University Magazine Fall 2019

From accountant to the stars

Youto sustainable chocolate producer, do

what?RIT alumni have some pretty cool careers

Also inside: Global Cybersecurity Institute coming soon

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Why we need the liberal arts

e are proud technical. From a technological that RIT is the standpoint, we understand ways to Wthird largest solve the problems of climate change, producer of undergradu- poverty, clean water, affordable health ate STEM (science, tech- care, nuclear proliferation and others. nology, engineering and Yet, we don’t have the political, social, RIT University Magazine math) graduates among policy and leadership skills to put all private universities these challenges to bed. It’s clear that Executive Editors in the nation. But we also have a goal of we need people from many different Lisa Cauda, Development and Alumni Relations Bob Finnerty ’07 MS, Marketing and Communications developing the most relevant liberal arts disciplines working together to solve Deborah M. Stendardi, program in the nation. Why is it impor- the world’s toughest problems. Government and Community Relations tant that the liberal arts be infused into a John Trierweiler, Marketing and Communications • Nationalism and discord are on the university with technology in its name? rise, with more citizens retreating Editor In some cases, the liberal arts are Mindy Mozer, Marketing and Communications into their own echo chambers, intertwined with STEM. At RIT, you’ll find watching news channels that Art Director students like Landyn Hatch, majoring Jeff Arbegast ’93 MS, Marketing and Communications broadcast entertainment, rather than in museum studies, in our makerspace— unbiased news, and saying things on Photography Editor The Construct—creating 3D-printed Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito ’07 social media that they never would mannequin hands for the Genesee say in a thoughtful conversation, Contributing Editors Country Village & Museum. Jon Rodibaugh ’12 MBA, face-to-face. This is scary! Where Development and Alumni Relations You’ll also find Timothy Engström, are we headed—what are the likely Cindy Sobieraj, Development and Alumni Relations professor of philosophy, and Carlos consequences? To answer these Photographers Lousto, professor of mathematical sci- questions, I think we had better ask Elizabeth Lamark ’00, Marketing and Communications ences, and astrophysical sciences and historians, psychologists, sociolo- A. Sue Weisler ’93 MS, Marketing and Communications technology, discussing gravitational gists and political scientists. Writers: Marketing and Communications waves, black-hole mergers, the Big Bang Luke Auburn ’09, ’15 MS Rich Kiley and the early universe. Let me close by noting that the liberal Scott Bureau ’11, ’16 MBA Greg Livadas Michelle Cometa ’00 Vienna McGrain ’12 MS And this fall, you’ll find nearly 150 arts are “making” disciplines, just like Susan Gawlowicz ’95 Ellen Rosen freshmen who’ve earned performing arts their STEM cousins. Creation, innova- scholarships via digital auditions in music tion and making can occur in every field, Copy Editor Marie Lang, Marketing and Communications (vocal and instrumental), theater, dance whether it be writing a poem or short and technical production. Most of these story, choreographing a dance, composing Print Production Brenda Monahan, Marketing and Communications students will major in STEM disciplines, a piece of music, advancing a new scien- but they also are supremely talented in tific hypothesis, designing a new piece of Marketing and Communications the performing arts. technology, creating a social movement or 22 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623-5608 Advocates for the liberal arts often launching a start-up company. Voice: 585-475-5064, Fax: 585-475-5097 point to the importance of analysis, criti- Every student should be involved in Email: [email protected] cal thinking, communications and ethics, creating things that never existed before, Office of Alumni Relations which are acquired from a liberal arts and then putting those concepts into Crossroads 41 Lomb Memorial Drive education. But these skills and topics are motion. At RIT, the development of this Rochester, NY 14623-5603 Voice: 585-475-ALUM, Toll Free: 866-RIT-ALUM not exclusive to the liberal arts. I believe mindset and the leadership to bring new TTY: 585-475-2764, Fax: 585-475-5308 there is a more compelling rationale for ideas to fruition are an intentional part Email: [email protected] the importance of the liberal arts. of the education of every student. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, Here are some of my thoughts: In this way, our graduates are well New York, publishes RIT University Magazine. prepared for the future and positioned to RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and • The humanities, social sciences and contribute to the greater good, together. values diversity within its workforce and provides the arts are core to what it means to equal opportunity to all qualified individuals be human. They introduce different regardless of race, color, creed, age, marital status, Sincerely, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender ways of knowing and being. They identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran add depth and richness to our daily status, or disability. lives—imagine how dull life would be without the liberal arts! Vol. 21, No. 2, 126M-P2363-8/2019-LANE-JSA David C. Munson Jr., President Printer: The Lane Press; Burlington, Vermont © 2019 Rochester Institute of Technology • The greatest challenges facing [email protected] All rights reserved humanity today are not purely Twitter: @RITPresident Cover Lorenzo Llosa ’04 is an artisanal chocolate maker and co-founder of Elemento, a sustainable chocolate company in Peru. Read more about him and other alumni with cool careers

University Magazine Enrique Castro-Mendivil on pages 22-31. Fall 2019

22 Pete Souza/former Chief Official White House Official White Photographer Chief Souza/former Pete You do what? Photographer Pari Dukovic ’06 takes a portrait of former President Barack Obama.

Departments Features

2 On Campus 12 14 18 32 6 About Students Investing in Building Leading Faculty Profile 10 Research Research the Future Athletics Meet Maureen 34 Alumni Updates RIT’s genomics A new facility will Lou Spiotti Jr. Valentine from 40 Alumni Awards research capabili- help the university is starting his the College of 46 Class Notes ties have evolved increase enroll- 40th season as Engineering 48 Tiger Love significantly over ment in cyber­ executive director Technology. 50 Tiger Cubs the past year. security and of Inter­collegiate 56 Archives advance research. Athletics at RIT. On Campus

In Brief

Two win Fulbrights An alumnus and an associate professor are recipients of Fulbright awards. Andrew Ramsey ’18 (computer engi- neering), ’18 MS (computer engineering) received a Fulbright U.S. Student Pro- gram award in computer engineering to help drones assist with search and rescue operations in difficult terrain such as dense forests or steep moun-

tains where GPS might not be reliable. A. Sue Weisler He will work in Austria starting this fall. Chance Wright ’18 (advertising photography), ’19 (MBA) has made a $3.5 million gift to the Callie Babbitt, an associate professor School of Photographic Arts and Sciences. in the Golisano Institute for Sustain- ability, received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to study sustainable solutions that will address the growing challenge of food waste management Alumnus makes $3.5 million along Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Babbitt’s research will leverage the gift to photography school relationship between RIT’s main campus and its international campuses in Zagreb and Dubrovnik, Croatia. 2018 advertising photography Business in May, said he “wanted to alumnus is making a $3.5 million make a gift that would help the students Esports competes nationally A gift to the School of Photographic directly and make the biggest impact” for Four students represented RIT at the Arts and Sciences (SPAS), the largest single the photo school, which made such an first-ever ESPN Collegiate Esports gift ever made to RIT’s College of Art and impression on him during a campus visit Championship in May and received Design. five years ago. $7,500 in tuition scholarships. The gift comes from Chance Wright “The ‘cage’ was one of the main reasons The students played Hearthstone, a and his mother, Pamela Mars-Wright, I came to this school,” said Wright, affec- digital collectible-card game set in the whose late father was the co-president of tionately referring to Gannett Hall’s third- Warcraft universe that is available on Mars Inc.—a family-owned business with floor equipment cage—an area bustling PC, Mac, Android and iOS. They joined more than a century of making some of with activity and stocked full of the latest 20 other top colleges in the esports the world’s best-loved brands and offering gear for RIT students in the photography competition. services for people and pets. programs. “Students here have the oppor- RIT Esports currently has about 130 “The School of Photographic Arts and tunity to work with equipment that sets students playing in 14 different competi- Sciences is beyond thrilled and humbled the standard for the industry.” tive esports. The university has won four by the generosity of this gift from alum- RIT architects are currently working national championships in the games nus Chance Wright and his family,” said with school officials on details of the Dota 2, Dropzone and Rainbow Six: Siege. Therese Mulligan, school director of SPAS. project, which is scheduled to begin in Mulligan added that “with Chance’s May 2020. Tops in game design gift, the school will renovate its spaces on “I can’t wait to see how this gift will Animation Career Review has again the third floor of Gannett Hall, enabling help SPAS,” he said. “It is meant for the named RIT one of the top game design us to reshape the physical environment students and faculty, providing them with schools in the country. in which students learn and hone their the best tools for their education and to RIT ranked fifth on the list of Top 50 skills.” create amazing things.” Game Design Schools in the U.S. and Wright, who also earned a master’s second in New York state. degree from RIT’s Saunders College of Rich Kiley

2 | FALL 2019 Eli Liang First graduation: RIT’s campus in Weihei, China, held its first commencement ceremony in June, celebrating 103 graduates, including Hang Su, left, and Yanzi Su. The event recognized the initial class of students to earn BS degrees in management information systems. Courses are jointly offered by RIT’s Saunders College of Business and the Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) School of Economics and Management, allowing students to earn a dual degree from RIT and BJTU. More than 4,200 students graduated from all of RIT’s campuses this year, including a record 41 Ph.D. students.

RIT names two deans, associate provost

ew leaders are engineering) had been Office of Faculty Affairs, in place for serving as interim dean within the Office of the Nthe upcoming and was named to the Provost and Senior Vice academic year. permanent position President for Academic Todd S. Jokl began following a national Affairs. She will focus Aug. 5 as dean of the search. on faculty development, College of Art and Design. Carmala N. Garzione recruitment and reten- Jokl was the campus began July 1 in the new tion, as well as advocate dean of the University position of associate for and advance the work Todd S. Jokl S. Manian Carmala N. of New Haven’s Lyme provost for Faculty of university faculty. Ramkumar Garzione Academy College of Fine Arts in Connecticut, Affairs. Garzione Garzione will also join where he served as a teacher and academic most recently served as a professor at the the faculty of RIT’s College of Science as a administrator for nearly two decades. University of Rochester and director of its tenured professor. S. Manian Ramkumar was named dean Center for Energy and the Envir­on­ment. of the College of Engineering Tech­nology As associate provost for Faculty Affairs, Staff writers in May. Ramkumar ’91 ME (manufacturing Garzione will oversee the newly created

FALL 2019 | 3 On Campus Grit happens RIT hosted its sixth Baja SAE Rochester World Challenge in June. The defending world champions placed 10th overall among 100 collegiate race teams that took on a daunting motocross field and four challenging days of competition. Here, Justin Neves, a fourth-year civil engineering technology student from Montgomery, N.J., drives the RIT vehicle.

Elizabeth Lamark About Students

​RIT students Sophia Gardner and Madeleine Baum (in chairs) work with Harley School students Coco Cai, Connor Ferris and Maya Hood and Hospice, Service Learning & Mindfulness educator​ Sybil Prince, center, as part of their senior capstone project.

A. Sue Weisler

6 | FALL 2019 Students raise awareness about end-of-life care

Two RIT students oung people don’t often that.” created a webpage think about death and To remedy this issue, Baum about a hospice Ytheir own mortality. and Gardner created a new web- However, the 17- and 18-year- page, connected to the school’s program at a local olds in the hospice program at main site. The page, which went high school. a local high school choose to live at the end of April, included make it a regular topic of con- student interviews, photos versation. and other information to help As part of their RIT senior promote the class. capstone project, Madeleine “These teenagers are tackling Baum and Sophia Gardner, things that a lot of adults don’t fourth-year digital humanities have the capacity to think about and social sciences students, in such a mature way,” said created a promotional webpage Baum. “I think it’s really amaz- to showcase The Harley School’s ing what these kids have to say, unique hospice classroom en- and I just want to share that vironment and the service work with the world.” of the students involved. A common thread between Under the umbrella of the the class curriculum and Baum Center for Mindfulness and Em- and Gardner’s goals for the site pathy Education at The Harley is improving people’s relation- School in Brighton, N.Y., the ships with death and erasing hospice program helps students the stigma people have about foster a healthy relationship hospice and end-of-life care. with the concept of death via Baum and Gardner’s experi- in-class discussions, activities ence working with the school and— most notably—by learn- helped enhance their profes- ing to care for hospice patients sional skills. and volunteering at local com- “We were using the techni- fort care homes. cal skills that we already knew, The hospice class curriculum but I had to learn more about has received local news cover- administrative and project age and was featured in a docu- management roles while mak- mentary, Beginning with the End, ing the site,” said Gardner. “Be- filmed by David Marshall from ing able to really dissect project the Blue Sky Project. However, ideas and understanding what The Harley School is always we are capable of and what our looking for improved ways to own limitations are was really articulate what happens in the important, and this project defi- program and to raise awareness. nitely helped with that.” “The hospice program actu- ally already had its own website, Felicia Swartzenberg ’19 but it was not on the main school’s website, it was really out of date and no one looked at it anymore,” said Gardner. “If To learn more no one looks at the site, it’s hard Go to www.harleyschool.org/ to spread information about the hospice-home ​to see the website. program. We want to change

FALL 2019 | 7 Student Work Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito Elizabeth Lamark Elizabeth Other anniversary projects Industrial design students came up with several ways to use wood from a century-old oak tree that fell during a 2017 windstorm. Along with the children’s area in the Henrietta Public Library, a group of monumental benches was installed on campus near the University Services Center and Crossroads buildings this spring. RIT-branded commemorative coasters also were given out as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.

Casey Mazza ’19 (industrial design) helped design this children’s reading nook for the Henrietta Public Library. The project was one of many that celebrated RIT’s 50 years in Henrietta.

Why I created this project

-Minus 2018 (an annual project in the offered the chance to continue working on their books. “ industrial design program) focused the design and see it all the way through With a large doorway and spacing be- Ton celebrating RIT’s 50 years in Hen- to construction. As the only team member tween the panels, parents maintain visibil- rietta. My team was tasked with designing available over the summer of 2018, I worked ity while creating a safe, fun environment. the children’s area for the new Henrietta alongside my professor Gary Molinari as It has been an amazing experience to Public Library, which opened in July. well as the town supervisor, architects, work with so many incredible people on a Inspiration was drawn from Wendell librarians and engineers to rework the design that actually became reality. Castle’s approach to design, as well as the design into being safe, cost effective and It has been an honor and I can’t thank large oak tree on RIT’s campus that fell dur- easier to construct. RIT enough for giving me this opportunity. ing a windstorm. The final design features a half circle After graduation, I hope to continue work- Our original design, Sprout, featured a steel rod frame clad in wooden panels. It ing on projects that are designed to have a large tree-like reading nook, modular brick stands about 12 feet tall and 10 feet in diam- positive impact on the community.” seating, a black line mural of Henrietta eter with a wheelchair accessible doorway for children to color in, modular tables and secret passageway. Casey Mazza and more seating designed by RIT alumna This space was created to act as a hide- Industrial design BFA Sandra Turner. away for children, free of distraction so that Class of 2019 After winning our category, we were they can fully engage with the stories in Hometown: Grosse Pointe, Mich.

8 | FALL 2019 Research that impacts the world starts with the people who conduct it.

The student experience is greatly enriched by attaining research knowledge, skills and abilities— early and often. By offering more research fellowships to students at all levels, RIT will ensure that more students have the opportunity to engage in RIT’s “As an undergraduate at RIT, I participated unique brand of student-centered research. in groundbreaking research, completed a co-op position at the Renal Research At the undergraduate level, student-centered research Institute, and first-authored a published means that students are in the driver’s seat conducting research paper. The funded research genuine, hands-on research assignments that gives opportunities for students at RIT are them the chance to learn the foundation of scientific critical to helping students like me research as well as further shape their futures. become successful scientists.”

Graduate students collaborate with faculty on research —Melissa Mendoza ’17 (biomedical engineering), to solve pressing global challenges. They make Ph.D. candidate advancements in promising areas of knowledge that are the future of RIT, the region, the nation and the world.

To ensure that the research conversation at RIT includes many voices, we ask for your support in offering substantially more research fellowships. Learn more and make your gift at rit.edu/transformingRIT.

© 2019 Rochester Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Rochester Institute of Technology | One Lomb Memorial Drive | Rochester, New York 14623 Research Researchers develop toilet seats to measure biometrics

ith 1 million new cases of team that developed the toilet seats. congestive heart failure “Typically, within 30 days of Wdiagnosed each year, a hospital discharge, 25 percent of revolutionary product is making patients with congestive heart failure it easier for hospitals to monitor are readmitted,” said Conn. “After 90 patients with the condition in the days of hospital discharge, 45 percent comfort of their own homes. of patients are readmitted. And the A toilet-seat based cardiovascular Centers for Medicare and Medicaid monitoring system created by a team Services is penalizing hospitals for of RIT researchers aims to lower the readmitting patients for heart failure.” hospital readmission rates of pa- Conn further explains that using tients with congestive heart failure. the national average for readmission The toilet seats, which will be rates, the typical penalty for a hospi- brought through the FDA clearance tal that discharges 150 patients a year process by the researchers’ company is approximately $500,000 annually. Heart Health Intelligence, would be According to Conn, the system Monitoring system purchased by hospitals and issued to will pick up deteriorating conditions The toilet-seat based heart failure patients after discharge. before the patients even realize they cardiovascular The toilet seats are equipped to are symptomatic. And with the rapid monitoring system is measure the electrical and mechani- data analysis, interventions can be equipped to measure cal activity of the heart and can mon- as simple as a drug change or short the electrical and itor heart rate, blood pressure, blood office visit, instead of an admission mechanical activity of oxygenation levels, and the patient’s to the hospital. the heart and can weight and stroke volume, which is HHI, which joined RIT’s Venture monitor heart rate, the amount of blood pumped out of Creations business incubator earlier blood pressure, blood the heart at every beat. this year, is now focused on moving oxygenation levels, and Algorithms analyze the data, and the product forward. the patient’s weight and with further development, will alert The team is heavily involved in stroke volume. advanced practice providers of a writing grants for additional funding deteriorating condition. A report will and networking, and human-subject be passed along to cardiologists who testing and pre-clinical studies are will then determine if intervention is well underway. necessary. Conn and his team are at the early Nicholas Conn ’11 (electrical engi- stages of commercialization and will neering), ’13 MS (electrical engineer- be bringing the device through the ing), ’16 Ph.D. (microsystems engi- FDA approval process before rolling it neering), a postdoctoral fellow at RIT out across the country. and founder and CEO of Heart Health

Elizabeth Lamark Elizabeth Intelligence, is part of the university Vienna McGrain ’12 MS

10 | FALL 2019 based cardiovascularbased monitoring system. university team that hasdeveloped atoilet-seat CEO of HeartHealthIntelligence, ispartof the postdoctoral fellow at RITandfounder and Nicholas Conn’11,’13MS, ’16Ph.D., a FALL 2019 |11

A. Sue Weisler Investing in research

RIT expands genomics research

tudents in Professor as an Illumina Next Generation Sequenc- Ruby Zathang, a third-year André Hudson’s er, which allows students and faculty to student from Syracuse, N.Y., Sgenomics course sequence the genomes of more complex conducts genomics research last fall conducted a organisms than before. in one of the College of semester-long study “This means that we now have a larger about antibiotic-resistant footprint in an area of biology that is tradi- Science’s recently renovated bacteria found on the tionally aligned with RIT’s core interests in labs. RIT’s genomics research screens of smartphones. technology and the application of technol- capabilities have evolved With touchscreen ogy,” said Hudson, head of the Thomas H. André Hudson significantly over the past year. devices now ubiquitous Gosnell School of Life Sciences. Hudson in society, they aimed to evaluate potential emphasized that the labs would be used public risks the devices pose for harboring for courses and research across the College and transmitting pathogenic bacteria that of Science. are resistant to antibiotics. The overhauled genomics facilities will Their findings, which showed that boost capabilities for researchers in multi- kiosk-like touchscreen devices at locations ple disciplines, including bioinformatics, such as airports, ATMs, restaurants and biotechnology and environmental science. hotels are potential vectors for the trans- Hudson said that the RIT facilities will not mission of antibiotic resistant pathogens, be like a traditional core at a research insti- were published in the February issue of tution where students drop their samples the Journal of Genomics. off and walk away—undergraduate and “This study was more than just a valuable graduate students will be working hands-on learning experience for us,” said Spencer with the equipment. Richman, a third-year bioinformatics and “We’re exposing our students to new and computational biology student from Santa state-of-the-art equipment that they can Clarita, Calif., who contributed to the study leverage when they go on co-ops, inter­ and is one of the 16 student co-authors on nships, fellowships and the job market,” the paper. “While working on this project, said Hudson. “They will be more competi- we learned the intricacies of genomic re- tive for graduate or postsecondary gradu- search, ranging from experimental design, ation opportunities as they will have been to sample preparation, to bioinformatics exposed to state-of-the-art equipment.” analysis of the resulting data, and finally to Beyond the new hardware, Hudson the writing and peer-review process.” said RIT is also bolstering its “gray matter RIT’s genomics research capabilities have infrastructure” in genomics. Two new evolved significantly over the past year. The assistant professors—Eli Borrego and university has invested heavily in revamp- Crista Wadsworth—will join the RIT faculty ing and equipping its Genomics Research this fall as part of the genomics initiative, Lab Cluster. A $1.5 million Empire State and genomics technician Narayan Wong Development grant RIT received from New joined RIT in the spring of the previous York state last fall helped equip the labs. academic year. RIT renovated its genomics suite of lab- oratories and invested in technology such Luke Auburn ’09, ’15 MS

12 | FALL 2019 Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito

FALL 2019 | 13 Global Cybersecurity

Transforming RIT RIT publicly launched a $1 billion blended campaign in July 2018 called Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness. A pillar of the campaign calls for the university to improve the world through research and discovery, such as cybersecurity. Learn more at rit.edu/ transformingrit. LaBella Associates 14 | FALL 2019 Building the future Global Cybersecurity Institute to open in 2020

Critical security ybersecurity has no borders. A new facility at RIT Attackers don’t care if their targets will help the university Care in another state or use a different increase enrollment currency. Cybercrime is costing the world in cybersecurity, trillions of dollars, and analysts say that advance research there aren’t enough qualified professionals and create more to prevent those attacks. opportunities for To address this problem, RIT is creating industry and govern- the Global Cybersecurity Institute (GCI), ment collaboration. aimed at meeting the demand for com- puting security and artificial intelligence professionals, while developing future technologies, protocols and human un- derstanding needed to address the global cybersecurity crisis. The institute, to be housed in a new, state-of-the art facility, will expand outreach, research and student-focused programs to help the university become a nexus of cybersecurity education and research. GCI will bring together academic disciplines—computing, liberal arts, engi- neering, business and others—to conduct interdisciplinary sociotechnical cybersecu- rity research. It will also develop industry, government and academic collaborations and professional development programs. “The cybersecurity skills gap continues to pose a challenge on a global scale, with roughly 3 million unfilled positions around the world currently,” said Heather Ricciuto, Academic Outreach Leader at IBM Security. “Projects like this which encourage global collaboration amongst industry, academia and government are key to building diverse talent that will be equipped to conduct complex research and develop creative security solutions to help make the world a safer place.” The three-story, 45,000-square-foot facil- ity will include a Cybersecurity Learning Experience Center, state-of the-art Cyber Range, five research labs and several stu- dent lounges, instructional labs and faculty

Photo by Glenn Melvin

FALL 2019 | 15 Building the future LaBella Associates A lab inside the institute called the Cyber Range will immerse students, alumni and professionals in real-world attack and defense scenarios.

offices. It is expected to open in fall 2020. areas, including predict attacks and trends.” Executive Director Steve Hoover, former computing, business, With funding from government agencies, chief technology officer and senior vice social sciences and Yang is developing a common platform for president at Xerox, will be leading GCI. engineering, because cyber defense with anticipatory intelligence. The facility was made possible in part the problems need to be The three-part project includes: ASSERT, with designated funding from a donation understood in context which uses machine learning and inform­ made by Austin McChord ’09 and a $5 rather than in isolation. ation theory to extract the critical features million grant from New York state, awarded We need to consider the that should be focused on during an attack; competitively through its Higher Education different people, do- CASCADES, which uses simulation to Anne Haake Capital Matching Grant Program. mains, laws, policies generate synthetic cyber attack scenarios “New York state is proud to support RIT’s and nature of the data, hardware and soft- that have not been observed but could game-changing Global Cybersecurity Insti- ware that are involved with securing our happen; and CAPTURE, which forecasts tute,” said Howard Zemsky, president, CEO digital and physical worlds.” future cyber attacks based on unconven- and commissioner of Empire State Devel- Research is already under way in RIT’s tional sensors and signals. opment. “With its laser focus on research Center for Cybersecurity, which will become Victor Perotti, the Benjamin Forman and professional development, the institute part of GCI. Matthew Wright, director of the Professor for Collaborative Research will train the workforce to drive this critical center, is focusing on a human-centered in Saunders College of Business, is industry’s commercialization in New York approach to cybersecurity­ and using artificial researching with computing colleagues state, creating jobs and driving economic intelligence. He and his researchers are how businesses adopt cybersecurity solu- growth for generations to come.” designing software that helps automatically tions. This includes how an organization detect deepfake videos. plans, decides on, then implements cyber- Interdisciplinary approach Wright and another group also are using security software and behavioral initiatives. By working with industry, federal agen- artificial intelligence and deep learning to “I’m excited for our faculty to be engaged cies and other universities, researchers research website fingerprinting attacks on in these interdisciplinary research efforts in the institute are aiming to tackle the the Tor anonymity system. that can lead to the development of com- most pressing cybersecurity questions and For S. Jay Yang, professor of computer prehensive, systems-level cybersecurity problems. GCI has designated health care, engineering, more interdisciplinary solutions for business and industry,” said energy, defense and financial services as research will let cyber defenders be more Saunders College Dean Jacqueline Mozrall. core areas of cybersecurity research. proactive in responding to increasingly “Cybersecurity is a broad area that sophisticated cyber attacks. Outreach and certifications requires an interdisciplinary approach,” “We are at the point where cybersecurity There will be 3.5 million unfilled cyber­ said Anne Haake, dean of RIT’s Golisano professionals shouldn’t simply detect and security positions worldwide by 2021, College of Computing and Information protect against attacks as they come in,” according to Cybersecurity Ventures. This Sciences. “We should collaborate in many said Yang. “We need technology that can gap in cyber experts is a rallying cry for GCI

16 | FALL 2019 leaders, including Justin Pelletier, director institute look beyond America’s borders of GCI Cyber Range and Training Center. by creating a coalition of academic partners “Having qualified cybersecurity profes- who collaborate on cybersecurity research, sionals is critical to the defense of our way pedagogy and experiential learning in of life,” said Pelletier, who is also a computing culturally diverse environments. security lecturer and Army Reserve counter- “If we are going to have any hope in intelligence officer. “If things in our energy, addressing this global crisis, we need to health care or finance industries are taken work with our allies to share best practices down by a malicious attack, we are in deep and learn how different cultures impact trouble.” cybersecurity,” Yang said. “Hackers don’t Pelletier will help fill this gap by offering care about physical boundaries—this is a certification programs through GCI. People global problem.” seek out these certifications to sharpen their GCI has already formed partnerships with Executive director named skills, at the request of employers, and to universities in Czech Republic, Taiwan and Steve Hoover, former chief make changes in their careers. Certification Poland. Yang plans to organize scholarly technology officer and senior vice president at Xerox, has been named programs could be one-week boot camps, exchanges for students and faculty and an an- endowed executive director of the mixed with some online instruction. nual workshop to examine ways to share data Global Cybersecurity Institute. Examples of high-demand programs and infrastructure for cybersecurity research. He begins Sept. 15. include the Certified Information Systems “I’m very excited about this Security Professional (CISSP), Offensive Student-focused programs opportunity and honored to be Security Certified Professional (OSCP) and RIT is nationally recognized for cybersecurity selected,” said Hoover. “Universi- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) qualification. education, having been designated as a ties—and especially RIT—play a key role in preparing students and the While at RIT, professionals taking part in National Center of Academic Excellence in technologies that we use to provide the programs will be based in the institute’s Cyber Defense Education and in Research the security we all expect for our Cyber Range, a lab that simulates network by the National Security Agency and the infrastructure, information and data.” cyber-attacks and problem-solving scenarios Department of Homeland Security. Hoover held a variety of roles at so people can practice their real-world skills. With the new GCI, RIT’s computing security Xerox in both product development RIT designers are working with experts at degree programs will have space to expand. and research. He oversaw several IBM to model the range after IBM’s X-Force After moving its headquarters to the second global research centers including the Palo Alto Research Center Command Cyber Range, which was one of floor of GCI, RIT’s Department of Computing (PARC), which he helped transform the first spaces to offer immersive simulations Security plans to grow its undergraduate from Xerox’s flagship research for cybersecurity training. program by 25 percent to about 500 students. laboratory to a world-class research “This is a giant sandbox for cybersecurity The graduate program will double, expanding and development organization in experts to play and train in, without impact- to about 100 students. the business of open innovation. ing real networks,” Pelletier said. “You could “We are also going to add more in-depth mimic the IT environment of an entire scientific principles of cybersecurity into our Nationally ranked hospital in this lab and pinpoint critical curriculum, in addition to Cyber competitions are an important part of the culture for cybersecurity systems during a specific attack scenario.” teaching the operational students. GCI will also feature a Cybersecurity Learn- skills that we already do so RIT is a perennial contender at the ing Experience Center geared toward teaching well,” said Bo Yuan, profes- National Collegiate Cyber Defense general audiences about cybersecurity. sor of computing security Competition, taking home third The experience center will include a cyber­ and chair of the depart- place at the 2019 event in Orlando. security hall of fame, student projects and ment. “We want to increase RIT is also the founder of the hands-on demonstrations of best practices. students’ knowledge of nation’s premier offensive-based competition, the Collegiate Pene- Industry is already connecting with GCI machine learning, advanced Bo Yuan tration Testing Competition (CPTC). through the Eaton Cybersecurity SAFE (Securi- computer science and cyber The Global Cybersecurity Institute ty Assessment and Forensic Examination) Lab. analytics so they can solve the security prob- will host CPTC every year. For the last two years, students in this lab lems of the future.” have been performing penetration tests and Outside the classroom, students will con- Scholarship for Service vulnerability analysis on technology created tinue to learn through RITSEC, the university’s Many RIT computing students plan by companies, including Eaton. cybersecurity club, and through competitions. to give back to their country after These partnerships blend research and “Creating the Global Cybersecurity Institute graduation, by enhancing U.S. cyber- experiential learning, allowing students to is not the end goal—it’s the first step,” said security through the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program. gain hands-on experience with internet of Yuan. “This will enable RIT to jump to the Students can earn a scholar- things (IoT) devices, while helping the next level, becoming a hub that advances the ship covering their costs at RIT, in companies better secure their new products. world’s knowledge in cybersecurity.” exchange for agreeing to work at a Yang is also taking on a new role as director government computing security job of global outreach for GCI. He will help the Scott Bureau ’11, ’16 MBA for the same number of years.

FALL 2019 | 17 Leading athletics 40 years and counting Athletics director says he still has more to do

ou Spiotti Jr. will begin set the tone and provide a der current head coach Wayne his 40th season as blueprint for how athletics Wilson, made the jump to Lexecutive director of would be regarded at the Division I and enjoyed imme- Intercollegiate Athletics at RIT university. diate success, advancing to this fall. “Dr. Rose was adamant on the Frozen Four in 2010. He is one of a few directors three points of emphasis,” If the mid-1980s were the in all of college athletics—Di- said Spiotti. “First, athletics start of RIT’s golden era of vision I, II and III—to serve in would be used to serve the athletics, the late 2010s can that position for 40 years. student first and athlete sec- be considered the platinum Spiotti, who arrived at the ond. No. 2, (athletics) should period. university in 1974 as head be a catalytic agent for school In 2012, women’s hockey football coach, was named spirit. No. 3, it would be an won the Division III Cham- athletics director in 1980. outward extension of the pionship, RIT’s first national Under Spiotti’s leadership, university toward our alumni. title for a women’s program, the program has experienced Those three things still exist and moved to Division I the unprecedented growth and today.” following season. development. Within the first few years, Division III sports have When Spiotti was tasked Spiotti brought in energet- enjoyed their finest collective with leading athletics, RIT ic, up-and-coming coaches multi-year run ever coincid- had just 15 sports, 10 for men Doug May (men’s soccer), ing with RIT’s move to the and only five women’s teams. Brian Mason (men’s hockey), Liberty League in 2011. Today, the program consists Bob McVean (men’s basket- Women’s basketball has of 24 sports (12 for both men ball) and Bill Tierney (men’s made three straight NCAA and women) and 650 student- lacrosse). Tournament appearances, athletes. Almost immediately, while men’s lacrosse has now Lou Spiotti Jr. enters “Lou is the consummate those four coaches moved won 10 consecutive league his 40th season as professional as the director of RIT into local and national titles and is a perennial na- executive director of athletics,” said Bob DeGrego- prominence. Men’s hockey tional power. rio, commissioner of Atlan- won the Division II national Baseball and women’s crew Intercollegiate Athletics. tic Hockey Association and championship in 1983 and both made their first NCAA During his tenure, RIT College Hockey America, who two years later, under Bruce Tournament appearances in has become one of has worked with Spiotti since Delventhal, won the Division 2017, while volleyball, wom- the most respected the mid-1980s. “He is one of III championship. Men’s en’s soccer, wrestling, men’s the best all-around directors soccer and men’s lacrosse and women’s cross country programs in Division of athletics that I have worked became perennial national and track and field have all III, while men’s and with during my 42 years in championship contenders, enjoyed national prominence. women’s hockey have intercollegiate athletics.” while men’s basketball under “Lou has been an outstand- elevated to Division I. A discussion early in his McVean recorded 20 consecu- ing mentor throughout my tenure with then-RIT Presi- tive winning seasons. career here at RIT as well as He joined the RIT Sports dent M. Richard Rose would In 2005, men’s hockey, un- a trusted friend,” said RIT Hall of Fame in 2009.

18 | FALL 2019 Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito FALL 2019 | 19 Leading athletics

Highlights of Lou Spiotti’s tenure

1974 1980 1983 1985 1988 1993 1997

Spring 1974— Fall 1980—Spiotti begins March 1985— November 1988— November 1993— Spiotti arrives at RIT his tenure as RIT’s director Men’s hockey wins Division III Men’s soccer hosts Volleyball advances to to coach football. of athletics, succeeding national championship. the Division III national the Division III national Bill Carey. championship game. semifinals, while winning November 1985— 137 of 154 matches over March 1983—Men’s hockey Men’s cross country places a three-year span. wins Division II national third at Division III national championship. championship. March 1997— Men’s basketball ascends to No. 1 in the nation.

2

1

3

Spiotti arrived at RIT in 1974 to serve as head football coach. He was a standout player himself at Ithaca College in the mid 1960s.

Spiotti was named RIT’s director of athletics in 1980. He is set to become one of a select few athletics directors in NCAA history to serve in that role for 40 seasons.

20 | FALL 2019 2004 2009 2010 2012 2014 2017 2019

August 2004— June 2009—RIT is admitted March 17, 2012— May 2017—Tigers have three 2018-19—RIT enjoyed Gordon Field House and into the Liberty League for its Women’s hockey wins spring sports teams (baseball, arguably its finest all-around Activities Center opens. Division III sports, beginning Division III national women’s crew, men’s season. Five teams made play as a full-time member champion­ship with a 4-1 lacrosse) win Liberty League the NCAA Tournament, Dec. 15, 2004— during the 2011-12 season. win over Norwich University. Championships and compete while 17 individuals earned Men’s hockey announces Tigers announce move to at NCAA championships. Men’s All-American honors. move to Division I for the March/April 2010— Division I three days later. lacrosse advances to the A school record 283 student- 2005-06 season. Men’s hockey wins national championship game. athletes earned league first Atlantic Hockey September/October 2014— All-Academic honors. Championship and Hockey programs move into advances to the Frozen and play first games at the Four in Detroit. Gene Polisseni Center.

4 5 6

1 Spiotti with students in the 1990s. women’s basketball head coach Amy Reed. become better people when they leave.” “It’s always so great to have an athletics di- Facilities for the athletics programs 2 Men’s hockey captains Chuck Samar, Chris Johnstone and T.J. rector who has a coaching background. I’ve continue to improve. The Gene Polisseni Perras receive the 1984 ECAC gone into his office countless times to seek Center, RIT’s 4,300-seat arena, opened in Championship trophy. advice about my program, and he always 2014. Nearly every sport has renovated and 3 RIT President Emeritus Bill Destler has incredible insight.” expanded locker rooms. and Spiotti, right, congratulate A strong athletics profile is impressive. More upgrades are planned, which are Daniel Spivak ’12, a member of the Even more remarkable, however, is the sure to continue RIT’s ascent to greatness. men’s hockey program, on receiving message Spiotti conveys to his student-ath- “I think we are on the cusp of doing great his 2010 Frozen Four ring. letes about excelling in the classroom and things that will position us on another 4 The RIT women’s hockey team becoming leaders in the community. level and put us in a far better spot to won the 2012 NCAA Division III RIT’s student-athletes combined to recruit great student-athletes,” said Spiotti. Championship. It is RIT’s lone post a 3.35 cumulative grade-point average “There’s still work to do. I am anxious to do championship by a women’s team. during the 2018-19 season, with nearly 50 it. I want to roll up my sleeves and get to it.” 5 Spiotti presents former women’s Academic All-Americans and 250 Academic soccer star Emily Shoemaker ’16 All-League selections. Joe Venniro with the prestigious Female Athlete of the Year award in 2016. “I thrive on seeing the goodness that our student-athletes bring,” Spiotti said. “I still 6 Spiotti with RIT President Emeritus see myself being very much a student-ath- Honor Lou Spiotti Bill Destler, left, and current RIT lete advocate—a person who wants to see President David Munson, right, at the Honor the milestone by making a gift to the 2019 Liberty League Men’s Lacrosse our athletes get the very best possible ex- Director’s Fund for Athletics or an athletic Championship. The team captured perience they can at the university through team. For details, go to rit.edu/Lou40. its eighth straight league title. the athletics program. I want them to

FALL 2019 | 21 Pari Dukovic ’06 has taken portraits of some of the biggest names in pop culture for magazines including TIME, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, GQ, Rolling Stone, Wired and The New Yorker. He is based in New York City.

From accountant to the stars

Youto sustainable chocolate producer, do

what?RIT alumni have some pretty cool careers

Elizabeth Lamark DOUBLE ISSUE APRIL 29 / MAY 6, 2019 DOUBLE ISSUE APRIL 29 / MAY 6, 2019

THE THE MOST100 INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE MOST100 DWAYNE INFLUENTIAL JOHNSON PEOPLE by Gal Gadot TAYLOR MICHELLE OBAMA by Beyoncé SWIT Knowles-Carter by Shawn Mendes BOB IGER by Michael Bloomberg LEBRON JAMES JANE GOODALL by Warren Buff ett by Leonardo DiCaprio CHRISTINE BTS BLASEY ORD by Halsey by Kamala Harris WILLIAM BARR by Rod Rosenstein BRIE LARSON by Tessa ﬔ ompson

time.com time.com

DOUBLE ISSUE APRIL 29 / MAY 6, 2019 DOUBLE ISSUE APRIL 29 / MAY 6, 2019

THE

MOST100 THE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE MOST100 GAYLE INFLUENTIAL KING PEOPLE by Ava DuVernay XI JINPING by Jon Huntsman SANDRA ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ OH by Elizabeth Warren by Shonda Rhimes TIGER WOODS by Justin Timberlake ROBERT MELLER LADY GAGA by Sally Yates by Celine Dion TARA WESTOER by Bill Gates KHALID by Alicia Keys GLENN CLOSE by Robert Redord

time.com time.com TIME Dukovic photographed six people on the covers of the 2019 TIME 100 Most Influential People issue. Here he is taking the picture of Dwayne Johnson.

Behind the lens of famous photos

APRIL 29 / MAY 6, 2019

ith a wall-to-wall bookshelf that He flips through countless pages to intimate connection DOUBLE ISSUE requires a ladder to retrieve the ensure history doesn’t repeat itself in his with photography at a highest-resting material, Pari work. It’s an approach that has enabled young age, performing W THE Dukovic’s Manhattan studio holds a lot of Dukovic to execute unique concepts every street photography and 100MOST history. Photography history, mostly. shoot, resulting in a successful career of assignment work for a INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE “I would say 80 or 85 percent of them are making matchless images with vibrant newspaper as a teenager in MOHAMED DONALD TRM SALAH by Chris Christie by John Oliver EMILIA CLARKE photography books,” said Dukovic ’06 (pro- color that are unmistakably his. Istanbul before moving to by Emma ﬔ ompson MARLON JAMES by Salman Rushdie fessional photographic illustration). Brimming with portraits of a number the U.S. and enrolling at RIT. JACINDAby Sadiq ARDERN Khan A former staff photographer for The New of high-profile subjects, Dukovic’s portfo- After graduating, his Yorker who now takes commissions from lio includes the likes of former President breakthrough assignment time.com publications all over the world, Dukovic’s Barack Obama, LeBron James, Nicki Minaj, was a 20-plus-page spread of work is renowned. He’s taken portraits of Pharrell Williams and Stevie Wonder, to photos from fashion shows in the biggest names in pop culture, for the name a few. He has also worked with edito- Milan, New York City and Paris biggest brands and publications. rial and commercial clients such as FX, GQ, for New York Magazine in 2012. In the spring, he traveled around the HBO, Nike and Rolling Stone. He became a staff photographer for The U.S. and to England to capture portraits of “This is what I’m meant to be doing,” New Yorker in 2013 before he was 30, mak- Dwayne Johnson, Gayle King, Nancy Pelosi, said Dukovic, who is of Greek descent but ing him the magazine’s youngest person Sandra Oh, Mohamed Salah and Taylor was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. “I ever to have that role. He left in 2018. Swift for the six covers of the 2019 TIME have my dream job. I love the unpredictable “I couldn’t have dreamt that I’d be meet- 100 Most Influential People issue. quality of being a photographer—I could ing all of the people I have photographed Dukovic has an affinity for the DOUBLE ISSUE get a job to go to China next so far and worked on the types of projects APRIL 29 / MAY 6, 2019 past—he minored in art history week. And I love to travel. I have worked on,” Dukovic said. “That is while in RIT’s College of Imaging When you’re a photogra- probably all coming together because deep THE Arts and Sciences (now the 100 pher, one thing you need down I just wanted to make pictures. That’s College of Art and Design)—and MOST to keep in mind is curiosity what I love. I love photography.” INFLUENTIAL regularly references his exten- PEOPLE takes you everywhere.” NANCY sive library to inform his work. PELOSI Dukovic forged an Aaron Garland by Hillary Roham Clinton REGINA KING by Viola Davis ITCH CCONNELL by John oehner ARIANA GRANDE by Troye Sivan ARK ZCKERERG by Sean Parker FALL 2019 | 23

time.com You do what? IBM

Allison Ritter ’14 is the creative director for IBM’s X-Force Command in Boston. She uses her media arts and technology background to help clients learn about the dangers of cybersecurity threats. Boston Globe via Getty Images Globe via Getty Boston

Bringing creativity into cybersecurity

ost people stop playing pretend edge, she is able to present clients with Ritter when she was interviewing at IBM. when they’re kids, but Allison realistic, theatrical simulations that help After her first interview, he knew she would MRitter ’14 (media arts and technol- them learn about cybersecurity risks. be a good fit to help develop IBM’s cyber range. ogy) has made a career out of it. “I’m stepping away from showing a slide “It wasn’t so much a conversation about Ritter is the creative director for IBM’s deck and into giving an experience, and placing a person into a job, because the job X-Force Command in Boston. She helps a lot of that comes from my creative and had never existed before. It was more about clients learn about the dangers of cyber- technical background,” said Ritter. finding someone to go on that journey with security threats by placing them in simu- Ritter and her team invite clients into the us and figure out what the job would be,” lations where their company is the target X-Force Command office and guide them said Barlow. “Allison had done five or six of a security breach. IBM’s X-Force Com- through a pretend scenario based on interviews with other people and they all mand was one of the first cyber ranges to real-life cybersecurity risks. At the end of came back to me and said, ‘would you hire be established, and Ritter was instrumental the simulation, clients have a better idea of her already?’ The rest was history.” in shaping the department when she was how all departments within their organiza- Barlow joked that Ritter is the only em- hired in 2016. tion come together to fix and move past a ployee who has to be told to stop running “The cyber range wasn’t developed when major security breach. As creative director, in the office because she is so excited about I was interviewing for other jobs at IBM, but Ritter has worked with companies, govern- the work she does. According to Barlow, that I was so interested in the idea and I kept mental bodies and militaries from around excitement and her classic, interdisciplin- asking about it,” said Ritter. “In the end they the world. ary RIT background is part of what makes hired me, though the department didn’t “Hearing what top executives from around Ritter so great at her job. exist yet, and I was given the opportunity to the globe are dealing with—listening to their “CEOs and CIOs all over the world seek grow the division.” largest worries and fears and developing her out. She knows how to push you to your IBM’s X-Force Command allows Ritter solutions that support their needs—is the limits to find where things are broken,” to exercise both her creative and technical most fascinating part of my job,” said Ritter. said Barlow. “In three years, she has built a side. By combining her experiences in RIT’s Caleb Barlow ’95 (electrical engineering) reputation of being the most accomplished College of Imaging Arts and Sciences (now ’99 MS (manufacturing management and cyber simulation expert in the world.” the College of Art and Design), the perform- leadership), the vice president of X-Force ing arts program and her technical knowl- Threat Intelligence for IBM Security, met Felicia Swartzenberg ’19

24 | FALL 2019 Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito Tianna Mañón ’15 is editor-in-chief of Open Mic Rochester. As part of her job, she gives presentations at Rochester high schools. Changing the approach to news reporting

ews is more than writing about However, while she enjoyed her time in than I explained it to her,” said Thompson. current events and hot-button the D.C. area, she didn’t stay for long. “So, I asked her, ‘What if I made you edi- Ntopics. For Tianna Mañón ’15 (jour- “The Boys and Girls Club shooting hap- tor-in-chief?’ She looked at me wide-eyed, nalism, political science), news is a tool for pened in Rochester three months into me said, ‘yes,’ and it’s been great ever since.” raising awareness and giving communities being down there and I remember thinking, As editor-in-chief, Mañón helps oversee autonomy. ‘Does the journalism that I’m doing here six people on the Open Mic staff, freelance In 2016, Mañón helped relaunch Open actually matter?’” said Mañón, remember- staff members and interns. In addition to Mic Rochester, a news organization that is ing the shooting that took the lives of three editing and writing stories, she also runs run by and for the black community. At the teenagers and injured four others after a staff meetings, attends local service projects age of 26, the editor-in-chief is using her basketball game at the club. “Maybe my and events, gives presentations to students influence to change how people approach time in D.C. was meant to teach me how to in the Rochester City School District about reporting on minority communities. do this work and bring it back to Rochester.” the work she does and serves as the public “We want our community to use the A year later, Mañón moved back to Roch- face of Open Mic in the community. information we provide to build themselves ester in search of a job that would allow her This year, Mañón was inducted into the up,” said Mañón. “We tend to focus on black to write hard news that made a difference Poynter Institute’s 2019 Leadership Acade- stories and black news, but we don’t always in her community. Relaunching Open Mic my for Women in Digital Media. write about gentrification, the Rochester gave her that opportunity. She was elated to have the opportunity Police Department and those kinds of Shappelle Thompson, the publisher for but said she doesn’t need the validation to topics. We want to dig into the story about a Open Mic who helped relaunch the news know that the work she does matters. 7-year-old who held a reading conference at organization, met Mañón when she was a “When you have an organization that is a local theater.” student at RIT, and they actually collaborat- for and by the people, it helps you ensure Despite her current goals of uplifting the ed on some stories before she graduated. your stories are more accurate and repre- local community, Mañón never planned to “I needed a strong, focused person who sent the community,” said Mañón. “You’re stay in Rochester. She grew up in the city could deliver great content and find people finding new voices, finding new sources and, days after she graduated from RIT, she who were as tough and determined as she and telling stories that are often forgotten.” left for a reporting job at Urban Turf, a real is. As we talked, she saw my vision for Open estate publication in Washington, D.C. Mic and presented it back to me better Felicia Swartzenberg ’19

FALL 2019 | 25 You do what? Jose F. Visconti Jose F. Visconti Jose F. Enrique Castro-Mendivil To make chocolate, Lorenzo Llosa ’04 travels Llosa teaches native farmers post-harvest At his workshop, Llosa experiments with deep into the Peruvian Amazon rainforest to drying and fermenting techniques for their different roasting and tempering techniques to find rare cacao pods grown by native Awajún cacao, so the farmers can get a higher make chocolate bars that are unlike any other farmers. percentage of the profits. in the world.

Chocolate with a conscience

orenzo Llosa ’04 (applied arts and uncover that go way beyond the traditional cess in the value chain,” Llosa said. “While sciences) has a pretty sweet job. chocolate flavor,” said Llosa. “I was amazed the farmers used to get only 2 percent of L As an artisanal chocolate maker to find that you can get floral notes, citrus, the profits, they can now earn 8 percent and and co-founder of Elemento, a sustainable fruit, intense chocolate and nutty flavors, just hopefully find it more rewarding.” chocolate company in Peru, Llosa is intro- from the different cacao beans that you use.” Back in Lima, Llosa and a team of five ducing people to unique flavors of choco- Llosa and Visconti wanted their choc- can be found in the Elemento workshop late that aren’t found in most candy aisles. olate to have these unique flavors. They tempering and putting the chocolate in re- He also takes pride in using his company to also wanted to help protect Peru’s natural cycled packaging. Each finished bar shows help protect the native cacao varieties of the diversity of cacao varieties, which is being the roast used, the community it came from Amazon basin and empower the indigenous threatened by large-scale farming. After and the date it was created. farmers who live there. connecting with the Awajún communities, Llosa said he uses the communications, “I work from bean to bar—meaning I’m indigenous farmers who grow different web development and graphic design skills involved with the whole creation process,” organic varieties of cacao deep in the Am- he learned at RIT to run other parts of the said Llosa, who lives in Lima, Peru. “But it azon basin, Llosa had found their perfect Elemento business and his own advertising wasn’t enough for me to just run a business, ingredient. agency on the side. It was through a pro- I wanted to help others and do something However, the commute to the Awajún gram at the IPP Peruvian Advertising Insti- my children could be proud of.” proved to be quite challenging. After riding tute that he made the connection to live in Since starting the company in 2016 with in a small plane to the Amazon, Llosa would Rochester for a year and earn his bachelor’s his brother-in-law, Jose Visconti, Llosa has make a six-hour drive through the jungle, degree at RIT. sold about four tons of chocolate. Elemen- take a one-hour steam boat ride down the Elemento chocolate is sold in stores and to has also won International Chocolate Marañón River and hike for seven hours to coffee shops in Peru and online through Awards for its white chocolate and 70 the villages. He would live with different social media. It also has been sold at Shop percent chocolate bars. However, the inspi- communities for weeks at a time to gain One on the RIT campus. As the business ration for Elemento’s chocolate originally their trust and teach them post-harvest grows, they hope to work with more native came from the founders’ love of unique techniques. communities and sell the chocolate around coffee and wine. “We figured out that if we train native the world. “Like with coffee and wine, in chocolate farmers in the fermentation and drying pro- there is a world of flavor notes you can cess of cacao beans, we can eliminate a pro- Scott Bureau ’11, ’16 MBA

26 | FALL 2019 Lorenzo Llosa ’04 is co-founder of Elemento, a sustainable chocolate company in Peru. Enrique Castro-Mendivil FALL 2019 | 27 You do what? Tamara Bizjak Tamara Margot Sandy ’08, ’12 MS is a self-employed product development consultant who works with inventors and entrepreneurs all over the world. Traveling the world creating products

argot Sandy ’08 (electrical me- “I just began talking to a lot of people She also makes it a point to work with chanical engineering technology), about start-ups, and once I figured out there the next generation of entrepreneurs, M’12 MS (product development) was an opportunity to also work with in- speaking at youth STEM conferences has set her sights on getting to work with ventors and that there was a need for what such as Tech Savvy. as many entrepreneurs around the world as I was offering, I started to travel to commu- “Having a speaker who not only inspires she can. nities around the world where there were our girls and parents but also illuminates The author, businesswoman and educa- high numbers of inventors, innovation STEM in a fun, relatable way is so import- tor has been a self-employed product devel- hubs, if you will.” ant,” said Tamara E. Brown, who founded opment consultant for the last two years, While at RIT, Sandy combined athletics, the national program for girls. working with people who want to turn their serving as captain of the women’s basket- One of the biggest challenges as an ideas into new products or businesses. ball team, with her coursework in electrical entrepreneur is knowing who can answer “I wanted more control over the projects mechanical engineering technology. questions about building a business. That that I worked on, and the people that I worked She spent nearly 10 years working in is why she wrote If You Build It, LIFE Will with,” said Sandy, which is why she started industry and has experience commercializ- Come, which is about the importance of her business, In The Now. ing more than 200 products, including toys building trust by providing common experi- She works with inventors and entre­ as a product development engineer with ences. The book was published in 2017. preneurs from Thailand to Malta to South Fisher-Price. “I love to create. I love to help and I love Africa. She has spoken at innovation Last spring, she taught 18 RIT manufac- to teach,” Sandy said. “Everything that I do conferences and inventor workshops turing and mechanical engineering now is around those three elements, and in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. technology students via livestream, that has helped me get satisfaction in what She also began working with universities presenting classes from her current home I am doing.” and attending conferences where she could in London, as well as the other cities and talk about the product development process. companies where she was consulting. Michelle Cometa ’00

28 | FALL 2019 GRID Alternatives Berlyn Hubler ’16 MS installs solar power systems as a tribal program coordinator for the Oakland, Calif.-based GRID Alternatives. Working toward clean power for all

espite significant The company works with tribes to install We’re giving them the technology, the train- technological solar electric systems ranging from single ing, and working as a team with the tribe to Dadvances, clean, rooftop solar installations to large-scale find funding, so they can keep doing these affordable power remains projects that meet the energy needs of an projects sustainably. The cost-savings alone out of reach for most of the entire community. allows tribes to serve their communities world’s population. Berlyn According to Hubler, solar power projects more efficiently, so when they do spend Hubler ’16 MS (sustainable have largely bypassed tribes because the money, it stays within the community and Berlyn Hubler systems) is working to tax incentive (investment tax credit) that is their local economy.” change that dichotomy. responsible for the leap in installed solar One particular project has left a lasting The Golisano Institute for Sustainability projects in the United States “is inaccessible impression on her. (GIS) graduate serves as tribal program to these communities due to their lack of “A Navajo elder with no electricity and no coordinator for Oakland, Calif.-based GRID tax appetite.” running water lived right next to the high- Alternatives, a nonprofit organization that “Our work can sometimes be misperceived way and a major electrical line—her home installs solar power systems and provides as service or helping, but it’s important to was the only one not connected to the grid job training for underserved communities understand that Native Americans are because of land-rights issues,” Hubler said. in the United States, Mexico, Nicaragua and extremely resilient and I’m just here to “Her system had been down for several Nepal. connect them to resources and share my years and her granddaughter contacted us “I’ve always been interested in sustain- knowledge about solar and energy efficiency,” after trying to get help from the community ability,” Hubler said. “At GRID, our vision is Hubler said. (local Navajo chapter). a transition to clean, renewable energy that Hubler said she applies the three primary “After we refurbished her system, we includes everyone.” tenets of sustainability—environment, were driving away and you could see her The Denver resident and her team members economics and social—she learned at RIT to living room light on from the highway,” she serve tribal communities outside regions her job every day. added. “It was such a powerful image to see where GRID Alternatives offices are located “What I do now requires all three,” her with electricity again.” “so it is crucial that I travel with the construc- she said. “Tribes have a history of energy tion team and assist with projects,” she said. exploitation and exploitation in general. Rich Kiley

FALL 2019 | 29 You do what?

Frank Selvaggi ’81 has worked with Sarah Jessica Parker since the 1980s. She introduced him to other actors who needed accounting services. Patrick McMullan Patrick 30 | FALL 2019 Accountant to the stars

rank Selvaggi ’81 (accounting) investments. Selvaggi is involved in Throughout his career, recognized early on that he almost every financial aspect of his Selvaggi has provided Fwasn’t cut out for a typical 9-to- clients’ lives. 5 desk job. But he never could have “If they’re renovating a house, I’m home office services to imagined that answering a classified at site meetings. If they’re looking hundreds of entertainers ad for a rock-and-roll accountant to buy property, I’ll go on field trips and celebrities, including would lead to a career as a trusted with them to check it out. My best the only woman, he says, financial advisor to the biggest stars advice to my clients has always been who has ever stopped in the entertainment industry. ‘pay your taxes and don’t spend too him in his tracks. “When After a brief stint managing the much money.’” tour accounting for rockers Def One of his clients, Abbi Jacobson, you’re 24 years old and Leppard, U2 and several members of star of Comedy Central’s Broad City, you meet Kathleen Turner Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street band, has worked with Selvaggi for years. at the height of her career, Selvaggi’s career really took off in “He’s supportive, encouraging and there is nothing like it. She 1983. He was recruited by Manhattan­ hands-on with his clients, which was gorgeous and tall based accountant Abe Altman. allows me to work on my various and imposing. She was a Altman asked him to work with the projects while feeling safe and taken 17-year-old daughter of one of the care of in regards to my business,” movie star.” firm’s clients, who was starring in a Jacobson said. “I also often ask his television show and needed someone advice regarding dogs, it’s not just to file her tax return. Selvaggi agreed finances.” to meet with the young actress—Sarah Selvaggi said he can understand Jessica Parker, who just finished one why people in the outside world season on the 1980s sitcom Square would view his job as glamorous, but Pegs. he credits his down-to-earth clients That professional relationship led for keeping him grounded. “I’m to a slew of 20-something actors who really an introvert who chooses not hired Selvaggi as their accountant, to attend movie premieres or other including Robert Downey Jr., Parker’s red carpet events. My clients would boyfriend at the time. rather know that I’m at the office In 1986, Selvaggi accepted an offer managing their finances.” from Altman to become a partner Selvaggi’s firm was recently in a new firm. Today, Selvaggi, who acquired by Focus Financial and still manages Parker’s finances, is he is planning to retire in the next founding and managing partner of few years. He is looking forward the entertainment accounting firm to spending more time with his Altman, Greenfield and Selvaggi, and husband, Bill Shea, while continuing represents A-listers Anne Hathaway, his work as an advocate for the gay Jessica Lange, Edward Norton, Jimmy community. Fallon and Alan Cumming, among “One thing that I’ve learned is others. that life gives you a finite number of He was also named one of “Holly- possibilities,” he said. “Doors open wood’s 25 Top Business Managers of and it’s up to you whether you walk 2017” by The Hollywood Reporter, and through those doors. If I hadn’t taken Selvaggi still has a copy of his his company recently opened anoth- my dad’s advice and walked through student identification. He has er office in Los Angeles. that door, my life would have been fond memories of RIT. “I was 25 years old when I was completely different.” asked to become a partner in the firm,” said Selvaggi. “I asked my fa- Vienna McGrain ’12 MS ther what I should do. He told me to take the job and be my own boss.” The firm files tax returns, helps with estate planning and guides

FALL 2019 | 31

Faculty profile Maureen Valentine She enjoys being an helped found the adviser to student Women in Technology clubs, such as the program in the American Society of College of Engineering Civil Engineers. Technology.

Maureen Valentine

While working on a project to refinish a What drew you to failure. The retaining wall involved in research to classic mahogany powerboat with her civil engineering and calculation failed; luckily no engage with faculty. Under- husband, Maureen Valentine went into eventually teaching? one was hurt. And we even- graduate research is becom- engineer mode. She wanted to hang A love of geology. I hit it off tually fixed it. We, as faculty ing more the norm. the beautiful 1958 Century Boat upside with one of the civil engi- members, bring our own ex- down in the family garage for easier neering faculty at Tufts and periences into the classroom Are students access to the hull, but wondered if its he showed me how geology and try to show students that different today? weight would send the ceiling crashing was important to civil engi- what they are learning has an In one sense, the students down. Her calculations, measurements neers. I often remember his impact on what they’ll do as have changed quite a bit. and strategy early in the project saved personality and said, a practicing engineer. They are looking for material the garage. ‘I need to be like that in the in quick sound bites, they are Attention to detail is one of Valentine’s classroom—someone that How did you make happier looking at a video on strongest qualities. That, along with her connects.’ That can have your way to RIT? their screen than a talking collaborative spirit and fun approach to such an impact on a student. My husband, Scott, was leav- head in front of the class- complicated projects, has made her a ing the Navy and we wanted room. But in another way, successful engineer and teacher. What types of projects to come back to Rochester. they have not changed. She first became interested in did you work on? It was the early ’90s, the Because we are career engineering when as a child she saw her As a practicing engineer for economy was slow, and I was focused, they are here father’s blueprints and engineering proj- about 10 years, I was doing looking for jobs. He found because they want to be ect specs. He was a civil engineer in the some really cool things, the RIT posting and said I engineers, they want to Rochester area. Although she began as designing retaining walls, should do this. And I just design something, to make a psychology major at Tufts University, huge embankments, dams. loved it from Day One. Im- their community better. she transferred into the civil engineering I was at a company that mediately, I loved being here, They come with their own program there after seeing some of her worked with Disney. There helping the students learn. expectations, but it is still roommate’s interesting work in the field. was a major failure that Just to see them grow and all about, ‘I want to get as “I never looked back,” she said. drained an entire canal at change over the five years is much as I can from these Valentine, interim department chair Epcot. It failed late on a amazing. amazing faculty and then of the civil engineering technology, Friday night, but it drained go apply it.’ And that hasn’t environmental management and safety all of Epcot, and suddenly How has teaching changed changed at all. department in the College of Engineer- none of the boats could run. from when you began? ing Technology, has been at RIT since Talk about pressure! All they One of the differences is the How do you want 1992. She has been a faculty member, said was, you’ve got to solve demand on faculty time. to be remembered? department chair and associate dean this! It was crazy. When I started, it was pri- As a teacher. You can use all of the college. She has been honored marily teaching and service the formal words, professor, as Engineer of the Year by the Roch- How would you use for the department and instructor, but in the end it’s ester Engineering Society (2013) and an experience like that college—the focus was on really teacher—whether it’s received RIT’s Changing Hearts and in the classroom? the classes and the students. teaching the foundations for Minds Award (2012), which is given to By showing the students Now, it’s about research as a class or how to handle life an advocate for women faculty and that what they are learning well. I think it is a challenges, I’d like to be students. matters. I can teach a theory challenge for younger remembered as someone and I can teach them a series faculty. But students are open and willing to help. of equations, but I can also adjusting to that. They are show them pictures of a looking for ways to get

32 | FALL 2019

She is an avid She loves kayaking scrapbooker and and boating. wood worker.

Valentine can cut cabochons, a type of gemstone, for jewelry. She learned this working with her father who owned L & T Gems for several years after a long career as an

engineer.

Elizabeth Lamark

FALL 2019 | 33 Alumni Updates

Jessica Salamone ’99 is director of Genetic Counseling and Cancer Risk Assessment at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in A. Sue Weisler Rochester. “It’s a privilege to sit with women making life-and-death decisions around cancer,” she said.

RIT’s first genetic counselor empowers women

uring a single year, Jessica Salamone The process begins with a patient consul- took classes in psychology and social work. ’99 (biotechnology) will counsel tation and a conversation about instances She shadowed genetic counselors at the Dthousands of women on their of cancer across three generations of an University of Rochester Medical Center hereditary cancer risk. individual’s family history. If the patient and pursued co-ops at the Federal Drug Salamone, director of Genetic Counseling wishes to pursue genetic testing, a blood Administration and the National Institutes and Cancer Risk Assessment at Elizabeth draw or saliva sample is taken and sent of Health. Wende Breast Care in Rochester, sees newly to a laboratory. Her RIT science background and diagnosed patients and high-risk individuals. In two or three weeks, Salamone meets work experiences enabled her to pursue Advances in genetics have led to person- with her patients again to discuss the a master’s degree in genetic counseling alized medicine and a level of knowledge results and next steps. at Johns Hopkins University, a program unavailable to previous generations. This Genetic counseling draws upon a unique that accepted only four students. aspect of health care means that now a skill that comes naturally to Salamone. She Now, Salamone is helping RIT students patient’s individual cancer risk can be is a scientist who advises about medical follow her path. She teaches two genetics quantified based upon their family history management, a teacher who educates about courses in RIT’s biomedical sciences and their genes. genetics and heredity, and a counselor who program and offers guidance to students. “It’s a privilege to sit with women making offers empathy and hope to patients and “I was the first person successfully life-and-death decisions around cancer,” their family members. through RIT to become a genetic counselor,” she said. “Through a blood draw, people are Salamone learned about genetic counsel- Salamone said. “We’ve made dozens of helping their siblings, helping their chil- ing as a career while in her sophomore year genetics counselors since I started teaching dren, helping their future generations. You at RIT. She was an undeclared science major in 2002, and now RIT is one of the most can actually know the rules of engagement, interested in medicine but uncertain about fruitful undergraduate programs for know you have a high risk, and do some- medical school. preparing students for their master’s thing about it. That something may mean a After a genetic counselor visited one in genetic counseling.” surgery, but you don’t have to end up with of her classes for a career talk, Salamone a cancer, and that’s empowering.” declared her major in biotechnology and Susan Gawlowicz ’95

34 | FALL 2019 Ma played on RIT’s women’s tennis team. At top, she is second from the left in the front row on the 1984 team. At bottom, she Fiona Ma ’88 is California State Treasurer. is second from the right in the front row on the 1985 team.

Treasurer has passion for helping the underdog

iona Ma ’88 (accounting) can claim co, where she initially worked for Ernst & that may take a long time to pass but are a lot of firsts. Young and then started her own accounting the right thing to do. She is helped by her F She is the first woman of color practice and became president of the Asian sense of curiosity. and first female Certified Public Accoun- Business Association. This was her first When she doesn’t understand some- tant elected as California State Treasurer. taste of advocating for opportunities for thing, she dives in deep and becomes an She won the position on Nov. 6, 2018, with women- and minority-owned businesses. expert. 7,825,587 votes, more than any other candi- She got appointed to the San Francisco “I sat on the agriculture committee in date for treasurer in the state’s history. Assessment Appeals Board and then later the legislature and I had no clue about agri- Those firsts, though, aren’t what gets was elected to the San Francisco Board of culture,” she said. “I grew up in Long Island Ma excited about being the head banker Supervisors, the California State Assembly and moved to San Francisco. I thought food of the world’s fifth-largest economy. and the State Board of Equalization. came out of the Safeway.” “In life, the biggest and the richest always In the Assembly, Ma passed a law to She changed that by going on 100 dif- get the most, but the smallest and the ones ban toxic chemicals, known as phthalates, ferent agricultural tours and doing her that need the most help don’t necessarily in baby products statewide. research. The same was true with cannabis. get it because it is harder—harder to train, It was the first law of its kind in the “I don’t like being caught saying, ‘I don’t harder to reach them, harder to get them nation, and among Ma’s proudest accom- know,’” she said. enrolled or qualified,” she said. “I’m in a plishments. As treasurer, she likes being out in the position where I can help level the playing She authored 60 bills as an Assembly community, working directly with people field.” member that were signed into law by two and helping them solve problems. Ma, who attended RIT for its CPA-specific different governors. She chaired the Assem- “My life has come full circle,” she said. accounting tract, the co-op program and an bly Select Committee on domestic violence “I am combining my education and profes- opportunity to play varsity tennis, has built and spearheaded legislation that strength- sional experience with my passion for a career out of championing the underdog. ened laws protecting victims of domestic public service and helping people.” After graduating, the Long Island, N.Y., violence. native followed her parents to San Francis- Ma said she is drawn to complex issues Mindy Mozer

FALL 2019 | 35 Alumni Updates Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jason Getz/Atlanta

Jason Getz ’98 took this image of Tiger Woods celebrating after winning the Masters in April. The image brought Getz a little bit of fame.

RIT Tiger snaps Tiger’s roar after historic win

iger Woods captured his fifth Masters And that, Getz said, was an accident. Florida, Alabama and then for eight years championship in April, and Jason Getz grabbed a longer lens so he would at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where T Getz ’98 (photojournalism) captured be able to take pictures of Woods reacting he covered five Masters. the image of a lifetime. as he walked off the course. But then Woods He was laid off in 2013 and started his Getz made a photo of a jubilant Woods in turned—toward Getz—and put his hands in own company in Atlanta. In May, he became his comeback victory for the Atlanta Journal- the air. a staff photographer at Kennesaw State Constitution, which hired him to shoot the “I’m looking at the picture on the back of University in Georgia. golf tournament as a contract photo­grapher. my screen and it’s not his whole body and The photo has given Getz a little bit of It ran in publications across the country, only part of the club and I thought I messed fame. It ran on the front page of the Journal- including the Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia up,” he said. “I thought I should have used Constitution and he was interviewed by an Inquirer and The Oregonian. the wider lens like my colleagues.” NBC-affiliated television station in Atlanta. “Part of this is kind of humbling for me But the photo captures the golfer’s ex- “To me, photography is all about antici- because everyone is saying my picture is pression, which Getz said is why he thinks pating something that might happen and awesome, but I am not the only one who people are drawn to it. “People are saying trying to be in the best place,” Getz said. took this picture,” Getz said. “There are like this is Tiger’s moment. This might be the “Some might say I had the wrong lens on, 10 other photographers sitting next to me, moment of his lifetime.” but I still captured the moment.” but mine is a little different because of the After graduating from RIT, Getz worked way I shot it.” for newspapers in Central Pennsylvania, Mindy Mozer

36 | FALL 2019 Ron Sherman Ron

This image of Hank Aaron rounding the bases after home run No. 715 was taken by Ron Sherman ’64. The home run broke Babe Ruth’s record. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has displayed Sherman’s photo of Hank Aaron since 2009. The museum added a photo credit last October.

RIT alumnus behind iconic baseball photo

on Sherman ’64 (photography) can York office. He turned the negative over Hall of Fame and Museum, said Sherman’s tell you exactly what he was doing to them, still not thinking much of it. credit was added to the exhibit last October. R on April 8, 1974. And now so can The negative stayed in the UPI archives, “We are happy to recognize the photo­ baseball fans. which were sold to Bettmann Archives and grapher of that image now that we know Sherman was at Atlanta-Fulton County then later acquired by Corbis Corp. who to credit,” Strohl said. “It is an endur- Stadium with more than 100 photographers “One day I’m opening up TV Guide and I ing part of our cultural memory regarding capturing the moment Hank Aaron hit his see my photo and there was a Corbis credit Henry’s chase and eventual passing of 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s line,” Sherman said. “I think, ‘Hmm.’” Ruth’s career home run record.” 39-year-old Major League record. Sherman checked the archives of The That pleased Sherman, who has spent his When Aaron rounded second base, he Associated Press, local and national news- career working as a self-employed photo­ was joined by two fans who had jumped the papers, photo agencies and magazines and grapher based in Atlanta covering every- rail and run onto the field. Sherman made he said he couldn’t find another published thing from Jimmy Carter’s campaign for the what has become an iconic image from the photo like his. He reached out to Corbis and presidency to the Olympics. Sherman is in photo box along the third base line. after some negotiation he was able to get the process of producing a book with his “I happened to pick the right place to be the negative returned in 2006. photo collection. at the right time,” said Sherman, who was End of story, he thought. Until last fall He hopes to one day get to the National freelancing for United Press International. when a friend was visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame to see his photo on “After it was published, I didn’t think much Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in display. of it.” Cooperstown, N.Y. “I still can’t believe with all the photo­ Sherman said his name was never Sherman’s photo was included, unat- graphers there that someone else hadn’t attached to the photo because UPI trans­ tributed, in an exhibit called, “Hank Aaron: shot that photo,” Sherman said. “I guess it’s mitted it using only his initials in the Chasing the Dream.” Sherman called the better late than never to get the story about caption. A few days later, the photo editor museum and told them his story. the photographer who made the photo.” at UPI asked Sherman if UPI could borrow Erik Strohl, vice president, Exhibitions the negative to make a print for the New and Collections at the National Baseball Mindy Mozer

FALL 2019 | 37 Alumni Updates

Gabrielle Plucknette-DeVito Michael Schab ’09, left, and Roger Vonderahe ’87 founded NRGXP to help clients through every stage of product development and commercialization. Their first product is a wearable device for horses that allows owners to monitor their animal’s health. Alumni create device to monitor horse health

hen his brother’s horse died of death for horses, and it can develop “We thought that maybe we could do suddenly from colic in 2013, quickly, making it difficult to detect when something about that,” said Vonderahe. WMichael Schab ’09 (computer a horse is left unattended. By measuring NRGXP works to create everything in- engineering) saw an opportunity to create the horse’s biometrics and behavior, house or locally. To achieve this goal, Schab something that would prevent other eques- NIGHTWATCH can alert owners at the and Vonderahe hired Jason Pennell ’09 (in- trians from losing their beloved animals first sign of distress. dustrial design) and Ryan Bowen ’08, ’13 MS to this preventable affliction. NIGHTWATCH is the first of its kind and (computer engineering), ’15 Ph.D. (microsys- Schab and his business partner, Roger the first consumer product for this growing tems engineering) to help with the product Vonderahe ’87 (manufacturing engineering start-up, which helps clients develop and design and software development. technology), collaborated with Protequus, commercialize their products. The company Others on the growing staff include David LLC—a company owned by Schab’s brother focuses on building Internet of Things Campbell ’10 MS (product development), Jeffrey—to make a wearable device for connected devices. Tucker Graydon ’16, ’18 MS (electrical engi- horses called NIGHTWATCH that would There was no off-the-shelf hardware neering) and Justin Lottes, who graduated allow owners to remotely monitor their or software that NRGXP employees could from the University of Southern California animal’s biometrics and behavior. This adapt for NIGHTWATCH. The company had in 2011 with a degree in computer science. device served as a springboard project to create everything from the ground up. With such diverse areas of expertise, the for their start-up company NRGXP. “We blend software development, electrical team’s ambition to work on new projects is “Our product can tell you when your and mechanical engineering and industrial never lacking. They are always pursuing the horse’s behaviors and biometrics stray from design into one workplace,” Schab said. next big opportunity. normal, and we can notify the user using Vonderahe said that it can be difficult “Where we will go next, it can be difficult a distress alert,” said Schab. “The more the for companies to find vendors willing to say,” said Schab. “All we know is that we horse wears it, the more the device learns to work on products and solutions are eager to keep innovating.” and the more accurate it becomes.” that don’t fit nicely into an established Colic is the second most common cause development process. Felicia Swartzenberg ’19

38 | FALL 2019 A. Sue Weisler The Black Awareness Coordinating Committee (BACC) organized RIT’s first student-driven Black Graduation ceremony in May. The event was the latest from an organization that has been moving RIT forward for 50 years. Celebrating 50 years of activism and advocacy

tudents clad in graduation caps and gowns and Kente cloth sashes stood Sin front of a cheering crowd at MAGIC Spell Studios for RIT’s first student-driven Black Graduation ceremony in May. RIT’s Black Awareness Coordinating Committee (BACC) organized the event to celebrate black students who earned their degrees. Black students face some of the lowest degree completion rates nationally. “We know how hard it is to be black in America and how hard it is to get to this point,” said Loryn Johnson, a fourth-year biotechnology and molecular bioscience student from Canal Winchester, Ohio, and vice president of BACC. “Not everyone James Manning ’70, far left, and other original BACC members met with RIT administrators in 1969. makes it to a four-year university or even graduates high school, and so we really wanted to acknowledge their hard work.” “The biggest achievement is the admin- In addition, RIT plans to place a statue The event was the latest contribution istration ultimately did exactly what we of Frederick Douglass in a prominent from an organization that has been moving wanted them to do,” said Manning. “They location on campus to recognize BACC’s RIT forward for 50 years. BACC was founded went out and started recruiting African- contributions. in 1968 and officially recognized as RIT’s American kids to start coming to RIT and “It’s a good feeling to know that RIT is first cultural club the next year. started black study courses. We never still acknowledging us,” said Malik Johnson, James Manning ’70 (business adminis- dreamed it would go as far as it did.” a fourth-year photographic and imaging arts tration), one of BACC’s founding members, Over the years, the group has helped student from Bronx, N.Y., and BACC president. recalled a different RIT when he was a shape RIT. The group has launched long- “This club is very important. The foundation student. Manning said that when the orga- running programs like a memorial cel- it was founded off of has to be known and nization formed, there were about 32 black ebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that we have to make sure it still lives.” students on campus. The group’s first goals evolved into Expressions of King’s Legacy, were to increase representation and educate served as a vehicle for students to explore Luke Auburn ’09, ’15 MS the RIT community about black culture. black culture and offered a scholarship that Despite being met with initial hostility the group hopes to revive this year. and skepticism, the group found success Today, RIT offers multiple courses If you go within the first year of its existence, and exploring black history and culture and Celebrate BACC’s 50th anniversary RIT formed a committee to recruit more has a division of nearly 40 staff members during Brick City Homecoming & Family minority students and agreed to offer black dedicated to diversity and inclusion. Last Weekend. Details at rit.edu/brickcity. history courses. year, 630 black students enrolled at RIT.

FALL 2019 | 39 College of College of Art and Design Engineering Technology Alumni Awards

College Theresa Fitzgerald ’84 Kyle Sayers ’99 Graphic design Civil engineering technology honors Vice president creative, Executive vice president and Sesame Workshop chief operating officer, LeChase Construction

What is your What is your favorite RIT memory? favorite RIT memory? “The design process required “Walking across the stage on The Distinguished Alumni more art supplies, it was not graduation day with my friends a tidy laptop, to work at any and fellow classmates. I was Awards are presented annually location. At the design school, also very proud to be the first in we each had lockers and desks my family to make it through by each of RIT’s nine colleges where most of our art supplies college. But, more importantly, stayed. It was a place where graduating from RIT was only and the School of Individualized most work was done. Plus, possible because of the tremen- Study to an alumnus/a who has it was not easy to walk the dous love and support from my Quarter Mile in a snow storm parents and for that I am grate- performed at the highest levels with a large portfolio and ful, making that day a memory of tackle box full of art supplies. significant importance to me.” of his or her profession or who My favorite memory is working alone and together in the What is your career highlight? has contributed to the advance- studio. We spent many hours, “The day that I became a partner day and night, week and week- at LeChase Construction. I am so ment and leadership of civic, ends, with the class. Together prideful of the accomplishment we worked on projects and to be a part of the leadership philanthropic or service organi- grew into designers and life- group, comprised of the finest long friends.” executives in the construction zations. It is the highest award business at one of the most How did RIT help respected companies in the an RIT college can bestow upon prepare you for success? business. I am very fortunate to its alumni. The 2019 recipients “At RIT, I learned a rigorous have had my journey take me design process and discipline to LeChase as a co-op. LeChase will be honored on Oct. 18. of refining my craft. With my is a special place with a special design education, I developed culture that puts people first and my personal aesthetic, empowers everyone to reach combining principles of their fullest potential. It was the Bauhaus and the modern RIT co-op program that allowed movement to the children’s for this opportunity, and it was market, often not regarded one of my RIT professors, Todd for good design.” Dunn, who suggested I go to LeChase.”

40 | FALL 2019 Golisano College of College of Health Computing and Sciences and Technology College of Liberal Arts College of Science Information Sciences

Edward Shanshala II ’85,’87, ’00 MS Kathy Yu ’91 Susan Gordona ’94 Alice Jo Maisel Lichtman ’79 MS Chemistry, biotechnology, Professional and Applied mathematics Computer science health systems admin­istration technical communications Senior vice president of market- Retired principal systems CEO, Ammonoosuc Community Board advisor and place strategy, Fidelity Investments consultant, LPA Software Health Services Inc. former technology executive

How did RIT help What is your What is your What is your prepare you for success? career highlight? favorite RIT memory? favorite RIT memory? “RIT provided me with a theo- “Competing against Intel in the “I’ll never forget my first co-op “I remember the excellent retically sound, pragmatic edu- CPU space when mobile com- at Mobil Oil HQ in Fairfax, Va. classes and instructors. It was cation embedded in a highly puting did not exist in the light, After growing up in a small long before the days of personal collaborative social milieu small notebook category that town outside of Syracuse, N.Y., computers and we would sit that engendered leadership in had yet to be created—Trans- moving to a new state and shoulder-to-shoulder in the each and every one of us who meta Corp. created that space. walking into that huge corpo- computer lab working at the graduated from RIT. Having And leading Microsoft’s mobile rate empire was an exhilarating terminals there. One didn’t multiple degrees from RIT, I division in a significant equity experience, and one that helped dare get up for any reason, and have a deeper understanding, deal with Facebook during the me realize I was not only on the I mean any reason, or you lost appreciation and gratitude for nascent days of social media.” right track with my studies and your seat. One might sit there my RIT experience. Across the my career aspirations, but also for hours at a time. But there continuum of my RIT educa- What is your gave me confidence that I could was also camaraderie among tion, a common thread within favorite RIT memory? do well in the business world. us. I also remember that as the tapestry of my professional “The freezing exposed Quarter Also, one of my first soccer one of the only women in the career is one of lifelong learn- Mile is forever embedded into games at RIT—we were far from master’s program, I detected ing. RIT is that thread which is my memory. As a Hawaiian the best team in the league, but no discrimination from the woven across my career.” girl, that’s how I knew I could we had a great group of ladies. instructors. It was very refresh- endure anything.” We played Ithaca College, a ing and removed irrelevant What is your national champion team that distractions from the learning favorite RIT memory? What does being an just happened to have my twin experience.” “From my health systems ad- RIT alumna mean to you? sister on the roster. We traveled ministration degree, it is having “RIT alumni are famous for down to Ithaca and tied them How did RIT help my son, Spencer, sit with me their work ethic. Some of on their home turf…what a prepare you for success? (age 3-5) while I worked on the that came from the harsh RIT coup that was! I’m still close “My principal interest was in First Class Portal taking my on- winters, and some came from with some of the ladies from developing computer applica- line classes. He at times would the ‘rapid fire’ 10-week quarter that team and will never forget tions for businesses. My RIT type in a response much to the system.” the RIT pride from that day education provided not just a smiles of my cohort colleagues. and the subsequent seasons theoretical basis, but practical He attended my thesis presen- together—playing a sport at a skills and approaches. I was tation, fell asleep under a table, tough school like RIT isn’t easy, able to step into a position im- and luckily he was the only one but is such an integral part of mediately after graduation and who slept through it.” my memories.” make a contribution, validating the outstanding preparation I received at RIT.”

FALL 2019 | 41 College Honors

UpdatesKate Gleason National Technical Saunders School of College of Engineering Institute for the Deaf College of Business Individualized Study

Clayton Turner ’90 Michael Rizzolo ’75, ’78, ’86 MS Jane M. Elliott ’88 Ali Shahidi ’13 Electrical engineering Basic interpreter training Accounting Applied arts and sciences Deputy director, NASA Langley program, social work, human Chief human resources officer, Chief innovation and client Research Center services management Deluxe Corp. solutions officer, Sheppard, Mullin, President and CEO, Interpretek Richter & Hampton LLP

What is your What is your What is your What is your career highlight? career highlight? favorite RIT memory? favorite RIT memory? “My career highlight has been “The first circuit I designed “Meeting the student who later “My favorite thing about RIT the path and the journey, and that flew in space. The function became my lovely bride— was the student diversity. This how each professional and per- was to prevent a precision laser Kathleen O’Keefe Rizzolo ’81 permeates every memory I have sonal experience has prepared alignment system from over- (nuclear medicine technology).” of RIT. RIT opened my eyes to me for the next. As a migrant driving its mechanical stops in a much larger world out there from Iran, I took a personal risk an instrument that was study- How did RIT help through the eyes of its student by coming to the United States in ing the Earth. It is difficult to prepare you for success? body. Having grown up in a my teens, and I continue to take put into words the excitement “RIT provided both curricular small town and graduating with on new risks, although more and joy of doing that, deliver- and non-curricular opportuni- 38 other kids that began school practical ones. In my current role ing and operating it in space. ties which allowed me to gain together in kindergarten, I as the head of innovation in a Working with a team of people the leadership skills I have did not have an appreciation professional services organiza- to do something for the greater used throughout my career. of what the rest of the world tion, I facilitate experimentation good was amazing. A couple These are the things that, in looked like. I met so many dif- and advocate taking risks by of years later I was trying to turn, allowed me to create a ferent people—both professors developing new client solutions explain it to my then 4-year-old successful national company. and students—that had amaz- and trying out new service deliv- son who was less excited at that As an alumnus, I am fortunate ing backgrounds. It provided ery methods, failing at times, but time, but is now a practicing to have this connection to a me with the drive to see and do learning, growing and moving mechanical engineer.” world-class institution and tens more.” on. The constant pursuit of im- of thousands of fellow alumni provement is very rewarding.” How did RIT help proud of our common roots and How did RIT help prepare you for success? education.” prepare you for success? What does being an “RIT prepared me via experi- “RIT was always pushing its RIT alumnus mean to you? ences doing cross-discipline What is your professors and students to “From time to time, I had to work research (beyond engineering); career highlight? think differently. Anything was late in the lab finishing up proj- being part of a dynamic, diverse “My colleagues and I have possible. I took that sentiment ects, which meant that I would team; and learning how to lead worked diligently and have with me to my first job and miss the last bus to the off- by watching and experiencing overcome many challenges every role after that and it has campus housing. The late-night, leadership in my lab, in my to create a successful service always served me well.” three-mile walk in a Rochester classroom, in my department company devoted to promot- blizzard is the perfect time to and in my college.” ing high-quality communica- think of innovative problem tion access between deaf and solving. Being an RIT alumnus hearing citizens throughout the is about taking risks, promoting United States and beyond.” creativity, being practical and having perseverance.”

42 | FALL 2019 University-wide Awards

Surace named 2019 Outstanding Alumnus

he list of contributions Kevin J. intelligence for software quality assurance. Surace ’85 (electrical engineering Before that, the Inc. magazine 2009 Ttechnology) has made to RIT is long. Entrepreneur of the Year was CEO of Serious He is co-chair of RIT’s $1 billion blended Energy, a cleantech company that sells fundraising campaign and was producer technologies designed to reduce energy and master of ceremonies of the gala in July usage in buildings (where he retrofitted 2018 announcing the campaign. the Empire State Building). The RIT trustee helped start RIT’s West He also was CEO of several other Coast Board of Advisors, and Surace was companies, including CommerceNet, producer and master of ceremonies of a Perfect Commerce, WebKnight and Air night of entertainment in Silicon Valley Communications, and he was EVP of in 2016. network solutions at General Magic, where Surace also secured RIT’s 2018 com- he led the team that developed Portico (the mencement speaker, former FCC Chairman predecessor of Siri) and the OnStar virtual Tom Wheeler, and the 2019 commencement advisor for General Motors. speaker, John Seely Brown, former chief Surace was inducted into RIT’s Innova- scientist at Xerox Corp. tion Hall of Fame in 2012. Surace will be honored for his support of Outside of work, Surace is a music pro- the university with the Outstanding Alumnus ducer and director for orchestra, musical of 2019 award at the Presidents’ Alumni Ball theater and corporate shows at Acclaim on Oct. 18 during Brick City Homecoming & Entertainment Group, which made him the Family Weekend. The award is the highest perfect person to be master of ceremonies honor RIT can bestow upon an alumnus. at the two events. “I think when we are later in our lives, “You look at unique ways you can give we want to look back and give back to back and what talents you have,” Surace Kevin Surace ’85 was producer and master of organizations that helped us,” Surace said. said. “We all should give back in the ways cermonies at the gala announcing RIT’s blended “For me, RIT was a great experience.” that we can.” campaign. Surace uses his talents in the perform- Surace is currently president, co-founder, ing arts to give back to his alma mater. and CEO of Appvance.ai, using artificial Mindy Mozer

Wagners honored as Volunteers of the Year

hris and Staci niversary regional roadshow events leading of more than 100 deaf and hard-of-hearing Wagner had up to the June 2018 on-campus celebration co-op students. Some have graduated and Csome pretty to help build excitement. gone on to become full-time employees of big responsibili- The result: More than 4,000 alumni par- the company. ties as co-chairs of ticipated in the celebration. He also helped launch the Next Big Idea NTID’s 50th anni- The husband-and-wife co-chairs have competition, an annual innovation and en- versary celebration been named the recipients of RIT’s 2019 trepreneurship competition at NTID, which committee. Volunteer of the Year award in recognition ZVRS sponsors. They recruited of their efforts. They will be honored at the Chris is a long-time chairperson of the and led core team Presidents’ Alumni Ball during Brick City NTID Foundation Board of Directors, a members as well Homecoming & Family Weekend on Oct. 18. group of alumni, parents and friends that Chris ’94 and as more than 200 “Becoming co-chairperson of this com- provides support to RIT/NTID. He also was a Staci ’92 Wagner volunteers involved mittee with Chris was the perfect oppor- past regional chapter volunteer and a mem- in the event. They participated in nearly tunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to ber of the NTID alumni chapter. every aspect of the reunion weekend, from all of those who have made NTID what it is “RIT/NTID will always hold a special budgeting, to marketing, to event selection today,” said Staci, who met her husband at place in our hearts,” Chris said. “We have and planning, to overseeing accessibility RIT/NTID when they were students. created so many lifelong friendships and issues. Chris is chief operating officer for ZVRS, wonderful memories which we will cherish Chris ’94 (social work) and Staci ’92 one of the nation’s leading video relay for the rest of our lives.” (social work) also traveled at their own service providers. As a member of the ZVRS expense to each of the 10 NTID 50th an- executive team, he has facilitated the hiring Mindy Mozer

FALL 2019 | 43 October 19

Men’s Hockey RIT vs. Merrimack at 7:05 p.m. Blue Cross Arena Downtown Rochester Free shuttle to game!

44 | SPRING 2019 October 18-20

Student Government Speaker: Anderson Cooper, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.

October 19

Men’s Hockey RIT vs. Merrimack at 7:05 p.m. Blue Cross Arena Downtown Rochester Free shuttle to game! for flexible electronics and addi- tive manufacture. A company he RIT alumna is U.S. Army Brigadier General co-founded in 2016, Zero Valent Key to abbreviations Nanometals Inc., sponsors research Class Notes in this center. 1973 Marc Hess ’73 (GAP) has CAST College of Applied Science published The and Technology (now CET) Gillespie County CAD College of Art and Design Fair, a novel CCE College of Continuing Education (now SOIS) CET College of Engineering Technology about changes in CHST College of Health Sciences and Technology small-town Texas. CIAS College of Imaging Arts and Sciences The book has (now CAD) become an CLA College of Liberal Arts Amazon Best COS College of Science Seller in Southern Fiction. He also FAA Fine and Applied Arts (now CAD) continues to work at building GAP Graphic Arts and Photography (now CAD) advanced telecom in rural Texas. GCCIS B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences KGCOE Kate Gleason College of Engineering 1975 NTID National Technical Institute for the Deaf Lynn Johnson ’75 (GAP), a regular SOIS School of Individualized Study contributor to National Geographic SCB Saunders College of Business magazine, was named a 2019 SVP NTID “Summer Vestibule Program” Pulitzer Prize finalist in feature photography. She and photographer About Class Notes Maggie Steber won the honor for Class Notes are edited for space, clarity their intimate look at the youngest and style. Share information by going to face transplant recipient in the U.S. www.rit.edu/alumni/class-notes. Brigadier General Stacy Babcock has earned three degrees 1977 from RIT. She assumed the position earlier this year. 1965 rigadier General Stacy to truly grow both person- Babcock ’91 (criminal ally and professionally,” she Bjustice) ’96 (educational said. “The ROTC program interpreting) ’98 MS (instruc- was top notch and did more tional technology) assumed than prepare me to become duties earlier this year as the an Army officer. As the only Deputy Commanding General female participating in Ranger at the 63rd Readiness Division Challenge competitions at in Mountain View, Calif. the time, I stepped out of my In her new role, Babcock comfort zone and accom- provides administrative, plished things I never thought equipment and facility sup- I was capable of doing. It did port to 44,000 Army Reserve not just apply to physical ac- soldiers spread throughout a complishments, but every- Marvin Pozefsky ’65 (GAP) attended seven-state region on the thing else in my life. I grew the ASU hockey game at the Gene West Coast. up and found a healthy life Polisseni Center. Great food, game Kevin Hall ’77 (FAA) was tasked “This base operations sup- balance.” and venue, he said. Go Tigers! with rebranding The Bagel Festival, port enables Army Reserve During her time at RIT, which takes place in Monti- units to focus on readiness, Babcock became interested 1966 cello, N.Y., in the Sullivan County training, mobilizing and de- in deaf culture and sign Harry Drake ’66 (GAP) has in- Catskills. The August festival draws ploying to answer our nation’s language. vested his time for over two years as more than 25,000 people for the call,” Babcock said. After graduating from RIT’s a SHINE volunteer, part of a program one-day event. Kevin Hall Design Babcock has served in the criminal justice program, she with ElderSource. Drake, a Florida is an award-winning branding and U.S. Army, in both active duty enrolled in the interpreter resident in St. Johns County, was strategic design firm located just and reserve capacities, for training program and later interviewed by a local paper and dis- outside New Haven, Conn. more than 35 years. She joined was hired as a staff interpreter cussed how the program is important the Army after graduating at RIT, where she completed to seniors and also a fulfilling career Philip Turner high school and decided to the master’s degree program opportunity. ’77 (GAP) has pursue a degree after taking in instructional technology. renewed his night classes while on active Her military career in- 1971 commitment to duty. Her time at RIT included cludes a commission in the Ken Reed ’71 (COS) is a visiting his photograph- participation in ROTC, Military Police Corps, teach- scholar in the School of Chemistry ic roots that which would prove to be a ing military science at UCLA, and Materials Science. This third first began at learning experience and a completion of the U.S. Army attempt to avoid retirement involves RIT. He has turning point. War College and deployments research with undergraduates in been involved “RIT is where I started to Bosnia and Iraq. RIT’s AMPrint Center focused on in various nanometal cluster-containing inks photographic workshops over the

46 | FALL 2019 past couple of years as well as Martin Maenza ’87 (CAST) com- Steven independently continuing to pleted his master’s degree in library Patarini ’89 advance his photographic vision. and information science at Wayne (FAA) was Most notable is his work with Kim State University in December 2018. promoted to a Weston of the Weston photographic He accepted a position as a librar- 5th Dan Master family. ian at the Sterling Heights Public rank in the Library, overseeing outreach and martial art of 1980 technology programming. Tang Soo Do. He has trained at 1988 Middlesex Tang Chetan Kamdar ’88 (COS) was Soo Do Martha DiMeo ’84 (GAP) returned named director of IT Business Re- Academy in Old to Rochester and RIT in spring 2018 to lationship Management and World Saybrook, take part in the Big Shot and Imagine Wide Research and Development of Conn., since RIT: Creativity and Innovation BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. 1997. He works as a technology Festival. It was a wonderful education teacher at the Albert opportunity to get together with 1989 Griswold Middle School in Rocky Dan Dister ’80 (GAP) retired from college pals and a chance to visit the Hill, Conn. federal service in 2017 after 27 years campus after many years. and took a position with the state of 1991 New Hampshire as the chief 1985 Joe Pennell ’91 (CAST) was promoted information security officer. Tom Willard ’85 (CIAS), a deaf in January to vice president at standup comedian, made his Broad- Goldman Sachs working at the Ayco 1981 way debut on Dec. 3 at Carolines on subsidiary in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. James F. Smith ’81 (CCE) received Broadway, one of the premier com- a New York State Senate Citation in edy clubs in the country. Willard recognition for his nomination to spoke and signed his jokes during the New York State Veteran’s Hall Carolines’ New Talent Showcase. of Fame and in appreciation for his Willard started doing standup Joe Burke ’89 (FAA) and his wife, service and sacrifice to the nation. comedy in July 2016 as a contestant Ellen, were in New York City on Feb. in the Funniest Person in Roch- 15, 2019, where their toy, the ester contest. Since then, he has Ollyball, was awarded Toy of the performed at more than 40 venues Year at the Oscars of the Toy in nearly a dozen cities. Industry. The Ollyball was invented and patented by Burke, a former Cory M. Funk creative at Disney Store and ’85 (GAP) was Goodwill Industries. The Ollyball is David “Dave” Goldschmidt ’91 awarded a a ball designed for full-speed, (GAP) was appointed by Midland as lifetime full-force indoor play. the new president of the national achievement division of Midland Paper, award by the Packaging & Supplies. Midland Kansas City National specializes in the sale of Data and publication paper to book Marketing publishers, catalog and direct mail Association. companies, retail companies and He has been employed by the large publication printers. Japs-Olson Company, St. Louis Park, Minn., for almost 30 years. Oscar Gutierrez ’91 Phyllis Bryce Ely ’81 (FAA) was 1987 (GAP) shared commissioned to create the 2018 Matthew Fuller ’87 (CAST) has an exhibition of Park Ave Summer Art Fest poster in been promoted to vice president at his photos Rochester. The poster was awarded Barton & Loguidice. He is a member which were the International Festival & Events of the firm’s facilities practice area. taken during Association Pinnacle Award “Gold: his 65-day drive Best Commemorative Poster.” R. Todd Barber from Johannes- ’87 (KGCOE) burg, Zimba- 1982 was promoted bwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Gary Sutto to Vice Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, ’82 (GAP) President North Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozam- continues American bique, Swaziland and back to photography Enterprise Johannesburg. in Seattle. Customers at Learn more at CallMiner, a 1993 www.GarySutto. Waltham, Elaine Coughlan-Gifford ’89 Grant Senn ’93 (KGCOE) has been com. Mass., developer of interaction (COS), ’92 MS (KGCOE) has been a hired as an engineering project analytics solutions. statistical programmer at Harvard manager by Medtronic Naviga- 1984 for 25 years and attended a tion in Louisville, Colo. Medtronic Michael Patrick ’84 (COS) is a Robin Bridson ’87 (SCB) attended milestone celebration in February. Navigation makes the StealthStation senior Windows engineer in IT the Google Higher Ed Academy in She has appeared and been S8 and AxiEM3 surgical tracking currently employed by Allstate in November at the Google Campus in acknowledged in more than 300 systems used in brain and spine Charlotte, N.C. Cambridge, Mass. medical journal publications. surgery.

FALL 2019 | 47 Tiger Love

Jon Podeszek ’10, ’12 MS and Danielle Furman Podeszek ’11 are ultramarathoners who The couple met as sophomores in a data analysis class. spend their free time training together to run 50-plus-mile races. They were married in August 2012 and live in Buffalo, N.Y.

Ultramarathoners in it for the long haul

f the old saying, “couples who play message asking her out. but as soon as the gun went off, the athletes together stay together” is true, Jon Po- They went on a couple of dates as sopho- shifted into competitive mode. Ideszek and Danielle Furman Podeszek mores, but the relationship fizzled out until From there, they trained together and have it made. the spring track season their junior year. tried 50-mile races, 50-kilometer races and The two are ultramarathoners who spend Danielle also was on the track team as a 100-kilometer races. Jon ran one 100-mile their free time training to run 50-plus-mile javelin thrower. race, which took him 27 hours to complete. races. They have been together ever since. Jon Danielle, who at the time was 15 weeks “We haven’t really found many other proposed in March 2011 during a trip to Las pregnant with their daughter, Natalie, ran couples who do this,” said Jon. “We are an Vegas. 50 miles. anomaly in our group of friends who run “It was during March Madness and I “You find things out about yourself that these.” wanted to watch college basketball and he you didn’t think you were capable of,” Jon The two weren’t ultramarathoners when wanted to go see the fountains,” Danielle said about running for hours. “There’s a they met as sophomores enrolled in a data said. “I was irritated he was rushing me huge high you get.” analysis class. Danielle, who is from Coud- away because I didn’t know he was going to And they were introduced to an encour- ersport, Pa., came to RIT to play basketball propose.” aging community of runners, Danielle said, and study print media. Jon, a Rochester na- They were married in August 2012 and similar to the community the two found at tive and long-distance runner, was interest- now live in Buffalo, N.Y. RIT. ed in engineering and wanted to run with a About four years ago, Danielle, who owns “RIT is where we met. We both are re- Division III sports program. her own graphic design business, and Jon, ally into sports, so we got to continue our Danielle ’11 (new media design) said the who is a product development engineer for athletics there and it helped us become suc- two sat next to each other in class and Jon Avox Systems, were introduced to run- cessful in our careers,” Danielle said. “RIT ’10 (mechanical engineering technology), ning super long distances after they signed kind of did everything for us.” ’12 MS (manufacturing and mechanical up to run a six-hour snowshoe race. They systems integration) sent her a Facebook intended to run it slowly and take breaks, Mindy Mozer

48 | FALL 2019 Ian Ratner ’93 of honorable and faithful service. (CAST) has A ceremony was held on July 6, Graduate co-stars in film with Jeff Daniels been promoted 2018, at the National Museum of to senior the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., director, HR with fellow RIT alumnus Todd Transformation Gates ’97 (SCB) presiding. Technology, at Afterward, Bauer and his family Discovery Inc. went on a two-month “walkabout” In this role, he visiting family, friends and national is leading the global technology parks from coast to coast prior to component of the reinvention of HR settling in Oak Harbor, Wash., to services at Discovery. start the next phase of their lives. Guest Artist Guest 1994 1999 Thomas Macias ’13, right, is co-starring in a movie with actor Jeff Phyllis Daniels, left. The movie has won awards at several film festivals. Amanda Adams ’94 (SCB) released homas Macias ’13 (ap- that he could audition under Don’t Hold plied arts and sciences) one condition—if he went and Your Breath!, Thas made his feature made more copies of the script published by film debut, co-staring with ac- pages that they needed. From the Heart tor Jeff Daniels in Guest Artist. “Jeff and I met a week Publishing. It is The film is the story of before shooting, to run lines an anthology Kenneth (Macias), a young in his studio—just me and his containing aspiring writer, who comes dog,” Macias said. “He is such poetry about the four stages of face-to-face with his hero, a a good storyteller and acting relationships—longing, love, loss legendary, troubled playwright with him is like a team sport.” and liberty. She earlier published (Daniels) who isn’t happy The film was shot over the novel The Sangrita Club. about staging his play in a eight days, with a majority of Robert Jackson ’99 (CAST) small Michigan town. Guest it taking place in a Chelsea Frances R. Drew ’94 MFA (CIAS) self-published his first in a series Artist was originally written as train station. has been accepted into the marine of children’s books titled, A Family a play by Daniels and turned While at RIT, Macias stud- electrical draftsman apprenticeship Like Me. Its theme is based on the into a film by director Timothy program at Electric Boat/General love shared within a newly formed Busfield. Dynamics. blended family from a child’s “Jeff and Tim really took me perspective. under their wing, because it Thomas “Tom” Peeples ’94 (KGCOE), was my first feature film,” said ’03 MS (CAST) was promoted to 2000 Macias. “This was truly a once chief engineer—Akron Test Center / Mark Budosh ’00 (CAST) has been in a lifetime opportunity and I Engineering Technology Lab. promoted to an associate at Barton feel so lucky.” & Loguidice. He is a member of Guest Artist has been the firm’s transportation/highway selected for more than 20 film 1997 practice area. festivals and has already won Andrew Welsh ’97 (COS) was hired awards at several, including as a data scientist for Rackspace Inc. the Hollywood Reel Inde- He relocated to San Antonio, Texas, pendent Film Festival and and will be working to build predic- the Beloit International Film tive models using machine learning Festival. Producers expect the techniques. film to be more widely avail- Gang Aaron able in theaters or streaming Thomas Macias ’13 1998 this fall. “Thomas gives a big screen ied dramatic storytelling and performance, one that is better took part in RIT Players, RIT than 90 percent of big screen Improv and was a Resident performances that will come Advisor. After graduating, he out this year,” said Busfield, started as an apprentice at who is known for his role in the Purple Rose and is still the TV show Thirtysomething. soaking in every aspect of the “So much of the quality of his theater as a stage manager. performance comes from his “Thomas always credits a ability to really listen to Jeff lot of what he’s learned back to throughout the film. That’s RIT,” said Melissa Gilbert, who one of the hardest things for was an actress in Little House young actors to learn.” on the Prairie and producer of Olga Zilberbourg ’00 (SCB) in Macias first connected with the film. “We are very proud September will publish her first Busfield and Daniels while of him and feel that he has a book of fiction in English, Like working as a stage manager great future ahead.” Water and Other Stories. The book is at the Purple Rose Theatre a portrayal of motherhood, of Company, a theater founded To learn more Jeffrey Bauer ’98 (CLA) retired as a immigration and adaptation, and by Daniels in Chelsea, Mich. Watch a trailer for the movie: lieutenant colonel from the United an inside account of life in the The casting director told him http://bit.ly/GuestArtistMovie. States Marine Corps after 20 years Soviet Union and its dissolution.

FALL 2019 | 49 2

1 3

Tiger Cubs

4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12

Hayley (Fisch) Donoghue ’05 Jessi (Board) Znosko ’06 (COS) Kara (Slezak) Hodecker ’07 Alison (Staley) Levey ’10 1 (CIAS) and Sean Donoghue are 4 and her husband, Wade, 7 (CIAS) and Eric Hodecker ’08 10 (CAST) and Jonathan Levey proud to announce the birth of their welcomed Maxwell Avry Znosko in (KGCOE) are happy to announce the ’10 (CAST) welcomed their first second child, Katelyn Rae. She was May 2018 in Farmville, Va. birth of their second daughter, Averie child, a girl named Pecora Marie born in October 2018. James. She was born in March 2019. Levey, in February 2019. Kristine Menkins ’08 (CIAS) Charles Sadler ’94 (CIAS) and 5 and her husband, Nicholas, Sophie Schillaci ’10 (CLA) and Phil Frandina ’11 (SCB) and 2 Katherine Sadler are overjoyed welcomed their healthy baby boy, 8 Mike Boya ’11 (GCCIS) 11 Jessica Frandina ’11 (COS) to announce the birth of their son, Finley Nicholas, in June 2018. welcomed their first child, Everly celebrated the birth of their second Daniel Reyes Sadler. Daniel joined Antoinette Boya, in August 2018 in child, Matthew Avery, in January their family through adoption and Eric Offermann ’10 (KGCOE) Los Angeles. 2019. was born in October 2018. 6 and Sara Carr ’10 (KGCOE) welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth, Elena O’Neill ’10 (CLA) and Aurelkys Estevez Espinal ’12 Merve Evran Ikiisik ’06 in 2018. 9 Kyle O’Neill ’11 (SCB) are 12 MS (CAST) had twins, Arturo 3 (KGCOE) and her husband, thrilled to announce the arrival of and Alonso, in 2018. They turned 1 Bulent, welcomed their first child, their son, Rowan John Edward year old this past December. Alin, in July 2018. O’Neill. He was born in November 2018 in Seattle.

50 | FALL 2019 its new associate vice president Ryan Larcom management consulting firm of marketing strategy. ’07 BS/ME that she founded. Go to (KGCOE) was www.c2consultingassociates.com Donald Gentilcore ’02 (CAST) promoted to for more information. has been promoted to an associ- director of ate at Barton & Loguidice. He is a business design James McNabb ’10 (CIAS) was member of the firm’s solid waste and corporate inducted into the Montville (N.J.) practice area. innovation at Township High School Hall of Fame. High Alpha. In McNabb is founder of McNabb Stu- 2003 this role, he dios in Philadelphia. His cityscape- Ethan Bagley partners with Fortune 500 compa- inspired wood sculptures are ’03 (KGCOE) nies to access transformational displayed around the world. joined J. J. innovation by spinning out new Keller & startups. 2011 Associates Inc. Randal “Randy” (Jackson) Pituk as director of Michael E. Skyer ’07 (CIAS), ’09 ’11 (CIAS) is excited to announce innovation. MS (NTID) was given the 2018 Irving the establishment of a new business Heather Fagan ’00 (CAST) was K. Zola Award for Emerging Scholars called Inka’s Screen Printing based promoted to director of marketing in Disability Studies for his paper, in Austin, Texas. Learn more at at Hope’s Windows Inc. Fagan has 2004 “Bodies in Dependence: A Foucaul- www.inkas-print.com. been employed at Hope’s for more Brian McGrath ’04 (COS) has dian Genealogy of the Americans than 11 years. been promoted to a senior envir­ with Disabilities Acts of 1990 and 2012 onmental scientist at Barton & 2008.” He is a Ph.D. candidate at the Loguidice. He is a member of the University of Rochester. He is also a firm’s environmental practice area. senior lecturer at NTID. 2005 2008 Mike Maeder ’05 (KGCOE) Stephen Morse ’08 (CIAS) got accepted a general engineer married in Kerrville, Texas, on Jan. Mark Hanna ’00 (CAST) is the CEO position with the U.S. Army 4, 2019, to the one and only Tanner of PrecisionPoint Inc. in Carmel, Ind. Evaluation Center at Aberdeen Cardinale, soon to be known as Mr. Proving Ground, advancing from Tanner Morse. Kenyon Zitzka ’12 BS/ME (KGCOE) his previous position as a test retired from the U.S. Navy Reserves officer/engineer at the U.S. Army 2009 after 22 years. Aberdeen Test Center. Rebecca Lane Oesterle ’09 2013 2006 MS (CAST) was elected to the National Board of Directors for the Institute of Packaging Professionals for a two-year term beginning in January 2019. She is currently the senior manager of Mark Struczewski ’00 (CAST) packaging and graphic development hosts the productivity-themed Mark for Just Born Quality Confections in Jessica Beiter ’13 BS/MS (COS) Struczewski Podcast. Every Monday, Bethlehem, Pa. married David Gehlhausen in Wednesday and Friday, he has a Burlington, Wis., on Aug. 3, 2018. conversation with a guest on how Several former, current and future they operate at optimum levels. Find RIT Tigers were in attendance it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. including Kaylin Beiter ’15 (CHST), Jeriann Beiter ’19 (COS), Jane (Litvin) 2001 Jacob ’12 (CHST), Alex McClain ’13 Jeff Fasoldt ’01 MBA (SCB) was BS/MS (COS), Steven Scorse ’14 BS/ appointed as chief financial officer MS (COS) and parents of the bride of DiMarco Group. He has almost 30 John Beiter ’85 (NTID/CAST) and years of extensive financial, opera- Karen Beiter ’88 (NTID/CAST). tional and strategic experience.

2002 April Foster Cooper ’06 MS (CIAS) Stacy Chaet ’09 (CIAS) was named released When the Tide Is Low: one of StudioDaily’s “Exceptional 30 Days of Biblical Encouragement Women in Production and Post” for Those Who Love the Ocean, in for her achievements as a work- January. The book can be purchased flow producer at Sim. She served though Amazon. as workflow producer on Mr. Robot, Master of None and Private Life. 2007 Carl Wade ’07 (CIAS) completed 2010 Roberta Dombrowski ’13 (CIAS) his master’s degree program in Camille Chism ’10 MS (CAST) is has joined Pluralsight’s Boston Siddartha Bhattacharya ’02 MBA cyber security from Southern principal at C2 Consulting Associ- office as the product manager (SCB) joined Syracuse University as New Hampshire University. ates, a packaging and supply chain for Role IQ product line.

FALL 2019 | 51 Class Notes

Myrtle Beach, S.C. They met on their Alumni tour Iceland by design fifth day at RIT and quickly became best friends before beginning to date during the summer after their freshman year. RIT alumni in attendance included best man Thomas Bentley ’16 (GCCIS), bridesmaid Samantha Chalut ’15 (CIAS), Stephen Burke ’10 (SCB), Emalee Shea ’13 (CAST) and AJ Michael Coles ’14 (GCCIS) and Broderick ’13 (CLA) exchanged Jocette (Rioux) Coles ’15 (SCB), ’16 wedding vows on June 30, 2018, in MBA (SCB). Richmond, Va. The two met at RIT in 2011 while both were working on 2016 campus during the summer. Family, friends and many RIT alumni attended the wedding including maid of honor Kate Goodridge ’12 (CIAS), bridesmaid Sarah (Shea) Katharine Hallenborg ’16 (professional photographic illustration) photographic ’16 (professional Hallenborg Katharine Dempsey ’08 (COS), best man Participants visited Gullfoss, a waterfall located in the canyon of the Jaime Dodge ’15 (CAST) and Hvítá River in southwest Iceland, during the eight-day alumni trip. groomsman Steve Ulrich ’12 (COS). 2014 articipants on an alumni to innovation and cultural Kristi Mitchell ’14 MBA (SCB) is trip to Iceland were re- change and having it come the founder and digital marketing Pminded that good things from the highest possible consultant at Phase 2 Marketing. can come in small packages. platform was really inspiring,” Mitchell specializes in HubSpot “It was really astounding to he said. but also works on a variety of other experience this small remote Kristine Fitzgerald ’88 platforms to suit customer needs. island culture which has made (graphic design) said it was use of all of its natural resources great to see design through Victoria McGowen ’16 (CIAS), ’17 to make it not just livable but the lens of a different culture. MS (GCCIS) received praise for her by design an enjoyable place to Fitzgerald runs her own busi- work on Spider-Man: Into the live,” said trip leader Josh ness, 2k Design, in Clifton Spider-Verse. She is a pipeline Owen, professor and chair of Park, N.Y. technical director for Sony Picture the industrial design program “The different perspectives Imageworks and worked on the in the School of Design. of everyone participating in award-winning Spider-Man movie, Owen led the eight-day de- the trip also made for a lot of which took home the Academy sign-centric tour at the end of interesting conversations,” she Award for Best Animated Feature March during Iceland’s biggest said, adding that participants Brooke Piraino ’14 (CHST) and and the Golden Globe Award for design festival called Design- came from a variety of disci- Chad Harris ’13 (CAST) married on Best Animated Feature Film. March. The group of 17 went on plines, including business, Oct. 19, 2018, in Golden, Colo., after design-focused tours of the city, biology as well as design. 10 years of dating. 2017 met with local designers and Owen said he hopes to lead Michael Cattalani ’17 (COS) is attended design presentations another trip in the future. 2015 a first-year osteopathic medical and workshops. They also saw “The group was so Mariah Texidor ’15 (CIAS) cel- student at New York Institute of the Northern Lights. impressive,” Owen said. “It ebrates two years of employment as Technology in Old Westbury, N.Y. A highlight, Owen said, was a pleasure to see not just a print specialist at 70 South Print & was the opening day talk by through our own eyes individ- Gallery in Morristown, N.J. Hongbo Miao ’17 MS (GCCIS) was the Prime Minister of Iceland, ually but through our fellow promoted from software engineer Katrín Jakobsdóttir, who spoke traveler’s shared perspectives to senior software engineer at about the impact of design on what makes Iceland and its Origin. In his free time, he created culture. DesignMarch so special.” a new modern email client, Light- “It was so heartwarming For updates on trips ning Mail. The email client received to see design being not just coming in 2020, go to more than 1,900 internal Microsoft lauded but deeply important www.onwardtravel.co/rit. users from November 2017 to May 2018. 2018 Eric Tong ’18 (SOIS) is working on his master’s degree in profes- sional studies with a concentration in project management and new venture development.

Are you moving? The RIT Icelandic design immersion group soaks it up in the If your address changes, send an Chelsea Weidman ’15 (COS) and Blue Lagoon. email to [email protected] or call Kyle Burke ’15 (CHST) were the office toll-free at 866-748-2586. married on July 16, 2018, in North

52 | FALL 2019 You Can Use Your IRA

to Help a Student Finish Their Degree A Charitable IRA Rollover also helps you at tax time

Kathleen and Bruce Martin know what it means for students to reach the limits of their resources. During her career at RIT/NTID, Kathleen saw countless students work for two years, three years, or longer to get their degrees, only to reach a point where their tuition funding ran out.

Close to finishing, these students faced losing all they’d worked for. “When I was working, I saw Kathleen and Bruce knew they were in a position to help these students. students who, because of limited They created the Martin Family Endowed Scholarship using a Charitable loans, family illnesses, job losses, IRA Rollover, and were able to make a gift that was meaningful for them etc., found themselves unable to and the students they support. pay for their last few semesters of college. That affected Bruce and me deeply, and it’s why we wanted to create this scholarship.” —Kathleen Martin, former faculty/staff

To learn how to use your IRA, or other retirement plan, to support the areas of RIT that you care about, please visit rit.edu/giving/finisheddegree and download our free Charitable IRA Rollover Guide. Prefer to talk to someone? Call Hal Burrall at 585-475-3106 or email us at [email protected].

It is more than a donation. It is your legacy.

© 2019 Rochester Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Rochester Institute of Technology | One Lomb Memorial Drive | Rochester, New York 14623 In Memoriam

Alumni Martin R. Van Tassel ’53 1962 1967 1973 1922 (KGCOE) Feb. 8, 2019 William T. Lesio ’62 (CCE) Richard A. Ketchum ’67 (CCE) Robert H. Hopf ’73 (KGCOE) J. Alexander Scott ’22 (FAA) Marilyn (Norcross) Cranson March 24, 2019 Dec. 20, 2018 Jan. 19, 2019 March 13, 2019 ’53 (SCB) Jan. 21, 2019 Lawrence C. Phillips ’62 Norman C. Reichhart ’67 Kenneth J. Cole ’73 (SCB) (CCE) Jan. 9, 2019 (CCE) March 16, 2019 Feb. 3, 2019 1937 1954 Thomas J. Zillioux ‘67 (CCE) Kurt H. Kreckel ’73 MBA Bernice (Naylor) Clarke ’37 Robert L. Adams ’54 (FAA) 1963 Jan. 10, 2019 (SCB) March 16, 2019 (SCB) March 12, 2019 Dec. 20, 2018 William V. Gaffney ’63 (CCE) Judith (Van Peursem) Doell Charles B. Gibson ’54 (GAP) Jan. 16, 2019 ’67 (SCB) April 4, 2019 1974 1942 Aug. 28, 2018 Edward E. Stone ’63 (CCE) Keith G. Roberts ’67 MFA Albert L. Herpich ’74 (CCE) John B. Bareis ’42 (KGCOE) Thomas G. Berl ’54 (KGCOE) Oct. 13, 2018 (FAA) Feb. 11, 2019 Feb. 16, 2019 March 25, 2019 March 12, 2019 Wayne O. Chrisler ’63 Kathryn E. (Katenkamp) (KGCOE) Aug. 14, 2018 1968 Mitra ’74 (FAA) Dec. 2, 2018 1945 1955 Glenn Edward Rice ‘68 (CCE) Bruce W. McLaughlin ’74 Stirling Muck ’45 (KGCOE) Cecily Delafield ’55 (FAA) 1964 March 21, 2019 (GAP) Dec. 7, 2018 Jan. 1, 2019 Jan. 28, 2019 Lloyd F. Bean ’64 (CCE) M. Reynolds Dodd ’68 (GAP) Linda J. (Eckert) Kuechler ’74 Richard Bergen ’55 (GAP) Jan. 8, 2019 March 18, 2018 MBA (SCB) Jan. 3, 2019 1946 Jan. 31, 2019 Lawrence P. Higbee ’64 (CCE) Laurance R. Sandstrom ‘68 Angeline (Tritto) Norton ’46 Jan. 14, 2019 (KGCOE) April 2, 2019 1975 (COS) Dec. 22, 2018 1956 Stephen C. Huie ’64 (GAP) Thomas C. Hall ’75 (CCE) Sam L. Giordano ’56 (CCE) Feb. 24, 2019 1969 Jan. 3, 2019 1947 Dec. 24, 2018 D. Eugene Callender II ’64 Theodore Kotin ‘69 (CCE) Karen A. (Burdick) Edwards Emily (Biron) Morante ’47 Carol (Mitchell) Logan ’56 (GAP) Feb. 22, 2019 March 21, 2019 ’75 (CLA) March 20, 2019 (COS) April 3, 2019 (FAA) Jan. 17, 2019 Robert J. Feeley ’69 (CCE) Stephen P. Sandle ’75 Jack A. Barach ’47 (GAP) Sydney S. Baker ’56 (GAP) 1965 March 11, 2019 (KGCOE) April 24, 2019 March 16, 2019 Jan. 2, 2019 Henry S. Wilczewski ’65 Eileen (Brodsky) Grossman Alfred M. Gordon ’75 (SCB) (CCE) March 8, 2019 ‘69 (SCB) Feb. 2, 2019 Jan. 4, 2019 1948 1957 William H. Rudloff ’65 (CCE) Kenneth J. Pamatat ’75 (SCB) Donald A. Stevens ’48 Constantine Stefanou ’57 Dec. 27, 2018 1970 March 16, 2019 (KGCOE) March 10, 2019 (CCE) Feb. 22, 2019 Ronald J. Bertie ’65 (CCE) Clyde J. Rehberg ’70 (CCE) Rose (De Gasperis) Contreras John R. Fetzner ’57 (CCE) March 2, 2019 Dec. 22, 2018 1976 ’48 (SCB) Jan. 23, 2019 March 18, 2019 Martin J. Reilly ’65 (CCE) Robert A. Hogarth ’70 (CCE) Edward R. Bohrer ’76 (CCE) Harvey N. Young Jr. ’57 (CCE) Jan. 18, 2019 Dec. 15, 2018 Feb. 24, 2019 1949 Jan. 2, 2019 Arnold G. Huyck ’65 (KGCOE) Howard D. Cook ’76 (CCE) Bernard W. Amos ’49 Dec. 7, 2018 1971 March 28, 2019 (KGCOE) March 23, 2019 1958 William N. Bliss ’65 (SCB) Clark E. Harris ’71 (CCE) Lawrence G. Ferris ’76 (CCE) Richard W. Carlson ’58 March 26, 2019 April 5, 2019 Feb. 7, 2019 1950 (SCB) March 5, 2019 Robert S. Stephenson ’65 Nicholas R. Pasnak ’71 (CCE) Michael F. Marron ’76 (SCB) Frank Bellapianta ’50 (CCE) (SCB) March 26, 2019 March 7, 2019 Feb. 15, 2019 Feb. 6, 2019 1959 James H. Hawkins ’71 (CCE) Charles W. Pierson ’50 Robert G. Blakemore ’59 1966 March 29, 2019 1977 (KGCOE) Jan. 29, 2019 (CCE) April 9, 2019 Warren D. Ellis ’66 (CCE) Richard J. Adamski ’71 (CCE) William J. Lennon ’77 (CCE) Edward Vidler ’50 (SCB) Dec. 12, 2018 Feb. 3, 2019 April 10, 2019 Jan. 12, 2019 1960 William R. Webster ’66 (CCE) Dean A. Beasom ’71 (GAP) Daniel J. Buccini ’77 (CCE) Harold F. Granger ’60 (CCE) Jan. 9, 2019 Jan. 13, 2019 March 7, 2019 1952 Jan. 24, 2019 Barnett C. Young ’66 (GAP) Caryn K. Kolts ’71 (SCB) Wilhelm E. Haas ’77 (CCE) Marianne Schlagenhauf ’52 Serge Hornos ’60 (FAA) Nov. 20, 2018 March 12, 2019 Feb. 5, 2019 (FAA) March 7, 2019 March 8, 2019 Robert J. Mattice ’66 (KGCOE) Gary R. Welsh ’71 (SCB) Thomas H. VanGriethuysen David F. Vanable Sr. ’60 Jan. 28, 2019 March 6, 2019 ’77 (CCE),’82 (CCE),’84 (CCE) 1953 (GAP) March 6, 2019 Michele (Love) Hills ’66 (SCB) Feb. 13, 2019 Michael Anthony Lupo ’53 Paul J. Cubeta ’60 (GAP) Feb. 11, 2019 1972 Vern M. Williams ’77 (GAP) (FAA),’81 (FAA) Sept. 3, 2018 Feb. 10, 2019 Rosalie S. Rosini ’66 (SCB) Warren Jamison ’72 (GAP) Dec. 29, 2018 Richard O. Hugendubler ’53 Dec. 23, 2018 June 11, 2018 David P. Pieluszczak ’77 (GAP) March 19, 2019 1961 Dale T. Stothard ’72 (CCE) (KGCOE),’78 (KGCOE) Leo A. Nugent ’53 (KGCOE) Anne (Wing) Komara ’61 Jan. 4, 2019 Feb. 6, 2019 Jan. 27, 2019 (SCB) Jan. 28, 2019 Jerome M. Kochman ’72 (SCB) Mark Joseph Cook ’77 March 22, 2019 (SCB),’78 (SCB) Feb. 24, 2019

54 | FALL 2019 Remembering 1978 Glenn Robinson Simmons 1995 David Alan Lockwood ’78 ’84 (FAA) Jan. 26, 2019 Geoffrey G. Gausman ’95 Kristine (Pierce) Brassie (CCE) Jan. 18, 2019 Christopher J. Blair ’84 MBA (SCB) Jan. 31, 2019 Laslo S. Jacobs ’78 (CCE) (NTID) March 9, 2019 Feb. 25, 2019 Edward Francis Vanduzer 1998 James E. Plumadore ’78 ’84 MBA (SCB) Feb. 11, 2019 Paul C. Storms ’98 (CAST) (SCB) Jan. 7, 2019 March 15, 2019 Gerald J. Maden ’78 MBA 1985 (SCB) March 2, 2019 Ruby Glicksman ’85 (CLA) 1999 James F. Clouser ’78 MS April 24, 2019 Kristine M. Pierce Brassie ’99 (SCB) March 15, 2019 Lisa M. Brown ’85 (SCB) (CAST) April 3, 2019 Dec. 18, 2018 Andrew C. Johnson ’99 1979 Philip A. O’Brien ’85 MBA (CAST) March 5, 2019 Thomas Charles Emens ’79 (SCB) Jan. 31, 2019 (CCE) March 29, 2019 2000 Raymond Whitham ’79 1986 Michael A. Jachimowicz ’00 (CCE) Feb. 5, 2019 Desiree L. Benet ’86 (CLA) (CAST) Feb. 26, 2019 Gloria Stein Fleischer ’79 Dec. 27, 2018 MBA (SCB) Jan. 16, 2019 Mark A. Purdell ’86 MBA 2002 (SCB) Jan. 8, 2019 Leo K. Hickey ’02 (CIAS) 1980 Judith Ennis Ferrari ’86 March 22, 2019 Timothy Joseph Krauza ’80 MBA (SCB) April 27, 2018 Scott J. Zygadlo ’02 MBA (CAST) April 3, 2019 Melvin Bressler ’86 MBA (SCB) Feb. 5, 2019 Joseph David Shamy ’80 (SCB) Dec. 18, 2018 (GAP) April 6, 2019 2005 Julie Marie Raschella ’80 1987 Paul G. Ruganis ’05 MS (SCB) March 27, 2019 Wiley Robinson ’87 (CLA) (GCCIS) Dec. 28, 2018 Herbert Lawrence III ’80 Jan. 23, 2019 MBA (SCB) Jan. 3, 2019 2006 1988 Christian P. Hanlon ’06 ormer women’s hockey standout Kristine 1981 David Alan Quick ’88 (KGCOE) Feb. 10, 2019 (Pierce) Brassie ’99 (hospitality and service Robert J. Tapogna ’81 (CLA) (KGCOE), ’96 MBA (SCB) Fmanagement), who became the first athlete Feb. 1, 2019 Dec. 19, 2018 2007 in RIT’s intercollegiate athletic history to have her David M. Stahl ’07 MS (CAST) jersey retired, died on April 3. She was 43. 1982 1989 Dec. 28, 2018 Brassie, who donned No. 12 as a defenseman Ronald G. Welker ’82 (CAST) Carrie M. Holland ’89 MS for the Tigers from 1994-99, won the prestigious Dec. 11, 2018 (CCE) Feb. 21, 2019 Hockey Humanitarian Award in 1999 and earned Thomas W. Vick ’82 (CCE) Faculty and staff induction into the RIT Athletics Hall of Fame in Jan. 24, 2019 1991 2007. Robert William Clark ’91 James Aumer, emeritus She became the first woman and non-Division 1983 (CAST) Dec. 18, 2018 professor in the College I athlete to win the Hockey Humanitarian Award Frank P. Huscher ’83 (CCE) Christopher L. Graney ’91 of Health Sciences and given annually to “college hockey’s finest citizen.” April 4, 2019 (GAP) Feb. 24, 2019 Technology, March 27, 2019 She earned the honor for the many service Lillian J. Gregory ’83 hours she gave to RIT and the Rochester commu- (CCE),’88 (CCE) Dec. 31, 2018 1992 Josef Torok, professor of nity, working with 24 different organizations. In Patrick V. Callery ’83 Michael Robert Corneau ’92 mechanical engineering, addition, Pierce overcame Hodgkin’s disease as (GAP),’84 (CIAS) April 24, (FAA) Feb. 13, 2019 Feb. 26, 2019 a sophomore and returned to the ice the follow- 2019 ing season. She also served three seasons as team 1994 captain. 1984 Jeffrey John Paris ’94 MFA “Kristine was not only a key player for her Michael Joseph Reger ’84 (CIAS) Dec. 19, 2018 (CCE) Nov. 7, 2018 Roberta L. Buntaine ’94 MS teams but was a leader on and off the competi- G. Brett Boehm ’84 (CCE),’98 (CLA) Jan. 7, 2019 tive arena,” said Lou Spiotti Jr., executive director (SCB) Jan. 13, 2019 of Intercollegiate Athletics. “She will always be Joyce W. Barasch ’84 (CLA) remembered by us as the commensurate student- April 6, 2019 athlete and her spirit will live on for many years in the hearts and minds of the Tiger faithful.”

FALL 2019 | 55 The first class in 1989.

Archives

The newly completed building.

The Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science under construction in 1988.

Thirty years of imaging science at RIT

IT made a bold move when it science, where nobody else literally in to grow as well. Last year, RIT was awarded opened the doors to the new the world has the capabilities that RIT more than $78 million in sponsored R Chester F. Carlson Center for and Rochester have,” said David Messinger, research, and the university has awarded Imaging Science in 1989. director of the Center for Imaging Science. more than 250 Ph.D.s over the past 30 years. This became the only place in the world “There was really this nice incubator in RIT will host a special celebration com- where students could pursue degrees in the Rochester between the corporate and memorating the Chester F. Carlson Center interdisciplinary field of imaging science. academic side that allowed it to happen. for Imaging Science’s 30th anniversary The goal was to prepare the next generation Kodak, Xerox and Bausch & Lomb were during Brick City Weekend. For more of educators and researchers to develop major imaging companies all based in information, go to rit.edu/gcr/brickcity. and deploy imaging systems that answer Rochester in the ’80s. When you combine fundamental scientific questions, monitor that with the photography and photo­ Luke Auburn ’09, ’15 MS and protect the environment, help keep the graphic sciences programs, it was the nation secure and aid medical researchers right mix of things at the right time.” in their quest to conquer disease. Thirty years after the Center for Imaging The move also signaled a shift in the Science building was dedicated, it is now direction the university as a whole was home to more than 150 students studying To learn more headed. RIT’s imaging science programs imaging science at the undergraduate and RIT Press is publishing Coming of placed a much larger emphasis on conduct- graduate level. RIT currently has nearly 100 Age: The Center for Imaging Science at ing research than any previous RIT program students pursuing their Ph.D. in imaging Rochester Institute of Technology by RIT had and would soon offer the university’s science and awarded 17 imaging science Professor Emeritus John Schott. The first doctoral program. doctoral degrees in 2018-19. book chronicles the center’s history. “People felt that was the future of what The Center for Imaging Science helped For more, go to rit.edu/press. RIT could be, particularly in imaging lead the charge for the rest of the university

No. 7, August 2019—RIT (USPS-676-870) is published 9 times annually by Rochester Institute of Technology, One Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14623-5603, once in March, three times in May, once in July, two times in August, once in September, and once in November. Periodicals postage paid at Rochester, N.Y. 14623-5603 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to RIT, Rochester Institute of Technology, One Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14623-5603.

56 | FALL 2019 Make a gift every year . . .

Be RIT for Life “Many of our personal and professional accomplishments Christina Mulé ’06 and John Kitchura, Jr. ’06 recognize can be traced back to RIT, so the value of annual giving and understand that their giving back is one way for us to gift, combined with gifts from other alumni, add up express our gratitude. It’s how to provide boundless possibilities for RIT Tigers, we remain RIT for Life.” because they benefited from alumni giving when —Christina and John they were students. Your annual gift expands the RIT experience for students of today and tomorrow. Make your gift at rit.edu/MyAnnualGift

© 2019 Rochester Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. Rochester Institute of Technology | One Lomb Memorial Drive | Rochester, New York 14623 Periodicals www.rit.edu

October 18-20

REGISTER NOW! Join us for events including the Presidents’ Alumni Ball, Men’s Hockey, Brick City 5K, Student Government Speaker: Reunions, Music, and more. Anderson Cooper www.rit.edu/brickcity