March 4, 2024

Ntakamaze Nziyonvira, right, sits at a desk next to three students and discusses the book in front of them.

(CIYOTA photo)

A Hajim School alumnus is being recognized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for his dedication to helping people forcibly removed from their homes. USA for UNHCR announced that Ntakamaze Nziyonvira ’17 (mechanical engineering) won its Gene Dewey Refugee Award.

The Gene Dewey Refugee Award, named in recognition of Arthur “Gene” Dewey, USA for UNHCR co-founder and former UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, recognizes individuals who demonstrate visionary leadership and extraordinary dedication to helping people forcibly displaced.

Ntakamaze is the Executive Director of CIYOTA, a refugee-led organization he helped found in 2005 to expand access to education for refugees in Uganda. Ntakamaze was a refugee originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who found safety in Uganda before going on to receive his undergraduate education at Rochester.

I’m proud to see Hajim School alumni like Ntakamaze working to make the world more just and humane. Read more about his work on the USA for UNHCR website.

FIVE FROM THE HIVE: OMAR ZAKARIA KHALIL

A headshot of Omar Zakaria Khalil standing in front of the Rush Rhees Library.

The University of Rochester Instagram account’s Five from the Hive series provides a behind-the-scenes peek into the lives and experiences of our students through five photos from their camera roll. They recently featured Hajim School student Omar Zakaria Khalil ’25 (electrical and computer engineering).

Omar is a highly active student from Cairo, Egypt who minors in business, serves as co-captain of the squash team, and serves on the e-board for Morgan’s Message. We’re also lucky enough to have him as a student employee at the Hajim Dean’s Office.

View a day in the life at Rochester through Omar’s lens by checking out the post on Instagram.

CELEBRATING RESEARCH WEEK

A large crowd of discusses research outlined on posters at the Undergraduate Research Exposition.

(University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster)

Hajim students are invited to present their investigative and creative work at the University-wide Undergraduate Research Exposition. Expo 2024 is a weeklong series of events in April including:

Oral presentations on April 5.
Lightning talks on April 10, a new addition this year.
Poster presentations on April 12.

Students who have engaged in research and who are interested in participating in the Expo must fill out an application form by the March 15 deadline. Organizers will accept recommendations until five days after the student deadline. For more information, go to the Office of Undergraduate Research website.

CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

A bright, colorful, prismatic graphic that says "THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER CELEBRATES WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH"

March marks Women’s History Month, and the News Center compiled a selection of stories about women in the University’s history whose contributions deserve wider recognition, as well as a list of events that celebrate and remember women’s history. Read more.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman