{"id":102412,"date":"2025-05-19T10:45:36","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T14:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/?page_id=102412"},"modified":"2026-05-14T11:47:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:47:16","slug":"meet-your-faculty-hosts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/alumni-benefits\/travel-club\/meet-your-faculty-hosts\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet your University hosts!"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” background_color=”#ffc70a” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Meet your Travel Club University hosts<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]Each tour is enhanced by Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ faculty who will share their unique expertise to offer an educational lens into the cultures, histories, and landscapes you’ll encounter\u2014making every trip a true extension of your intellectual journey.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” background_image=”103022″ css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”200px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Catalonia and the Cosmos
\nTotal Solar Eclipse on the Spanish Coast<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

August 9-17, 2026<\/h4>\n

Kelly Douglass, associate professor of instruction in the Department of Physics and Astronomy<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]Kelly Douglass<\/strong> is currently the Director of the C.E.K. Mees Observatory, the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Physics, and runs the NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates program in physics and astronomy at UR. While Prof. Douglass’s research focuses on mapping the structure of the universe, she was one of the primary coordinators for UR’s solar eclipse festivities in April 2024 and is excited to share some of the science behind solar eclipses and witness the total solar eclipse in 2026 (hopefully with fewer clouds)![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”102762″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Croatia & the Dalmatian Coast<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

October 9-20, 2026<\/h4>\n

Elizabeth Colantoni, associate professor of classics in the Department of Religion and Classics<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Elizabeth Colantoni<\/strong> teaches in the University\u2019s program in archaeology, technology, and historical structures. She is an archaeologist, and her research is focused on the ancient Mediterranean world, particularly Italy in the time before and during the Roman Empire. She regularly teaches courses on Greek and Roman archaeology, archaeological and museum ethics, and ancient Roman religion as well as Latin language courses. She has, since 2007, been taking students to Italy to participate firsthand in archaeological excavations there. In 2025 and 2026 she will be taking Rochester students to excavate at Trebula Mutuesca (near modern Monteleone Sabino, Rieti, Italy), a settlement that thrived during the Roman period and is noted today particularly for the remains of its ancient amphitheater and sanctuary to the Italic goddess Feronia.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”102792″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Holiday Markets Cruise-The Festive Rhine River<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

December 9-17, 2026<\/h4>\n

Tim Peterson, Ann and Irving Norry Curator of Contemporary Art<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Timothy Peterson<\/strong> serves as the Ann and Irving Norry Curator of Contemporary Art at Memorial Art Gallery. He is a leading curator noted for premiering major solo exhibitions by an exceptionally diverse slate of fast-rising and established artists including Reggie Burrows Hodges, Ryan Adams, Alison Hildreth, Yashua Klos, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Paula Mpagi Sepuya, Ghada Amer, Wangechi Mutu, Christian Marclay, Uta Barth, Alejandro Cesarco, and Shinique Smith. Peterson previously served as Executive Director and Chief Curator for the Center for Maine Contemporary Art (Rockland, Maine), Founding Director and Curator of Franklin Art Works (Minneapolis) and Chief Curator for the SCAD Museum of Art (Savannah), with prior curatorial posts at Lannan Foundation (Los Angeles), the Williams College Museum of Art, and the Provincetown International Film Festival.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”102812″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Southeast Asia Odyssey<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

February 11\u2013March 1, 2027<\/h4>\n

Tingting Xu, historian of Asian art, Department of Art and Art History<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Tingting Xu<\/strong> regularly teaches courses on the introduction to Asian art, spanning from the Neolithic period to the contemporary era, as well as on visual technologies that have shaped the development of art. She is particularly interested in Buddhist ideas over the longue dur\u00e9e, and in how pre-modern religious thought has extended beyond the religious sphere to become foundational concepts in Asian societies and cultures. She received her PhD from the University of Chicago and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University. She also worked as a specialist consultant at an auction house in Beijing and as an assistant curator at the Peabody Essex Museum. She very much looks forward to sharing perspectives on the similarities and differences between East and South Asian Buddhist traditions, discussing the significance of cave temples and colossal reclining Buddhas in Buddhist art, and encountering diverse forms of Buddhist art and handcrafted objects along the way.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”115202″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Galapagos Islands<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

March 9\u201316, 2027<\/h4>\n

Al Uy, Dean\u2019s Professor of Biology, chair of the Department of Biology<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Al Uy<\/strong> has worked throughout the tropics for over 30 years to explore the evolution and ecology of birds, traveling to remote sites across the globe, including the Galapagos Islands. His work combines field observations and experiments with molecular genetics to explore Charles Darwin\u2019s mystery of mysteries\u2014the process of one species splitting into two. He also translates his science into conservation initiatives by partnering with indigenous communities to establish conservation areas in threatened island ecosystems.
\nCheck out his website for more information<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”115172″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Floria Mora\u2013Kepfer Uy, assistant professor in the Department of Biology<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Floria Mora\u2013Kepfer Uy serves as the academic director for ROC Galapagos, an immersive study abroad program with hands\u2013on field training, helping undergraduate researchers learn every step of the scientific process, while experiencing Ecuadorean culture.<\/p>\n

Her research program focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern plasticity. Plasticity is the ability to reorganize in response to changing environments and is one of the most crucial adaptations in animals. It can be essential for survival, as individuals can adjust to dynamic evolutionary, ecological, and social conditions. Her team studies social wasps that display remarkable plasticity and adapt to different environments. They also explore how parasites manipulate genes that affect plasticity in social behavior, brain functions, and aging. Check out her website for more information<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”115192″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Journey through Britain: England, Scotland, and Wales<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

May 10\u201323, 2027<\/h4>\n

Thomas Devaney, associate professor, Department of History<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Tom Devaney<\/strong> teaches courses in medieval and early modern European history, historical methodology, and the history of emotions. In a broad sense, his research explores how ideas\u2014about identity, how one should behave, how society should be organized\u2014played out in the real world. This has led him to explore a range of topics, including community, interfaith relations, public spectacles, popular religious practice, masculinities, and concepts of nobility. The geographic focus of his recent work has been Spain, but he developed an abiding interest in British history and culture as an undergraduate, however, and has since traveled extensively across the British Isles. He is also an avid hiker and is excited about how this tour will highlight Britain\u2019s natural and cultural wonders.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”115142″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Ancient Greece with Santorini and Crete<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

September 2\u201315, 2027<\/h4>\n

Anne Meredith, professor of instruction, Department of Religion and Classics<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Anne Meredith<\/strong> has been a professor of religion and classics at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ for over 30 years. An expert in religions of the ancient Mediterranean world, Meredith teaches courses in the social history and religion of ancient Greece and Rome, ancient Judaism, and early Christianity with particular interest in ancient healing, religious change, and issues related to gender and sexuality. A recipient of many teaching awards at URochester, she has led students on many trips to Greece, Italy, and England. She has taught widely in adult education programs in synagogues and churches around Rochester, and she’s eager to travel with Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumni and others to her favorite country\u2014Greece![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”115182″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Threads of a Nation: Weaving History and Culture in South Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

October 15\u201326, 2027<\/h4>\n

Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, vice provost for global engagement, professer at the Warner School of Education<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela<\/strong> is vice provost for global engagement and professor at the Warner School of Education. She also holds an extraordinary professorship at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Born and raised in South Africa, Mabokela came to the United States after completing high school and has maintained strong and active connections to the country through her research, partnerships, and broader scholarly work. Before joining URochester, she held senior leadership roles at the University of Illinois and Michigan State University, focusing on global engagement and higher education.<\/p>\n

Mabokela\u2019s work centers on strengthening higher education institutions to better serve diverse and historically marginalized communities. Over the past two decades, she has led research and capacity-building initiatives across Africa and beyond, including in South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Ghana, Egypt, and Pakistan. She is the author or editor of seven books and has published widely in leading journals in comparative and international higher education. Her work continues to shape global collaboration and policy in higher education.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”115152″ img_size=”full” mkd_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”65px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Catalonia and the Cosmos
\nTotal Solar Eclipse on the Spanish Coast
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

August 9-17, 2026<\/h4>\n

Kelly Douglass, associate professor of instruction in the Department of Physics and Astronomy<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]\"Kelly<\/p>\n

Kelly Douglass<\/strong> is currently the Director of the C.E.K. Mees Observatory, the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Physics, and runs the NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates program in physics and astronomy at UR. While Prof. Douglass’s research focuses on mapping the structure of the universe, she was one of the primary coordinators for UR’s solar eclipse festivities in April 2024 and is excited to share some of the science behind solar eclipses and witness the total solar eclipse in 2026 (hopefully with fewer clouds)![\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”65px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Croatia & the Dalmatian Coast<\/strong><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

October 9-20, 2026<\/h4>\n

Elizabeth Colantoni, associate professor of classics in the Department of Religion and Classics<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]\"ElizabethElizabeth Colantoni<\/strong> teaches in the University\u2019s program in archaeology, technology, and historical structures. She is an archaeologist, and her research is focused on the ancient Mediterranean world, particularly Italy in the time before and during the Roman Empire. She regularly teaches courses on Greek and Roman archaeology, archaeological and museum ethics, and ancient Roman religion as well as Latin language courses. She has, since 2007, been taking students to Italy to participate firsthand in archaeological excavations there. In 2025 and 2026 she will be taking Rochester students to excavate at Trebula Mutuesca (near modern Monteleone Sabino, Rieti, Italy), a settlement that thrived during the Roman period and is noted today particularly for the remains of its ancient amphitheater and sanctuary to the Italic goddess Feronia.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”65px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Holiday Markets Cruise-The Festive Rhine River<\/strong><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

December 9-17, 2026<\/h4>\n

Tim Peterson, Ann and Irving Norry Curator of Contemporary Art<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]\"TimTimothy Peterson<\/strong> serves as the Ann & Irving Norry Curator of Contemporary Art at Memorial Art Gallery. He is a leading curator noted for premiering major solo exhibitions by an exceptionally diverse slate of fast-rising and established artists including Reggie Burrows Hodges, Ryan Adams, Alison Hildreth, Yashua Klos, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Paula Mpagi Sepuya, Ghada Amer, Wangechi Mutu, Christian Marclay, Uta Barth, Alejandro Cesarco, and Shinique Smith. Peterson previously served as Executive Director and Chief Curator for the Center for Maine Contemporary Art (Rockland, Maine), Founding Director and Curator of Franklin Art Works (Minneapolis) and Chief Curator for the SCAD Museum of Art (Savannah), with prior curatorial posts at Lannan Foundation (Los Angeles), the Williams College Museum of Art, and the Provincetown International Film Festival.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”65px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Southeast Asia Odyssey<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

February 11\u2013March 1, 2027<\/h4>\n

Tingting Xu, historian of Asian art, Department of Art and Art History<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\"TingtingTingting Xu<\/strong> regularly teaches courses on the introduction to Asian art, spanning from the Neolithic period to the contemporary era, as well as on visual technologies that have shaped the development of art. She is particularly interested in Buddhist ideas over the longue dur\u00e9e, and in how pre-modern religious thought has extended beyond the religious sphere to become foundational concepts in Asian societies and cultures. She received her PhD from the University of Chicago and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University. She also worked as a specialist consultant at an auction house in Beijing and as an assistant curator at the Peabody Essex Museum. She very much looks forward to sharing perspectives on the similarities and differences between East and South Asian Buddhist traditions, discussing the significance of cave temples and colossal reclining Buddhas in Buddhist art, and encountering diverse forms of Buddhist art and handcrafted objects along the way.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”65px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Galapagos Islands<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

March 9\u201316, 2027<\/h4>\n

Al Uy, Dean\u2019s Professor of Biology, chair of the Department of Biology<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\"AlAl Uy<\/strong> has worked throughout the tropics for over 30 years to explore the evolution and ecology of birds, traveling to remote sites across the globe, including the Galapagos Islands. His work combines field observations and experiments with molecular genetics to explore Charles Darwin\u2019s mystery of mysteries\u2014the process of one species splitting into two. He also translates his science into conservation initiatives by partnering with indigenous communities to establish conservation areas in threatened island ecosystems.
\nCheck out his website for more information<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Floria Mora\u2013Kepfer Uy, assistant professor in the Department of Biology<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\"FloriaFloria Mora\u2013Kepfer Uy serves as the academic director for ROC Galapagos, an immersive study abroad program with hands\u2013on field training, helping undergraduate researchers learn every step of the scientific process, while experiencing Ecuadorean culture.<\/p>\n

Her research program focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern plasticity. Plasticity is the ability to reorganize in response to changing environments and is one of the most crucial adaptations in animals. It can be essential for survival, as individuals can adjust to dynamic evolutionary, ecological, and social conditions. Her team studies social wasps that display remarkable plasticity and adapt to different environments. They also explore how parasites manipulate genes that affect plasticity in social behavior, brain functions, and aging. Check out her website for more information<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”65px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Journey through Britain: England, Scotland, and Wales<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

May 10\u201323, 2027<\/h4>\n

Thomas Devaney, associate professor, Department of History<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\"ThomasTom Devaney<\/strong> teaches courses in medieval and early modern European history, historical methodology, and the history of emotions. In a broad sense, his research explores how ideas\u2014about identity, how one should behave, how society should be organized\u2014played out in the real world. This has led him to explore a range of topics, including community, interfaith relations, public spectacles, popular religious practice, masculinities, and concepts of nobility. The geographic focus of his recent work has been Spain, but he developed an abiding interest in British history and culture as an undergraduate, however, and has since traveled extensively across the British Isles. He is also an avid hiker and is excited about how this tour will highlight Britain\u2019s natural and cultural wonders.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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Ancient Greece with Santorini and Crete<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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September 2\u201315, 2027<\/h4>\n

Anne Meredith, professor of instruction, Department of Religion and Classics<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Anne Meredith<\/strong> has been a professor of religion and classics at Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ for over 30 years. An expert in religions of the ancient Mediterranean world, Meredith teaches courses in the social history and religion of \"Anneancient Greece and Rome, ancient Judaism, and early Christianity with particular interest in ancient healing, religious change, and issues related to gender and sexuality. A recipient of many teaching awards at URochester, she has led students on many trips to Greece, Italy, and England. She has taught widely in adult education programs in synagogues and churches around Rochester, and she’s eager to travel with Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ alumni and others to her favorite country\u2014Greece![\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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Threads of a Nation: Weaving History and Culture in South Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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October 15\u201326, 2027<\/h4>\n

Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, vice provost for global engagement, professer at the Warner School of Education<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela<\/strong> is vice provost for global engagement and professor at the Warner School of Education. She also holds an extraordinary professorship at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. \"ReitumetseBorn and raised in South Africa, Mabokela came to the United States after completing high school and has maintained strong and active connections to the country through her research, partnerships, and broader scholarly work. Before joining URochester, she held senior leadership roles at the University of Illinois and Michigan State University, focusing on global engagement and higher education.<\/p>\n

Mabokela\u2019s work centers on strengthening higher education institutions to better serve diverse and historically marginalized communities. Over the past two decades, she has led research and capacity-building initiatives across Africa and beyond, including in South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Ghana, Egypt, and Pakistan. She is the author or editor of seven books and has published widely in leading journals in comparative and international higher education. Her work continues to shape global collaboration and policy in higher education.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Questions?<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]For more information on these trips or the\u00a0Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Travel Club<\/ins><\/a>, contact\u00a0Rebecca Picone,<\/b>\u00a0Associate Director of Lifelong Learning & Career Services,\u00a0at\u00a0rebecca.picone@rochester.edu<\/ins>\"\"<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0or 585-797-5709.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”test” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Questions?<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]For more information on these trips or the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Travel Club<\/a>, contact Associate Director of Lifelong Learning and Career Programs Rebecca Picone at rebecca.picone@rochester.edu<\/a> or 585-797-5709.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”100px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” background_color=”#ffc70a” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text] Meet your Travel Club University hosts [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]Each tour is enhanced by Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ faculty who will share their unique expertise to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":0,"parent":101182,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full_width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-102412","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/102412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102412"}],"version-history":[{"count":75,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/102412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":115442,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/102412\/revisions\/115442"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}