Class Notes

Name: Bruce Lovelace

Class Year(s): 1984

Note: Bruce Lovelace BS ’84 retired from shooting location portraits as the traveling photographer.

Submitted on: July 10, 2025

Name: Kelly Burns

Class Year(s): 2010

Note: Kelly Burns MBA ’10 previously served as the director of tourism for Livingston County. Kelly recently started a position as vice president of Marketing and Visitor Services at the Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford. The role provides leadership and management of a variety of public-facing departments and overall strategy for marketing the Museum’s many offerings. The Museum is New York State’s largest living history museum, and it will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025

Name: Shqipe Neziri Vela

Class Year(s): 2007

Note: Shqipe (Neziri) Vela BS ’07 has been named one of Reuters’ Trailblazing Women in Energy 2025, an annual recognition awarded through a global nomination process. The award celebrates ten exceptional women who are driving innovation, advancing inclusion, and shaping the future of the energy sector worldwide.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025

Name: Pranjal Sawai

Class Year(s): 2024

Note: Pranjal Sawai MFA ’25 is officially an author! Her first children’s storybook, The Clever Monkey and the Crocodile, is now published and available on popular platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, making it accessible to everyone. This book is a creative retelling of a classic Panchatantra tale, following the clever monkey who outsmarts the crocodile with his wit and intelligence. It beautifully blends traditional Indian storytelling with modern design, making it a unique addition to any child’s bookshelf. This tale is more than just words on a page; it combines storytelling, typography, and design to bring the clever monkey’s adventure to life. Crafting this book has been a journey of passion and creativity, inspired by the stories that shaped Pranjal’s youth.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025

Name: Lisa Dreher

Class Year(s): 2010

Note: Only July 6, 2025, Lisa Dreher BS ’09 celebrated her 10 year anniversary at Dr. Mark Hyman’s UltraWellness Center (UWC). She is coming up on 15 years as a practicing registered dietitian. Lisa is currently the senior dietitian at UWC. She is also the director of nutrition for WeNatal, a prenatal supplement company founded to support both men and women on their fertility and preconception journeys. Lisa helps develop evidence-based fertility-supportive formulas and provides ongoing education for the WeNatal team and customers. She is continually reminded of how pivotal her education at RIT was in shaping her foundation and preparing her for her career. Lisa truly wouldn’t be where she is without it.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025

Name: Thomas Elmer

Class Year(s): 1988

Note: Thomas Elmer BS ’88 was recently promoted to distinguished engineer at ARM Ltd. in Austin, TX, where he works in R&D for computer arithmetic hardware in high performance CPU chips. Currently sole or joint inventor named on 25+ US/foreign patents. Prior work included AWS, Centaur Technology, Motorola, and National Semiconductor.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025

Name: Wayne Oliver

Class Year(s): 74,78

Note: The True Band of Brothers By Wayne Oliver BS ’78 In 1974, Wayne Oliver BS ’78 enrolled as a freshman at RIT and was assigned to the 4th floor of Sigma Pi—then known as Honor House B. At the time, their resident advisor was a senior student by the name of John Brown BS ’75. The floor was a mix of seniors and students on co-op, and though they occupied prime Greek real estate, they were not affiliated with any fraternity. Because of this, their house was facing possible elimination by the end of the third trimester. Determined to preserve their space, they advertised in the dorms for new members. And that’s when their true Band of Brothers was born. In the Spring Trimester of 1975, a new group of students joined the floor, now under Wayne’s guidance as the new resident advisor. This group remained together, strong and united, until 1978. Since then, their friendship has endured for over 50 years. They have witnessed each other’s weddings, celebrated the births of their children, and, sadly, mourned the loss of their first brother, Mark Newhouse BS ’80. This July, they will gather for their fifth reunion since graduation, another opportunity to roll back the sands of time. They will meet in Penn Yan, New York, nestled in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. Though time has caused them to lose contact with some of their former floormates, eight of them—along with their better halves—will come together once again. Those attending are: Bill Bibbens BS ’79, Jim Buckpitt BS ’79, Jerry Decausemaker BS ’80, Tony DiFlorio BS ’79, Peter Jackson BS ’79, John Tackacs, Jim Whipple BS ’79, and Wayne Oliver BS ’78. To any of their old friends reading this: they would love to reconnect. Please reach out to Wayne Oliver, wfoliver2013@gmail.com.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025

Name: Jeremy Sniatecki

Class Year(s): 1995

Note: Jeremy Sniatecki ’95 (CIAS) was chosen as the winner of the design competition for the new official city flag of the history-rich North Tonawanda, New York community.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025

Name: Briana Mackey

Class Year(s): 2023

Note: Briana Mackey BFA ’23 has been hired as a Junior Multimedia Designer for the Division of University Advancement at RIT.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025

Name: Jemeul Thompson

Class Year(s): 1987, 2005

Note: Jemeul Thompson BS ’05 is grateful for his RIT education. In 2012, after working in the education and non-profit sectors on a variety of instructional and community technology programs and projects in Rochester and Western NY, Jemeul decided to explore using the communications and instructional design aspects of his degree. This opened doors to a world he had no idea existed. Jemeul took a position with a unique company that provides training for the aviation security (AVSEC) sector and has not looked back. At the end of the pandemic, he took an exciting position with Delta Air Lines in cargo compliance and security, helping ensure that our planes are safe and secure for passenger travel. Jemeul loves what he does every day. His career would not have been possible without his RIT education.

Submitted on: July 9, 2025