Rewind. Reunite. Revive.
Come back to Rochester. Reunite with friends and former classmates. Reconnect your family to the University of Rochester community. Revive your Meliora spirit. As the University eases back into its beloved traditions, there’s a new spin on the fall tradition of Meliora Weekend.
MELIORA 2021 is a celebratory weekend designed especially for:
- Class of 2020, all schools and programs
- All current parents, families, and students
- Reunion classes whose year of graduation ends in 0, 1, 5, or 6—including the first Reunion celebration for the Class of 2021
For our alumni and friends unable to travel or join us in person, several signature events will also be made available via livestream. Join us from wherever you are.
Registration opens in August. Check back often for important updates.
All events will be subject to campus safety guidelines and visitor policies. Meliora Weekend will fully return in 2022 when the annual event will once again be open to all alumni, families, and friends.
2020 Commencement
The University of Rochester is excited to celebrate the Class of 2020 in person during Meliora 2021. For those unable to travel back to campus, the commencement ceremony and other select events will be available via livestream. To assist our planning efforts, please be sure to complete a University survey that was emailed to all Class of 2020 graduates. If you didn’t receive the message, make sure we have your current contact information. Send an email to alumni@rochester.edu from your current email address and we’ll send back a link to the survey.
Geena Davis
Commencement Speaker
Academy Award-winner and one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses, Geena Davis, has appeared in countless movie roles that have since became cultural landmarks. From Tootsie, to Thelma and Louise, Beetlejuice, A League of Their Own, and Stuart Little, to The Accidental Tourist and so many more, Davis has made us laugh, cry, and reflect for more than 35 years. Now recognized for her tireless advocacy of women and girls nearly as much as for her acting accomplishments. She is the founder and chair of the non-profit Institute on Gender in Media that carries her name, Davis is successfully influencing film and television content creators to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters—and reduce gender stereotyping—in media.
Comedian, actor, musician, advocate, entrepreneur, five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee, author, and member of the LGBTQ community, Margaret Cho is a jack of all trades, master of many. Named one of the 50 Best Stand-Up Comics by Rolling Stone, Cho is active in anti-racism, anti-bullying, and LGBTQ rights campaigns and was recently honored with the Intrepid Award from the National Organization for Women. Cho’s career includes more than 10 comedy tours, television appearances in The Masked Singer and HBO’s High Maintenance, podcasting, and film—including roles in Friendsgiving and Over the Moon—which was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
“We are eager to welcome back the groups who missed so much last year—our 2020 graduates, our reunion classes, and of course our parents and families. We are planning a variety of programs—unique to the University of Rochester.”
– Thomas J. Farrell ’88, ’90W (MS), senior vice president for University Advancement.