Ph.D. student channels her resilience into solutions
Katie (Masaryk) Malarkey ’04 (physics) uses her good days for good. It’s a simple ethos that guides her life.
As an undergraduate at RIT, the Windsor, N.Y., native balanced roles as a resident adviser, lead editor for Reporter magazine, and member of choir and a cappella groups. Her first act after graduation aligned with her major, working as a thin film coating engineer for Newport Corp.
“I used to tell people I made rainbows for a living,” Malarkey joked, reflecting on her five-year career creating diffraction gratings.
Despite her success, something wasn’t right. After years of daily migraines, overwhelming lethargy, and painful physical changes, Malarkey was diagnosed with acromegaly, a rare condition caused by a pituitary tumor that produces excess growth hormone.
She considers that day one of the best of her life because she finally received a diagnosis for all her mysterious symptoms.
After subsequent and ongoing years of treatment, including radiation and brain surgery, she adjusted her priorities.
“My time as an engineer taught me to think critically and solve intricate problems,” she said. “But my health struggles taught me the value of perspective. If you can find the little joy in every day, it makes life a beautiful experience.”
Malarkey returned to RIT to tackle complex environmental issues. As a Ph.D. student at Golisano Institute for Sustainability, her research focuses on agricultural plastics—a largely overlooked contributor to environmental pollution.
“We rely on plastics for so much of our food production, from mulch films and irrigation tubing to greenhouses and horticultural containers,” she explained. “Yet we don’t even know how much plastic is being used, let alone how to recycle the majority of it.”
Her study, funded by a $15 million National Science Foundation grant, provides a comprehensive quantification of plastics used annually in U.S. agriculture. Her work also aims to address the end-of-life challenges for these materials.
Many agricultural plastics, contaminated with dirt and organic matter, are nearly impossible to recycle and often end up in landfills. Their breakdown releases microplastics into soil and water, potentially entering the food chain.
Malarkey hopes to help identify and mitigate those obstacles to create circular economy solutions.
“Katie has what we call that ‘secret sauce,’” said Callie Babbitt, professor of sustainability and Malarkey’s research adviser. “She has the intellectual curiosity, creativity in her approach, and the grit to overcome obstacles. She’s balancing so much in her life, but you wouldn’t know it because she shows up every day with a positive attitude.”
That balance includes juggling her responsibilities as a mother of two children and her work in the community. She is co-president of Parenting Village, a Rochester-based nonprofit that offers free support to local caregivers and families and hosts an annual Family Fest that draws thousands.
To Malarkey, sustainability is more than policy—it’s about fostering relationships on every level.
She embraces it all with gratitude and determination. “Coming back to school at this stage of life isn’t easy,” she said. “But the support I’ve found at RIT and from my family has made all the difference.”
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- Grad’s job is all fun and gamesEven though he graduated from RIT more than a decade ago, Rohit Crasta is still amazed that one of the last classes he took on campus has inspired his career making casual games that appeal to the masses. Crasta, who was among the second cohort of game design and development program graduates in 2013, is lead game designer for The New York Times, helping to create digital puzzles that have quickly become conversation starters in break rooms and on social media. He is tasked with developing game play mechanics for popular brainteasers, like Strands, that are the basis for the handcrafted puzzles. “Time well spent is our mantra,” said Crasta, who is originally from Rockville Center, N.Y., but now lives in Rochester. “The goal every day is to build thoughtful puzzles that promote curiosity. We want people to feel good about the time they’re spending playing our games and forging connections with others in workplaces and in group chats. To me, casual games are about promoting conversation and social interaction.” As a student, Crasta was impressed with the array of accessible labs and tools at his disposal, in addition to his professors’ commitment to teaching fundamentals like programming and art and design concepts. He also credits his instructors’ honesty for his drive to succeed. “From day one, our professors were upfront with us about the competitiveness of the games industry,” Crasta said. “But they assured us that with lots of hard work and diligent use of the resources that were available, our chances for success would increase exponentially.” After graduating, Crasta worked as a programmer for a museum and a textbook company, which he said allowed him to use playfulness to solve design problems. He was also lead game designer for the mobile game Wordscapes. A decade later, he continues to use his creativity within the games division of The New York Times and is happy to be a part of the long legacy of the media giant’s games. Its first crossword published in 1942. “The crosswords were included in the newspaper during a time when people needed a break from the heaviness of World War II,” he explained. “So, even back then, puzzles and games were used as a way for people to destress and have fun, if only for a short while. I’m so pleased that I’m able to help further this mission.” In Rochester, Crasta runs the nonprofit ROC Game Dev, a local platform for game creators to learn and collaborate in all aspects of building games. He also spends time meeting with students, sharing what he’s learned, and encouraging them to reach their full potential. Ironically, although Crasta enjoys puzzles, he doesn’t consider himself an expert puzzle constructor. Instead, he’s thrilled to be surrounded by master puzzlers, gravitating toward innovators, risk takers, and those moving the games industry forward. “A common misconception is that you have to be really great at playing games to design games,” said Crasta. “But that’s not quite true. I’m here to create unforgettable experiences for game players and that’s my unique skillset.
- Photojournalism students earn bylines in the Associated PressMany aspiring journalists, photographers, and editors closely follow the Associated Press (AP), and graduates often have their eye on the organization when applying for full-time jobs. Thanks to alumni connections, seven photojournalism students can add a publication on AP’s news wire to their resume before they graduate. As part of an advanced non-fiction multimedia course taught by Associate Professor Meredith Davenport, students spent much of their spring semester researching and pitching story ideas to journalists on AP’s climate and environment news team. During a four-day workshop on campus, eight AP journalists traveled to Rochester to work with the students and help them produce their stories. If the guidance from AP staff members wasn’t enough to make the opportunity memorable, the cherry on top for the students was that each of their stories would be published on AP’s news wire. The value of this opportunity was not lost on Caitlyn Daproza, a third-year photographic and imaging arts – photojournalism option major. In addition to the high-profile placement of her work, she said the workshop experience, and the immediate feedback she received, helped her make the most of each moment when reporting and enhanced her skills as a storyteller. Daproza pursued a story about the decline in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organically certified acreage, how climate change is affecting these farmers, and how they’re using sustainable practices to mitigate these issues. “I had little knowledge about my topic, but I had the benefit of working with two editors who mainly work on climate stories. They had a lot more information from working on their other stories, so the questions they were asking were well-informed,” said Daproza. “Seeing that really sparked my interest and got me more excited about finding new threads of the story to tell.” Davenport explained that, typically, photography instructors can’t work out in the field with students, and they are usually given feedback after the assignment is complete. Working alongside the staff from AP exposed them to new ideas and approaches to storytelling. “These journalists work with one of the largest news organizations in the world. Having them out in the field with students, coaching them on site, is a very valuable learning experience,” said Davenport. Carlos Ortiz Caitlyn Daproza, right, conducts a phone interview with AP Reporter Patrick Whittle, left, and AP Photo Editor Alyssa Goodman, center, during the 4-day workshop on campus. She added, “The AP photographers, editors, and writers were so sensitive, thoughtful, and supportive when working with the students. You could tell that they really loved working with them and watching them learn.” In early 2024, Evan Vucci ’00 (professional photographic illustration), a chief photographer for AP, introduced some of RIT’s photojournalism faculty members to Alyssa Goodman, photo editor for AP. The organization was looking to lead a climate storytelling training experience that involved students, according to Jenn Poggi, associate professor and director of the undergraduate photojournalism program. AP had previously conducted training experiences like this with established journalists, but this would be the organization’s first time working with students in this capacity. Jenn Poggi said it was exciting to hear that AP wanted to explore this training model with RIT students. It offered the exact type of experiential learning opportunity that photojournalism faculty members seek to provide for students. “Hands-on learning resonates in a different way. It can build the students' confidence in the skills they already have, as well as show them how much more they are capable of—often more than they might have previously believed,” said Poggi. Peter Prengaman, global climate and environment news director, believes it is vitally important that young journalists are prepared to cover climate change at a high level. The collaboration with RIT was a great opportunity to give students exposure to the often-intimidating topic. “At this point in my career it’s important to me to give back and help the next generation of journalists. I’ve most enjoyed getting to know the students and seeing how they approach stories,” he said. “A workshop like this is intense. They have all thrown themselves into the work, showing creativity, grit, and flexibility that will serve them well once they graduate and start working.” Third-year photographic and imaging arts – photojournalism option major Natasha Kaiser did her best to absorb every ounce of knowledge she could while working alongside her well-seasoned mentors. She pursued an article that explored how vineyards in the Finger Lakes region have been impacted by climate change and other non-climate-related issues, and what steps the owners take to circumnavigate them. “Working with staff from a high-end newsroom like AP was truly life changing. It changed my perspective on what it’s like to work with top names in the industry, and it showed me that it’s not that scary or unattainable,” said Kaiser, from San Antonio, Texas. “Being given an opportunity is one thing. It's what you do with it that really is going to change the way you think and the way you produce content.” Kaiser’s story was the first student article published by AP. The remaining student stories are set to be published once per week on AP’s website until they’ve all been shared.
- RIT alumni innovators to speak at Futurists Symposium on April 25A highlight of this year’s Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival takes place one day before thousands of visitors descend on campus. The annual Futurists Symposium, featuring a unique collection of the university’s alumni innovators, will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 25, in Ingle Auditorium. Panelists will highlight their expertise on a variety of topics, followed by a question-and-answer session. Moderated by WXXI-AM Connections host Evan Dawson, the symposium will feature four panelists. Tonia Bledsoe Tonia Bledsoe ’96 (management information systems) is an AI consultant, keynote speaker, and business strategist dedicated to making AI accessible and equitable. As the founder of Bledsoe Legacy and co-founder of EmpowerAI Collective, she uses her expertise to help organizations drive AI-powered growth and innovation. With experience in government contracting, SaaS implementation, and AI-driven solutions, Bledsoe has led high-impact projects, scaled teams, and generated significant revenue. She is the author of Tech Equity: Leveraging AI to Bridge the Wealth Gap and served as a speaker at the AI Summit and the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce Economic Evolution Accelerator. She is also a member of the International Association of Artificial Intelligence Consultants (IAAIC). Josh Cavalier Josh Cavalier ’92 (medical illustration) is a Learning & Development (L&D) leader with over 30 years of experience, specializing in generative AI for education. As the founder of JoshCavalier.ai, he helps organizations transform learning through consulting, workshops, and courses. Through his YouTube channel and live show, Brainpower, Cavalier simplifies AI for L&D professionals, offering actionable insights. A sought-after speaker at DevLearn, ATD ICE, and other top conferences, he helps to shape the future of AI in education. His upcoming book, Applying AI in Learning & Development, provides practical strategies to integrate AI for exceptional learning outcomes, cementing his role as an educator, mentor, and innovator. Sean Petterson Sean Petterson ’13 (industrial design) is a serial entrepreneur and inventor specializing in commercializing advanced manufacturing technologies. As co-founder and CEO of Supersede, he develops sustainable, high-performance alternatives to traditional construction materials. Previously, he founded StrongArm Technologies, pioneering industrial safety wearables and AI-driven injury prevention, inspired by his personal experience in construction. StrongArm was acquired in 2023 after securing venture funding and multiple patents. Khalid Al-Kofahi Khalid Al-Kofahi ’94 (computer engineering) is a technology executive, scientist, and engineer specializing in AI-powered solutions across legal, financial, and regulatory industries. As a senior vice president and head of the AI Center of Excellence at Fidelity, he drives the development of AI-enabled applications to enhance customer experience, scale operations, and inform business decisions. Previously, he spent 25 years at Thompson Reuters, leading corporate R&D and the Center for AI and Cognitive Computing, shaping the company’s AI strategy and industry-leading innovations. “Our faculty and alumni are achieving remarkable things at the intersection of technology, the arts, and design,” said Orlando Ortiz ’04 (robotics and manufacturing engineering technology) ’08 (MBA), president of the RIT Alumni Association. “The expert speakers will illuminate RIT’s extensive reach and commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration. I’m especially keen to hear their personal narratives, discover their innovative contributions, and explore their visions for the future of their industries, AI, and RIT.” The symposium, which is open to the public, is sponsored by WXXI and Liberty Mutual. The Imagine RIT festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 26, will showcase the creative and innovative spirit of RIT students, faculty, and staff through more than 400 exhibits.
- Earnest approach to animation leads to success for alumni trioFriendships formed at RIT helped lay the foundation for Apartment D, an alumni-owned indie stop-motion animation studio. By leaning into their authentic approach to the craft, Sean Malony ’12 (film and animation), Max Lopez ’12 (film and animation), and Cami Kwan ’15 (film and animation) carved out their niche in the industry. Named after the apartment and pseudo-studio Lopez and Malony shared when they moved to Los Angeles, Apartment D specializes in content that packs a visual punch and evokes the unbridled joy of watching Saturday morning cartoons. Located in Burbank, Calif., the studio has served clients like Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., Mattel, Game Grumps, and Good Mythical Morning with Rhett & Link. Lopez, partner and CEO, said that starting their own studio and stepping into a creative leadership role wouldn’t have been possible without the interdisciplinary education they received at RIT. “I took a lot of wood and metalworking classes. I also had a philosophy minor and even took physics and calculus classes,” said Lopez. “It’s not just our creative skills that got us here. There’s a whole set of skills around your craft that turn out to be just as important as the craft itself.” Becoming their own bosses wasn’t easy, but as the studio grew, they gained the resources, expertise, and network needed to pursue their own creative projects. Apartment D’s first original series, Ruff Ruff Danger Dogs, premiered in December 2024. Ruff Ruff Danger Dogs is a kids’ series that tells the story of five once-abandoned pets—the “goodest dogs”—who must learn to put their differences aside, work as a team, and become heroes to save the world from Galactic Evil. Working in kids’ entertainment wasn’t always the goal for the studio. “The more the three of us worked together, we realized that we are incredibly earnest, and that doesn’t always play well with adult animation,” said Kwan, partner and creative producer. “The stories that we love are Saturday morning cartoons and shonen anime. Stories like that are more kid-focused, so it just matched with our voice.” Kwan’s favorite client projects have celebrated this approach to animation. One of her most meaningful moments was creating an animated series for Corinne Tan, the 2022 American Girl Doll of the Year and the company’s first Chinese American doll. A Chinese American herself, Kwan used her personal experiences to inform an accurate portrayal of Tan’s household, even down to small details like making sure the doll didn’t wear shoes in her bedroom. Another lesson gained from their time at RIT is the importance of supporting other young creatives as they learn to thrive in a scrappy industry. Many of Apartment D’s current employees are fellow RIT alumni. They also open the doors of their studio for students participating in the RIT in LA program, appear as guest speakers for animation classes, and have RIT student interns. “It’s fun seeing students grow as artists and develop their styles,” said Malony, partner and creative director. “So much of where I am now is because of the people and artists who came before me. If I can help keep that energy flowing to the next generation, I absolutely want to do that.”
- Imagine RIT will have artificial intelligence around every turnAI at Imagine RIT Find a list of more than 50 artificial intelligence (AI) exhibits at Imagine RIT. If festivalgoers have trouble exploring the more than 430 exhibits at this year’s Imagine RIT, they can now enlist the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The RIT community has created Imagine RIT Bot—a generative AI chatbot that’s like ChatGPT but focuses on the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival. For example, visitors can ask Imagine RIT Bot to find exhibits where they get to throw things or to plan a route of two robotics exhibits and a musical performance on their way to lunch. Imagine RIT Bot can be found at the RIT AI Hub Showcase exhibit, amongst several other AI tools created by students, faculty, and staff. The bot is one of the many Imagine RIT projects across campus that will incorporate the emerging technology of AI. “AI is here to stay and it’s going to change us,” said Christopher Collison, director of RIT’s AI Hub. “AI will enable the creation of different jobs and it will automate certain things, so we should able to spend more time doing the things we truly enjoy. RIT’s mindset is that we need to create and use AI responsibly and for the better.” Hey Tutor Bot RIT AI Foundry RIT experts have created an Imagine RIT chat bot for visitors hoping to learn more about and explore the festival. At the AI Hub Showcase, visitors can take a lesson with Tutor Bot. It’s an AI-powered tutor that doesn’t just give the answers—like ChatGPT—it helps people learn and study by digging deep in their foundational knowledge. On the back end, Tutor Bot relies on expert information from RIT faculty members and is built on top of a large language model. The tone of the bot can be modified to teach different audiences—from third graders to college students. In the future, the AI Hub hopes to make Tutor Bot available to all RIT students. It’s one of the many AI tools RIT is building from the ground up, with ethics in mind. At Imagine RIT, visitors will take sample courses in chemistry, physics, algebra, survival skills, and making “redstone” in Minecraft. Students working on the tools include Gregory Ojiem, a fifth-year computer science major, Hunter Landolfi, a fifth-year computer engineering major, and Neav Ziv, a third-year computer science major. Some other AI tools in development will also be available to try, including an advisor bot for scheduling courses and a research concierge bot that creates short biographies about RIT researchers to connect them with potential collaborators. “We want the public to get involved because AI is for everyone, not just big companies,” said Collison, who is also an endowed professor in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science. “It’s very empowering to do hands-on work with AI—anyone that learns how to use AI, can be a part of it.” Dreaming of AI Dreamcatcher Two RIT students are exhibiting Dreamcatcher, a dream-focused social media platform they are creating. The app uses AI to help users explore their friends’ dreamscapes and investigate similarities between dreams. Many college students dream of developing the next hot app. Two RIT students are making that happen. Jonah Witte, a second-year computer science major, and Gabriel Casselman, a second-year motion picture science major, are building a dream-based social media platform called Dreamcatcher. The app lets users share their dreams, explore their friends’ dreamscapes, and uncover connections between them. Dreamcatcher will be on display and available to download at Imagine RIT. The students are programming this for a fun side project. “We saw this as an untapped market,” said Witte, who is from Silver Spring, Md. “I’ve always been a big dreamer, and I like telling friends about my dreams. This is a dream journal where you can share with others and compare.” AI is at the core of the app, which uses a Google embedding model to break up dreams into different numbers and compare them. Users can scroll through their feed to see what others are dreaming about. “The AI will identify trends,” said Casselman, who is from Santa Barbara, Calf. “Maybe all your friends have a dream about whales on the same night or maybe your friends are appearing in each other’s dreams.” The students plan to show off a demo of the app at Imagine RIT and share how they made the platform. “We’re excited to get feedback from people,” said Casselman. “And we’ll keep adding interesting things as we go.” If you go Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 26 on the RIT campus. The event is free and open to the public. Plan your day on the Imagine RIT website.
- Tigers take on New York City through a new study-away programThe fast-paced lifestyle and creative energy in New York City was an appealing prospect for Wendy Chen, but she knew that establishing herself in a new, unfamiliar city would be challenging. RIT in NYC paved the way for Chen and other photography students to test the waters and discover if city life is everything they had imagined. Fanny Venegas Wendy Chen and Fanny Venegas agree that spreading their wings in an unfamiliar city was easier to do with help and support from their fellow students, professors, and local RIT alumni who extended a friendly hand. Chen, a fourth-year photographic and imaging arts – visual media option major, spent much of her spring semester working alongside Christine Blackburne ’05 (photographic and imaging arts – advertising photography option), a director and photographer specializing in beauty products, food, and luxury goods. As a photo studio intern, Chen helped Blackburne wrangle all the details and assets required for photoshoots and got experience working with companies like Maybelline, Tampax, Nioxin, and La Roche-Posay. “Being in New York City was very eye-opening for me. In class we learn about things like what a production might look like and the different types of roles that come into play. Here, I’m able to apply what I’ve learned and get that real-world production experience that can’t really be replicated in the classroom,” said Chen, from Montville, Ct. This is the first semester RIT in NYC was offered, and nine students jumped at the opportunity. During the semester-long program, students got work experience through internships, took in-person classes tailored specifically to the program, and enjoyed both guided and self-guided excursions around one of the largest creative industry landscapes on the East Coast. RIT in NYC is the brainchild of Laurie O’Brien—associate professor, director of RIT’s photographic and imaging arts – visual media option undergraduate program, and James E McGhee Fellow—and is intended to support and enhance the on-campus experiences students get in Rochester. According to O’Brien, giving students the opportunity to live and work in the city can give them a head start on building their career. Wendy Chen During one of their professional excursions, students got a behind-the-scenes look at the offices of 'The New Yorker' magazine. “Many students cannot afford to move to NYC after graduation to look for a job. But when New York companies are hiring, they often want you to already be in the city. In many cases, they also want to see NYC experience on someone’s resume,” said O’Brien. “This program provides the scaffolding for students to get that experience before they graduate.” In addition to New York being a creative hub, O’Brien shared that the large, supportive network of RIT alumni in the city made it an attractive location for this study-away opportunity. RIT alumni like Blackburne helped all nine students in this year’s cohort secure internships, including placements at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, YARDNYC, Elite World Group modeling agency, and NYC Salt. Alumni also hosted weekly industry visits for the students, welcoming them to their workplaces for panel discussions and photography portfolio reviews. With the help of alumni, students visited the offices of The New Yorker, Hearst Magazines, VOX Creative, Netflix, Getty Images, Aperture, and Wieden and Kennedy. “The biggest impact I have seen on students in the program is an increase in their confidence,” said O’Brien. “I know that students are leaving this experience with a strong idea of how the creative industry works, and they’ve learned how to manifest their dreams.” As fourth-year student Fanny Venegas, from Elba, N.Y., looks toward her future, she is grateful for the experiences this study-away semester brought her way. She described it as the “perfect transition to the real world,” particularly because she has plans to move to the city once she graduates. Venegas, a photographic and imaging arts – visual media option major, spent most of her time working as a fashion photography intern at Society Management, a modeling agency. She interviewed models when they came in for photoshoots, helped edit their photos and videos, helped design their comp cards—a marketing tool used in modeling akin to a visual resume—and even helped some models renew their visas by assembling portfolios to show as a proof of their work. “Working in NYC has always been a dream of mine, but I had no plan for how to make it happen. Having guidance from Professor O’Brien and some friendly alumni has been a blessing,” said Venegas. “It’s amazing how much people are willing to give back. We never met these alumni before this, we just have one thing in common: that we both went to RIT. People tell you about RIT connections all the time, but it’s really inspiring to see it firsthand.” RIT in NYC is open to all undergraduate photography majors and select photography minors. For more information about RIT in NYC, visit the program’s website or email Laurie O’Brien at lcofaa@rit.edu.
