Class Notes
Name: Bhairav Mehta
Class Year(s): 2002
Note: Bhairav Mehta MS ’03 (KGCOE) has been promoted to executive director and head of Artificial Intelligence at JPMorgan Chase. This milestone follows a distinguished career spanning more than 20 years across some of the world’s most respected organizations, including Ford, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. Bhairav’s academic journey reflects an equally strong commitment to lifelong learning and excellence, with a master of science in systems engineering from RIT, a master of science in statistics from Cornell University, an MBA from Cornell University, and a master of science in computer science from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence and machine learning at George Washington University. In addition, Bhairav recently completed Carnegie Mellon University’s Executive Graduate Program in agentic artificial intelligence, further strengthening his expertise in next-generation AI systems and autonomous agents. His unique combination of industry leadership, technical depth, and academic achievement continues to position him at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation and enterprise transformation.
Submitted on: June 16, 2026
Name: Sandra Malinowski
Class Year(s): 2018
Note: Surrounded by many RIT alumni friends, Sandra Malinowski ’18 (CAST) married Ben Fechtner on June 6, 2026 at the Lodge at Shadow Hill in Ontario, NY.
Submitted on: June 16, 2026
Name: Ethan Feldman
Class Year(s): 2007
Note: After 8 years at Northwestern Mutual, Ethan Feldman ’07 (GCCIS) has joined the engineering team at MDCalc as a QA engineer.
Submitted on: June 15, 2026
Name: Kyle Benesh
Class Year(s): 2011
Note: Kyle Benesh ’11 (SCB) published his first book this June, The AI-Era Engineer: A Field Guide for the Next Generation, building an engineering career in the age of AI. Many years on from Kate Gleason and still learning. theaieraengineer.com.
Submitted on: June 15, 2026
Name: Mike Timm
Class Year(s): 1988, 89,90,91,92
Note: Mike Timm ’94 (CIAS) is the producer & director of the short film, Mexican Hat. Mike’s latest short film premiered at the Marina del rey Film Festival. It continues through the festival circuit.
Submitted on: June 15, 2026
Name: Luisa Schum
Class Year(s): 2014
Note: Luisa Schum ’14 (SCB) received her MBA from the University of New Mexico on May 16, 2026.
Submitted on: June 15, 2026
Name: Michelle Beatty
Class Year(s): 2016
Note: Thompson Names Michelle Beatty MBA ’16 (SCB) director of Perioperative Services CANANDAIGUA —Michelle Beatty is the new director of Perioperative Services for F.F. Thompson Hospital, an affiliate of University of Rochester Medicine. With over 20 years of experience, she is responsible for providing oversight of services including the Operating Room, the Ambulatory Procedures Unit, Sterile Reprocessing Services, the Surgical Care Center, the Pre-Admission Testing Center, and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. She will also lead strategic initiatives to improve patient outcomes and surgical efficiency within Thompson. After completing her nursing degree at St. John Fisher University, Beatty served in various positions in operating rooms and in nursing administration, obtaining a Master of Business Administration from RIT along the way. Most recently, she served as the senior director of nursing and Perioperative Operations for Rochester General Hospital. She is a member of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. “We are confident that Michelle’s expertise in perioperative operations, strategic planning, and commitment to quality will greatly benefit our surgical services and our patients,” said Thompson Health vice president of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer Hazel Robertshaw. Beatty resides in Farmington.
Submitted on: June 11, 2026
Name: Nela Alvarez-Sotomayor
Class Year(s): 1991
Note: Rose Keneally and Nela Alvarez-Sotomayor ’91 (CIAS) were out representing RIT this spring at South Portland High School in Maine for Senior Acceptance Day — inspiring the next wave of college-bound seniors and, let’s be honest, probably the most interesting people in the room that day. Between them, these two have built something genuinely special at SPHS. Rose has been shaping young mathematical minds for 20 years, while Nela has spent 28 years keeping the art of analog photography alive and thriving — darkrooms, film, the works. In a world of Instagram filters, that dedication is next level. Two Tigers, a decade apart, one school — and a whole lot of impact. South Portland is lucky to have them both.
Submitted on: June 3, 2026
Name: Kerri Johnson
Class Year(s): 2000
Note: After graduating from RIT 26 years ago, Kerri Johnson ’00 (CIAS) never imagined that one day she would have a front-row seat to watch her own daughter graduate from the same university. As the events manager for Commencement in the RIT College of Liberal Arts, she has helped celebrate this milestone for countless students and families over the years, but this ceremony was especially meaningful. Watching her daughter cross the stage at her alma mater was a full-circle moment their family will always cherish.
Submitted on: May 27, 2026
Name: Aiden Allridge
Class Year(s): 2026
Note: Aidan Allridge ’26 (COLA) is headed to Japan. Aidan has been awarded a highly competitive position as a coordinator for international relations through the JET Program, where CIRs support internationalization efforts, translation, interpretation, and cross-cultural exchange in Japan. CIR positions require a high degree of Japanese fluency and make up less than 10% of JET participants. This achievement reflects Aidan’s hard work, skill, and strong interdisciplinary preparation in Japanese and Business. Congratulations, Aidan! COLA is proud to celebrate your extraordinary work and this exciting next step. We also recognize the dedicated faculty in Applied Modern Language and Culture–Japanese, whose teaching and mentorship continue to support students of Japanese language and culture across RIT.
Submitted on: May 21, 2026