2025-2026 Season
Ed Ashton '93 (MS), '96 (PhD), Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Thursday, October 30, 2025
5 - 6 PM Cocktail Hour
6 - 7:30 PM Lecture & Book Signing
Location: Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library
Meet Rochester's sci-fi sensation, Edward Ashton, (MS93 PHD96). Author of seven novels, including Mickey7 (now a motion picture directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo), Antimatter Blues,The Fourth Consort, and After The Fall (forthcoming from St. Martin's Press in February 2026). His short fiction has appeared in venues ranging from the newsletter of an Italian sausage company to Escape Pod, Analog, and Fireside Fiction. In his spare time, he enjoys cancer research, teaching quantum physics to sullen graduate students, and whittling. You can find him online at edwardashton.com or on most social media platforms @edashtonwriting.
Don't miss the chance to hear about his journey from Rochester to the stars!
Tom Slaughter, Arthur R. Miller Professor Emeritus of History: The Sewards of New York
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
5- 6 PM Cocktail Hour
6 - 7:30 PM Lecture & Book Signing
Location: Plutzik Room in Rare Books and Special Collections, Rush Rhees Library
Join Tom Slaughter, Arthur R. Miller Professor Emeritus of History, for fresh insights into one of the nation's most influential dynasties from his new book, The Sewards of New York: A Biography of a Leading American Political Family. Rare materials from the River Campus Libraries' Special Collections that inspired his research will be on display - don't miss this chance to see history up close!
About Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly
In a wonderful millennium gift, Life Trustee Andrew H. Neilly and his wife, Janet, established a named, endowed library position at the University of Rochester with a $1 million gift. The Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean of River Campus Libraries Endowment is used by the dean to support library programs designed to contribute to the intellectual life of the University and to enhance the libraries' collections related to academic initiatives. With this purpose, the Neilly Series was established in 2001.
The libraries have been the focus of Andy Neilly's interest at the University for many years. During the University's Campaign for the '90s, Andy and his co-chair and good friend, Jack Keil, raised several million dollars in support of the libraries.
A graduate of the Class of 1947, Andy had a distinguished career in the field of publishing, serving as president, CEO, and vice chairman of the board of John Wiley & Sons in New York City before his retirement in 1995. Both he and Janet grew up in Rochester. Janet attended William Smith College and Northwestern University. She is a founder of Connecticut Hospice.
Andy has noted on many occasions:
The library is the key to the University. It is the center for everything else that happens here.
