James Macchiano to head multicultural center

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James Macchiano has been named the new director of the Multicultural Center for Academic Success at Rochester Institute of Technology. The former director of reunions and affinity programs in RIT’s Office of Alumni Relations will begin Aug. 29.

“James brings a strong and inclusive management style that balances his passion for advancing RIT’s overall institutional goals and its diversity goals with a resolve to address the immediate needs of the Center and its students,” said Keith Jenkins, RIT’s interim vice president and associate provost for diversity and inclusion. “We will be able to leverage his connections to alumni to build a foundational bridge with our division and its constituents.”

Macchiano brings experience in coordinating Alumni Relations programs, fundraising activities and managing volunteers for campus events such as Brick City Homecoming and Imagine RIT. He also served as assistant director for student and recent alumni giving and helped coordinate the RIT Orientation Program for new students. He received his associate degree in graphic design from Broome Community College in 2002 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film and animation from RIT in 2006. That same year, Macchiano was president of RIT’s Student Government. In 2009, he received his MBA from RIT’s Saunders College of Business.

RIT’s Multicultural Center for Academic Success is part of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion. Established in 2000, it serves all campus students, particularly African American, Latino American and Native American students, and focuses on retention and persistence toward graduation. Students participate in academic, professional, social and leadership skills-based initiatives through the MCAS Scholars Program, Rochester City Scholars and several other affiliate programs.

Macchiano replaces Candice Baldwin, who left the university this past spring to become the assistant vice president of student success and retention at Millersville University in Lancaster, Pa.