RIT Names New Leader of Packaging Science Program

Karen Proctor of Henrietta has been named chair of Rochester Institute of Technology’s packaging science program in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

"I look forward to building on existing international packaging science programs and forging ahead with new relationships in Canada, Croatia and other European countries," Proctor says. RIT offers an executive leader master’s degree in packaging science through the University of Zagreb in Croatia and is developing a bachelor’s degree program with Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Proctor began at RIT in 1983. She chaired the university’s executive leader master’s program from 1991 to 1993 and is a past nominee for RIT’s Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching. She was visiting fellow in the graduate packaging technology program at Victoria University of Technology in Australia in 1991 and visiting lecturer at Michigan State University from 1985 to 1986.

Proctor earned a bachelor’s degree in packaging science with honors from Michigan State University in 1974 and an MBA with honors from RIT in 1979. She was a research packaging engineer for Amway Corp., a senior marketing/pricing analyst and packaging engineer for Xerox Corp. and packaging consultant for numerous other firms.

"Professor Proctor brings a wealth of experience in the packaging industry, education and student services to this position," says John Stratton, chair of RIT’s manufacturing and mechanical engineering technology/packaging science department.

Proctor replaced Dan Goodwin who is on a one-year sabbatical. Goodwin will resume teaching at RIT upon his return next year, but Proctor will remain as program chair.

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Note: RIT’s packaging science program is one of only seven in the United States. Founded in 1829, the university is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, engineering, imaging, technology, fine and applied arts, and education for the deaf. RIT enrolls 15,000 students in more than 240 undergraduate and graduate programs.

For the past decade, U.S. News & World Report has ranked RIT as one of the nation’s leading comprehensive universities. RIT is also included in Yahoo! Internet Life’s Top 100 Wired Universities, Fisk’s Guide to America’s Best Colleges and Barron’s Best Buys in Education.

Note: Digital photograph available. Send request to mjsuns@rit.edu.