Class Notes

Name: Kevin Norris

Class Year(s): 2007

Note: Kevin Norris ’07 (CIAS) ’s career in commercial photography really started at RIT. The education, technical foundation, and experience I gained there helped shape the way he approached photography and ultimately gave him the foundations he needed to be successful. After RIT, he continued his education with a master’s degree from Long Island University and eventually founded Juno Photo Productions, his commercial photography studio on Long Island, New York. Over the years, he’s been fortunate to build long-term relationships with clients and photograph campaigns and commercial work for brands including Seiko, Timex, Marchon, Nike Eyewear, Bulova, DKNY, Columbia, Converse, Qosina, Rubie’s, and many others. His work today spans product and still life, watches, eyewear, fashion, beauty, healthcare, lifestyle, and e-commerce photography. The industry has changed tremendously with the rise of new technology, and his work has evolved along with it. In addition to traditional still photography, he now creates commercial video, 360° product imagery, and AI-assisted motion and animation. Despite all of the changes in technology, the photographic fundamentals and problem-solving skills he developed at RIT continue to be a major part of how he approaches every assignment. Outside of photography, he and his wife are raising four kids. Their family has also been through an incredible journey after their son was diagnosed with leukemia. He underwent treatment and a bone marrow transplant, with his sister serving as his donor, and today he is in remission. That experience has given their family a very different perspective on what matters and has made Kevin especially grateful to be able to continue doing the work he loves while raising his family. More than 15 years into my career, he’s still doing what he went to RIT to learn how to do: creating images, solving visual problems, and making a living as a photographer. You can view his recent work at kevinnorrisphoto.com.

Submitted on: September 29, 2026

Name: Kazuo Takeuchi

Class Year(s): 76

Note: Mr. Kazuo Takeuchi ’76 (COST) appeared on the stage of Wakayama Castle Concert Hall (in western Japan) on September 19th to sing in his rusty English “My Way” and “Country Road” to a large audience alongside a talented pianist Ms. Aiko Miyai who is one of the best players in Japan. Mr. Takeuchi worked as the GM and VP at Kao Honolulu and retired in 2008, now living in Japan with his wife Harue.

Submitted on: September 25, 2026

Name: Aristide Economopoulos

Class Year(s): 1994

Note: For the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers, Aristide Economopoulos ’94 (CIAS) was interviewed on CNN by Anderson Cooper to talk about my photos and experience that tragic day. See the video here: https://next.frame.io/share/a5b62159-45c5-4a7b-a01f-99f7dc7417f0/view/2ab55ccc-2106-496f-8c18-7988016a518b

Submitted on: September 24, 2026

Name: Will Johansson

Class Year(s): 2009

Note: Will Johansson ’09 (GCCIS) has created an art installation titled "Can You Read My Lips?" at Burning Man 2026. He shares his experience: "As a Deaf person, I’ve spent my whole life reading lips — it’s exhausting, imprecise, and something hearing people rarely think about until they’re asked to do it themselves. The fact that Bad Lip Reading exists just cements the point. "Can You Read My Lips?" flips that experience. This piece invites burners to try reading the same words I’ve read a few times too many, and then, on the sixth line, asks whether they can read my hands instead. I’ve been attending Burning Man for many years... and it wasn’t until this year I had a complete idea for an art installation there. This art installation combines my Deafness with my passion for art and technical background. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first art installation at Burning Man by a Deaf artist."

Submitted on: September 18, 2026

Name: Howard Petote

Class Year(s): 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

Note: Howard Petote ’92 (FAA) has published his second novel, The Angel of Pleiku: Searching for her father in Binghamton, NY, a disgraced school teacher is swept into the troubled life of a Vietnam vet.

Submitted on: September 18, 2026

Name: Lawrence Christensen

Class Year(s): 1973

Note: Lawrence Christensen MS ’73 (CCE) wrote his novel NEXUSES, a novel set in the post-World War II United States and South America featuring three recent immigrants to the US who struggle to find their way to survive in and be of service to their adopted country. They become entangled with counter-intelligence actions against former Nazi leaders who are using the German Enigma encryption communications to plan the rebirth of the Reich in the Americas. Their individual war-time experiences make them uniquely qualified for the assignment. This novel is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Submitted on: September 16, 2026

Name: Deseree Arzu

Class Year(s): 2016

Note: Deseree Arzu MS ’16 (CLA) is excited to share that she has stepped into a new chapter in her professional journey. She is now serving as Communications Specialist with the Belize Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit, supporting the Resilient Bold Belize (RBB) GEF-8 Project, after a decade as Communications Coordinator at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Belize. Her ten years with WCS provided an incredible foundation for her career in conservation communications. She is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside passionate colleagues, conservation practitioners, communities, government partners and stakeholders, while learning how effective communication can help connect people with the importance of protecting Belize’s natural resources. Her work helped to bring me recognition by the European Union as the Gamechanger in Education and Human Rights in April 2026. In her new role, she will continue building on that experience, with a focus on communicating the work, results and lessons of the Resilient Bold Belize Project and the broader Blue Bonds program. The work brings together two areas she has become deeply passionate about throughout her career: conservation and communication. She is particularly looking forward to working with coastal communities and partners to tell stories that highlight the connection between healthy marine ecosystems, sustainable livelihoods and Belize’s long-term economic and environmental wellbeing.

Submitted on: September 15, 2026

Name: Zarna Shah

Class Year(s): 11,13

Note: Zarna Shah MS ’14 (CCE) is honored to announce a major international achievement. Her project has been selected as one of the top six projects worldwide (out of over 300 entries) for the prestigious INTBAU Grassroots Grant Award 2025. This highly competitive award includes a £5,000 grant to support the project "Heritage Reimagined: Resilient Bamboo Dwelling," located in Majuli, Assam, India. This initiative aims to reimagine traditional bamboo housing to strengthen resilience against annual flood threats and climate change while honoring the cultural identity of the Mishing community. The innovative design uses locally available bamboo to create durable, low-cost, and thermally comfortable dwellings. This achievement underscores MAATI’s commitment to creating models for climate-adaptive living that safeguard cultural identity and generate future livelihoods. You can find the full feature on the INTBAU website: https://www.intbau.org/intbau-grassroots-grants-programme-2025-grantees/

Submitted on: September 15, 2026

Name: Andrew Davidhazy

Class Year(s): 1966, 1969

Note: The Buffalo Museum of Science displayed 30 of Andrew Davidhazy ’66, MFA ’69 (FAA)’s scientific and technical photographs in their North Hamlin hall from January through August 2026.

Submitted on: September 14, 2026

Name: Andrew Davidhazy

Class Year(s): 1966, 1969

Note: Andrew Davidhazy ’66, MFA ’69 (FAA) received the Star of Texas award from the Association of Texas Photography Instructors.

Submitted on: September 14, 2026