RIT Appoints Academic Director for Golisano Institute for Sustainability

Ryne Raffaelle has been named academic director for the newly created Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology. The institute, one of the first of its kind in the nation, focuses on research and education in sustainable design, pollution prevention, remanufacturing and alternative energy development. Raffaelle, who currently serves as a professor of physics and microsystems engineering and director of the NanoPower Research Labs at RIT, will direct the institute’s educational mission, including the development of one of the world’s first doctoral programs in sustainability.

“I am very excited to announce Professor Raffaelle’s appointment to this important post,” notes Stan McKenzie, RIT Provost and vice president for academic affairs. “He is an excellent addition to the Golisano Institute team and will enhance its efforts to develop cutting-edge research and education programs in the growing field of sustainability.”

“This appointment is a great honor and I am looking forward to assisting the Golisano Institute and RIT in educating our next generation of engineers, business managers and policy makers,” adds Raffaelle.

The Golisano Institute for Sustainability was created earlier this year thanks to a $10 million donation from Rochester area businessman B. Thomas Golisano, and is working to enhance environmental quality and economic productivity through the incorporation of environmental policy, “green” business management and clean production into all areas of industrial operations. The multidisciplinary effort also seeks to educate government and environmental policy makers on the needs of industry, enhancing communication and cooperation between all decision makers. The institute’s first graduate degree, a Ph.D. in sustainability, is now in the development stages and the institute anticipates admitting students in the fall of 2008.

Raffaelle will be responsible for the development, implementation and management of all graduate programs offered within the institute, including chairing the curriculum committee, providing quality control for all academic programs, overseeing the recruitment of faculty and graduate students as well as oversight of all academic research conducted within the organization. He will report to Nabil Nasr, assistant provost for academic affairs and director of the Golisano Institute, and work closely with Andrew Moore, dean of graduate studies and Don Boyd, vice president for research.

“Ryne Raffaelle is an outstanding educator and researcher with an international reputation in the fields of nano materials and alternative energy development,” says Nasr. “Everyone at the Golisano Institute is looking forward to adding his expertise and management skills to our education and research programs.”

Raffaelle first came to RIT in 1999, after serving as a professor of physics and space sciences at Florida Institute of Technology for seven years. He has authored over 150 peer reviewed journal publications and served as principle investigator on over 40 externally funded research grants totally over $10 million. During his career Dr. Raffaelle has served on 40 graduate theses and dissertation committees at four different universities, within nine different disciplines.