Photos and video: Behind the scenes of Savannah Guthrie's visit to the U of A campus

A group of five women sitting on a bench outdoors. Four women are dressed in matching cheerleader outfits, consisting of navy blue and red tops with a logo, and holding dark blue pom-poms. The woman in the center is wearing a black dress and sandals, laughing with the group.
Two individuals are posing indoors. The woman on the left is wearing a black sleeveless dress and a necklace. She is smiling broadly while holding a magazine with a cover that features her photograph. The man on the right is wearing a dark suit with a light-colored shirt and is smiling while pointing at the magazine. The background consists of a softly focused interior with bookshelves and a window letting in natural light.
A large group of young women and a central female figure surrounded by them. The main woman in the forefront is smiling and wearing a black dress with thin straps and layered gold necklaces. She is interacting with the group, who are mostly wearing white tank tops with "Beta" and other lettering visible, paired with jeans. The women are looking towards her, some smiling and engaging.
Two women are posing for a photograph on a sunny day. The woman on the left is wearing a black dress and has long hair. She is smiling broadly as she stands next to a young woman wearing a navy-blue T-shirt featuring a large red number "95" with the letter "A" and the word "ARIZONA" underneath. The young woman also smiles at the camera. A third person in the foreground, with blonde hair, is taking a photo with a smartphone.
A man and a woman exiting a building through open double doors. The doorway is set in a red brick wall, topped with a semicircular window above the doors. The woman on the left is wearing a black dress and sandals, and she appears to be speaking or laughing. The man on the right is in a suit, gesturing outwardly with his hand.
Four women sitting closely together outdoors, each holding copies of a magazine titled "Arizona" in bold red letters. They are dressed in coordinated blue and red athletic outfits, suggesting they are part of a cheerleading team. The magazines display a similar cover of a smiling woman, with text indicating a rumor about Savannah Guthrie being back on campus. The background is blurred greenery, implying an outdoor setting on a sunny day.
A woman in a black sleeveless dress stands in front of a fountain, smiling widely with her arms raised slightly to the sides. The fountain is actively spraying water, creating a sparkling effect in the sunlight. Behind her is a large, historic building made of red brick with white trim, featuring arched windows and a copper-colored roof.
An outdoor setting with four women sitting on a metal bench. The women seated on the bench are dressed in matching blue and red cheerleader outfits, and each holds an open magazine. A man in a light-colored shirt operates a professional camera to the left of the image. On the right, a woman, wearing a black dress, walks past the bench, facing the camera operator.
A group of women gathered outdoors, holding a large, framed collage of individual photographs. The frame is prominently displayed and contains rows of headshots. The women are smiling, and one woman on the right, wearing a black dress, is pointing towards the frame.
A collection of framed photographs featuring individual portraits arranged in a grid pattern. Each portrait is accompanied by a label with a name. The photographs depict people in various poses, mostly with smiles, set against a background of greenery. A person's finger, adorned with a ring, is pointing at one of the photographs in the middle of the frame.
A group of cheerleaders walking along a pathway on a sunny day. There are four cheerleaders wearing matching blue and red uniforms with the letter 'A' on the front. They are holding shiny navy pom-poms and appear cheerful, engaging in conversation. To the left, a woman in a black dress with sunglasses holds a water bottle and smiles while talking to one of the cheerleaders. In the background, several other people are casually walking.
A large group of people posing together outdoors. In the left section, a marching band member wearing a red and white uniform with a large "A" on the front holds a brass instrument. Surrounding them is a group of around 30 young adults, many dressed in jeans and white tops. In the center, a woman in a black dress stands beside another individual holding a trophy.

More than 14 years after her last visit, Savannah Guthrie returned to the University of Arizona – not just as a proud alumna, but as one of the nation's most recognizable journalists.

Guthrie graduated from the School of Journalism in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 1993, and returned to campus on Oct. 17 to film a segment of NBC's Today show as part of the program's tour of its anchors' origin stories. She last visited the U of A in 2011 to speak at Commencement.

A graduate of Amphi High School, Guthrie began her journalism career as a U of A student with the Arizona Daily Wildcat before working with Arizona Public Media, the Tombstone Epitaph and KVOA, Tucson's NBC affiliate.

During her visit, Guthrie met with President Suresh Garimella, student body president Adriana Gijalva, cheerleaders, band and Pomlime performers, and surprised members of the Pi Beta Phi sorority – of which she was a member as a student.

In partnership with Visit Tucson, Guthrie also visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, enjoyed lunch with her family at El Charro Café and helped paint a mural with local artist Joe Pagac.

The segment is scheduled to air Nov. 5. Read more about Guthrie's visit in this Lo Que Pasa article.

Oct. 27, 2025