Linda Underhill fills new liaison position in Office of Graduate Education

RIT professor Linda Underhill will join the Office of Graduate Education for the academic year as Faculty Associate for Graduate Education.

Underhill, associate professor in the Saunders College of Business, will support RIT’s strategic goal to grow the university’s doctoral programs, said Twyla Cummings, associate provost and dean of Graduate Education, who recently made the announcement.

The position is a significant addition to the Office of Graduate Education, which serves nearly 3,000 students from 53 countries, including 90 incoming Ph.D. students. Underhill will assist Cummings in creating initiatives that enhance the graduate experience at RIT, from academics and research to professional development, and help implement the strategic plan for expanding the university’s doctoral portfolio.

Underhill’s experience securing federal and state funding, including a training and research grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will aid in the effort to expand RIT’s graduate offerings. She will also serve as the point person for issues related to graduate needs, such as writing and programing to create a new channel for addressing graduate student needs.

A longtime member of the RIT community, Underhill has chaired the health systems administration program and, most recently, the department of service systems in the College of Engineering Technology. Underhill has served as president and CEO of the Senior Health Alliance of Greater Rochester and Traditions in Caring Agency.

Underhill is an alumna of RIT, with a BS in food administration and an MS in instructional design. She holds a Ph.D. in instructional design and management from State University of New York at Buffalo.