News by Topic: Alumni

Making at RIT has hit a new level now that several makerspaces in the Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED) have opened to provide students access to equipment and support for classwork, club advancement, and personal projects.

At RIT, robots are learning to read the room—especially rooms with humans. Improved communication between robots and people is part of the human-centered philosophy that anchors much of RIT’s work in robotics.

Since 2002, more than 1,200 students have gained valuable experience creating a multimedia production ensemble with RIT Sports Network.

Matt Hranek, founder and editor of WM Brown magazine and The William Brown Project, likes to spend his time exploring and embracing the diversity of life. By producing his own magazine, he’s made a career out of sharing his life experiences with others.

Michael Rizzolo didn’t plan on learning American Sign Language when he came to RIT as a student, but he grew interested and eventually became an interpreter. Today, he is founder and CEO of the interpreting agency Interpretek.

An important space for RIT students who are military-affiliated, veterans, and their families, now has a name and a refresh thanks to benefactors who want to support members of the U.S. armed forces.

As a child, Shakierah Smith loved watching Law & Order. Now a real estate associate, Smith says that her success was thanks to her support system and positive experiences at RIT.

To help draw attention to the thriving Filipino community in Austin, Texas, Joi Conti created a new magazine guide called TAYO NA: Austin Filipino Artists & Makers Guide in October 2023.

Independent research projects can help cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Whether it’s late nights spent in a RIT lab or a field study in the mountains, research experiences can be a cutting-edge way for students to prepare for the future.

From an early age, Allison Keeler always knew she wanted to be a scientist. As an adult, that dream has come true as she is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Chan Medical School and the lead researcher in the Keeler Lab within the Horae Gene Therapy Center.

Frank Sklarsky, a successful businessman who with his wife, Ruth, has shared their philanthropy with RIT and others, is RIT’s 2024 Outstanding Alumnus.

Be curious because what if, said RIT alumnus Bob Morrealle, who shared stories of discovery, hope, and confidence during his presentation at the Futurists Symposium, a collection of alumni and faculty offering an insider’s look into the future of technology, the arts, and design. The symposium, held April 26 in the Wegmans Theater, MAGIC Spell Studios, was the official kickoff to Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival.