Class Notes

Name: Kyle Bates

Class Year(s): 1997

Note: Kyle Bates ’97 (CIAS) was recently promoted to clinical associate professor in the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Paramedic Program, where he continues to serve as program director. Kyle also stays active on the ice, as the goalie coach for UMBC’s Division III Club Hockey team, which captured the ACC Hockey League North Division title last season. In addition to work at UMBC, Kyle continues to teach at EMS conferences, sharing knowledge and best practices with providers across the region. Kyle’s time as training officer with RIT Ambulance was a turning point in his career, giving him the foundation, confidence, and perspective that continues to shape how he teaches and leads in EMS today. Kyle also owes a huge thanks to Michael Peres, who opened the door for him to teach at his first national conference, and in the process, delivered one of the most valuable informal lessons about teaching he has ever received. RIT instilled a lifelong love of learning and leadership, and Kyle is fortunate to keep those passions alive every day in his academic role.

Submitted on: August 6, 2025

Name: Amir Figueroa

Class Year(s): 2007

Note: Amir Figueroa ’07 (CAST) accepted a new position as the flow cytometry & cell sorting facility manager of the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. He will be taking over the technical direction of the core, overseeing all cell sorting experiments and leading the training/education of all staff utilizing the shared resources available.

Submitted on: August 5, 2025

Name: Charles (Charlie) Abounader

Class Year(s): 1974

Note: Charlie Abounader ’74 (KGCOE) retired as president of Underwriters Laboratories and as GM/VP at GE.

Submitted on: August 4, 2025

Name: Thomas Delp

Class Year(s): 2022

Note: Thomas Delp BS ’22 and Mackenzie Rhody BS ’23 were married on June 5, 2025, at Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park. Having first started dating exactly 10 years prior, they celebrated this new milestone with close friends and family, including many other members of the RIT community.

Submitted on: July 30, 2025

Name: Lynette Dubovik

Class Year(s): 1996

Note: Lynette Dubovik BFA ’96 is teaching 3D art at Streamwood High School in Illinois.

Submitted on: July 29, 2025

Name: Eric Steck

Class Year(s): 2013

Note: Eric E. Steck BS ’13 is proud to announce, along with his wife Anne Steck, the birth of their son and future RIT Tiger, Isaac Robert Steck, born Feb. 2025.

Submitted on: July 19, 2025

Name: Mikaela David-John

Class Year(s): 2017

Note: Brendan John BS ’17, MS ’17 and Mikaela (David) John BS ’17 met through RIT’s American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) chapter and the Future Stewards Program in 2014. In June, they welcomed their daughter, Henrietta, named after the town where they met and fell in love. Now living in Virginia, they both work at Virginia Tech, where they co-advise the university’s AISES chapter—giving back to the organization that brought them together and helped shape both their personal and professional paths.

Submitted on: July 19, 2025

Name: Lavanya Ashok Swaminathan

Class Year(s): 2019

Note: Following graduation, Lavanya Ashok Swaminathan MS ’22 became part of Intel, where she has been employed for the last few years. Her experience at RIT played a crucial role in developing her career, equipping her with a robust understanding of manufacturing engineering and readying her for the ever-evolving challenges within the tech sector. As she looks back on her experiences, she feels thankful for the chances she’s had to grow and learn at both RIT and Intel. The encouragement and support from mentors, coworkers, and friends have been essential in guiding her through her career journey. She looks forward to continuing to break new ground and making significant contributions to the field.

Submitted on: July 18, 2025

Name: Fred Neveu

Class Year(s): 1968,1970

Note: Fred Neveu BS ’70 (CIAS) published a book in 2023 called, SEEING BEAUTY; A LIFETIME OF LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY.

Submitted on: July 18, 2025

Name: Liz Platt

Class Year(s): 2016

Note: In 2024, Liz Platt BS ’16 was appointed director of individual giving at New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy, in Miami Beach, FL—an organization that prepares graduates of music programs for leadership roles in professional orchestras and ensembles worldwide. She previously held development positions at Pérez Art Museum Miami, Memorial Art Gallery, and the University of Rochester, where she advanced fundraising initiatives in the arts and higher education. In addition to her nonprofit work, Liz is an experienced ceramic artist with a background in exhibiting at regional art fairs and teaching community pottery classes. She lives in Miami with her husband, Geoff Platt, a practicing glass artist and professor.

Submitted on: July 16, 2025