We spotlight the scholarly and service contributions of University community members to their fields. If you have news to share about a faculty or staff member, student, or department/unit that has recently achieved a significant professional accomplishment or received a prestigious national or international honor, please let us know so we can consider it for a future listing. Recent award recipients include:

• Molly Ball, assistant professor of history and director of the Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies program, and Jordan Ealey, assistant professor of Black Studies, have been named 2026 fellows from the American Council of Learned Societies.
• Rebecca Block, manager of the Health Promotion Department in University Student Life, has been honored with the American College Health Association Affiliate New Professionals Award for 2026 for New York State.
• Meagan Driver, an assistant professor in teaching and curriculum at the Warner School of Education & Human Development, has been selected for the 2025 Strong Start Coach Excellence Award from the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity.
• Ehsan Hoque, a professor of computer science, was inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows.
• Susana Marcos, the David R. Williams Director of the Center for Visual Science, the Nicholas George Professor in Optics, and a professor of ophthalmology at URochester, was the scientific coordinating author of a paper that received the 2025 Obstbaum Award for best original article from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Scott MacRae, a professor of ophthalmology and at the Center for Visual Science, is a coauthor.
• Gaelen McCormick, director of Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center and faculty instructor for the Institute for Music Leadership, was named president of the National Organization for Arts in Health.
• Eric Phizicky, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics, was honored with the RNA Society’s Outstanding Service Award.
• Wilfred Pigeon, a professor of psychiatry and of public health sciences, was recently selected for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s 2026 Research Mentor Award.
• Elena Prager, an assistant professor of economics at Simon Business School, has received the Best Paper Award from the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy.
• Tricia Shalka, an associate professor of higher education at the Warner School of Education & Human Development, has been named a 2026 Diamond Honoree by the ACPA–College Student Educators International.

URochester staff are encouraged to volunteer for this year’s Commencement ceremony in Fauver Stadium at the Brian F. Prince Athletic Complex on Friday, May 15, at 8:45 a.m. Volunteers are also needed on Saturday, May 16, to support department ceremonies across campus. There is a particular need for golf cart drivers to help transport families who require extra assistance. Volunteers will receive a small gift in recognition of their service. Staff should consult with their supervisor to ensure appropriate coverage within their office. Learn more about volunteer opportunities and sign up.

If terms like deductible, copay, or HSA leave you confused, join the Office of Total Rewards for a webinar on Monday, May 11, that breaks down the basics of the University’s health and dental benefits. The session will walk through the plan options, explain key terms, and show you how spending accounts like FSAs and HSAs work. Whether you’re enrolling for the first time or need a refresher, this session is for you.

Join Well-U and Roc Personal Training for group hikes throughout May and June. Each week features a different location around the Rochester area. Email Well-U with questions.

Staff and faculty can register today for Connecting through Dialogue workshops on June 10 and 23 on the River Campus and on June 2 and 16 on the Health Sciences Campus. Developed by the Office of University Engagement and Enrichment, these workshops explore the difference between productive discussion and contentious debate. You’ll examine the barriers to real dialogue and leave with practical skills—deep listening, curiosity, and centering connection—that make a difference in any conversation.

In a webinar today, May 1, from noon to 1 p.m., Sid Bhattacharya, the associate vice president of marketing, and Michelle Hildreth, the director of creative strategy and solutions, will provide a behind-the-scenes look at URochester’s brand awareness programs. This session will dive deep into high-impact, multichannel national campaigns designed to captivate audiences and elevate the University’s global reputation. Register to attend the webinar.

The Department of Surgery’s annual Resident Research Symposium will be held on May 7 at 7 a.m. This session brings in keynote speakers who share their research and spend time discussing the unique opportunities and challenges of the surgeon-scientist with residents, postdocs, medical students, and other trainees. Get the details here.

Friends of Strong’s first painting party of the year is on May 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Distillery Restaurant on Winton Road. Each ticket gets two canvases. All supplies are provided, and 45 percent of all proceeds benefit Friends of Strong Memorial Hospital. All food orders also give 10 percent back to Friends of Strong. Tickets are $40, and seats are limited.

The Department of Psychiatry Institute for the Family is accepting registrations until May 20 for the 33rd annual intensive on Integrated Care and Medical Family Therapy. This one-week training blends clinical presentations, small-group learning, and skill development for professionals interested in healthcare and mental health collaboration when working with patients and families facing illness, health concerns, and trauma. Learn more and register by emailing mft@urmc.rochester.edu.

Upcoming events at the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence include Nonviolence Practice Group sessions, a breakfast chat with the institute’s director, and a community dinner. Find dates, times, and more information here.