August 3, 2026

A photo illustration collage of URochester student entrepreneurs.

URochester artwork and photography / Justyn Iannucci and J. Adam Fenster

The University of Rochester has a strong and growing culture of entrepreneurship. Over the last academic year, 116 business concepts took shape at the Ain Foundry Program at URochester’s Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The program helps students develop business ideas through mentorship, customer discovery, and hands-on entrepreneurial training.

Many of those ideas continued to gain momentum beyond campus. Twenty-two URochester teams competed in the New York Business Plan Competition last spring, with six teams advancing to the finals. The News Center recently spotlighted several Hajim School students who have launched exciting new businesses, including Timothy Guida ’25, ’26 MS (biomedical engineering), mechanical engineering PhD student Karthik Ramakrishnan, Guruansh Kohli ’26 (computer science and business), Walter McDonald ’27 (computer science and business), and Stephen Lim ’27 (data science).

Read about their entrepreneurial paths at the News Center.

MELIORA WEEKEND HEADLINERS, SIGNATURE EVENTS ANNOUNCED

A blue and yellow graphic with four photos of the headlining acts and signature events plus text that says "MELWKND 26, connect here Oct 1-4."

Registration opens August 5 for Meliora Weekend, the University’s annual celebration of family weekend, alumni weekend, and homecoming, from October 1–4. With nearly 300 events over four days, the weekend offers something for everyone—from thought-provoking lectures and performances to Yellowjacket athletics, family activities, and opportunities to reconnect and make new memories. Headliners include PBS News Hour co-anchor Amna Nawaz; New York Times bestselling author and journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin; actor, author, humorist, and woodworker Nick Offerman; and Grammy Award-winning contemporary chamber ensemble Alarm Will Sound, which was founded at Eastman School of Music 25 years ago. Find more details here.

SEEKING ALUMNI TO SUPPORT ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN WRTG 273

The Greene Center for Career Education and Connections is seeking URochester alumni from 2024 and earlier to volunteer for the upcoming academic year to join the Real Reader Program and share their experience and knowledge with current students. Real Reader volunteers support a series of undergraduate courses called Communicating Your Professional Identity (WRTG 27X), providing 1:1 feedback and insights to students as they develop resumes and cover letters, practice spoken communication skills, reflect on their career goals, and more.

While all career fields are welcome, we especially looking for new volunteers with the following academic backgrounds and experience:

Audio and Music Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Optics and Optical Engineering
We are seeing an increase in the number of students with a double major in business or finance and welcome new volunteers with this experience
Hajim graduates now working in Psychology and Biology/Healthcare related areas

For more information about becoming a Real Reader, please reach out to Mindy Peet, Volunteer Program Senior Manager, at the Greene Center.

STUDENT VIDEO CHALLENGE THROUGH THE SCIENCE COALITION

A teal and white graphic with text that says "Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Student Video Challenge."

The University is a member of The Science Coalition (TSC), which is hosting the Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Student Video Challenge, an annual competition where student voices make the case for robust and sustained federal investments in basic scientific research.

Both undergraduate and graduate students who attend the University of Rochester are invited to submit a 60-90 second video explaining why federally funded scientific research is so important. The Student Video Challenge starts today and remains open for submissions until October 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Winners will receive up to $2,500 cash prizes and will be announced in November. Learn more and submit your video at the TSC website.

STAFF INNOVATION AWARD SPOTLIGHT: MICHELE FOSTER

Ak medium shot of Michele Foster on the Eastman Quadrangle.

Gary Kong / University of Rochester photo

Each week, Hajim Highlights will celebrate two of the inaugural winners of the Hajim School Staff Innovation Award, given to staff members who consistently demonstrate exceptional dedication to URochester’s strategic plan and Meliora values through innovative practices, creative problem solving, outstanding service, and collaboration.

Today we spotlight Michele Foster, senior academic administrator for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Michele has served the University for more than 21 years and guides ECE graduate students with clarity, empathy, and precision. Michelle’s experience is valued and relied upon across the University. She is often asked to help train other graduate coordinators and is regularly invited to serve on committees where her comprehensive understanding of graduate policies and procedures informs critical decisions. Michelle was recognized for her creative approaches to help prospective PhD students who weren’t yet ready for a PhD program to divert to alternative paths at the master’s level.

Here is what former department chair Marvin Doyley had to say about her:

“In every aspect of her role, Michele exemplifies innovative problem-solving. She proactively identifies challenges, navigates evolving administrative landscapes with adaptability, and develops effective, sustainable solutions. Her capacity to enhance processes while maintaining exceptional service standards is a testament to her professionalism and resourcefulness.”

STAFF INNOVATION AWARD SPOTLIGHT: JANA HEAD

A medium shot of Jana Head on the Eastman Quadrangle.

Gary Kong / University of Rochester photo

We also celebrate Jana Head, the undergraduate program coordinator for the Department of Computer Science.

Jana joined the University in 2024 and has quickly become known for her strong commitment to professional development and collaborative approach. Jana was nominated for developing and implementing a new process for hiring undergraduate teaching assistants. Recognizing inefficiencies and gaps in the previous system, Jana took the initiative to design a more streamlined, transparent, and equitable approach. This new process not only improved efficiency and reduced costs but also enhanced the quality of hires and the overall experience for both students and faculty. To further enrich the student experience, Jana also created the “Tea with TAs” initiative, fostering peer-to-peer communication and collaboration outside of the traditional classroom setting.

Here is what Department Chair Chen Ding and Department Administrator Shelley Zoeke had to say about Jana in their nomination:

“Jana is a highly engaged and trusted colleague who actively partners with individuals and teams across the department and university. Jana is generous in sharing ideas and consistently contributes to a positive working environment while advancing shared goals.”

NEWLY FUNDED RESEARCH

Congratulations to Associate Professor Jaime Cardenas from the Institute of Optics, who received a $199,368 subaward from Photonect Interconnect Solutions through the Air Force SBIR/STTR Program for a project titled “Fiber-to-chip fusion splicing for low-loss photonic packaging at cryogenic temperature.”

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman