COS Senator

Kyle Benintende

Photo of Kyle Benintende

Bio

Hi everybody! My name is Kyle Benintende and I am a Physics Major from Schenectady NY. I love being a part of the RIT community, including RIT Freestyle Snowboard Club, competing for RIT Flag Football, Launch Club, and Welding Club. If you see me around campus, feel free to talk to me!

Platform

I know the College of Science is filled with students who are ambitious, capable, and focused on building real careers in research, industry, and beyond. I would like to expand opportunities and strengthen the community within our college, and I’m committed to advancing both in ways that are practical and impactful. As I feel is similar for most students here, I believe that one of the biggest parts of coming to RIT is for the co-op and internship opportunities. I would like to:

-Strengthen the bridge between our academic work and professional opportunity. By expanding co-op and internship access and building a more connected COS community around that goal, I plan to advocate for stronger, more intentional partnerships between COS and employers. Increasing employer outreach and encouraging companies to engage directly with COS students can create more unique pathways into internships and co-ops for us. I also want to push for earlier exposure to co-op preparation resources, so students understand timelines and strategies well before they begin applying. Although co-ops are not required for the majority of us, it is one of the best parts of RIT, and I would like for us as a community to be able to take full advantage of it.
-Visibility is also just as important as availability. I will improve communication around discipline-specific internship postings, research positions, and networking events so opportunities don’t go unnoticed. Making information easy to access can reduce stress and help students act confidently.

In addition to supporting students with research and industry, I would also like to strengthen our community within the COS. Professional growth should be rooted in community, and in the network that we can create with the people around us. I aim to support alumni panels, research showcases, and career-focused events that allow students to connect with professionals who were once in their position. Building stronger connections between students across different years and disciplines can make COS feel more unified and supportive. I also plan to support more cross-major events that bring students together academically and socially, whether through collaborative study sessions, interdisciplinary discussions, or informal gatherings hosted within the college. I would love for students to be able to collaborate and connect as they learn and prepare themselves for the professional world.