Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela appointed vice provost for global engagement

Reitumetse (Reitu) Obakeng Mabokela has been appointed vice provost for global engagement, effective October 1. An accomplished scholar and internationally respected leader in global education, Mabokela joins Rochester from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she served as associate chancellor and vice provost for global affairs and strategies and professor of higher education in the Department of Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership. 

Discover what's possible with CASC 104: Designing Your Life

Looking for a little more structure and support as you explore your interests? CASC 104: Designing Your Life offers a chance to make sense of the resources and opportunities available to you at Rochester so you can begin crafting options that reflect your interests, experiences, and goals. There’s still time to register for the course in UR Student.

Healthcare Leadership Development program webinar

Learn more about the Healthcare Leadership Development Program and how to access University tuition benefits at a webinar on Tuesday, September 2, from noon to 12:30 p.m. Designed for Medical Center physicians and healthcare leaders with an advanced degree, the program offers a unique opportunity to sharpen your business acumen and strengthen your healthcare management skills, without the commitment of a full graduate degree program. Admission priority is given to Medical Center leaders who plan to pursue all four modules. Spring cohort size is limited; apply early.

Retiree benefits webinar

Attend a retiree benefits webinar on Monday, September 8, at noon, hosted by the Office of Total Rewards. Learn about eligibility for retiree benefits, health and dental insurance, Medicare, enrollment periods, and other benefits offered to you as a University retiree.

Financial Health Bites webinar on college education strategies

The Office of Total Rewards hosts a webinar to help you prepare and plan financially for higher education. This seminar will be conducted on Wednesday, September 10, at noon by a representative from Securian Financial. Register to reserve your spot.

Take control of your FSA with Lifetime Benefits Solutions

You can arrange manual reimbursements at any time through your Lifetime Benefits Solutions account. Expenses covered under your University medical or dental plan are automatically reimbursed and deposited straight into your checking account. Would you prefer to choose which services get reimbursed? Log in to your account and request them manually.

Leadership Conversation: Exploring the power of campaigns

The University launched a new leadership conversation series with a discussion featuring Thomas Farrell ’88, ’90W (MS), senior vice president for University Advancement. The series will offer perspectives and insights on matters that affect the University’s mission, vision, and values—and how it is responding to them. For the first installment, Farrell reflected on the role of the institution’s “For Ever Better” comprehensive fundraising and engagement campaign in connecting communities, sharing stories, and shaping the higher education landscape. Read the full recap.

Join a Calming U mindfulness class

Discover the power of mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and self-compassion in the Mindful University Project’s Calming U four-week course designed for the University community. Through guided meditation, reflective exercises, and meaningful discussion, you’ll build resilience, deepen self-awareness, and cultivate a calmer, more focused mindset to navigate academic, work, and personal challenges. Sessions are held on Tuesdays, September 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 4 to 5:15 p.m. in Douglass Commons, Room 401. Students who attend all four sessions will receive their choice of a self-compassion workbook, yoga mat, or meditation cushion. Space is limited; join today.

Immersive meditation at MAG

Start your morning with an immersive, meditative experience. Attend “Mindful MAGiC: Martyrs Air Meditation” at the Memorial Art Gallery on Saturday, September 27, from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Find details and tickets here.

Clinical trial for new COVID-19 vaccine

The Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit is seeking healthy 18 to 64-year-olds to volunteer for a clinical trial testing a new type of COVID-19 vaccine. The trial will require volunteers to answer questions about their medical history, provide biological samples, and receive a vaccine. If you are interested in helping further scientific knowledge, send an email or call (585) 273-3990. If you are selected, you will be compensated for your time.

As we prepped for—and then welcomed—students, look back at all the ways we kept busy during July and August. Above, Melissa Dong ’29 shovels mulch at the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence during Wilson Day.

Greek organizations receive national awards

Congratulations to the Upsilon Chapter of Psi Upsilon, which received the Owl Award for Academic Excellence and the Garnet and Gold Award for Academic Excellence at their national convention this summer.

And, at the 66th Biennial National Kappa Delta Convention in June, the Epsilon Rho Chapter from the University won the National Award for Excellence in Member Education Programming.

After Trump pressure, Cracker Barrel scraps new logo design

USA Today, August 27

“[Cracker Barrel] was in the middle of a rebrand that was floundering, making them a ripe target for a piling on from conservative activists concerned about the brand’s past support for social causes,” says David Primo, the Ani and Mark Gabrellian Professor and a professor of political science and business administration. Trump’s Truth Social post was “the nail in the coffin for the logo redesign.”