Grad thrives in the courtroom and classroom

Experiences at RIT helped Ryan Lamon ’17 (criminal justice) discover his passion for practicing law. Now, he’s giving back to a new generation of students by bringing his learnings from the courtroom into the classroom.

“If you asked me who the most influential people were in my life, most of them would be teachers,” said Lamon, who embraced a new role as an adjunct professor in RIT’s College of Liberal Arts this academic year. “I owe a lot of my success to the different teachers, professors, and bosses who supported me along the way.”

After graduating from RIT, Lamon, from Watertown, N.Y., earned his Juris Doctor degree from Pennsylvania State University. In 2022, he was hired by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Now, he is a special assistant district attorney for Monroe County’s Major Felony Bureau. His duty is to prosecute violent felony criminal cases on behalf of the people of Monroe County, where he currently lives.

Lamon always envisioned himself as a law enforcement officer, but his time at RIT—particularly an internship with the U.S. Marshals Service—altered that vision and changed his path.

“The biggest thing I loved about the internship was being in the courtroom. But I didn’t know a lot about being a lawyer other than what I saw on TV,” he said. “Now that I’m here, I can’t really see myself doing anything else.”

Learning to handle the pressure and high stakes of the courtroom helped pave the way for a new professional challenge: stepping into the shoes of a mentor and teacher.

In 2024, Lamon was asked to be an adviser for RIT’s Mock Trial Association. He found joy in working with students in a mentorship capacity outside of his regular working hours. When the opportunity to teach a mock trial course arose, he was eager to continue to give back to the community that helped him grow into a young professional.

“The people you mentor, especially in the Rochester legal community, will eventually become the people working alongside you. By giving back to your community, you’re improving where you live,” he said. “If I can play a very small part in supporting the next generation, I’m happy to help.”

Being able to give back and provide that same support he benefited from as a student has been fulfilling for Lamon. He said learning is a two-way street in his classroom and that watching his students work inspires him.

“Seeing the way some of these students think is fun. The way they approach things is often different from what I was always taught. That doesn’t mean my way is right or theirs is wrong; it’s just different,” he said. “It’s impacted how I approach cases I work on, and it’s helped me grow.”