Saunders College recognized faculty and staff achievements at the end-of-the-year college meeting, April 28, 2026.
Length of service
5 years
Bethanie Dell, building operations manager
Laharish Guntuka, associate professor department of management
Ali Tosyali, associate professor management information systems
10 years
Janelle Ami, academic advisor
Sorim Chung, associate professor marketing, marketing and analytics
Saiwu Lin, senior lecturer MIS
Gaby Palmer, events and promotions manager
15 years
Lisa Boice, director student services and program development
Jennifer Matic, principal lecturer management
Qian Song, associate professor finance and accounting
Andrea Yancone, senior staff specialist
20 years
Zhi Tang, professor department of management
25 years
Rick Lagiewski, assistant professor international hospitality and service innovation
30 years
Molly McGowan, co-director executive education, internal engagement
Staff Promotions
Lia Giasi
senior marketing & promotions coordinator
Julio Talledo
associate director business development & strategic partnerships
Aspiring Leader Award
Mel Cerra
academic advisor
Outstanding Staff Award
Lia Giasi
senior marketing & promotions coordinator
Volunteer Certificates
“Significant Volunteer Contributions at College Events”
Melissa Masline English, assistant director of student services
Mel Cerra, academic advisor
Hillary McCormick, assistant director of student services and global education
Terri Monsees, program manager, accred., assessment and leadership academy
Casey Reichhart, senior staff assistant
Jennifer Rubiano-Groot Saladen, senior coordinator
Peggy Tirrell, senior associate director graduate programs and admissions
2026 Isaac L. Jordan Sr. Awards
Faculty Award
Molly McGowan
co-director executive education, internal engagement
Staff Award
Peggy Tirrell
senior associate director graduate programs and admissions
2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Recognition
Scholars honored faculty and staff members who made a positive difference in their university experience
Quang Bui, associate professor MIS, marketing and analytics
Michael Caceci, senior lecturer MIS, marketing and analytics
Mel Cerra, academic advisor
Melissa Masline English, assistant director of student services
Philip Gelsomino, senior lecturer accounting
Saiwu Lin, senior lecturer MIS, marketing and analytics
Hillary McCormick, assistant director of student services and global education
Rick Mislan, senior lecturer MIS, marketing and analytics
Kevin Sweeney, associate professor management
Rose Thomas, academic advisor
Matthew Vollmer, lecturer MIS, marketing and analytics
2026 Excellence in Student Life Award Recognition
Bill Dresnack, associate professor accounting
Rick Lagiewski, assistant professor international hospitality and service innovation
Rose Thomas, academic advisor
Hao Zhang, professor finance
2026 Student Life Recognition
“Coming in Clutch”
Julio Talledo
associate director business development & strategic partnerships
Congratulations!
Completion of doctorate degrees
Nikisha Alcindor, Ph.D.
lecturer management
Terri Monsees, Ed.D,
program manager, accred., assessment and leadership academy
Retirements
Our Best Wishes and Appreciation!
Jeff Davis
lecturer business management
Lorraine Hems
senior lecturer international hospitality and service innovation
Moving on...
Good luck and thank you!
Laharish Guntuka
associate professor department of management
Guilherme Ramos
assistant professor MIS, marketing and analytics
Tenured and Promotion to Associate Professor
Kristin Bain
associate professor management
Ali Tosyali
associate professor MIS, marketing and analytics
RIT Faculty Scholarship Report
Saunders College of Business Featured Faculty Member, recognizing research productivity over time
Dr. John Tu
senior associate dean
AY 2026-27 SCB Zutes Award Recipients
Recognizes and celebrates the output and quality of intellectual contributions and fosters continuing achievement…
Dan Jin, assistant professor international hospitality and service innovation
Sriniwas Mahpatro, assistant professor accounting
Mike Palanski, professor management
Ali Tosyali, associate professor MIS, marketing and analytics
AY 2026-27 Professional Leaves
Vic Perotti, interim department chair MIS, marketing, and analytics
Rong Yang, professor accounting
Hao Zhang, professor finance and accounting
Special Grant Awardees
RIT SRS Boot Camp
"Leveraging Human-Centered Deceptive Strategies for Organizational Resilience."
Dan Jin
assistant professor international hospitality and service innovation
Externally Funded Awards
Statler Foundation, $64,300
Preparing Hotel Workforce for Future: Human-Robot Collaboration Training & Development
Co-PIs
Dan Jin (PI), assistant professor international hospitality and service innovation
Jerrie Hsieh, professor international hospitality and tourism innovation
Muhammet Kesgin, professor international hospitality and tourism innovation
Edwin Torres, professor international hospitality and tourism innovation
NYSESD, $718,662
Veteran and Underemployed Electronics Manufacturing Employability Skills Training
Martin Anselm, interim department chair engineering technology (PI)
Malar Hirudayaraj, associate professor business management (Co-PI)
SMS, $15,000
The Nature of User Connections in Network Effects: A Proposed Experiment
Kalan Horton, assistant professor management (PI)
Co-PIs
Kristin Bain, associate professor management
Kevin Sweeney, associate professor management
Jese O’Brien, assistant professor film and animation
Way Foundation, $137,000
Leadership Academy @ Saunders
Rich DeJordy
department chair management (PI)
Innovative Teaching Award
Sriniwas Mahapatro
assistant professor accounting
Faculty Certificates
Outstanding Teaching Effectiveness
Hao Zhang, professor finance and accounting
Manlu Liu, professor MIS, marketing and analytics
Kyunghoon Ban, assistant professor finance and accounting
Emi Moriuchi, associate professor MIS, marketing and analytics
John Striebich, lecturer finance
Bill Dresnack, associate professor accounting
Sriniwas Mahapatro, assistant professor accounting
Malar Hirudayaraj, assistant professor business management
Exceptional Student Impact
Philip Gelsomino, senior lecturer accounting
Lorraine Hems, senior lecturer international hospitality and service innovation
Suzanne McCaffrey, lecturer accounting
Rick Mislan, senior lecturer MIS, marketing and analytics
Saiwu Lin, senior lecturer MIS, marketing and analytics
Bryan Reinicke, associate professor MIS, marketing and analytics
Jennifer Matic, principal lecturer management
Exemplary Adjunct/Visiting Faculty Teaching
Rob DiMarco, adjunct accounting
Jim Minno, adjunct data analytics
Jeff Arywitz, adjunct entrepreneurship
Anthony Testa, visiting lecturer entrepreneurship
Israa Thiab, visiting assistant professor
Greg VanLaeken, adjunct finance
Dave Ballard, adjunct management
Sheri Watkins, adjunct accounting
