Campus & Community

Summer Snapshots 2025

Monday, August 18, 2025, By John Boccacino

From the looks of it, our University community members sure enjoyed themselves over the summer months. From a big adventure around the world to a laid-back staycation, take a look at the fun they had.

Golden sunset over calm water with dramatic orange and purple clouds reflected on the surface, silhouetted rocky coastline in background.

Lena Blomkvist, communications manager for the Whitman School, captured this photo of an amazing sunset on the west coast of Sweden during her family’s two-week vacation in early July.

Two smiling tourists in rain jackets standing together at a waterfall viewpoint, mist from the massive falls visible in background along with other visitors in colorful gear.

In July, Joanna Masingila (left), professor of mathematics and mathematics education and Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education, enjoyed an up-close encounter with Victoria Falls in Zambia with her husband, George Nyagisere.

Family of five posing beside large white 'LOV' letters sculpture with 'Virginia is for Lovers' sign, brick buildings and trees in background on sunny day.

Sometimes the best places are not far from home! Daryl Lovell, associate director of media relations in the Division of Communications, poses with her family near the Virginia-Maryland border during a family road trip to Virginia Beach this summer. Pictured (from left to right) are Dallas, Red, Dion, Daryl and Devyn Lovell.

Smiling baton twirler in sparkly purple leotard holding medal and baton, posing at indoor competition venue with crowds and booths in background.

Abby Veccia ’28, a health and exercise science major in the Falk College of Sport, represented Team USA in Turin, Italy during an international baton twirling competition. Veccia, the featured twirler with the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Marching Band, won a silver medal at the event!

Man in cap and dark shirt walking down narrow cobblestone street in historic Mediterranean town, stone buildings with shuttered windows and religious artwork visible on wall.

Paula Nelson, assistant teaching professor of visual communications in the Newhouse School, spent a month sightseeing around Cagli, Italy, with her son Harry (pictured).

Indianapolis Motor Speedway during race with packed grandstands, iconic Pagoda control tower visible, and IndyCars racing on the famous oval track.

Andrew Tedesco ’26, a computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, captured this view of the start of the Indianapolis 500, held May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Modern cafeteria or break room with white tables, orange and navy chairs, bright red accent wall with rectangular cutouts, and a small dog sitting on one of the chairs.

Bauer Wimer, the Whitman School’s adorable pet therapy dog, poses with the new chairs on the second floor of the Whitman School. His owner, Elizabeth Wimer, assistant teaching professor and Waverly House Mentor in the Whitman School, captured Bauer trying out the chairs.

Serene lake at dawn or dusk with pink sky reflected in still water, silhouetted forested shoreline and hills, single dark object floating on surface.

Barbara Jones G’88, professor emerita in the Newhouse School, snapped this gorgeous view of the dawn of a new day over Anstruther Lake in the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.

Two people with curly hair taking a selfie by a turquoise lake, mountains and evergreen trees visible in background under dramatic cloudy sky.

Dara Harper (right), communications manager at Hendricks Chapel, visited her son Rio Harper ’26 in Alberta, Canada during his stint as a Fulbright Fellow investigating biomedical robotics. They visited Banff in the Canadian Rockies to hike and enjoy the sights together.

Two smiling runners with race bibs posing together on airport tarmac in front of New York Air National Guard 174th ATKW hangar, wearing bright yellow and orange ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ shirts.

Erin Smith ’15 (right), internship program coordinator with Career Services, and his wife, Nicole Osborne ’14, G’20, participated in the 174th Attack Wing Runway 5K at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Hancock International Airport.

View from boat deck with bright red non-slip flooring and white railings, looking out over calm lake surrounded by forested hills under blue sky with white clouds.

On his way to visit the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, Samuel Gorovitz, professor of philosophy and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, enjoyed traveling on a riverboat along the upper Mississippi River.

Family of four posing with large black dragon character (Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon) and Viking character actor inside rustic wooden building at theme park.

Pam Mulligan ’89 (second from left), executive director of alumni engagement for the northeast with the Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement, visited the new Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida with her family and special guest Toothless from the “How to Train your Dragon” movies.

A large group of young adults, appearing to be college students or study abroad participants, poses together on the stone steps of an ornate fountain in what appears to be an Italian piazza. The group of approximately 15-20 people is arranged in multiple rows, all wearing colorful summer clothing and many sporting orange lanyards, suggesting they're part of an organized program or tour. Behind them stands an elaborate baroque-style fountain with carved stone figures and decorative elements. The scene is set in a historic European square with characteristic orange and cream-colored buildings featuring traditional shuttered windows and balconies. Other tourists can be seen in the background, and the cobblestone plaza and architecture suggest this is likely Rome or another major Italian city.

Students and staff sit outside of the Parthenon together while on a walking tour of Rome landmarks during the School of Education’s fully inclusive study abroad experience in Italy.

Group of 13 people posing on a dirt path with the Hollywood sign in the background.

Students in the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Los Angeles program joined students from other colleges on a group hike to the iconic Hollywood sign.

Two black Adirondack chairs on a wooden dock overlooking a calm lake at sunset, with pink and blue sky colors reflecting on the water and forested hills in the background.

A picture-perfect evening on Fourth Lake in Inlet, N.Y., as captured by Jen Bachman, a master’s of music education student who is dually enrolled in the Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Education.

A toddler in a navy hoodie and teal shorts stands on a sandy beach, pointing toward the ocean under a cloudy blue sky.

Wyatt Plummer (age 1.5) enjoys his first time seeing the Atlantic Ocean in Bethany Beach, Delaware, as captured by his mother, Jen Plummer, associate director of content and digital communications in the Division of Communications.