University Advancement
Class of 2022
Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
Welcome to RIT's newest Alumni!
 
RIT's graduates shape the future and improve the world through creativity and innovation. Our graduates are leveraging the power of technology, the arts, and design for the greater good.
 
See how they are doing it and what is next for them.
 
 

 

Bal and Anita Dixit honored as Outstanding Alumni
Sudhakar G. "Bal" Dixit MBA '74 and his wife, Anita Dixit MS '91 (Career and Human Resource Development) have achieved so much side by side'both personally and professionally'that it's only fitting the couple will be recognized together at RIT's 2022 commencement on May 6. The Dixits are being honored for their ongoing support of the university and career achievements with the 2021-2022 Outstanding Alumni award'the highest honor bestowed upon alumni in recognition of service to RIT and its growth.
 
 

 

RIT to confer four honorary degrees at May 6 commencement ceremony
RIT to confer four honorary degrees at May 6 commencement ceremony
 
Rochester Institute of Technology will confer honorary degrees to four outstanding individuals at its 2022 commencement ceremony on May 6. The honorees will be recognized alongside more than 4,300 graduates.
 
Earning honorary degrees are:
 
Kimberly Bryant, Founder of the nonprofit organization Black Girls CODE, will earn an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for her dedication to social change in technology fields.
 
Josephine King Olsen, Former Director of the Peace Corps, will earn an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for her lifelong commitment to volunteer service, engagement in leadership development, focus on community issues, advocacy of global social policy, and facilitation of international student and faculty exchanges.
 
G. Peter Jemison, a member of the Heron clan of the Seneca Nation of Indians and a leader in the community, will earn an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for his dedication to enhancing opportunities for Native American populations.
 
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, will earn an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, for his bravery, leadership, and compelling communications to motivate his citizens and the broader world in defense of freedom and democracy.
 
 

 

Black Girls CODE founder Kimberly Bryant
Kimberly Bryant, Founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Black Girls CODE, will be the keynote speaker for Rochester Institute of Technology's Academic Convocation ceremony starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 6, in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center.
 
 

 

The Last Bash_2022
Welcome to the alumni family, Class of 2022!
 
On May 4, 2022 the Class of 2022 was celebrated with an evening full of activities, fun, food, and friends. They joined their fellow classmates in the Gene Polisseni Center, where they received a special message from Carole Baskin from Tiger King. There were over 1,000 graduating students at the event, who all were gifted a champagne flute and a RIT Alumni Association lapel pin. Music and entertainment were provided by an alumni owned business and remarks were made by RIT Alumni Association Vice President, Orlando Ortiz BS '04 MBA '08, and President Munson.
 
If you would like to share your wisdom to the newest members of the RIT Alumni Association, make sure to submit your wisdom, today.
 
 

 

Congratulations to the Class of 2022 and Welcome to RIT's newest alumni.

Our 2022 graduates are on to amazing things.

Read more RIT graduate stories from RIT News:

Isabella Daquita fifth-year mechanical engineering major
 

RIT graduates turn multiple job offers into their No. 1 choices

As the nation's reshuffled economy rebounds from the pandemic, RIT students graduating from a university renowned for its academic rigor combined with successful internships and co-op experiences are leveraging multiple job offers into their top choices.
 

 

RIT graduating seniors Victoria Kwasinski, left, and Cassidy Johnston
 

RIT prepares graduates for advanced degrees

Many RIT students' experiences as undergraduates have helped them get into top graduate degree programs.
 

 

Zaid Abdulsalam, Ismael Cortes Jr., and Justice Marbury were among the first students from Rochester Prep High School
 

First graduates from RIT's partner charter school poised to receive their RIT degrees

A trio of trailblazing students who came to RIT from the university's partner charter school will fulfill a long-term promise when they receive their college degrees at commencement this May. Zaid Abdulsalam, Ismael Cortes Jr., and Justice Marbury were among the first students to enroll at Rochester Prep High School, and they were the three students from the first graduating class in 2018 who chose RIT as their destination.
 

 

Michael Healey has combined biomedical sciences with military studies in RIT's Army ROTC program
 

Community service informs career paths for graduating students

From pandemic response to rebuilding after natural disasters, RIT students will draw upon their foundation of community service in their careers after graduation.
 

 

Emily Horton, a 2022 game design and development BS/MS graduate
 

Graduating students find their place on campus

RIT students have more than 300 clubs and organizations to choose from today. There are also 24 varsity athletics teams and numerous intramural sports, among other groups. For many students, these extracurricular activities are a great way to try something new, find a niche, and build lasting relationships.
 

 

Whats next for graduates
 

Whats next for graduates

RIT's graduates shape the future and improve the world through creativity and innovation. Our graduates are leveraging the power of technology, the arts, and design for the greater good. See how they are doing it and what is next for them.
 

 

Imagine RIT
Thousands enjoyed attending Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival! First in-person RIT public festival since 2019 featured more than 250 exhibits.
 
 
 
RIT Futurists Symposium 2022
 
Our Alumni panel offered insight into the future.
 
 

 

Exciting Alumni
Events & News
NTID Alumni Gathering at Wake Coffee
 

Wake Coffee
May 14, Noon Eastern

Come join Loriann Macko BS '94, Director of NTID Alumni and Constituent Relations, at alumni-owned Wake Coffee for a fun alumni brunch. Mix and mingle with fellow alums and learn about new initiatives at RIT/NTID and in the alumni community. Event is free - coffee/beverage and a sandwich of your preference is covered.
 
 

 

Step It Up Leadership Program 2022
 

Step It Up Leadership Program May 16, 8:30 a.m. Eastern

A dynamic and meaningful hybrid leadership development program designed to help you build the skills and knowledge to conquer your personal and professional career goals and achieve organizational results. Apply skills and knowledge immediately, build your network!
 
 

 

College of Science Evening in Mountain View
 

College of Science Evening in Mountain View
May 17, 5 p.m. Eastern

Join RIT College of Science leadership and faculty for an evening in Mountain View at Steins Beer Garden. Sophia Maggelakis, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Science, and Karen Braun Ph.D. '96, Associate Director of the Carlson Center for Imaging Science, will be your hosts for the evening.
 
During the evening we will share college news, updates from the College of Science and the imaging science and color science programs, and how the university is advancing to Transform RIT.
 
All College of Science alumni are welcome to attend this event.
 
 

 

RIT Athletics
 

RIT Coaches Caravan

The Tiger Team is going on the road!
 
RIT Athletics and the RIT Alumni Association invite you out for an evening focused on sports and student athletes! RIT's head coaches will mingle with you over a spread of tailgate snacks, followed by a panel discussion led by Jackie Nicholson, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The panel will also be answering audience submitted questions about their teams, tournaments, and trajectories.
 
Together, we'll cheer on our Tigers and celebrate the exciting future of athletics at RIT!
 
Join us in your city!
 
Rochester, NY
Alumni-owned ROC Brewing Company
Wednesday, May 18, 5:30 p.m.
 
 
Buffalo, NY
Alumni-owned Resurgence Brewing Company
Tuesday, May 24, 5:30 p.m.
 
 
Syracuse, NY
The Fitz at Oh My Darling
Thursday, June 2, 5:30 p.m.
 

 

RIT Retiree Picnic
 

RIT Retiree Picnic
May 25, 11:30 a.m. Eastern

You and a guest are cordially invited to join us.
 
11:30 a.m. - Doors open
Noon - Lunch, Program and Retiree Awards
 
We are excited to welcome you back to campus as our honored guest!
 

 

Shaping the Future RIT and the New Economy
 

Shaping the Future RIT and the New Economy May 25, 6 p.m. Eastern

The RIT Alumni Association and the Kate Gleason College of Engineering invite you to join us for an exciting conversation on Shaping the Future: RIT and the New Economy. Following a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception, Doreen Edwards, dean of the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, will share updates from campus and then lead a panel discussion on RIT's real-world impact in an ever-changing economy.
 
 

 

RIT Golden Circle 2022
50th Reunion and Golden Circle Celebration
May 26, 11:30 a.m.
Locust Hill Country Club
2000 Jefferson Rd.
Pittsford, NY 14534
 
You and a guest are cordially invited to join us.
 
11:30 a.m. Lunch, Program & Medallion Ceremony
2 p.m. Campus Tours
 
We are excited to honor your important milestone and celebrate your induction into the Golden Circle. We also look forward to welcoming our current Golden Circle members back to campus.
 

 

RIT Alumni Book Club for summer
 

RIT Alumni Book Club
May 27-July 29

The RIT Alumni Book Club would love for you to join us and embark on a new summer reading journey from May 27-July 29. We will read Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky and discuss it in our online forum. 
 
How Does the Book Club Work? The RIT Alumni Book Club is online and asynchronous, which means that we connect through a private online discussion forum where members respond to different topics and questions about the books we read. We spend about two months reading each book to accommodate a wide variety of reader schedules and preferences, and we finish five books each calendar year. It is easy and free!
 
We look forward to reading along with you this summer!
 
 

 

Tiger Paw
 

RIT/NTID Buffalo Alumni Gathering
June 2, 5:30 p.m. Eastern

NTID Alumni Relations invites you to a fun-filled alumni gathering at Buffalo RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St., Buffalo, NY. Join us as we gather with fellow RIT/NTID alums, meet and mingle with new and old friends, and share updates with you about our alumni/mentoring programs.
 
 

 

Transforming RIT Reconnecting in New York City
 

Transforming RIT Reconnecting in New York City June 2, 6 p.m. Eastern

Join RIT President David C. Munson Jr. for Transforming RIT: Reconnecting in New York City! Hosted at the New York Athletic Club, this event is a perfect opportunity to reconnect with your alma mater and fellow alumni while celebrating the innovative trajectory of RIT.
 
Following a complimentary cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception, President Munson will share exciting changes happening at RIT as part of Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness.
 
 

 

14th Annual Saunders Scholars National Competition logo
 

14th Annual Saunders Scholars Competition
June 4, 11 a.m. Eastern

Saunders College of Business is a proud partner of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). We are excited to host the 14th Annual Saunders Scholars Competition. The Competition Finals will be broadcast live on YEA's Facebook and YouTube channels. Registered viewers from around the country will get the opportunity to vote via text for the $1,000 cash prize People's Choice Award.
 
The entire competition, semifinals, and finals will be streamed worldwide live over the web starting at 11 a.m. EST, on YEA!'s YouTube channel, and Facebook live.
 
 

 

Tiger Open 2022
 

2022 RIT 39th Annual Tiger Open Golf Tournament
June 6, 10:30 a.m. Eastern

We invite you to participate in the 2022 RIT 39th Annual Tiger Open Golf Tournament at the Penfield Country Club in Penfield, New York.
 
 
10:30 a.m. - Arrival/Check-in
11 a.m. - Lunch served
Noon - Shotgun start
5 p.m. - Cocktail hour
5:30 p.m. - Dinner
 
Since 1982, the Tiger Open has been RIT Athletics' premier tournament for alumni and friends. Join us for a great day on the links and a delicious dinner.
 

 

RIT Croatia Launches Alumni Recognition Awards Project
 
RIT Croatia launched Alumni Recognition Awards project. This project is designed to recognize the best of the best - Alumni who are making an impact in their chosen professions and companies, wider community or for RIT Croatia. Depending on their experience and accomplishments, Alumni can be awarded through three different award categories:
  • Distinguished Alumni Award
  • Notable Alumni Award
  • Early Achievement Award
Any member of RIT Croatia or the broader community who believes that a certain RIT Croatia alumnus/a deserves this prestigious award, may submit a nomination via the form available on the RIT Croatia website. Self nominations will also be accepted. After the nomination and selection processes are complete, chosen recipient(s) will be publicly announced at an upcoming alumni event.

 

Tiger Heritage Spotlight

Daniel A. Mendelson BS '88 and Linda Mendelson
 

Jewish Heritage Month

Read about Daniel A. Mendelson BS '88, Physician.
 
 

 

Rakesh Chandiramani BS '04
 

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Read about Rakesh Chandiramani BS '04, Vin Sur Vingt (VSV) Wine Bars.
 
 

 

More RIT Alumni Events

 

RIT College News

 

 

Make a Gift
RIT Beach Towel
 

Make a Gift

You can still make a gift to RIT! Make a minimum $50 online gift through 11:59 p.m. Eastern on June 30, 2022 and receive an RIT Beach Towel.
 
* Show your Tiger pride this summer and make your gift today.
 

 

Class Notes
the-recipient_cover
Shail (Mithani) Rajan MBA '95 is thrilled to share that she has published her second novel.
 
 
Dr. Wilfredo Alvarez
Dr. Wilfredo Alvarez BS '02 and Associate Professor of Communication and Media at Utica University published a new book, Everyday Dirty Work: Invisibility, Communication, and Immigrant Labor.

 

Submit Your Class Notes

 

Share your expertise. Become a mentor. Find your next job. 
 
Update: 1,650 alumni and 1,682 students have joined RIT's virtual community making connections for life. It takes less than two minutes and you're instantly connected with students and fellow alumni on our exclusive digital platform.
 

 

Your relationship with RIT doesn't end when you cross the stage. Update your information at https://www.rit.edu/alumni/update and join the thousands of other proud alumni who volunteer, attend alumni events, take advantage of alumni benefits, and continue to support the areas of RIT that mean the most to them. By completing the form, you will ensure that you receive invitations to alumni events in your region as well at the RIT University Magazine throughout the year. Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at ritalum@rit.edu or 585-475-4485.

 

University Advancement
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ritalum@rit.edu
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