December 8, 2025
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
Contributions by the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½â€™s students, faculty, staff, and alumni over the past 175 years have been making our lives richer, healthier, filled with music, enlightened. To commemorate the University’s 175th anniversary, a special edition of Rochester Review is arriving in mailboxes of alumni and supporters across the country that chronicles 175 ways Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ makes the world ever better.
I’m proud to say that the Hajim School has played an outsized role in the University’s impact. From the Nobel Prize-winning alumna Donna Strickland ’89 PhD (optics) to developing the underpinnings of modern operating systems, it’s astounding to see all these ways we have helped shaped the modern world.
Read the cover story on the News Center along with the more substantive pieces from the Beside the Genesee and Ever Connected sections. You can see more including the fully accessible PDF version on the ¸é±ð±¹¾±±ð·ÉÌýhomepage and the From the Magazine tab on the News Center.
BRIAN DAVISON ’79 NAMED PRESIDENT ELECT OF AICHE
Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Congratulations to Brain Davison ’79 (chemical engineering), who will soon lead the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the world’s leading organization for chemical engineering professionals, with more than 60,000 members from more than 110 countries. that Brian, a corporate fellow and chief scientist for biotechnology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), will become the 2026 President-elect and succeed Anne O’Neal as AIChE President in 2027.
Brain spoke with Professor Darren Lipomi, chair of the Department of Chemical and Sustainability Engineering, about his vision for AIChE on Darren’s podcast in July. or .
3-MINUTE THESIS FINAL COMPETITION
I encourage you to attend the 3 Minute Thesis final competition on Tuesday, December 9, at 4 p.m. in Hoyt Auditorium. Graduate students from across disciplines will present their research in three minutes, showcasing their ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to a general audience. .
Please join me in wishing biomedical engineering PhD student Christina Kaszuba good luck as she represents the Hajim School!
REGISTER FOR THE INTRO TO TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
The Intro to Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program is an in-person, non-credit workshop series open to members of the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ community. The program introduces concepts like entrepreneurial mindset, opportunity identification, and value creation. Additional workshop topics include refining business ideas, developing competitive strategies, disruptive innovation, protecting intellectual property, crafting business plans, and boosting communication skills. The program will also feature special guest speakers, including startup founders and technology leaders!
The workshops take place from 5:15-6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting February 3 and ending March 5 in CSB 601. Please complete this  by Jan. 20, 2026 to register your interest in attending these workshops. Email Dina Uzri for more information.
INFO SESSIONS FOR ONLINE MS IN HEALTHCARE DATA SCIENCE AND AI
The offers a cutting-edge online program in . The program, developed in collaboration with the UR Health Lab at the URochester Medical Center, focuses on leveraging data to improve healthcare outcomes. Program graduates will learn data science and AI skills for their current positions and be prepared for high-demand data analytics and data science positions in healthcare.
GIDS-AI will host information sessions on the following dates:
- Noon on Tuesday, December 9
- 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20
- Noon on Tuesday, January 17
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STRUCTURE BUSTING IN RETTNER HALL TODAY
Today at 4 p.m. in Rettner Hall, mechanical engineering students from the ME 204 will put their balsa wood designs and structures to the test to see how much force they withstand before they come crashing down. This is always a fun event, so make sure to stop by if you’re available.
RINGING IN THE HOLIDAYS IN GOERGEN HALL
Last Friday, the students, faculty, and staff in Goergen Hall stepped away from their optical benches and fluorescent microscopes for a few minutes to get in the holiday spirit. The , led by Bill Tiberio, .
Half of the members of this ensemble are Hajim community members, including Department of Chemical and Sustainability Engineering Chair Darren Lipomi, alumni Lynn Selke ’61, ’64 MS, ’65 (PhD) (mechanical and aerospace engineering), Angel Paz ’23, ’24 MS (optics), Mikey George ‘26 (audio and music engineering), Zachary Greenwell ‘27 (biomedical engineering), Cooper Edwards ’28 (optics), April Wang ’26 (optics), Alexander Yu ’27 (computer science), Jacob Greenberg ’26 (electrical and computer engineering). Thank you for sharing your talents!
Have a great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
