- Upcoming cluster hires in artificial intelligence solidify RIT as a leader in the fieldAs RIT continues its drive to become a leader in the higher education artificial intelligence space, more than 40 positions spanning multiple disciplines are expected to be filled as part of the university’s commitment to expand the university’s AI expertise. The goal is to fill all open positions this year, though some positions may take longer to fill because of market demand for AI experts. Opportunities in computing and information sciences, engineering, engineering technology, arts and sciences, humanities, business, and design are expected to draw “visionaries and collaborative thinkers” tasked with shaping AI-focused research and education. The hiring initiative was a recommendation last spring from the AI Task Force, which comprised university community members and focused on developing creative solutions to embed AI into teaching and curriculum, research, scholarship and innovation, and experiential aspects of campus life. “Drawing expertise from RIT and around the world is the next step in advancing our university to become a leader in the AI space,” said Professor Chris Collison, who leads the AI Hub. “As we study AI and watch it develop at lightning speed, it’s essential that we tailor our research and education efforts to be on the cutting edge. Furthermore, our current and prospective students are looking to be a part of this new technological chapter. It’s our mission to ensure that our students are prepared to thrive in this arena.” Aside from building upon the curriculum in the MS in artificial intelligence, the task force report includes recommending areas where RIT can experiment with AI, including research, admissions, instruction, and administration. “Our vision is not only to be recognized as a leader in AI innovation, but to emphasize the ethics behind responsible AI and to build a community grounded in thoughtful human-AI interactions,” said Prabu David, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “I look forward to the prospect of RIT playing a critical role in AI.”
- RIT’s School of Film and Animation named among the top 50 best film schools by ‘TheWrap’Unique program offerings, technological expertise, and cutting-edge facilities earned RIT’s School of Film and Animation (SOFA) another placement on a top film school ranking list this year. RIT placed 30th in TheWrap’s Top 50 Film Schools for 2024 list, marking the first year RIT was featured in this ranking. This new accolade comes on the heels of the school being recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as 25th in their annual film school rankings list. Shanti Thakur, director of the school, shared her excitement about SOFA’s continued recognition on a national stage. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our faculty, staff, and students from the past to the present. It is an honor for SOFA to be recognized by this prestigious publication,” said Thakur. “The continued recognition of our school through rankings like this inspires us as we work toward creative excellence in everything we do.” TheWrap cited RIT’s strength in the technological aspects of film when granting the ranking, particularly in animation. The publication explained that RIT is one of the few schools to offer instruction in stop-motion animation. Student access to cutting-edge facilities like the MAGIC Center and the Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED) was also considered when granting the ranking. Housed in RIT’s College of Art and Design, SOFA has a long history of producing high-achieving graduates who have made immediate impacts within the industry, according to Dean Todd Jokl. Being included in The Wrap’s top film schools list, as well as other recent accolades, illustrates that the creative efforts of the SOFA community is paying dividends. “RIT and SOFA have long been at the forefront of bridging technology with the entertainment arts. It is exciting for us to be recognized by yet another industry standard publication in TheWrap’s Top 50 Film Schools,” said Jokl. “Our activities in film production, animation, motion picture sciences, game arts, and the industries associated with entertainment are robust. We strive to pair our world-class faculty and resources with our students, research interests, and the industry.” Faculty and staff in SOFA remain dedicated to creating opportunities for hands-on creative practice both in and outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged to share their work with the community through film festivals, showcases, and other competitions, including the annual Coca-Cola Refreshing Films contest. A team of SOFA students won the contest in 2022 and, this year, another team of SOFA students was one of four semifinalists out of 900-plus submissions. In line with the mission of creating more opportunities for students, RIT has launched the RIT LA academic and research initiative centered on the entertainment industry. The initiative, led by industry veteran Tom Connor, assistant provost and Professor of Practice, expands the university’s presence in Los Angeles. As part of the RIT LA initiative, students with relevant skills in film, animation, games, marketing, motion picture science, design, transmedia storytelling, and more travel to Los Angeles for a semester-long immersion in the industry. Among other experiences, students benefit from internship opportunities, learning from working professionals and alumni, and behind-the-scenes experiences at studios across the city. In previous years, students have secured internships and capstones at Panavision, the Screen Actors Guild, Universal Pictures, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Disney/ABC, Netflix, and other industry-leading companies. “Seeing RIT’s rise in these rankings and our growing presence in LA is exciting and reflects the unique impact our graduates are having on the entertainment industry. RIT students have always excelled at leveraging technology to achieve great creative outcomes,” said Connor. Go to TheWrap’s digital magazine and see page 20 to view the full list of rankings. Go to the School of Film and Animation homepage for more information about the program.
- Saturday Math Academy offers extra helpMath can be a daunting, yet necessary, part of a student’s undergraduate curriculum. But the College of Science is stepping up to help students in first-year math courses succeed with the Saturday Math Academy. The program is a supplemental instruction session offered to all RIT students looking for one-on-one help for introductory math courses. Under the direction of Susan Bateman, School of Mathematics and Statistics lecturer, and guidance of Joshua Faber, head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics, the program aims to boost mathematics understanding across campus since all students must take a math course to complete their degrees. Bateman teaches first-year math courses, so is able to identify foundational concepts that students are struggling with week to week. She also asks faculty for feedback on what issues students are having. Students can request help with specific problems when registering. When students arrive on Saturdays, they receive a worksheet of suggested problems to work on with help from the teaching assistants and can also ask about specific problems. “We think this program will enhance math preparedness and proficiency of students from all majors to help augment our student success initiatives,” said Andre Hudson, dean of the College of Science. “One of our initiatives is to normalize to our scholars that it is good to ask for help.” First-year robotics and manufacturing engineering technology student Micah Lang was looking for extra help since she was struggling to grasp a certain concept in her math class. After attending the Saturday Math Academy, she has better understanding and is more confident. “Going to the Saturday Math Academy and seeing so many others there to get help encouraged me to search for more support,” said Lang. Second-year civil engineering technology student Jacob Koppel is enrolled in one of Bateman’s calculus classes and attended the academy to work on homework and study for exams. As a teaching assistant himself, he enjoys seeing fellow students become comfortable with complicated topics. “It’s a great time to study for calculus with the help of some awesome professors and teaching assistants,” said Koppel. “Everyone there is happy to help. It also adds some structure to my weekend schedule.” Nikolaus Kent, an applied and computational mathematics graduate student, is one of the teaching assistants ready to help at the Saturday sessions. “I think this program is incredibly beneficial for the students who attend because it gives them a chance to open up and get in-depth answers to their more complicated questions,” said Kent. “Being able to work with students on a weekly basis builds my confidence in teaching and allows them to build relationships with other graduate teaching assistants and students.” The Saturday Math Academy is held every Saturday at various locations on campus from 10 a.m. to noon. A free breakfast is provided. Students are encouraged to register in advance, but registration is not mandatory. Information on the schedule and locations, as well as a link to register, can be found on the Saturday Math Academy website.
- RIT students raise awareness about mural art through TunnelVisionFifty years of murals in the Residence Hall tunnels reflect the values, imagination, and school pride of generations of RIT students. Two current students are making sure they aren’t forgotten. Wilson McDade created the website, TunnelVision: RIT’s Overlooked Art Museum, with help from Kasim O’Meally, to document the artwork and uncover details for future students. McDade’s idea for TunnelVision began last fall in the class Imag(in)ing Rochester, taught by Jessica Lieberman, chair of Humanities, Computing, and Design. “The final project for the class was to create a map of a place or experience that might impact your community or change people’s views on a subject,” said McDade, a fifth-year computer science major from New Orleans. “TunnelVision came out of that class as an experiential map and catalog of the murals in the tunnels.” O'Meally, a fourth-year web and mobile computing major from Rochester, and McDade documented the 250 existing murals with fresh photography and research. They pieced together information from a snapshot inventory, mural application forms, and mock-ups kept in the Center for Residence Life. They found other clues in the RIT Archives, including a 1976 newsletter from the Residence Hall Association announcing the winners of a mural painting competition. McDade cross-referenced the names and murals and interviewed a few of the alumni. While most of the dormitory residents are first-year students, many older students live in specialty housing or work as resident advisers. McDade spent four years living in the Computer Science House located in Fredericka Douglass Sprague Perry Hall. O’Meally has worked as a resident adviser for the last two years. Both students have walked past the murals thousands of times on their way to the Corner Store, laundry facility, or dining halls. The murals became part of the background and the mental map that helped McDade navigate the tunnels, he said. “Sometimes the murals disappear,” McDade said. “They’re ephemeral. People will replace their mural or put up a new one overnight. It was interesting to me that there was no kind of documentation.” TunnelVision gave him a chance to fix that problem and record the legacy students left behind. Art in the tunnels began in 1970 as semi-sanctioned graffiti. Fine art students needed an outlet during the tense political climate and Stanley McKenzie, a former English professor and provost emeritus, suggested the tunnel walls. Students used markers and spray paints on the plain cinder block and concrete walls. Most of the early murals were whitewashed, and only a few of the originals survive—one from 1976 and two from 1971. Now, storage and utility closets enclose two of the oldest murals. Infrastructure has grown around the murals and pipes obscure a larger-than-life flamingo and an Engineering House homage to the band, Boston. A random set of lockers also block part of a portrait of Kendrick Lamar. McDade and O’Meally have enlisted younger students to continue their work and have started a student club called “Tunnel Visionaries.” “Since we are both leaving soon, we are looking to other people to pick up where we leave off,” O’Meally said. “We’re tapping into the curiosity students have about the murals—How old they are and who did them—so that other students that come after them can see that there’s a long history that represents how students at the time might have felt and what the campus was like back then.” Elizabeth Call, university archivist, supports their efforts to raise awareness about the murals. Call has proposed that RIT designate the murals in the Residence Hall tunnels and other student-made murals across campus as a “historic and culturally significant art installation.” The murals could be included in the RIT Archives’ Art on Campus collection. “The murals offer insights into the evolving campus culture,” Call said. “By granting historic designation to select murals—pre-dating 1977 or more than 50 years old—we aim to preserve this student legacy for future generations and integrate it into the narrative of campus history.” For more information about TunnelVision and the Tunnel Visionaries club, contact tunnelvision@csh.rit.edu.
- Erika Ayers Badan shares secrets of her success in upcoming Gasser LectureAfter a tenure as Barstool’s first chief executive officer, Erika Ayers Badan made a surprise move in April, stepping in as interim CEO, then taking the role permanently, at Food52, a cooking and lifestyle website. She embraces being uncomfortable. “I think to evolve your career, you need to do things that scare you,” Ayers Badan said. “This was an opportunity to do something different, to see how far I can push my knowledge, ability and perspective. I had an amazing 10 year-run at marketing to 18 to 34-year-old men, and now I’m eager to see what else I can do.” Ayers Badan will share insights and experiences that have shaped her executive career during the 11th annual Gasser Lecture Series at Saunders College of Business on Friday, Nov. 8. The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 11:30 a.m. in Ingle Auditorium. Registration is recommended. Her speech, titled “Nobody Cares About Your Career,” is also the title of her first book, published in June. Ayers Badan’s career has involved a series of pivots. She held C-suite roles at AOL and Bkstg, a New York-based startup, before being named Barstool’s CEO in 2016, leading the New England-based sports blog, known for its edgy content, through rapid growth. Under her leadership, the company expanded into multimedia, merchandising, streaming, and even the collegiate name, image, and likeness (NIL) space. By the time she left in January, Barstool’s revenue had grown 5,000 percent—a testament to her adaptability and willingness to explore new avenues. “The talent [at Barstool] was impressive and we were really ambitious in creating a culture where risk and creativity had room to breathe,” Ayers Badan said. “We felt as if it was us against the world, which is motivating and unifying. It meant we embraced ideas that felt bold, sometimes outrageous—because that’s where innovation lives.” Ayers Badan received numerous accolades during her Barstool years. Fast Company named her one of its “Most Creative People in Business” in 2018. That same year, Forbes ranked her 25th on its “Most Powerful Women in U.S. Sports.” In 2019, The Big Lead included her on its list of “The 75 Most Powerful People in the Sports Media Business.” Adweek named her one of its “Most Powerful Women in Sports” in 2017 and 2020. Her talk will cover the career lessons she has learned and offer advice to future entrepreneurs. “You have to be willing to do the bad jobs before you get the good ones,” Ayers Badan said. “I think a lot of times, people in college right now and business school are worried about making the perfect choice, creating the perfect business. You’ve got to be hungry and scrappy. You must take chances, be non-traditional in your approach. Most of all, you must stick with it, even when everyone else is telling saying you shouldn’t.” The William D. Gasser Distinguished Lectureship was established by Jones Chemicals Inc. of Caledonia, N.Y., in recognition of Gasser’s contributions as a teacher at RIT and as a director and financial advisor to Jones Chemicals Inc. Gasser was an independent auditor for Jones Chemicals from 1940 to 1967. He later served as partner-in-charge of the Rochester office of Haskins & Sells and joined RIT’s College of Business faculty in 1967. Among his many honors, he was named RIT’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1971. He also served on the boards of charitable, business, and professional organizations, including the Catholic Charities of Rochester, the Hearing and Speech Center of Rochester, and the Monroe County unit of the American Cancer Society. Past guest speakers include Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian, the NFL’s Dawn Hudson, Ben & Jerry’s Jerry Greenfield, and Shark Tank’s Daymond John.
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- Newman Catholic Community Sunday 9:15 a.m. MassNov 3, 2024 9:15 AM | "Where do we go on Sunday at 9:15 a.m.?" We go to Mass. Join the Newman Catholic Community at RIT in worship on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. The morning Mass will be ASL interpreted.
- Into the ROC: Alpaca TourNov 3, 2024 11:30 AM | Did someone say ALPACAS?! Join Into the ROC as we adventure just outside of Rochester to the scenic Finger Lakes area, known for its vineyards, breweries, antique stores, and good country living. During this tour we'll get a chance pet and feed some alpacas, and learn more the different types of alpacas and how they are cared for on the farm.
- Newman Catholic Community Sunday 5 p.m.. MassNov 3, 2024 5:00 PM | "Where do we go on Sunday at 5 p.m.?" We go to Mass. Join the Newman Catholic Community at RIT in worship on Sundays at 5 p.m.
- Weekend Food TrucksNov 3, 2024 5:00 PM | Another weekend, another round of food trucks on campus!
- The TABLE Lutheran-Episcopal Service and DinnerNov 3, 2024 6:30 PM | Join us on Sunday evenings for worship at 6:30 p.m. in the Allen Chapel inside the Schmitt Interfaith Center.
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