Meliora Weekend 2025 is set to be a historic moment for the Ģ����ý. Beginning Thursday, September 18, and running through Sunday, September 21, more than 10,000 people are expected to gather across all campuses for a weekend of alumni reunions, academic lectures, performances, athletics competitions, and family fun.

Headliners include bestselling author and historian Erik Larson (The Devil in the White City), comedian Trevor Noah (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), and New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova (Still Alice, Every Note Played).

Several prestigious alumni are returning to the River Campus for a timely symposium on the future of higher education and academic medicine. They include Heather Higginbottom ’94, head of research, policy, and insights for corporate responsibility at JPMorganChase; Brian Mitchell ’81 (PhD), president and managing principal of Academic Innovators and former president of Bucknell University; David Nash ’81M (MD), founding dean emeritus and the Dr. Raymond C. and Doris N. Grandon Professor of Health Policy at the Jefferson College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University; and Lynn Vavreck ’97 (PhD), the Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics and Public Policy at UCLA and a contributor to The New York Times.

This Meliora Weekend is notable for marking the University’s 175th anniversary and the 100th anniversaries of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Strong Memorial Hospital, and the School of Nursing. The University will also kickoff For Ever Better: The Campaign for the Ģ����ý, its largest comprehensive fundraising and engagement campaign to date.

“Meliora Weekend is a special time when our alumni and friends come together to celebrate all that defines Rochester. This year, as we launch an exciting new campaign, it’s even more important to reflect on our past and to create a shared vision for our future,” says Thomas Farrell ’88, ’90W (MS), senior vice president for University Advancement. “The new campaign has two big goals: seeking financial resources to support our mission and an equally ambitious engagement initiative focused on actively involving alumni, and the entire University community, in meaningful ways that make a difference in the world.”

Guests can look forward to the return of Meliora Village, which features local food and craft beverages, games, student performances, and family-friendly fun. The energy of Meliora Village will be infused with a live performance by DMTB—the Dave Matthews Tribute Band, featuring alumnus Abe Dewing ’93.

Meliora Weekend 2025 headliners

Erik Larson

is a master of narrative nonfiction. His vividly written, bestselling books have won several awards and been published worldwide. Larson is the author of six New York Times bestsellers, including The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance during the Blitz, which examines how Winston Churchill and his “Secret Circle” went about surviving the German air campaign of 1940–41. Larson’s The Devil in the White City is set to be a Hulu limited series; his book In the Garden of Beasts is under option by Tom Hanks for a feature film. He recently published an audio-original ghost story, No One Goes Alone, which has been optioned by Chernin Entertainment, in association with Netflix. His book Thunderstruck has been optioned by Sony Pictures Television for a limited TV series.

Trevor Noah

is one of the most successful comedians in the world and was the host of the Emmy Award–winning The Daily Show on Comedy Central for seven years. Under Noah, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah broke free from the restraints of a 30-minute linear show, producing engaging social content, award-winning digital series, podcasts, and more for its global audience. In January 2024, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series. Noah has also served as the Grammy Awards host for five years in a row, with the 2024 show bringing in 16.9 million viewers—a 34 percent increase from 2023.

Lisa Genova

Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, has captured a special place in contemporary fiction, writing stories that are equally inspired by neurological conditions and our shared human condition. She is The��New York Times bestselling author of the novels Still Alice, Left Neglected, Love Anthony, and Inside the O’Briens. Her TED talks on Alzheimer’s and memory have been viewed more than 11 million times.

Heather Higginbottom ’94

is the head of research, policy, and insights (RP&I) for corporate responsibility at JPMorganChase. In this role, she oversees the JPMorganChase Institute, the JPMorganChase Policy Center, and corporate responsibility’s insights and impact team. Collectively, these groups champion evidence-based policy to advance a more inclusive economy through distinctive research, policy analysis, and cross-sector engagement.

Previously, Higginbottom served as chief operating officer of CARE USA, an international nongovernmental organization that provides humanitarian and development assistance in more than ninety countries, reaching 80 million people per year. She served as deputy secretary of state for management and resources for the United States State Department from 2013 to 2017. In the White House, Higginbottom served as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, and as deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council. She held senior positions on Capitol Hill and led policy development in two presidential campaigns.

Brian Mitchell ’81 (PhD)

is the president of Academic Innovators and the former president of Bucknell University and Washington & Jefferson College. Mitchell is an immigration and labor historian and has written and coauthored several books, including The Paddy Camps: The Irish of Lowell, 1821–1865, How to Run a College, and Leadership Matters, named by Forbes as one of the top ten books in higher education in 2022. His next book, The Reckoning in American Higher Education, is scheduled for release by Johns Hopkins University Press in late 2026. Mitchell has contributed widely in Academe, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, FOX News Online, and WGBH in Boston, among others, and in national print and social media.

Mitchell has served as the chair of the board of trustees of Merrimack College, the Pennsylvania Committee for the Selection of Rhodes Scholarships, the National Association of Independent College and University State Executives, The Patriot League Athletic Conference, and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. He has also served on the boards of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Annapolis Group of highly-selective colleges and universities, Geisinger Health System, and National History Day. He is the co-founder of a new program to train college and university trustees in leadership and management at Georgetown University set to begin in early 2026.

David Nash ’81M (MD)

is the founding dean emeritus, and he remains on the full-time faculty as the Dr. Raymond C. and Doris N. Grandon Professor of Health Policy at the Jefferson College of Population Health. A board-certified internist, Nash is internationally recognized for his work in public accountability for outcomes, physician leadership development, and quality-of-care improvement. Repeatedly named to Modern Healthcare’s list of Most Powerful Persons in Healthcare, his national activities cover a wide scope.

More recently, he has achieved wide acclaim for his COVID-19 thought leadership and served as the chief health advisor for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau for the duration of the pandemic. Nash is a principal faculty member for quality-of-care programming for the American Association for Physician Leadership and has governance responsibilities for organizations in the public and private sectors.

Lynn Vavreck ’97 (PhD)

is the Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics and Public Policy at UCLA, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a contributor to The New York Times. She is a recipient of the Andrew F. Carnegie Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences and the author or coauthor of six books.

Vavreck has served on both the American and British National Election Studies advisory boards and is the recipient of multiple grants for her work on survey methodology. From 2019 to 2021, she helped develop and manage Nationscape, a 500,000-interview election survey, as well as the UCLA COVID-19 Health and Politics Project, a collaboration between medical doctors and social scientists at UCLA, the CDC, and Harvard. At UCLA she teaches courses on campaigns, elections, public opinion, and the 1960s.

DMTB

is a celebration of the music of the Dave Matthews Band. Since 2004, the DMTB’s touring schedule has been unparalleled, with more than 2,000 shows in 46 states and 10 countries. The Buffalo-based band has successfully paid tribute to the Dave Matthews Band, with heartfelt recreation of DMB’s musical spirit.

Students in uniform have been a fixture at the Ģ����ý since World War II, thanks to the (NROTC). This college-based program prepares students to become officers in the US Navy or Marine Corps through a blend of academic study, physical training, and leadership development. Through shared traditions and a dedication to service, Rochester’s NROTC program fosters a sense of duty and camaraderie that spans generations.

Students and alumni of NROTC at the URochester share immense pride in their program and outcomes. Let’s meet a few of them.

Alexander Dudek ’15, ’24S (MBA): Success in the fleet and beyond

Lieutenant Alexander Dudek currently serves as the aviation officer for Rochester NRTOC. As a graduate of the NROTC program, he sees the traditions and work ethic he experienced as a student continue today, allowing him to mentor and give back to the next generation of cadets.

Originally from Fairport, New York, Dudek received his commission through NROTC Rochester in May 2015. He has served as a helicopter pilot stationed across the United States and aboard aircraft carriers. He credits his time at Rochester with creating a strong foundation: “This set me up for success in the fleet, life, and beyond.” The training, community, and friendships Dudek gained at Rochester have continued to follow him, strengthening his connection to the University and his .

Reflecting on his journey, he notes, “I realize how everything has come full circle. My friends from this unit are now the fully trained and equipped officers,” just like those he admired when he was a student, and in turn, current students will evolve into. His network of friends, many of whom were once students at Rochester, are now stationed worldwide on land and sea, on nuclear submarines and destroyers, serving as engineers, pilots, and more.

Rachel Yorke ’25: The making of a marine

Rachel Yorke hails from Summit, New York, and is majoring in . As an NROTC scholarship recipient with full tuition to the URochester, doors have swung open for Yorke that otherwise might not have, including summer internship opportunities and trips to Washington, DC, and the Norwegian Embassy for networking events.

Yorke is a marine-option midshipman (MIDN). And since she has already passed Officer Candidates School (OCS), she can call herself a “marine” proper. After graduation in spring 2025, she will be commissioned as a second lieutenant and continue her training.

Oliver White ’27: Learning life lessons

Oliver White, a from Easton, Maryland, has no problem waking up for early morning runs and drills. That’s because he recognizes the impact NROTC has already made on his collegiate career—and no doubt will continue to do so after graduation. He shared, matter-of-factly, “Waking up that early guarantees productivity. It’s rewarding, tiring, and worth it.”

As a navy-option MIDN, White was inspired by his family’s legacy of military service, which fueled his own desire to serve. As a sophomore on scholarship, he uses his experience to support first-year cadets. “We keep each other accountable,” he shares. According to White, NROTC teaches valuable life skills, like time management, productivity, and communication, which are necessary when balancing a full-time student schedule with the program’s additional demands.

Veterans Day 5K: An annual tradition

For more than a decade, the Veterans Day 5K has been an annual tradition for NROTC cadets and alumni. In honor of Veterans Day, ROTC programs from colleges across the region come to the Ģ����ý to run in formation with community members.

The route takes runners to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Highland Park, where veterans are present, waiting to share their stories. Dudek explains, “This is a powerful moment to remember those who came before us and remind us why we’ve made the choice to serve.”

This will be White’s second year to run the Veterans Day 5K. He looks forward to running again this year and listening to the veterans. Last year, while running through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, White made a point to touch every memorial marker as a way to connect with each serviceperson who went before him.

Yorke will run this year’s 5K for the fourth and final time as a student. Her favorite part of the day is interacting and networking with cadets from other area ROTC programs. On a normal day, the schools compete, but during this event, everyone is reminded that no matter their branch or school, they each made the choice to raise their right hands and say the oath.

Dudek ran the 5K when he was a student and has continued to do so in his role as an officer in the program. “As an alumnus, it’s nice to see we’re still doing this. It means even more to me now than it did as a student.”

ROTC students have a unique college experience. Unlike military academy students, they can blend their military commitments with a more typical student experience. In uniform or not, the character and dedication of these students remain steadfast, even when they are physically removed from their military brethren undertaking full-time military training. This run reconnects cadets to the larger military network and community.

Connected through legacy

After this academic semester, Dudek’s “shore tour” in Rochester will end, and he will be stationed on the USS��Tripoli��out of San Diego, California. Through every conversation and interaction, Dudek has made it his mission in Rochester to build up every cadet to impact the world positively. He is thankful to the NROTC students for bringing him back to the “why” they all serve.

Every day, Rochester’s NROTC cadets and alumni honor the legacy of those who served before them, living the Navy’s motto of “Honor, Courage, Commitment,” augmented with the Ģ����ý’s own motto, Meliora—meaning “ever better.” For Dudek, Yorke, and White, these mottos transcend their daily lives, embodying their commitment to their country and a tradition that connects them to generations of servicemembers past and future.