It is a privilege to share my first message as the University of Rochester’s Vice Provost for Global Engagement. Since joining URochester in October 2025, I have been deeply inspired by the energy, intellect, and global vision that define this community. In conversations with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and international partners, I have witnessed a shared commitment not only to engaging with the world, but to shaping it for the better. The warm welcome I have received affirms the University of Rochester’s long-standing dedication to global connection and strengthens my resolve to help lead our next chapter of international impact—one defined by truly boundless possibilities for global engagement.
From its founding, the University of Rochester has embraced a global orientation—one that values openness to the world, meaningful collaboration across cultures, and the pursuit of knowledge that benefits society everywhere. This legacy of global engagement is one of URochester’s greatest strengths. As I step into this role, I do so with a profound appreciation for those who have built and sustained this tradition and with a clear sense of responsibility to steward it into the future.
Importantly, this work is firmly grounded in Meliora—our aspiration to always be “ever better.” These values guide not only what we strive for, but how we strive: with curiosity, compassion, integrity, and a belief that excellence is inseparable from inclusion. They remind us that global engagement is not something separate from our identity; it is embedded in the very fabric of who we are as an institution.
The University of Rochester’s strategic plan, Boundless Possibilities, further strengthens this foundation by articulating a bold vision for the next decade. The plan challenges us to deepen our academic distinction, expand opportunities for all students, and forge new pathways for meaningful global impact. In the context of Global Affairs, this calls us to reconsider how we cultivate global fluency among our students, how we support faculty in building transnational research collaborations, and how we position URochester as a trusted and influential partner in addressing complex global challenges.
One of our priorities in the year ahead is collaborating with colleagues across campus to build on our long-standing success in international enrollment and to extend our reach into new parts of the world. Our global community thrives when students from a broad spectrum of regions, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds join our campus. Expanding the global breadth of our student population not only enriches the academic experience for everyone, but also reflects our commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student can flourish. Working closely with campus partners, we will pursue new recruitment pathways, strengthen and broaden regional partnerships, and enhance access so that talented students worldwide see the University of Rochester as a place where they can learn, contribute, and belong.
The world students are entering today requires not only disciplinary expertise, but also the agility to navigate cultural diversity, geopolitical uncertainty, and unprecedented technological change—especially the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Our office will collaborate with schools and departments to expand internationally focused curricular and co-curricular opportunities; to broaden access to education abroad; and to leverage digital tools that make global learning more inclusive, flexible, and resilient. We aim to ensure that every student, regardless of background or field of study, has the chance to cultivate the global competencies that will shape their careers and enrich their lives.
Equally important is the University of Rochester’s role as a global research partner. Across our campuses, scholars are pushing the boundaries of knowledge in ways that transcend borders—from public health and sustainability to quantum science, data analytics, and the humanities. In the coming year, we will strengthen our support for international research partnerships, explore new avenues for multidisciplinary collaboration, and build structures that allow faculty to connect more seamlessly with colleagues around the world. Our goal is to amplify the impact of the groundbreaking work already occurring here and to help spark innovative, globally relevant research initiatives.
Partnerships remain at the heart of our strategy. Whether we are engaging with peer universities, government entities, NGOs, or industry, we will approach these relationships with humility, reciprocity, and a commitment to mutual benefit. We will also deepen our ties with our extensive international alumni community—whose perspectives, expertise, and global networks are invaluable to our mission.
Above all, I want the Office for Global Engagement to serve as a catalyst—one that brings people together, supports their ambitions, and helps turn ideas into opportunities. In the coming months, we will begin a consultative process to shape a refreshed vision for global engagement across the University of Rochester. This will include conversations with campus stakeholders, external partners, and students, whose voices are essential as we chart our path forward.
I am immensely optimistic about what lies ahead. At a moment when global connections are both more essential and more complex than ever, URochester stands poised to lead with clarity, purpose, and conviction. Guided by our values and energized by the Meliora spirit, we have a tremendous opportunity to imagine—and realize—what a more connected, collaborative, and internationally engaged university can be. I look forward to partnering with each of you as we build on our strong foundation and chart bold new pathways that expand our global footprint and deepen our impact.
Thank you for your partnership and for the many ways you contribute to our global mission. Together, we will continue to shape a University of Rochester that not only engages with the world, but helps make it ever better.
Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Ph.D
Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Professor, Warner School of Education