AES Good News | February 2026
Be Inspired! Join RIT Minett Professor Krystle Ellis for Three Exciting Workshops
Krystle Ellis, an RIT alumna, is the 2025-2026 Minett Professor at RIT. She is executive director of the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley and owner of her own consulting firm. Often called “The Culture Broker,” she is inviting students, staff and faculty to join her for three exciting workshops she is presenting this spring. Students, Faculty, and Staff are invited to register for one or more of these workshops:
Loving Conflict: How to enter conflict with curiosity and without fear of the outcome.
Date: February 24th
Time: 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Location: MOSAIC Center
Register Here
So What’s Next for Me? How to execute the vision in your head
Date: March 24th
Time: 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Location: Eastman 4125
Limited to 30 people
Register Here
Is Entrepreneurship Really for Me? What to know before you dive in.
Date: April 29th
Time: 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Location: Eastman 4125
Limited to 30 people
Register Here
Taj Smith, executive director for Community and Education and adjunct, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, is being honored later this month at Xavier University in Ohio. He is among several former diversity leaders who will be recognized for their contributions to the Black campus community. Smith served as director of the THRIVE Center before coming to RIT. The 50th Antonio Johnson Scholarship Gala will be held February 28th. And we are happy to share two more pieces of good news! Smith has been selected to serve a two-year term on RIT's new University Advisory Committee on Gender Related Experience (UACGRE) and he is beginning a three-year term as a community member with the Pittsford School District's Planning Team. He previously worked as a community facilitator with the district's Inclusive Advisory Committee.
Sending our best wishes to Alexandria Collins. After five years of outstanding work at RIT, most recently as assistant director for Engagement and Student Success in the Center for Engagement and Student Success, Collins is taking on a new role as a school counselor with the Greece Central School District. Her last day was January 30th. Know that you set a great example of what it means to support students at RIT.