RIT’s New-Student Convocation Speaker Offers Perspectives of a World Citizen

Rochester Institute of Technology’s Convocation for New Students, at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, in Clark Gymnasium, features a keynote address by Dr. Samuel Betances, senior consultant with Souder Betances and Associates Inc., a diversity training and consulting company.

As a biracial, bicultural and bilingual citizen of the world, Betances has worked in all 50 states, all six U.S. territories and various countries including Japan, Korea, Germany and Mexico. He inspires learners to aim high, reject rejection and embrace each other as team members working toward a more prosperous future.

Betances challenges negative mindsets with his problem-solving methodology and extensive grasp of issues. He merges eloquence and teaching skills to deliver his message with conviction: "It matters less where we are from - what really matters is where we are going. Accept our diversity. Embrace it. Make it work for you. Harness the rainbow," he says.

This motivator was not supposed to make it. He arose from the bowels of inner city poverty, the stigma of minority group status, violence, welfare and illiteracy. With strong spiritual convictions and a passion for reading, Betances took the hard lessons from the mean streets of life and reshaped them into his personal vision. He embarked on a journey, from dropping out of school to a doctorate from Harvard University. Today, Betances is an honored professor emeritus, a consultant to presidents, managers, community groups, clergy members and educators, and a role model for youth.

Much more than a lecturer, Betances works to help others learn the importance of pulling cultures together as a way of bringing America back to the top – in education, business and society in general. As he puts it, "Our mission is to make America stronger, healthier and freer than when we found her."

The new-student convocation also features remarks by RIT President Albert Simone, Academic Senate Chair Joyce Hertzson and Student Government President Erick Littleford. A perfect opportunity to welcome new students, the convocation presents faculty in full regalia.