restaurant to the way the setting sun casts shadows on the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the chance opportunity to participate in the daily routine of monks—all of which I have experienced and treasured.”

is a member of the Ģ����ý’s Board of Trustees and the national chair of the University’s leadership annual giving society, the George Eastman Circle. Over the years, he has supported the University in many ways, from establishing Lam Square in Rush Rhees Library to endowing the Susanna and Evans Y. Lam Professorship at the Simon Business School.

He also created the Evans Lam Study Abroad Scholarship, which sponsors five undergraduates annually to pursue scholarly exchange in Hong Kong, China. Additionally, he sponsors students from Hong Kong to study in Rochester.

Watch the video below to hear from some of Lam’s scholars, then scroll down to read some of the stories of a few others.