RIT student finds surprising fit with Electric Vehicle Team
Janet Hackman, a third-year economics and environmental sustainability, health and safety major from Rockville, Md., is the team manager of the RIT Electric Vehicle Team, a collegiate electric motorcycle racing team founded in 2012.
How did you discover the Electric Vehicle Team?
Janet Hackman
Hackman, second from right, poses with members of the Electric Vehicle Team and RIT President David Munson during the Imagine RIT Creativity and Innovation Festival.
During my freshman year, I attended a club fair, where all the performance teams were showcased. It was clear that these teams are a big part of the RIT experience. I initially considered a few options related to my studies in business and economics, but nothing really stood out. Then my roommate mentioned she was going to the Electric Vehicle Team’s meeting and invited me to tag along. I thought, Why not?
Before attending, I did some research and learned it was the first year the team was forming an operations subteam. Since I have a background in business, I thought it would be a great fit. I joined as the first operations team member, which was a unique experience. I worked closely with the team manager, got involved quickly, and found the work rewarding. That’s what kept me coming back.
What is your day-to-day role with the team?
My role has changed over the years. When I first joined, I focused on managing communications, reaching out to potential sponsors, maintaining relationships with existing sponsors, and handling budgeting. When I became team manager, I had a lot to learn, especially as a non-engineer and one of the youngest members to hold the position. My team has been incredibly supportive, and while I don’t need to know the technical details, they were always happy to explain.
Now, as team manager for the second year, my role has expanded to overseeing the entire team. Day to day, I spend time checking in with members during meetings, not just about the work but also to get to know them personally. Those original responsibilities remain, but as the operations team has grown, we’ve improved our processes. For example, we now send out a monthly newsletter and have a much better response rate from sponsors thanks to changes we implemented, which is wonderful.
What’s funny is that I’m not a car person! At public events, people often tell me about their car modifications, and I just smile and nod—it’s all new to me. It’s been an amazing learning experience.
How do you fit into what is traditionally a male-dominated scene?
It’s definitely a challenge. RIT itself has a predominantly male student population, and engineering and coding-focused fields tend to be male as well. When I joined the team, my roommate and I were two of only a handful of women. But things are improving, and this year we’ve seen the most women join the team, which is amazing. Seeing five women sitting together at a meeting table now makes me so happy, knowing how far we’ve come. One moment that stood out was during an intro meeting my first year as team manager. A new operations team member later told me it was daunting for her to join the team but was inspired when she saw me in the front of the room with five guys, overseeing the team. Knowing that my presence made her feel more comfortable and confident makes all the challenges worthwhile.
Another unforgettable moment happened after my first year as team manager. I met an older woman in engineering who faced significant adversity in her career because of her gender. When I introduced myself and told her about my role, she was so moved that she teared up, saying how much it meant to see a woman leading in such a male-dominated space. Moments like that remind me why representation is so important—and why I’m proud to be part of this team.
How has your experience with the Electric Vehicle Team influenced your career goals?
It’s opened new possibilities for me. I never envisioned myself in engineering management, but this experience has shown me that it’s a viable path—and a significant industry. It’s also boosted my confidence in taking on leadership roles. Without this experience, I think I’d second-guess myself more. My first year as team manager was full of learning opportunities—plenty of mistakes, but also growth. Now, in my second year, I feel more prepared and capable, and I’ve learned how to handle pressure and adapt, which I know will translate to a professional environment.
Being on the team has also piqued my interest for electric vehicles and alternative energy, and how that connects to sustainability. In class discussions about topics like lithium-ion batteries, I can confidently contribute because of what I’ve learned on the team. It’s rewarding to see how my hands-on experience complements my academic studies.
Do you have any advice for other students just starting out at RIT?
Be curious and open to trying new things. Some of the best decisions I’ve made—choosing RIT, joining the Electric Vehicle Team, and sticking with it—started with a simple “what if?” Those choices have shaped my career goals and shown me what I’m capable of. Leading a team while managing my coursework has taught me how to handle pressure, adapt to mistakes, and navigate burnout. Burnout can be an isolating experience; it's easy to be convinced that it’s only you, but it’s not singular. It’s taken a lot of practice to realize that, and I’m still nowhere close to perfect with handling it.
That said, don’t overthink everything. Nothing is that serious—if you try a club or activity and it’s not for you, that’s okay. College is about exploring, making mistakes, and figuring out what works for you. Don’t feel pressured to have it all figured out or to stick with people or opportunities that don’t fit. Find those opportunities and take those chances, knowing that some of them will fail, but the ones that don't are probably going to be the best opportunities of your college experience.
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The member states include Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Photo provided by Clyde Hull RIT Professor Clyde Eirikur Hull takes a question from the audience during the Second Symposium on Accelerating Science, Technology, and Circular Innovation in Vientiane, Laos, this past July. The one-year extension, made possible through the U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership under the leadership of Program Manager Helen Santiago Fink, aims to help organizations in ASEAN countries train entrepreneurs, businesses, and lawmakers to use sustainability science to identify profitable, eco-friendly opportunities. It focuses on developing innovative technologies and business models that strengthen local economies, foster ties with the U.S., and reduce environmental harm. By applying circular economy principles and leveraging the team’s expertise in innovation and technology management, the initiative collaborates with local partners and the State Department to deliver training that supports sustainable business growth and environmental preservation. The professors are joined by Israa Ameen Thiab, visiting assistant professor at Saunders and a Ph.D. candidate in RIT’s sustainability program; Mihloti Williams, senior program manager at the Competitive Sustainability Center at the Saunders College of Business; research program manager Khant Oak Soe ’23 (technology innovation management and entrepreneurship); and senior program specialist Rachel Spangler ’16 (metals and jewelry design). They will be continuing their circular economy education training with over 50 partners in the ASEAN region, which includes over 37 universities and 15 business incubators and non-profit organizations, while also lending financial support to new circular economy startup companies. In total, more than 100 teachers and nearly 1,000 students have been trained. 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Williams, professor of sustainability in Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) and co-PI on the grant, focuses his research on the end of first-use electronics and how informal recycling practices impact ASEAN member nations. “We aim to reduce environmental harm from informal recycling in Asian nations by shifting materials to proper facilities, which are more efficient and environmentally sound,” Williams said. “This approach could yield a win-win-win: greater material recovery, less environmental damage, and improved economic benefits for those in the end-of-use chain, including the informal sector. While outcomes depend on policy and other factors, we’re working to nudge things in the right direction.” Their research abroad also comes stateside. Thiab recently led a circular economy entrepreneurship workshop at RIT’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship, bringing insight from practices in her native Jordan to local businesses. The workshop focused on transforming existing business ideas into circular business ventures that both enhance profitability and help reduce the amount of waste going into landfills. “It’s very exciting to see our work having an impact, making a difference in people’s lives, in the local economy, and for the environment,” Hull said. “Our students and the students of our partners create jobs for themselves and others where there were no jobs, and they make a profit reducing the flow of things into the landfill. That's a great reason to get out of bed in the morning.” Hull and Williams have established expertise in circular economy entrepreneurship, especially when applied in developing nations to benefit the local economy and environment. Hull has decades of experience working with entrepreneurs through RIT’s Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Venture Creations, and the aforementioned Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Competitive Sustainability Center. Williams was the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant to research international electronic waste, the results of which influenced the environmental standard for computers in the United States. In addition to the original grant from the State Department, the team has also received funding to help entrepreneurs in the Middle East form circular economy businesses. As part of the funding, the group will hold its third annual Symposium on Accelerating Science, Technology, and Circular Innovation in July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
