The University Magazine Spring 2018 PROMISE DELIVERED Largest gift in RIT history to expand entrepreneurship and cybersecurity NTID celebrates 50 years • Study-abroad program adapts to better serve students FROM THE PRESIDENT Learning from Millennials— creative careers with noble purpose s a baby boomer of 32, Austin is among the nation’s top 50 on a quest to philanthropists for 2017. continually Alearn and find ways • Anna Sweet ’04 (computer science): Anna to make a difference, is a tech entrepreneur and executive with I am putting my faith Caffeine, a new live streaming platform RIT: The University Magazine in the future generation for the gaming industry. She also founded Executive Editors of leaders. Octave Nine, a tech consulting firm focused Bob Finnerty ’07, Marketing and Communications I am riveted by the Millennial genera- on augmented reality, virtual reality and Deborah M. Stendardi, Government and Community Relations tion—born between 1980 and 2000—who mixed reality. In addition to her career in John Trierweiler, Marketing and Communications are not only doing well in their careers, but the gaming industry in the San Francisco Editor who are also doing good deeds outside the Bay area, Anna is co-founder of Sweet Mindy Mozer, Marketing and Communications workplace. They will tell you that creativity Farm Foundation, a nonprofit organization Contributing Editors and innovation are best used for noble dedicated to promoting the humane treat- Lisa Cauda, Development and Alumni Relations purposes. They will tell you that goodness ment of animals in the food system. Kim Slusser, Development and Alumni Relations Cindy Sobieraj, Development and Alumni Relations is essential to improve the world. This is punctuated by three young Katie, Austin and Anna are Millennials Art Director Jeff Arbegast ’93, Marketing and Communications RIT alumni I recently met: with “change the world” mindsets. Millennials Photographers have often been mischaracterized as entitled, Elizabeth Lamark ’00, Marketing and Communications • Katie Linendoll ’05 (information over-protected and free-spirited to a fault. A. Sue Weisler ’93, Marketing and Communications technology): Katie is an Emmy-award But research has discovered Millennials are Writers: Marketing and Communications winning television personality known incredibly generous with their time, talent Luke Auburn ’09, ’15 Scott Bureau ’11, ’16 for her first-look technology stories and treasure. They have a strong sense of Michelle Cometa ’00 and gadget roundups. She also devotes community, both local and global, as they Susan Gawlowicz ’95 her personal time supporting children blend their personal and professional lives, Rich Kiley Greg Livadas with cancer as a “big sister” at Memo- according to the Case Foundation’s Millennial Vienna McGrain ’12 rial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Impact Report. Ellen Rosen New York City. She helped start Batcole For example, 52 percent gave to a charity Copy Editor Foundation, where they are using vir- in 2016 and more than 70 percent volunteer, Marie Lang, Marketing and Communications tual reality as a distraction for pediatric figures that rival older generations and Print Production cancer patients.While children are surpass them in various metrics, according Brenda Monahan, Marketing and Communications going through hours of chemotherapy to the report. Millennials are idealistic, and radiation, they are relaxed and turning it into action and are on their way Marketing and Communications University Communications comforted with VR, where they can go to becoming the “next great generation,” 22 Lomb Memorial Drive underwater diving with whales or play according to the Case Foundation. Rochester, NY 14623-5608 at an amusement park. Thank you, Katie, Austin, Anna and the Voice: 585-475-5064 Fax: 585-475-5097 leaders of a new generation for showing us Email: [email protected] • Austin McChord ’09 (bioinformatics): that life is bigger than a successful career. Office of Alumni Relations Austin’s gift of $50 million to RIT in Our future is amazingly bright. Crossroads 41 Lomb Memorial Drive December is the largest donation ever Rochester, NY 14623-5603 Voice: 585-475-ALUM, Toll Free: 866-RIT-ALUM made to the university and one of the Yours in Tiger pride, TTY: 585-475-2764, Fax: 585-475-5308 largest ever in the Rochester region. Email: [email protected] McChord is founder and CEO of Datto, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, a data protection company with engin- New York, publishes The University Magazine. RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and eering and support offices in downtown David C. Munson Jr. values diversity within its workforce and provides Rochester. The firm has created 1,400 President equal opportunity to all qualified individuals jobs with nine global offices, including [email protected] regardless of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender more than 200 employees in Rochester. identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran His gift to RIT will be designated to status, or disability. two major areas: $30 million to foster To learn more creativity and entrepreneurship; $20 To listen to podcasts featuring alumnae Vol. 20, No. 1, 122M-P2087-3/2018-LANE-JSA million to advance RIT’s capabilities in Katie Linendoll and Anna Sweet, go to Printer: The Lane Press; Burlington, Vermont © 2018 Rochester Institute of Technology cyber security and artificial intelligence. rit.edu/alumni/YearInTheLife. All rights reserved (Read more on pages 14-18.) At the age b | WINTER 2011-12 8 The University Magazine Fall 2016 Departments 2 On Campus 4 About Students 6 Research 30 Alumni Updates 10 40 Class Notes 42 Tiger Love 14 Features 8 School spirit swells RIT’s pep band grew to 140 with help from alumni during Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend. 10 International experience The study-abroad program adapts to better serve students. 14 Promise delivered Student Lauren Hoffman spent last summer The gift from alumnus Austin studying psychology in Croatia. McChord will be used to foster creativity and entrepreneurship and enhance cybersecurity and artificial 20 intelligence programs. 20 50 years of NTID The National Technical Institute for the Deaf created a postsecondary learning environment never before seen in this country. 38 Alumni House RIT’s first alumni house will open this summer. Cover RIT announced in December that alumnus Austin McChord is donating $50 million to the On June 8, 1965, President Lyndon university. It is the largest gift in RIT history. B. Johnson signed Public Law 89-36, (Photo by Elizabeth Lamark) establishing NTID. On Campus Photo by A. Sue Weisler Pruthvik Raghupathi, left, will graduate in May with his Ph.D. in engineering. He will be the first person to graduate from the doctoral program. Professor Satish Kandlikar, right, has been his mentor. First Ph.D. in engineering graduates in May hen Pruthvik Raghupathi began worked together to advance a field where develop it to influence society is one of the his doctoral research in 2014, understanding fluid dynamics will be key main goals of the Ph.D. in engineering. he said developing sustainable to improving alternative energy sources. Launched in 2014, the program began Wenergy resources was one of the biggest “What impressed me about Pruthvik was with 10 students. Taking a multidisci- challenges of his generation. that he showed a deep understanding of the plinary and entrepreneurial approach, the He’ll contribute to this task after he theoretical basis of the boiling phenomena. program addresses global challenges as graduates in May. Raghupathi will receive a In our work now, it’s all about the bubbles,” economic and societal drivers, specifically Ph.D. in engineering and be the first graduate Kandlikar said. in four application domains: transportation, of RIT’s seventh doctoral program. That work involves developing boil- energy, communications and health care. Seeing students such as Raghupathi ing mechanisms to improve heat transfer It also aligns with national priorities as succeed and graduate with doctoral honors for power generation, cooling of high heat outlined in each of the strategic plans for the is not new to Satish Kandlikar. flux devices used in space, cryogenic heat U.S. departments of Transportation, Health The professor of mechanical engineering exchangers and water desalination. and Human Services and Energy. has mentored and advised many students “My work was part of a study to look at how More than 50 students are in the program during his 30-plus years at RIT, including surface properties affect boiling, what happens today. Several from the first cohort are also another first graduate of the microsystems when you have different types of liquids, such nearing graduation. engineering Ph.D. program in 2005. as sea water, and how fouling, or contamina- After Raghupathi graduates, he intends He has shared his research successes in tion, affects boiling performance as salt to seek a position with an energy company’s the area of bubbles and boiling phenomena develops on the surface,” Raghupathi said. research and development area. with students like Raghupathi, and they have Technology is complex, and the ability to Michelle Cometa ’00 2 | SPRING 2018 NOTEBOOK New Dubai campus RIT Dubai will receive a state-of-the-art new campus in the Dubai Silicon Oasis. The new campus, which will feature an innovation and entre- preneurship center and sustainable building processes, will be devel- oped in two phases, with the first portion set to open in 2019 and the second to Photo by A. Sue Weisler open in 2023. Adjunct Professor Christopher Haritatos teaches cello to Grace Fiacco, a second-year physics major. The United Arab Emirates government is funding the approxi- Private music lessons help students hone skills mately $136 million new campus which, alk in the basement lessons until I came to RIT,” said. He said there has been an upon completion, will hallway of the College said Fiacco, who plays in the increase in recent years of students span an area of more of Liberal Arts and RIT Orchestra.