Dear students, faculty members, and friends,

“Why Rochester?”

I routinely put this question to faculty candidates during their interviews because I wanted to understand what drew them to apply and what would make them successful and happy as part of our community.

At the start of this semester, I spent some time thinking about my answer to “Why Rochester?” And it’s the same now as it was when I started: Because it’s an incredible opportunity to be part of a school that emphasizes a liberal arts education while providing the research support of an R1 institution. It’s that intersection of a very driven and well-supported research environment with the commitment to an outstanding undergraduate education that makes the University of Rochester generally—and the School of Arts & Sciences specifically—so very special.

The School of Arts & Sciences, in partnership with the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, is the largest and broadest academic branch at the University. But we are also amazingly cohesive. We are expansive, yet unified in our underlying principles—research and teaching—and we consistently integrate them in all the things we do.

Our school has had 18 foundational departments for decades, and in the last year we established the Department of Black Studies. We also continue to add research and academic programs that address the issues of today while using a historical and analytic framework. The size of our school might make us seem a bit like an aircraft carrier navigating an ocean filled with icebergs, but I’m proud of the way we have continued to evolve and push the boundaries of teaching and research.

Throughout the semester, I know I will continue to think about what brought me to and keeps me at Rochester. Whether you’re a new student, a graduating senior, a graduate student, a research fellow, or a member of the faculty, I encourage you to join me in asking yourself, “Why Rochester?” In your answers you may find more than your reason for being here; you may also find inspiration and a renewed spirit to carry you through your current endeavors.

Welcome back, and have a great semester!

Gloria Culver
Dean
School of Arts & Sciences