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AdvanceRIT’s mission is to enable all RIT faculty, particularly women, to contribute their full potential, increase their representation and retention, and advance their careers.
Advance RIT is open to all faculty, regardless of gender.
AdvanceRIT started as an ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant from the National Science Foundation (Grant No. 1209115) and the office was institutionalized in 2019.
AdvanceRIT plays an instrumental role in:
- Connecting and engaging women faculty in the RIT community.
- Providing opportunities for professional and leadership development for women faculty.
- Supporting efforts for recruiting a diverse faculty critical for achieving excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service.
- Partnering with affiliated groups, departments, and colleges to support their efforts and bring positive change to RIT.
- Improving the quality of women faculty’s work life.
- Ensuring RIT is a place where all faculty are supported, valued, and respected.
AdvanceRIT Podcast: Faculty Spotlight-Trailblazing Faculty at RIT
Welcome to the AdvanceRIT podcast series: Faculty Spotlight-Trailblazing Faculty at RIT, the podcast that takes you inside the remarkable journeys of some of the most accomplished Faculty at Rochester Institute of Technology. Here at the forefront of research, innovation, and education, these trailblazers are shaping the future with their expertise, resilience, and dedication.
Each episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at their inspiring careers, groundbreaking contributions, and the impact they’ve made in their fields and communities. Join us as we explore their stories, celebrate their achievements, and uncover what it truly means to be a leader in academia."
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Advanced RIT Podcast Series: Trailblazing Women at RIT. Episode: 7
Podcast Featuring Associate Professor Hye-Jin Na View More about Advanced RIT Podcast Series: Trailblazing Women at RIT. Episode: 7 -
Season 1: Episode 6
Check our latest podcast in the AdvanceRIT’s Trailblazing Faculty podcast series, where we spotlight the inspiring journeys and groundbreaking contributions of RIT faculty shaping academia and beyond. View More about Season 1: Episode 6 -
Season 1: Episode 5
Welcome to the AdvanceRIT podcast series: Faculty Spotlight-Trailblazing Faculty at RIT. This podcast takes you inside the remarkable journeys of some of the most accomplished Faculty at Rochester Institute of Technology. Here at the forefront of research, innovation, and education, these trailblazers are shaping the future with their expertise, resilience, and dedication. View More about Season 1: Episode 5 -
Season 1: Episode 4
Professor Shanti Thakur is the Director of RIT School of Film and Animation and is an award-winning filmmaker recognized for visually lush fiction and documentary films that span a landscape of subjects from science fiction to restorative justice. Professor Thakur's films have been screened at more than 200 film festivals and museums, including the Khan Film Festival, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Montreal World film festival, garnering 36 awards. Her films have been broadcast in 23 countries. View More about Season 1: Episode 4 -
Season 1: Episode 3
Dr. Navarro is an internationally recognized leader in hybrid dynamical and cyber-physical systems, with expertise in computational neuroscience, neuro-inspired computing, data science, and collective intelligence. She brings a unique perspective as a "scientist-artist," blending philosophy, arts, and music into her scientific endeavors. View More about Season 1: Episode 3 -
Season 1: Episode 2
Dr. Margaret Bailey is a distinguished engineering faculty known for her pioneering work on gender equity on campus. View More about Season 1: Episode 2
$425.3K
in Connect Grants. Connect grants support faculty networking, research, professional development and community building efforts.
900+
More than 900 faculty, staff and students have participated in professional development workshops and events led by AdvanceRIT.
66.7%
of RIT’s deans are women (6 out of 9).
14
Number of years since RIT first received an NSF ADVANCE grant. In 2008, RIT received an NSF Advance Catalyst award. An Institutional Transformation award was received in 2012.
RIT women faculty in the news
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September 4, 2026
RIT class asks if ‘The Pitt’ is legit
RIT is offering a new class based on the Emmy-award winning HBO Max Original drama series. The class is helping future healthcare professionals explore the ethical, emotional, and practical challenges they may one day face themselves.
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September 3, 2026
RIT researcher targets biopolymers as alternatives to laminates and plastics
Alternatives to plastics are being created by researchers at RIT using plant-based starch, a plentiful and highly sustainable material.
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August 21, 2026
7 Mistakes Parents Should Avoid When a Kid Leaves for College
Good Housekeeping speaks with Chelsea Petree, director of Parent and Family Programs at RIT, about how parents can support students as they transition to college, including giving them independence, letting them work through challenges on their own, and maintaining a familiar space at home.
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August 19, 2026
For cutting boards, is wood or plastic healthier? We asked experts
The Seattle Times speaks with RIT environmental science professor Christy Tyler about the potential health risks of microplastics released from plastic cutting boards and what consumers should consider when choosing between plastic and wood. (This content may require a subscription to view.)
David C. Munson Jr,
President
Keith Jenkins,
Vice President and Associate Provost for Access, Engagement, and Success