MELWKND26 Banner
MELWKND26
CONNECT HERE OCT 1–4
MELWKND26 Banner
MELWKND26
CONNECT HERE OCT 1–4

The texts, likes, and occasional catch-up calls are great. But nothing compares to being back together on campus for Meliora Weekend. Reconnect with classmates, traditions, and the Rochester community that continues to bring us together.

The complete Meliora Weekend schedule will be posted here when registration opens.

Connect here. Registration opens August 5.

Headliners

Amna Nawaz headshot

Amna Nawaz: PBS News Hour co-anchor and co-managing editor

Amna Nawaz is an Emmy, Peabody, and Cronkite award-winning journalist who currently serves as co-anchor and co-managing editor of the PBS News Hour.

Her reporting ranges from politics and foreign affairs, to immigration and education, to culture and sports… Read more

Andrew Ross Sorkin black and white headshot

Andrew Ross Sorkin: New York Times bestselling author, journalist, & co-anchor of Squawk Box

Andrew Ross Sorkin is an award-winning journalist for The New York Times and a co-anchor of Squawk Box, CNBC’s signature morning program. He is also the founder and editor-at-large of DealBook, an online daily financial report published by The New York Times that he started in 2001.

Nick Offerman headshot, with flowers in his beard

Nick Offerman: actor, author, humorist, and woodworker

Nick Offerman is an actor, author, humorist, and woodworker whose credits include the Emmy Award-winning role of Bill in The Last of Us (HBO), Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Jinx in Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple). His latest book is Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop’s Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery.

A conductor conducting an orchestraEastman Presents: Alarm Will Sound: Homecoming

Founded at Eastman School of Music 25 years ago, contemporary chamber ensemble Alarm Will Sound returns to Rochester for Meliora Weekend to celebrate with a new award in hand and a new program on offer. The winners of the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble present New Acoustica, an innovative program featuring live performances of complex electronica on acoustic instruments.

“With New Acoustica, we present the music of Aphex Twin, Jlin, King Britt, Marcos Balter, SOPHIE, Tim Exile, Lucrecia Dalt, and more, bringing the work of these outstanding and groundbreaking artists to you in a way that you’ve never heard before.” — Alarm Will Sound

Alarm Will Sound’s visit is generously supported by the Elizabeth Ward Chicares ’86 Distinguished Visiting Artist Program.

This program is part of the Eastman Presents Kodak Series and Eastman Explores America, and features Eastman alumni.

Headliners

Amna Nawaz headshot

Amna Nawaz: PBS News Hour co-anchor and co-managing editor

Amna Nawaz is an Emmy, Peabody, and Cronkite award-winning journalist who currently serves as co-anchor and co-managing editor of the PBS News Hour.

Her reporting ranges from politics and foreign affairs, to immigration and education, to culture and sports… Read more

Andrew Ross Sorkin black and white headshot

Andrew Ross Sorkin: New York Times bestselling author, journalist, & co-anchor of Squawk Box

Andrew Ross Sorkin is an award-winning journalist for The New York Times and a co-anchor of Squawk Box, CNBC’s signature morning program. He is also the founder and editor-at-large of DealBook, an online daily financial report published by The New York Times that he started in 2001.

Nick Offerman headshot, with flowers in his beard

Nick Offerman: actor, author, humorist, and woodworker

Nick Offerman is an actor, author, humorist, and woodworker whose credits include the Emmy Award-winning role of Bill in The Last of Us (HBO), Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Jinx in Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple). His latest book is Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop’s Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery.

A conductor conducting an orchestra

Eastman Presents: Alarm Will Sound: Homecoming

Founded at Eastman School of Music 25 years ago, contemporary chamber ensemble Alarm Will Sound returns to Rochester for Meliora Weekend to celebrate with a new award in hand and a new program on offer. The winners of the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble present New Acoustica, an innovative program featuring live performances of complex electronica on acoustic instruments.

“With New Acoustica, we present the music of Aphex Twin, Jlin, King Britt, Marcos Balter, SOPHIE, Tim Exile, Lucrecia Dalt, and more, bringing the work of these outstanding and groundbreaking artists to you in a way that you’ve never heard before.” — Alarm Will Sound

Alarm Will Sound’s visit is generously supported by the Elizabeth Ward Chicares ’86 Distinguished Visiting Artist Program.

This program is part of the Eastman Presents Kodak Series and Eastman Explores America, and features Eastman alumni.

Symposium speakers

Heather Higginbottom headshot

Heather Higginbottom ’94

Heather Higginbottom is the head of research, policy & insights for corporate responsibility at JPMorganChase. Her distinguished career includes senior leadership roles at CARE USA, the U.S. State Department, the White House, and on Capitol Hill, shaping her as a respected voice in public policy and philanthropy.

Brian Mitchell headshot

Brian Mitchell ’81 (PhD)

Brian Mitchell is the president and managing principal of Academic Innovators. With a distinguished leadership career in higher education. He regularly contributes to outlets such as The Huffington Post, Academe, and University Business Magazine.

David Nash headshot

David Nash ’81M (MD)

David B. Nash is a globally recognized leader in healthcare quality, physician leadership, and outcomes accountability. A board-certified internist and author, he has influenced policy and practice through his roles on numerous boards, publications, and pioneering contributions to public reporting of healthcare outcomes.

Lynn Vavreck headshot

Lynn Vavreck ’97 (PhD)

Lynn Vavreck is the Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics and Public Policy at UCLA, a political scientist, and is known for her research on campaigns, elections, and public opinion. Her award-winning books and contributions to The New York Times have solidified her reputation as a leading voice on American politics.