- 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.
- Inspired by teachers, RIT grad opens music studio to teach othersWhat started as a love of music and inspiration from his teachers has enabled Travis Rankin to fulfill a dream of sharing his passion with students. Scott Hamilton/RIT Travis Rankin, an SOIS alum, opened The Rochester Music Lab two years ago to offer music lessons and community outreach programs. “Growing up, I had a lot of really great teachers who were always very encouraging. I feel my life has been very rich with music. It has taken me a lot of places and I’ve met a lot of people and seen a lot of things as a result,” he said. As soon as he was old enough, Rankin remembers singing in his elementary school chorus and playing trombone in concert band. As he got older, he joined the jazz band, the marching band, and eventually rock bands that got gigs around town. “We played basements, VFW Halls and even a club on campus at RIT,” he said. “We opened up for Kid Rock at Water Street Music Hall.” Rankin eventually toured with bands across the United States and parts of Canada. He played music and was involved in recording it, as well as handling the business side, such as the marketing and bookings. When the touring ended, he was faced with finding a new career. “I always wanted to be a musician, and at the same time, I wanted to be a teacher,” he said. “I’ve always had this voice in my head critiquing my teachers, affirming the way they taught and reached students.” He enrolled in community college, originally studying communication and media arts, then changing to adolescent education. During that time, he worked with RIT students who sought his help for their senior film projects. “I was writing music for film and making music for video, film, and animation,” he said. His wife, Stephanie, who received a master’s degree from RIT, encouraged him to transfer to RIT, where he could mold his course of study to visual culture with a focus on music technology and performance through RIT’s School of Individualized Study. And so he did, finishing in December 2022. “From my previous work with RIT students, it already felt like home,” he said. “Many classes I took in SOIS challenged my thinking and helped me grow. I wrote a business plan as a class assignment for what would turn out to be Rochester Music Lab, and the things we would do. Two years ago, Rankin opened the 2,500-square-foot studio on the third floor of the Piano Works building in East Rochester. There is an array of drums, guitars, traditional instruments, and plenty of unique instruments, like steel drums, ukuleles, a balafon, technical instruments including keyboards with equalizers, sequencers, theremins, modular synthesizers, even a recording studio that has a capability of recording 32 tracks at a time. Several of the teachers there are RIT alumni. “We have dozens of students as young as 3 all the way into their 70s,” he said. “We bring drums on site for afterschool enrichment programs and to nursing homes to make music with those living there. We offer music camps and work with students of all ages and abilities teaching music performance, composition, and audio engineering. We let students switch freely between our offerings so they can explore and find their voice. Anything that music touches, we try to be a part of it.” Rankin credits his RIT professors for urging him to be involved and preparing him to launch and grow his music business, blending his creativity with entrepreneurial skills. “I had hands-on experience doing things with composing and learning how to use music equipment,” he said. “They instilled a love for teaching and the idea to give all of yourself to your work and others, to always show up and be very persistent.” Recently, Rankin invited a group of SOIS students, called the SOIS Music Connection, to visit the studio. A surprising number of SOIS students have an interest in music—either as a concentration, minor, immersions, or just enjoyment—and get together to learn, explore, and share ideas about music. Scott Hamilton/RIT Eric Blostein, a fourth-year SOIS student focusing on health care management, found a saxophone in The Rochester Music Lab during a recent tour and played a few notes. “SOIS students often don’t have a group they can bond with. The Music Connection is our effort to create a place where they can learn and bond,” said Thomas Hanney, a principal lecturer who helped coordinate the visit. He said SOIS has been involved with students interested in performing arts for years, and the growth in Performing Arts Scholarships in the past five years has increased the number of musically inclined students throughout campus. Eric Blostein, a fourth-year SOIS student focusing on health care management, plays in the RIT Jazz Combo and grabbed a saxophone in the studio and played a bit. “I just kind of jammed out,” he said, and vowed to return to rehearse with his own saxophone. “I think it’s a really great facility that offers a lot of different opportunities for people to learn what they are interested in, whether it’s music or music production.” After giving a tour of the studio, Rankin sat with the students to share his experiences and offer advice. “I took a lot of the same classes you guys are taking now,” he told them. “And I found a way I could merge music with teaching to suit my interests. Find a way to merge your interests and if what you do is good work and you put yourself out there, you’ll be successful.” Jason Salazar Tobar, a fourth-year SOIS student from Mt. Kisco, N.Y., was one of the students who visited. “Music has always been important to me, helping me through my rough times and amplifying my favorite times,” he said. “I want to merge extended reality and music together, creating more immersive music experiences, and using sound design to better the immersion of an extended reality experience. I hope to work for music venues and festivals creating immersive graphics for artists.” Rankin invited the students to return if they wanted to explore the studio or use the equipment in the future. “I love school projects and figured if there is anything they wanted to use at the lab that may help in their studies, we would love to have them,” Rankin said. “The students who visited seemed very bright and had unique interests. They all seemed very cool.” Salazar Tobar said Rankin’s offer of further exploring the studio “sounds amazing.” “Having a studio like that is very impressive and what he is doing is great,” he said. “I always admire someone who goes into teaching because it’s not an easy thing.”
- Embracing philosophy and a proactive attitude in environmental conservation researchDepending on their discipline, researchers have different ways of addressing environmental problems. Biologists might focus on halting species loss, while economists investigate what people are willing to pay for renewable energy. Professor Evelyn Brister believes that having a philosopher on research teams can help balance differing viewpoints and priorities, while also addressing ethical questions that tend to get lost in the mix. Pete Schuck While Brister holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University, she chose to obtain a master’s degree in environmental science at RIT in 2012 to better inform her current research specialty. “Philosophers play lots of roles, and one is helping other specialists step back from their immediate projects to look at the bigger picture. When we’re talking about environmental conservation, the big picture is important,” said Brister, director of the College of Liberal Arts’ philosophy program. “We should think about global implications, as well as how these efforts make an impact over time.” Brister’s expertise lies at the intersection of science, business, policy, and the humanities. She works with other experts to identify and evaluate conservation priorities, helping collaborators come together and maintain focus on that bigger picture. One example is her work toward reviving the functionally extinct American chestnut tree. Brister and her collaborator Andrew Newhouse, a researcher at SUNY-ESF, argued in a 2020 publication that the wild release of genetically modified organisms can be justified as a way of preserving species and ecosystems. They use the American chestnut as a case study to support a “reorientation of conservation values” away from restoration and toward an alternative framework known as “rewilding.” Intervening in nature is a fraught topic even among experts. Most often, if nature can recover on its own, then scientists prefer not to intervene. However, Brister explained, when the environment is rapidly changing due to climate change and other factors, the conservative approach to intervention can cause more harm than good. “We’re in a high-risk situation when it comes to certain kinds of biodiversity loss. If we do nothing, we may risk extinction of some species, and you can’t come back from that,” said Brister. “We can all agree certain actions are too risky, but there are some interventions that warrant further thought and consideration." Brister argued against the current “ethos of restraint” upheld by conservationists in a 2021 journal publication. Instead, she advocates for replacing this ethos with a new approach: an “ethos of responsible conservation action.” She likens this new approach, which strikes a balance between precaution and proaction, to the “do no harm” principle in healthcare. “Doctors don’t want to do more harm than good, but sometimes you have to give a patient anesthetic, which is inherently risky, or you may have to cut off a limb to save a person’s life,” she said. “Similarly, scientists are thinking about how we balance the risks of intervention with the potential benefits as we pursue a shared goal of environmental conservation.” While these issues can seem insurmountable, informed decision making and embracing scientific innovation can be the first step toward global environmental change. Brister is working with scientists and engineers who are exploring the use of advanced cryopreservation technologies and biobanking to help with coral reef restoration. “The most promising way of helping coral is controlling pollution, but as we work toward that goal, cryopreservation has the potential to give nature a hand when it comes to bringing back healthy reefs,” she said. In a new book, A Watershed Moment: The American West in the Age of Limits, Brister and her co-editors highlight issues of sustainability in the American West. The collection of essays reveals tensions between a culture of economic growth and personal freedoms, and the ecological, economic, and social constraints set by community values and the land itself. It also presents practical approaches to addressing these issues that are motivated by philosophical views on justice, quality of life, and sustainability in the American West. “There’s a common assumption that humans are either separate from or using nature for our own purposes, but this leaves out another option—being in a caring relationship with our environment,” Brister said. “We need to fulfill our responsibilities by finding a balance and doing what we can to preserve nature.”
- Former IBM vice president Susan Puglia elected chair of RIT’s Board of TrusteesSusan Puglia has been named the 22nd chairperson of Rochester Institute of Technology’s Board of Trustees and, as she takes the helm, will be overseeing two major university initiatives. Puglia, who received the gavel from her predecessor Jeffrey Harris ’75 during the Board of Trustees meeting on Oct 18, is also chairperson of the RIT Presidential Search Committee and will help guide the university into the next iteration of its Strategic Plan. Puglia, who served previously as vice chair of the board, is a retired vice president of Global Product Management at IBM, with 35 years of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout her career, she held executive management positions in engineering, systems and software development, portfolio management, corporate quality, technical sales, and business transformation. Her strengths include managing large global organizations, and collaborating with and influencing change in complex business processes. Additionally, she served on the IBM CEO’s Senior Leadership Team and the Technical Leadership Team, and she established and led several IBM global programs to attract, develop, and advance women in technical career paths. She was also instrumental in creating partnerships between RIT and IBM, most recently advocating for and supporting RIT’s Cybersecurity Lab. She graduated from New York University, earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics and an MBA in international business and finance. She is a member of the New York Hall of Science President’s Council and serves as a mentor for the Campus Bound Scholars program for first-generation college students and the Women Unlimited LEAD program for professional women. She lives in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. The RIT board has 40 active trustees and 27 trustees of emeritus status. Gavel, designed by RIT alumnus, made from reclaimed wood of campus oak tree Carlos Ortiz The new gavel and strike plate used by RIT’s Board of Trustees was handcrafted by alumnus Joseph Allgeier ’20 (MFA), a visiting lecturer in industrial design. It was made using reclaimed wood from an historic oak tree on campus that was destroyed by a wind storm in 2017. Other projects were created by industrial design students using the reclaimed wood, including 10 seats located in Fountain Park near Global Village, marking the 50th anniversary of the Henrietta campus; a children’s reading and play area at the Henrietta Public Library that features an abstract tree in artist Wendell Castle’s style; and RIT-branded souvenir coasters made of wood and glass given to honored members of the university community.
- Exhibit bridges generations of alumniBefore she graduated, Emma Truscott ’24 (photographic and imaging arts) interviewed Toni Pepe ’08 MFA (photographic and imaging arts) about her career as a photography educator and artist. Their collaboration is documented in the RIT Archives Photo Alum Oral History collection, and an exhibit of Pepe’s work is on display in the corresponding Photo Alumni Gallery in Wallace Library. Truscott gained more than interviewing and curating skills from the experience; she absorbed another photographer’s hard-earned insights. Pepe shared her perspective of stepping off the RIT graduation stage into the Great Recession and onto a personal path to a photography career. Today, Pepe is chair of photography and an assistant professor at Boston University and is working on her first photography book. The RIT Archives Photo Alumni Gallery, supported by the College of Art and Design, launched in 2023. Toni Pepe An exhibit of alumna Toni Pepe’s work is on display in Wallace Library. “The project creates a conversation between a current student and an alum,” said Elizabeth Call, RIT university archivist. “It’s also a way to showcase the alum’s work and reconnect the alum with RIT. The RIT Archive fosters those connections.” Truscott’s interview traces Pepe’s growth as an artist focusing on women in society, using herself as a model early in her career, and more recently working with archival media images about motherhood. Truscott curated the exhibit “In Her Image” using selections from Pepe’s current work, “Mothercraft,” and from her master’s thesis, “Angle of Repose,” as well as other work. It includes props Pepe used in her photography, such as a vintage dress she wore. Provided Emma Truscott ’24 curated the exhibit. Truscott added historical context with a montage of newspaper clippings from Marcia Ellingson’s scrapbooks held in the RIT Archives. Marcia Ellingson was married to RIT’s fifth president, Mark Ellingson, who served from 1936 to 1969. Ellingson’s scrapbooks document women’s news from 1968 to 1975 and lend historical context to Pepe’s photography. “I was thrilled to have the “Mothercraft” show come to RIT because it’s such a special place for me—it’s where I learned to be an artist,” Pepe said. This is the second exhibit in the RIT Archives Photo Alumni Gallery. Truscott also curated the first one featuring Chris Nakis ’83 (photography). Truscott’s experience working with Pepe and Nakis helped her land an internship at National Geographic in Washington, D.C., after graduation. Her interviews and curated shows were “big talking points” in her interview, she said. “They were impressed with the amount and diversity of work I had done,” Truscott said. “I think the RIT Archives prepared me for different ways of thinking and different ways of being creative.” To learn more, contact RIT University Archivist Elizabeth Call at ritarchive@rit.edu to suggest photo alumni for future exhibitions.
- Science, engineering, and computing faculty will become research building’s first residentsAs the final phase of the new research building is completed, faculty-researchers from three of RIT’s colleges are preparing to be its first residents. They expect to move into the 39,000-square-foot building in the spring semester. For the new occupants from RIT’s College of Science, Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences (GCCIS), and Kate Gleason College of Engineering, the lab space is an expansion of facilities within their respective colleges and an opportunity for cross-college work. “We’re seeing an increasing trend of collaboration across disciplines, and this space amplifies that spirit,” said André Hudson, dean of the College of Science. “By bringing together faculty, staff, and scholars from varied backgrounds under one roof, we’re not just creating opportunities for collaboration, we’re fostering a culture where interdisciplinary innovation thrives.” RIT aligns with trends in higher education, where research intensive universities are seeing more mixed-use facilities that bring together multiple disciplines. A new building also paves the way for increased support to current programs such as GCCIS’ extensive work in cybersecurity and information sciences and to new programs, such as the Ph. D. in cognitive science, which began this academic year. The program brings together areas such as psychology, computer science, linguistics, and neuroscience. Exterior work for the new building is nearly complete and the interior design is underway. Structural work started in early 2022 on the two-story building that combines a more open look and flexible spaces. There will be 18 labs—eight on the first floor and 10 on the second. Other spaces will be assigned as new faculty-researchers are recruited. All have the capacity for both wet and dry labs—those needing special fume hoods, water or electrical utilities, and for bio-level safety measures, as well as those that will be equipment and computer heavy. Engineering faculty members confirmed for the site are Steve Weinstein, professor of chemical engineering; Risa Robinson, professor of mechanical engineering; and Edward Hensel, a professor of mechanical engineering and associate dean of Research and Graduate Studies. Weinstein is a theoretical and experimental expert who studies the creation of thin films via roll-to-roll coating methods and the scale-up from bench to industrial-sized processes. Robinson and Hensel’s work in e-cigarette research that has become a foundational resource about health effects, emissions and user behaviors for all inhaled tobacco products. Further work in the new lab space will support their five-year NIH project to study how users of different nicotine e-liquids consume higher levels of harmful constituents. Data will aid in the development of novel cessation treatments.
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