News

A new addition to the heart of Rochester’s Downtown Innovation Zone—RIT’s Venture Creations technology business incubator—is designed to enhance the synergy between the vibrancy and resources of the city and the region’s newest start-up companies.

RIT will livestream a special ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 30, to announce the official name of the new maker and learning complex that will become the new epicenter of the RIT campus.

Eric Avar ’90 (industrial design), Nike’s vice president and creative guide of innovation design, has been selected as a 2021 commencement speaker on May 14 and 15. Avar, who was honored with the College of Art and Design Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016, joins Andrea Ghez—a 2020 Nobel Prize winner in physics—as the university’s first-ever dual commencement speakers during a two-day celebration of the Class of 2021.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented annually by each of RIT’s nine colleges and the School of Individualized Study to alumni who have performed at the highest levels of their profession or who have contributed to the advancement and leadership of civic, philanthropic, or service organizations. It is the highest award an RIT college can bestow upon its alumni. Registration for the April 29 virtual event is now open.

Intersections: The RIT Podcast, Ep. 47: RIT’s Theme Park Enthusiasts started as a casual group of roller coaster fanatics. Today, they have won national design competitions and have found co-ops and jobs in the field of theme park entertainment. Travis Faircloth, current club leader, talks to alumnus and former member Robert Cybulski, CAE Analyst at Roush Industries, and Michael Deneau, vice president of Entertainment Engineering at Roush Industries. They share insights about the growth of the club and what it takes to succeed in a very competitive and rewarding industry.

WROC-TV features Zac Bittner ’11 (microelectronic engineering), ’11 MS (materials science), ’19 Ph.D. (microsystems engineering); Nicholos Mackos ’08 (mechanical engineering); Chelsea Mackosm ’09 (microelectronic engineering), ’11 MS (materials science); and Joseph Hunt ’19 (chemical engineering).

M. Richard Rose, president of RIT from 1979 to 1992, died Saturday, April 10, at his Florida home. He was 88 years old.

The Wall Street Journal features Anthony Coscia '92 (professional photographic illustration).

Isha Mehta '20 (Graphic Design) credits professional experiences at Dixon Schwabl and other agencies/companies with preparing her for her design career.

Fox Rochester talks to Tisa Zito '09 (film and animation) about her directorial debut with the documentary ForeverMoore; The Angelo Project.

Bryan Williams '08 (Illustration) is an artist/animator for Workinman Interactive, a local game studio focused on the youth market.

Evan Selinger, professor of philosophy, talks with Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad '06 (computer science), principal research scientist at KenSci Inc., about using artificial intelligence in the medical field. Selinger has published six pieces on Medium’s OneZero platform about the intersection of technology and liberal arts.