President’s Message

One of the most rewarding aspects of being part of a University community like Rochester is discovering anew the exciting opportunities that await students as they map out their academic paths.

The University’s nature as a preeminent research university located in a midsize city offers many ways for students to work with faculty on research and scholarly projects, to undertake independent and cross-disciplinary work, to volunteer both on campus and off, to engage in student activities, and find other ways to involve themselves in the life of the University and the community.

Many students and alumni whom I meet often tell me that such activities—the “non-classroom” work, if you will—often turn out to be among their most memorable, if not life-changing, experiences of their years at Rochester.

Having the opportunity to study abroad is high on the list of such experiences.

As the world becomes ever more interconnected and diverse, the perspectives we gain through an appreciation for people and cultures other than our own can be an invaluable part of our sense of self, our independence, empathy, and judgment.

The idea to incorporate academically based travel programs into the educational experiences of students was an innovation of research universities of the past century.

I’m pleased that our education abroad programs are on their way back to full strength since they were paused by the pandemic.

With an emphasis on health and safety, the programs, administered through the Center for Education Abroad, are sponsoring about 70 undergraduates who are studying outside the United States this spring. That’s not quite back to full operations, but it’s a heartening sign that an important part of the student experience is coming back to life.

As someone who took part in study abroad programs myself as an undergraduate, I’m excited—and a little jealous—to know that our students will return to campus and their “normal” lives enriched by the opportunities to go abroad.

Administered through the Office of Global Engagement, our work with institutions of higher education in other countries as well as with international associations and consortia and nongovernmental organizations is a key part of our reputation as an institution—a research university of global impact.

Our renowned faculty play an integral role in growing and maintaining international relationships in their work as research partners, project sponsors, and as leaders of education abroad programs.

Such work enables our students to explore life-altering possibilities and to help create positive change throughout the world.

Rochester students have their choice of nearly 100 academic opportunities established through international agreements, representing nearly three dozen countries.

They also can take part in shorter, field-based programs in places like Bermuda, Italy, the Galapagos Islands, and other academically interesting parts of the world.

In addition to Rochester students going abroad, nearly 4,000 students from outside the United States study—at all levels—each year at Rochester.

We truly are a global institution, one that recognizes both our place in the world of higher education as well as our role in providing students the absolute best academic and residential experiences possible.

Over the past several months, I’ve been thinking a lot about the kind of institution we want to be as the University community has been engaged in a conversation about the future.

Since 2022, we have been fine-tuning a new University strategic plan, titled Boundless Possibility, for what will be an actionable road map to move toward our goals.

Our guiding principles for the project include strengthening our reputation as a global research university; contributing to and benefiting from a just and vibrant city of Rochester and the Rochester region; and furthering our commitment to actionable and accountable growth in diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and justice.

The conversations are part of a collegial process that has incorporated insights from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the Board of Trustees. A draft of the plan was presented to the board and senior administrators this winter and met with enthusiasm and excitement.

While we have much work to do in the coming months, I am confident that the plan reflects our values and what I believe to be essential goals and objectives to chart our path forward.

The animating spirit of leading universities like Rochester is that we are always looking ahead, always looking outward, and always looking out for one another.

I’m certain that each of us will see the spirit of Meliora in the plan, knowing that together we will make our communities—and the world—ever better.

Contact President Mangelsdorf by email at thepresidentsoffice (at) Rochester (dot) edu. You can also follow her on Instagram: (at) urochestermangelsdorf.