蘑菇传媒

Welcome to SAS in Focus, a newsletter that reports what鈥檚 happening in the School of Arts & Sciences.

 

Dear Students,

As the academic year comes to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your hard work and contributions to the School of Arts & Sciences. I applaud you for rising to the challenges that a robust academic program brings.

Commencement Week is an exciting time. School of Arts & Sciences department graduation ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The University-wide commencement聽begins at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, May 15, at Fauver Stadium at the Brian F. Prince Athletic Complex.

To our graduates: my warmest congratulations on reaching this major milestone. You are ready to make your communities鈥攁nd聽the world鈥攅ver better in the next phase of your life. We are excited to see what you accomplish next.

To our returning students: congratulations on finishing the year and making progress towards your goals. I hope聽you have both an enjoyable and productive summer. We look forward to seeing you in the fall.

Meliora,

Dean Sam Thomas

 

Congratulations to our inaugural recipients of the School of Arts & Sciences Student Success Staff Award and the Outstanding Staff Award.

Student Success Award

• Mike Culver, Senior Lab Engineer and Building Manager, Physics and Astronomy
• Patrick Doyle, Undergraduate Program Manager, Digital Media Studies
• Melissa Greisch-Marianetti, Academic Administrator and Graduate Coordinator, History

Outstanding Staff Award

• Dawn-Chamane Bush, Department Assistant, Frederick Douglass Institute and Black Studies
• Kathy Corser, Graduate Programs Administrator, Brain and Cognitive Sciences
• Carlotta Gambato, Department Manager, Modern Languages and Cultures

Learn more about the staff awards on the .

 

Congratulations to the following SAS faculty members who have received national recognition for their professional contributions:

, the Dean and Laura Marvin Endowed Professor in Physical Chemistry and an associate professor of optics, has received the in Theoretical Chemistry from the Physical Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society.

The to recognize outstanding contributions in theoretical physical chemistry 聽by researchers who are in the first 10 years of their career as independent researchers.

, professor of mathematics, has been named a 2026 by the Simons Foundation鈥檚 Mathematical & Physical Sciences division. The Simons Fellow Program extends academic leaves to a full academic year, allowing more time to focus on research.

Simons Fellows are selected based on their scientific accomplishments in the five-year period preceding the application and on the potential scientific impact of the work to be done during the leave period.

 

Bridget Fleming, a PhD candidate in the Visual and Cultural Studies (VCS) Program, is the inaugural recipient of , which recognizes outstanding scholarly work at the intersection of art, culture, and social critique.

Claire Becker, a doctoral candidate in the Department of History, was awarded an honorable mention.

The fellowship was established to honor the legacy of the late Douglas Crimp, a foundational figure in the fields of art history, queer theory, and HIV/AIDS activism.

 

Send your SAS in Focus news tips to Sheila Rayam, director of communications for the School of Arts & Sciences, at sheila.rayam@rochester.edu. Let her know about unique research, awards, publications, community collaborations and other interesting news. Please put 鈥淪AS in Focus鈥� in the subject heading.