Embracing philosophy and a proactive attitude in environmental conservation research

Yusef Ibrahim’s campus and community activities keep him very busy, but the fourth-year electrical and computer engineering technology (ECET) major has found a way to balance them all. In just the past year, he founded a peer mentoring program called Student Engineering Professionals (SEP), completed a co-op at General Motors in Flint, Mich., and returned as a teaching assistant for the College of Engineering Technology’s Introduction to Circuits course.  He did all of this just after publishing another book of poetry and a series of videos to highlight concepts in different engineering technology courses.  And a little-known fact, Ibrahim retains a place on the national list of fastest Rubik’s cube solvers. Ibrahim, who is also an RIT performing arts scholar, talked about how his peer mentoring program was established and how his connections to the arts, teaching and technology are influencing his careers plans and those of his classmates. What is the Student Engineering Professionals program? Who is involved and how it is conducted? SEP is a new student-led mentoring program that pairs second and third-year students looking for co-ops with upper class peers with co-op experience. SEP focuses on the career side of things, because finding that first co-op can be difficult. Our team is made of three mentors, and we work closely with the ECET department. This past semester we had seven mentees. I built it on a three-part idea with the first part a check-in. This is to form a personal connection with the mentee. Then it’s deadlines and details where we’d like them to accomplish tasks to better prepare them for career fair, managing coursework, or time management. This can include creating a portfolio website, remaking a resume, or creating a study plan. We try to cater it to individual needs. And the last part is reflection and intention. If you want to change, you have to know what you need to change first.  Reflection is about previous experience—what happened, what went well, what did not go as well as expected? And then you have to intend to make change. Why is a program like this necessary? I think it’s the cohesion of academics, career and social that really helps. Students have to find a balance between classes, campus jobs, extracurriculars all within the first year. If a student is unable to do that, the next year isn’t any easier. Classwork gets more difficult, and workload becomes more intensive. You could have circuit courses, a coding course, signal courses, or advanced math classes on top of your electives.  New housing arrangements or more responsibilities can affect the 2nd & 3rd year as well. With so many challenges piling up, SEP offers guidance, insight, and reassurance by connecting students with peers who have faced the same obstacles. Why did you choose engineering technology? I love analog circuits. It is my No. 1 passion. Anything closely associated with that I’ll be happy to do that in my career. During my second year, after I transferred into this college, I took Circuits 1, and I was exposed to a very different environment. We had one TA and one professor for a 16-person lab, and those first TAs were great role models for me. So, the next semester, I became a lecture TA. Your website states, “An electrical engineer by choice, and a teacher by heart.” What does this mean for you? Since I have been doing this, I’m crossing over to about 280 students who I have had the great opportunity to mentor or TA for. Being able to have an impact on other’s college experience provides so much joy.  In that short amount of time, my role has transcended from just a student position to a hobby, my passion, and hopefully my future vocation. Our majors have countless different job roles and titles, so it is very important to share information and experiences. The department has been more and more into encouraging this student-to-student experience—and I think it’s amazing. We can share experiences of classes, or co-ops; we can learn more about what we want to do and help other people. I’d also like to a professor in higher education. I’d love to do that. That would be my dream goal.

When Kwaku Alston ’94 (photography) photographed Betty White, his impression was that she was “100 percent real and authentic.” Over a decade later, his portrait of the actress inspired the United States Postal Service’s new Betty White Commemorative Forever Stamp. ‌ Billy Bennight Kwaku Alston ’94 (photography). Artist Dale Stephanos created an illustration of White using Alston’s photo as reference. Originally taken for her book, If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t), Alston says the energy in White’s eyes is what sets the portrait apart. “The artist has a beautiful way of illustrating. It was a great collaboration because he retained that sparkle in her eye that I captured, elevated it to the next level, and gave it some extra magic,” said Alston, a Los Angeles-based photographer and director. His photograph becoming a piece of American history is not only an honor, but a full-circle moment for Alston’s life and career. His father, who passed away shortly before White, worked for the Postal Service. “At this point in my career, the accolades are more about what they signify in our culture,” said Alston. “I feel like my father is up in heaven with Betty White toasting and sprinkling stardust on me. I couldn’t ask for more.” In addition to White, Alston has photographed some of the “most famous faces” of our time—including Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Willie Nelson, Chadwick Boseman, Brad Pitt, and a host of other Oscar and Grammy winners. His diverse repertoire of clients includes The New York Times Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, The New Yorker, Apple, Amazon Studios, Disney, Sony Music, Netflix, and HBO.

A trip to the Dominican Republic (DR) during spring break has given a group of RIT students a new perspective on access to healthcare delivery, public-health initiatives, medical education, and emergency services in another country. ‌ John Oliphant A little boy learns to floss his teeth with the encouragement of physician assistant students Maddie Johnston, kneeling, Makayla Rosettie, and Emma Sledzik. They taught Haitian and Dominican children about oral hygiene practices. Interpreter Fermin Perez Jean is at left. Thirteen students spent March 8-15 in the DR in the western region of Pedernales and in Santo Domingo, the capital along the southeastern coast, as part of their class, Global Healthcare Delivery with International Field Experience. John Oliphant, professor and director of the new global public health bachelor’s degree program, led the trip along with Mary Golden, RIT director of interior design, Jallah Kennedy, adjunct professor in the global public health program, and host partners in the DR. The group visited medical schools, clinics, hospitals, civil defense, and Red Cross facilities, and a prison, and met with emergency medical teams and firefighters. The students interviewed medical and public health professionals and medical students about their various research topics, and recorded their reflections in daily video journals. “This experience opened my eyes to other parts of the world that I have never been exposed to,” said Cody Lawson, a global public health major from Sherburne, N.Y., who described his experience in the Dominican Republic as “life changing.” ‌ John Oliphant RIT students Buyi Owo-Odusi, a biomedical sciences major, and Cody Lawson, a global public health major, gave a presentation about handwashing to remove dirt and germs and prevent illness. “I learned that the Dominican Republic faces a lot of challenges in the healthcare of children—access to healthcare, lack of vaccinations due to financial circumstances, and various diarrhea and respiratory diseases,” Lawson said. He is studying global public health as a stepping stone to medical school. He hopes to work in pediatric oncology. Lawson was struck by the plight of children they met living on a beach. “One of them didn't have any family. He had his own business of polishing shoes to make money and he was unable to attend school. To know that there are many children like this in the same circumstances is absolutely heartbreaking and motivates me to take action and show my support for these communities.” During the trip, the students gave public health talks and distributed gift bags of personal care items. They talked to Haitian and Dominican children about oral hygiene, illness prevention through hand washing, and puberty and menstruation for girls nine to 12 years old (presented with a local obstetrician/gynecologist). Their talks for adults focused on understanding blood pressure numbers and eating nutritiously. ‌ John Oliphant RIT students Ella Lewis, a biomedical sciences major, and physician assistant students Emma Tucker and Emma Sledzik, sit with Mary Golden, director of RIT’s interior design program, in an ambulance simulator. Program host and guide Raphael Perez Jean sits in the foreground. Abby Giacoman, a fourth-year physician assistant student from Rochester, N.Y., noticed how much is taken for granted in the United States, “such as access to first-line medication or an individual’s ability to attend college,” she said. “It helped me realize the true impact of inequities that exist in healthcare, and how they can affect the local population.” The students will talk about their experiences in the DR at the Innovations in Global Public Health Conference on April 12 and the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival on April 26. Their time in the DR was profound and emotional. Sometimes, circumstances overwhelmed them all, Oliphant said. “Seeing homeless children living on a beach and firefighters without fire-protection gear—these are things you cannot forget.” These experiences felt surreal when returning to life as normal after spring break, he said. The group will spend time during their following classes processing what they observed and finding outlets through action, advocacy, and compassionate understanding. “Our planet is incredibly interconnected and pathogens do not know national boundaries. COVID-19, Ebola, West Nile virus, Zika—they may start at other places but they don’t stay there,” Oliphant said. He continued, ”My goal for this program is to help students understand that none of us get to pick where we are born and that we are all citizens of this shared planet. We should work together to make sure people everywhere have what they need to reach their full potential in life.”

Kwaku Alston ’94 (photography) has been named RIT’s Outstanding Alumnus for 2024-2025. Established by the Office of the President in 1952, it is the highest honor RIT can bestow upon a graduate. “To receive this award is an honor and it reaffirms that I’m on the right path,” said Alston. “It also comes with a responsibility and great opportunity to do something incredible and leave my mark here. Not just for me, but for the students who have come after me.” ‌ Kwaku Alston Alston’s portrait of Beyoncé is one of a series of portraits he created to promote the 2019 movie, The Lion King. Alston is a photographer and director based in Los Angeles who specializes in celebrity, editorial, and advertising portraits. After graduating from RIT, Alston got his start in New York City working with major magazines and ad agencies. Today, his many and diverse clients include The New York Times Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, The New Yorker, Apple, Amazon Studios, Disney, Sony Music, Netflix, and HBO. When it comes to his portrait subjects, Alston has photographed some of the “most famous faces” of our time—including Barack and Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Willie Nelson, Chadwick Boseman, Brad Pitt, and a host of other Oscar and Grammy winners. His portrait of actress Betty White inspired the 2025 United States Postal Service’s Commemorative Forever Stamp. ‌ Kwaku Alston Kwaku Alston has photographed former President Barack Obama and his family on multiple occasions. Alston always carries a camera with him in anticipation of being inspired by things happening in everyday life. The key to success in a creative industry, he says, is for artists to stay dedicated and in-tune with their heart and gut instincts. “I don’t have much time to sit back and reflect on each photo I’ve taken. When I look back, it’s all a blur and feels like a dream,” said Alston. “Surviving for this long and flourishing in this industry is incredible. I just keep moving and keep pushing forward, and I’m grateful that people keep hiring me to do what I love.” The award will be presented to Alston during Academic Convocation on May 9.

As a filmmaker, Ky’Johnna Jamison strives to highlight and uplift marginalized voices with her work. One example of her efforts is a new research podcast, “Star Stories.” Made possible through her internship at the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, the podcast highlights the barriers Black women face when pursuing a degree and career in astrophysics. Women’s History Month poster contest The winner of the annual WGSS Women’s History Month poster contest will be announced during the symposium. Go to the WGSS contest website to view last year’s winners. For the first episode, Jamison, a first-year film and animation – production option student, is interviewing her childhood role model: Aomawa Shields, an astronomer and astrobiologist who explores the climate and habitability of small exoplanets. The episode will share details about Shields’ academic journey, her unique experiences in science education and entertainment, the discrimination and barriers she faced in STEM, and how she succeeded despite these barriers. “Directly addressing discrimination is the only way those issues can be solved. When we ignore it, it creates lasting issues for everyone. Not just those in marginalized groups,” said Jamison, a Rochester native. “Positive media representation is essential to combatting discrimination against underrepresented groups and building empathy between communities.” She added, “I hope this story will resonate with young BIPOC girls who may otherwise struggle to see themselves pursuing STEM careers.” Jamison will share insights she gained while working on this project during the inaugural Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) symposium on Friday, March 28. Hosted in conjunction with Women’s History Month, RIT’s WGSS program crafted the symposium to feature original work by individuals from across the RIT community. With a theme of “women, gender, sexuality, and technologies,” the symposium will celebrate interdisciplinary research efforts by students and faculty from the College of Engineering Technology; College of Liberal Arts; College of Art and Design; Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences; College of Science; Kate Gleason College of Engineering; College of Health Sciences and Technology; National Technical Institute for the Deaf; School of Individualized Study; and RIT Libraries. “A major goal of our program is to demonstrate that WGSS is applicable to every major here at RIT. Developing the theme to include technologies was a no-brainer,” said Shay Ryan Olmstead, co-organizer of the symposium and lecturer in the WGSS program. “Student and faculty presentations connect WGSS with video games, computer science, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and many other technologies.” Silvia Benso, professor of philosophy and director of the WGSS program, added that she and Olmstead organized the symposium with the goal of sparking conversations on campus and inspiring more interdisciplinary research related to WGSS. “Our historical times show us that we need to continue to highlight the immense contributions made by women and gender minorities to our social lives, past and present,” said Benso. “The reality and existences of human beings are multiple, pluralistic, and diverse. WGSS take these pluralities of experiences into account and apply them to various areas of life and career paths. Complexity may be hard to handle, but it is not to be fought or eliminated.” A common theme for the symposium presentations is exploring the intersection of gender and gaming. ‌ Liam Olson The above frame from Olson’s film shows an example of the type of 3D avatars people can use in VRChat. Raising awareness about the freedoms virtual reality (VR) offers to those exploring their gender identity is the subject of Liam Olson’s research. The first-year graphic design student from Evanston, Ill., will screen his short film, “Queer & Trans Identity through Social VR: VRChat,” during the symposium. VRChat is an online virtual world platform that allows users to interact with each other using customizable 3D avatars. Olson explains that there are entire communities in VRChat where transgender people can log on and be themselves without fear of ostracization—and finding these communities helped Olson better understand his own gender identity. “Having a persona that’s private gives you a chance to learn about yourself and understand and progress with your identity as a whole without being judged,” said Olson. “There are people who want to present differently, but they feel intimidated by it. Places like VRChat allow for a zone where there is less judgement than there is in real life.” His film features interviews with people who frequent these VR chatrooms and delves into the positive and negative impacts platforms like VRChat can have on socialization in trans and queer communities. Olson’s goal is to increase scholarship around this topic, as it’s currently understudied. Another gaming-centric project featured at the symposium focuses on trans representation in media. Using the game Deltarune as an example, Maya Gopoian Heatley’s research proposes guidelines on how to read games “trans*ly.” Heatley, a third-year WGSS student, explains that the concept is similar to queer reading—which is an interpretive approach that analyzes text through a lens that challenges normative ideas about gender and sexuality—but with a specific focus on trans identities and perspectives. ‌ Toby Fox Above is a screenshot from Deltarune, the subject of Heatley’s research project. Her interest in the topic started with a class project and has evolved into her undergraduate thesis. Prior to presenting at the upcoming symposium, Heatley presented an earlier iteration of the project at the Honors Research & Creativity symposium in 2024. “Getting a chance to present my research as an undergraduate student, and grow with the project, is very special. My plan is to go to graduate school and eventually become an academic in this field, so I’ll hopefully be doing more things like this in the future,” said Heatley, from Queens, N.Y. These projects are just three examples of the unique WGSS and technologies research happening across campus. Go to the symposium’s website for the full event schedule and additional information about the presenters. The symposium is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts’ Dean’s Office. The WGSS Program Council assisted with planning and organization of the event.

Indigenous communities in Kenya and Ecuador have access to machine learning technology to help combat human-wildlife conflict and climate change thanks in part to a new partnership that includes RIT. Anthony Vodacek, professor in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, is assisting with the Ltome-Katip, or Elephant-Rat, Project, funded by the Lacuna Fund. The project is a pioneering initiative dedicated to generating Indigenous-labeled data for machine learning and AI. It is led by the Shuar Nation in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the Samburu tribe in northern Kenya. Also involved is the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, Space4Innovation, and the Indigenous Musap Biological Station in collaboration with the GEO Indigenous Alliance. ‌ Tony Vodacek A remote sensing device, called an AudioMoth, is attached to a tree in Kenya to monitor wildlife. As described in the project’s proposal, “by actively involving Indigenous communities in data collection, labeling, and map development, the team will bridge critical gaps in understanding climate change, human-wildlife conflict, and afforestation and deforestation.” Vodacek has spent time in both Kenya and Ecuador to help facilitate the work. Microphones were placed in various areas to pick up sounds from different species. The data is then labeled and entered into remote sensing analysis where conclusions can be made. Specifically, elephants are being studied in Kenya, where babies fall into wells because of ongoing water scarcity issues and are sometimes separated from their mothers. In Ecuador in the Amazon, rats are becoming a problem in the crop areas of the forest. The collaboration with Indigenous communities allows for ensuring culturally relevant and effective solutions. “A lot of AI development has taken place within a western bias so including Indigenous communities tries to reduce some of that bias,” explained Vodacek. “It’s important to use their knowledge and bring the technology to them so they can apply it to the problems they have.” RIT has also reached another part of Kenya, as Vodacek represented the university in the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Jomo Kenyetta University of Agriculture and Technology to enhance education, research, and technological innovation in the field of imaging science. The partnership will include specialized workshops, research grants, and hands-on training in advanced imaging systems. These, and numerous other global collaborations, help RIT shape the future and improve the world through innovation. For more information on RIT’s global engagement, go to the RIT Global website.