RIT in Croatia
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The University Magazine Fall 2007 RIT in Croatia Clinton speaks Baja blast New president More than Thrills, spills at Bill Destler shares 13,000 hear international his vision for former president competition RIT’s future A word from the new president Imagine what RIT can be I am so pleased (and complimented!) to be graduate and undergraduate students, writing this as RIT’s new president and to and facilities available to companies to begin a conversation about how we might, carry out short- and medium-term corpo- working together, take RIT to the next rate research and development projects at level. This wonderful institution, born of a low cost and without the usual intellectual RIT: The University Magazine merger between the Rochester Athenaeum, property fights that usually derail such where local businessmen gathered to efforts. Imagine a “Corporate R&D at RIT” Executive Editors improve themselves through educational program in which hundreds of companies Deborah M. Stendardi Government and Community Relations programming, and the Mechanics Insti- discover that they can once again afford to Bob Finnerty ’07, University News Services tute, again initiated by local businessmen do new product to train workers for local industries, has research and de- Editor Kathy Lindsley, University News Services evolved under the leadership of President velopment, while Simone and his predecessors into one of the identifying future Contributing Editors Lisa Cauda, Development and Alumni Relations nation’s best and most unique universities. employees at the Craig Smith, Development For it is not just the career-orienta- same time. Lydia Palmer, Development tion of RIT that makes the university so Imagine, Kelly Redder, Alumni Relations Alumni Relations Staff unusual. It is the extraordinary focus of if you will, a its academic programs around science “Category of Art Director and technology, business, and design and One” university Colleen McGuinness-Clarke ’87 University Publications the arts, combined with the outstanding in which complex programs of NTID, that lead me to believe problems such as Photographer that RIT can be moved to a position of global warming A. Sue Weisler ’93, University News Services even greater prominence in international are not attacked Writers: University News Services higher education. These focus areas, by individuals Kelly Downs working together, can be leveraged as few working in disci- Bill Destler, Susan M. Gawlowicz ’95 John Follaco others can, to the benefit of RIT and the plinary silos, but RIT’s ninth president Kathy Lindsley nation. rather by teams Marcia Morphy So, with your indulgence, let’s dream of students and faculty from all disciplines Michael Saffran Paul Stella ’03 a little about what we can accomplish who, from the outset, benefit from the together: ideas and contributions of those from very Print Production Imagine, if you will, a “Category of different perspectives. Imagine RIT being Brenda Monahan, University Publications One” university that not only educates its the home of the first “Team Ph. D.” pro- University News Services students for productive careers, but also gram. Imagine how exciting that would be 132 Lomb Memorial Drive reinforces America’s greatest competitive and how much fun it would be to shake up Rochester, NY 14623-5608 Voice: 585-475-5064, TTY: 585-475-5414 advantage by requiring creativity, inven- the world of higher education with these Fax: 585-475-5097, E-mail: [email protected] tion and innovation of every student ideas and others. before graduation. Imagine a university Imagine how much fun we can have Office of Alumni Relations Crossroads, 41 Lomb Memorial Drive that teaches scientists and engineers how working together to make RIT the univer- Rochester, NY 14623-5603 artists envision and create new works. sity that captures the new high ground in Voice: 585-475-ALUM, Toll Free: 866-RIT-ALUM Imagine a university that uses diversity as higher education. TTY: 585-475-2764, Fax: 585-475-5308 E-mail: [email protected] a creative engine in this process and where Rebecca and I are so grateful to all the barriers between the hearing and the of you for giving us the opportunity to Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, deaf dissolve in the face of this innovative think big about what we can accomplish New York, publishes The University Magazine. RIT will admit and hire men and women; veter- energy. Imagine an innovation festival together. We are honored to have been ans; people with disabilities; individuals of any each year at RIT at which these efforts, invited to join the RIT community. race, creed, religion, color, national or ethnic thousands of them, would be showcased. origin, sexual orientation, age or marital status in compliance with all appropriate legislation. Imagine a Rochester Institute of Tech- Cordially, nology in which RIT stands for Required InnovaTion. Vol.9, No.2, 120.5M-P0357-8/07-LAN-CMcGC Printer: The Lane Press; Burlington, Vermont Imagine, if you will, a “Category of © 2007 Rochester Institute of Technology One” university with close ties to the All rights reserved corporate sector (sound familiar?) that Bill Destler decides to make its faculty and staff, President The University Magazine Fall 2007 Features 6 ‘Green’ light Engineering students design wind-powered illumination 8 Unforgettable Readers remember favorite faculty and staff members 10 First impressions An interview with RIT’s new president, Bill Destler 12 Moving forward together RIT and Toyota are building an important partnership 15 RIT in Croatia A college launched in war-ravaged Dubrovnik has flourished 28 100,000 strong The size of RIT’s alumni body reaches a milestone 42 From RIT to Mt. Fuji College of Liberal Arts grads are teaching in Japan 26 Departments 2 On Campus 12 RIT Works! 44 Alumni Activities 44 Class Notes 56 From the Archives “Murphy’s Law,” a photo by Ken Murphy ’86, from his book, My South Coast Home. 19 Cover In 1997, RIT opened a college in Croatia to help the nation rebuild its tourism industry. Today, Dubrovnik and other areas are popular destinations for world travelers. (Photo by Staffan Larrson) Right: The entry from Centro Universitario Da FEI takes to the air at the 2007 Baja SAE Rochester World Challenge hosted by RIT. The Brazilian team went on to win. (Photo by A. Sue Weisler ’93) On Campus 2007 Commencement marked many milestones Huge crowd hears President Clinton, bids farewell to President Simone RIT welcomed former U.S. President Bill tion to others will determine Clinton as Academic Convocation keynote how you use what you know speaker on May 25. The 42nd U.S. president and what you do as citizens. I told graduates, “What you do matters. pray that you make everything How you think matters,” in urging mem- you can out of that one-tenth bers of the Class of 2007 to embrace their of 1 percent of your genetic similarities and use their uniqueness and makeup that makes you a privilege for the public good in an insecure, unique, God-given marvel. But unstable world. I pray also that you will walk “You are only a free person when you away from so much of today’s recognize that every moment of every day, madness by remembering the no matter what happens to you, no matter other 99.9 percent and never what is said to you, no matter what is done get to the point where you do RIT President Albert Simone, left, with former U.S. President to you or your crowd, you still are free to not see all the others.” Bill Clinton at RIT’s Academic Convocation on May 25. Clinton decide how to respond,” Clinton said to Audience members listened delivered the keynote address and received an honorary doctor of applause from the audience of more than to the former president on a humane letters degree during the ceremony. 13,000. The event took place outdoors to May morning that reached 88 accommodate the large crowd. degrees, a record high tempera- “I hope more than anything else for ture for the date. your freedom – for your freedom with your RIT marked two milestones during its family and friends, your freedom at work, 122nd Commencement: the population W Web extras: your freedom in your community, and your of living alumni surpassed 100,000 (see Watch video coverage of Academic Convocation at freedom as a citizen of the world – free to page 28), and RIT President Albert Simone www.rit.edu/convocation.html. recognize the fundamental truth of the presided over his final RIT commencement. For an audio podcast of Clinton’s speech see modern world that what we have in com- Clinton’s visit was due to his friendship “Latest Podcasts” at www.rit.edu/news. mon is more important than our interesting with Paychex Inc. founder and chairman B. View a photo gallery of convocation and com- differences. Thomas Golisano, an RIT trustee. mencement at www.rit.edu/news. “How you think about your life in rela- Mike Saffran Simone addresses Gallaudet Class of 2007 RIT President Albert Simone was keynote served from 1996 to 2004 as CEO of RIT’s speaker for the 138th Commencement National Technical Institute for the Deaf Exercises at Gallaudet University in Wash- and vice president of RIT. He is an alumnus ington, D.C., on May 11. Simone delivered of Gallaudet and worked there as a faculty his remarks to the Bison Class of 2007 in member and administrator from 1972 American Sign Language. to 1989. Simone also received an honorary doc- Gallaudet University, the world’s only torate degree. Robert Davila, Gallaudet’s university in which all programs and president, called the award “fitting recog- services are designed to accommodate deaf nition to Simone’s many contributions as and hard of hearing students, was founded an educator, business and civic leader and in 1864.