2024-2025 Season

For the 2024-2025 season, the Neilly Author Series and the Dr. Matthew E & Ruth Harmon Fairbank Alumni Lecture are hosting two lectures presented by the River Campus Libraries and the School of Arts and Sciences.  Learn how authors bring books to film.

Person in a blue jacket in front of the water

Peter Antonucci: Lawyer and co-owner and Member of the Board of Directors aboard The World, the world’s largest residential yacht

SCANDAL at SEA: Billionaires in the Deep – inspired by true events

Date: March 4, 2025
Time: 6 PM
Location: Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library

Photo of a man standing in front of a tree

Michael Livingston: Citadel Distinguished Professor at The Citadel

Origins of the WHEEL of TIME: The LEGENAS and MYTHOLOGIES that inspired Robert Jordon

Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 6 PM
Location: Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library

About Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly

Janet Dayton and Andrew H. Neilly
Janet Dayton and Andrew H. 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.