RIT joins statewide Empire AI consortium

Rochester Institute of Technology is launching its first esports scholarships. The scholarships recognize students for their competitive video gaming skills and dedication to representing the university at the highest level. Since forming in 2016, RIT Esports has become one of the largest and best collegiate esports programs in the world. Starting in fall 2025, RIT will offer 20 scholarships for new students—providing $2,000 each year. The university will also offer performance-based scholarships for select current students. To learn more Apply for the esports 2025-2026 scholarship by March 21 on the RIT website. As the esports industry has grown—with millions of viewers and billions of dollars in revenue—more than 200 colleges have formed esports teams. Several have begun offering scholarships. RIT is not only offering scholarships for competitive student-athletes. RIT scholarships are also available to students with the skills to run esports operations teams. RIT’s seven student-led support teams help run everything from designing the jerseys to running events to broadcasting live-streamed matches. “We want to attract and support these high-caliber esports students, who are hyper-intelligent and driven to succeed in all aspects of life,” said Chad Weeden, director of esports and cybersecurity range at RIT. “Frankly, it’s also fun to win national championships.” RIT Esports has brought home 18 national championships, and students have won more than $100,000 in prizes. RIT Esports currently competes in 23 games, including Rocket League, Hearthstone, League of Legends, and Overwatch.  With more than 200 competitive players and around 2,600 community members, RIT Esports is bigger than many college athletics programs. RIT community supports scholarships RIT Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabu David has been a big supporter of RIT Esports. He helped to make the new scholarships happen. “These esports scholarships recognize our talented student-athletes who use their technical expertise to perform at the highest level,” said David. David also noted that RIT is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 game design schools, according to international rankings from The Princeton Review. “Esports at RIT is also a community builder, bringing together students from different majors and backgrounds, including our students who are deaf and hard of hearing,” said David. “We realize that esports is male-dominated and one of the goals of this scholarship opportunity is for RIT to be a leader in showcasing the talents of women in esports.” ‌ Ben Feldstein, far right, is part of the winning tradition of RIT Esports. Together with RIT’s Counter-Strike 2 team, Feldstein won the 2023 National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Grand Finals Ben Feldstein, a fourth-year management information systems major and vice president of RIT Esports, worked with the provost to develop the new esports scholarships. Feldstein has also won two national championships as part of RIT’s Counter-Strike 2 team. “It’s just like any other sport or musical ability,” said Feldstein, who from Manhattan, N.Y. “There are so many young people who put their blood, sweat, tears, and love into honing their raw skills to play these titles.” Feldstein continued. “I think these scholarships are going to help set-up students for success after school—whether they make it to the pros or not. We’re proving to everyone that we have great students here and they dream big.”

Rosalie Clemens, formerly vice president of Workforce Development and Community Engagement for AmeriCOM, has been named executive director of RIT Certified. Clemens brings extensive leadership background in technology, business, and workforce development to lead the organization’s efforts to strengthen professional education and help close critical skills gaps in the job market. Clemens began her new role on Feb. 25. At AmeriCOM, Clemens led national programs to address workforce education in the optics industry.  Prior to that, she served as senior director of Strategic Initiatives at GS1, an international business standards organization, and director of Global Business Development at Rochester Precision Optics. A member of the Rochester community for more than a decade, Clemens has been actively involved in the optics sector—one of several global optics technology hubs where she has worked, including in Germany and Arizona. She has held positions in academia, industry, and research, as well as with small and large companies, from startups to the Fortune 500. As executive director of RIT Certified, Clemens will work with the team to deliver on its mission to develop professional training programs; to support individuals seeking new skills to enter, advance or transition within the workforce; to create clear pathways to employment; and to coordinate with employers to help meet industry workforce needs. “RIT has a reputation for its leadership in experiential education, and innovation in technology, the arts, and design. RIT Certified leverages those strengths and reflects a deep commitment to regional employers and jobseekers,” said Clemens. “I am very excited to join the exceptional team at RIT Certified, and I look forward to partnering with colleagues across the university to build upon a critical, shared vision.” Clemens earned an MBA from the University of Minnesota, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in engineering physics from Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Lübeck University of Applied Sciences (Germany), respectively. She additionally pursued postgraduate studies and research at the College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, and the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. “I am delighted to welcome Rosalie Clemens to RIT,” said Prabu David, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “Her extensive expertise and leadership experience will guide RIT Certified as it continues to develop exceptional educational training opportunities that are aligned to meet the needs of employers and the job economy. I am excited to work with Rosalie on this exciting opportunity for RIT.”

Internationally renowned metalworker and educator Albert Paley has given his personal papers to Rochester Institute of Technology. ‌ Carlos Ortiz/RIT The Albert Paley Archive Collection in the RIT Archives preserves the legacy of the artist, entrepreneur, and educator. Project archivist Ella Von Holtum catalogs the collection. The Albert Paley Collection in the RIT Archives preserves the legacy of a celebrated working artist, entrepreneur, and educator. He is known around the world for his large-scale municipal works, sculptures, gates, architectural pieces, furniture design, and decorative arts. Paley’s approach to art, technology, design, and business will provide student-learning experiences across the university and attract visiting scholars to RIT, said Elizabeth Call, RIT university archivist. “The Paley collection serves as a cornerstone of the RIT Archives’ Entrepreneurship and Innovation collections,” Call said. “The materials in Paley’s archive promote hands-on teaching and learning and amplify the university’s legacy and contributions from RIT’s broader community.” ‌ Carlos Ortiz/RIT Eminent artist Albert Paley kept meticulous records of his art projects, such as this blueprint. RIT students can learn from his business practices. The artist’s activities from 1950 to the 2000s follow his transition from jewelry designer to sculptor of decorative objects, such as fireplace grates and lamps, and his signature large-scale metal sculptures. His first municipal commission began in 1972 with the Smithsonian Institute’s Renwick Gallery gates, installed in 1974. In 1984, he incorporated his studio in Rochester, N.Y., Paley Studios Ltd. More than half of the collection contains business records from the Paley Studios, according to Ella Von Holtum, project archivist. Paley meticulously documented each job proposal, public and private commissions, budget negotiations, and executed projects. “His detailed record keeping shows the practices Paley used to create his business of making art. His approach and work ethic can serve as a model for young artists,” Von Holtum said. ‌ Elizabeth Lamark/RIT Sculptor Albert Paley constructed the 73-foot-high Sentinel in 2003 on the RIT campus. The 240 boxes of materials also includes hundreds of the artist’s sketchbooks that track the evolution of familiar shapes in his work, Von Holtum said. Paley intends for students to use his materials. While access to the collection is limited during processing, classes will have early access before the first exhibit planned for 2026. “I think the collection tells this very interesting story about how an artist’s creative process takes shape and evolves over time and how a person with a vision runs a business and keeps that business running for decades in a successful way,” Von Holtum said. Paley has a long association with RIT as a distinguished professor and artist-in-residence in the School for American Crafts. Three of his works can be found on the campus, including the “Sentinel,” one of his largest architectural commissions. Paley’s distinctive work can be found in public spaces, such as at the St. Louis Zoo and the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, and in permanent collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, N.Y, among many other examples. Paley, in April, will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects. He is the first metal sculptor to receive the award.

When she was little, astrophysical sciences and technology Ph.D. student Audrey Dunn felt that astronomy was the only place she could ask questions that were unanswered. That curiosity led her down her current academic path where she recently spent more than three months at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona as part of a group of astronomers studying the early universe. ‌ Audrey Dunn The 12-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory lit up at night. Dunn is part of the Tomographic Ionized Carbon Mapping Experiment (TIME), a project that is studying the early universe by mapping the emission of ionized carbon from distant galaxies. “We are very curious about what the universe looked like at a specific time period,” explained Dunn. “We can’t observe hydrogen directly so we use carbon as a proxy measurement for it.” In Arizona, Dunn and the team focused on getting detectors working properly on the telescope. These detectors, called TES bolometers, work best at extremely cold temperatures, which allow for the infrared light and data to be collected. The experience working with scientists around the country was a unique experience for Dunn. “It was really fun,” she said. “I’m still young in my career, and even though I may not have expert knowledge, I brought a fresh set of eyes to this experiment. It was cool to interact with people and see what my future could look like.” Dunn is now analyzing data from TIME, trying to get the atmosphere out of it so researchers have a pure science signal. In other words, clouds of material sometimes pass over the line of sight of the telescope, and that interference needs to be cleaned from the data so astronomers know exactly what they are observing. That work will formulate her thesis under the direction of her adviser, Michael Zemcov, professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Her innate curiosity has brought her from her hometown of Las Vegas to Rochester, N.Y., to galaxies light-years away. “I love working in a lab, and I love working hands on, getting nitty gritty with data,” said Dunn. “I’ve been really lucky to find a place here at RIT that lets me explore that and push down the path of all these interests that I have and do all these wonderful, wonderful things.”

Rochester Institute of Technology just acquired some new real estate: in the green neighborhood of the Rochester edition of the Monopoly board game. The Rochester edition was unveiled Tuesday at The Strong National Museum of Play, which currently displays the original 1933 Monopoly prototype game with a circular board and hand-carved hotels and houses. ‌ Scott Hamilton/RIT The Rochester edition of Monopoly was unveiled Tuesday at The Strong National Museum of Play. Other than occupying one of the green properties, RIT is prominently featured with a large photo of Institute Hall in the center of the board. A Community Chest card also congratulates the holder for graduating from RIT. “You’re always sure to move on to something amazing,” it says. Game officials approached Rochester’s Chamber of Commerce last summer to scout out the possibility of developing the special edition. They soon found no shortage of companies and locations to feature, including High Falls, lilacs, the Garbage Plate, and Strasenburgh Planetarium. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans attended the unveiling and said he hopes people across the country will enjoy playing the Rochester edition. “We hope this will entice them to visit us,” he said. The game will be available for $44.95 in local toy stores and bookstores where board games are sold.

RIT’s Saunders College of Business is celebrating its third Women’s Leadership Weekend Feb. 28-Mar. 1, with two events that embrace innovation and empowerment in today’s workforce.The 15th annual Power Your Potential Women’s Conference, a half-day women's leadership conference geared toward working professionals from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Susan R. Holliday Center, inside Max Lowenthal Hall. The fifth annual Women’s Leadership Summit, hosted by The Leadership Academy@Saunders, for high school and college students from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mar. 1, inside Max Lowenthal Hall. Both programs are open to all eligible individuals regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, race, color, and/or national origin. The Power Your Potential (PYP) Women’s Conference on Feb. 28, kicking off the upcoming national Women’s History Month in March, serves as a dynamic platform for area businesswomen to gather insights from peers, engage in educational activities, and foster an environment conducive to women’s success in various professional spheres. ‌ Provided Eva Ames ‘09 returns to RIT to serve as keynote speaker at the Power Your Potential conference on Feb. 28.   This year’s theme, “From Setback to Strength: Navigating Adversity with Resilience,” highlights the power of perseverance in the face of challenges. It emphasizes how setbacks, professional or personal, serve as lessons for future growth and empowerment. The event features keynote speaker Eva Ames ’09 (mechanical engineering), vice president of global key accounts for the automotive and mobility enterprise vertical at DSV. A former automotive design engineer and U.S. federal regulator, Ames uses her background and over 15 years of experience to challenge “the way things have always been done” for clients producing everything from micro mobility scooters to batteries, passenger cars, and heavy equipment. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in workshops led by Sue Piotrowski ’95 MS (career and human resource development), founder and president of BadFish Consulting, and Melanie Kerr ’12 (hospitality and service management), an established chef, professor, and event planner. The event also includes “From Setback to Strength: Navigating Adversity with Resilience,” a panel featuring inspiring stories from Milagros Concepcion ’92 (economics), ’07 MBA, associate vice president controller and assistant treasurer at RIT; Shayla Scott ’16 (accounting), ’17 MBA, senior manager at MMB & Co.; and Heather Smith, CEO and COO of Velocitii. The conference will be moderated by Phillippa Thiuri, assistant vice president for Academic Access and Success. A visionary leader and educator with over 25 years of experience in higher education, student success, and global engagement, she provides strategic leadership to a plethora of programs that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, all while enhancing student development and retention. “Resilience is at the heart of great leadership,” said Jacqueline Mozrall, dean of the Saunders College of Business. “This year, we are proud to celebrate the strength that comes from overcoming challenges, while creating a space where professionals, students, and aspiring leaders can learn from one another’s experiences and emerge even stronger. Women’s Leadership Weekend embodies our commitment to empowering women in leadership roles and equipping them with the resources and support they need to thrive in today's ever-evolving workforce.” The Women's Leadership Weekend will culminate with the Women’s Leadership Summit on Saturday, March 1, held at Max Lowenthal Hall on the RIT campus. This year’s summit is hosted by the Leadership Academy@Saunders. The academy’s mission to inspire, connect, and educate women and allies to become tomorrow’s future leaders, focuses on driving leadership excellence in all industries from arts and sciences to technology. This summit’s theme is inclusion and empowerment. Kim B. Miller ’85 (business administration retail management), an award-winning poet, author, and host, will be the summit’s keynote speaker. She headlines a lineup of accomplished speakers, panelists, and workshop presenters featuring several RIT alumni and faculty, including Jacqueline Nicholson, executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics, and Kendra Evans, director of Spectrum Support Programs. Miller has served as a keynote speaker for notable events, including the 2024 Women Impact Virginia Summit and the 2023 Rappahannock Writers’ Conference. A former telecommunications and marketing executive, Miller is the recipient of the 2023 Vivien H. Hansbury Award for Trailblazing a Path for Women in the Creative Arts and, in 2020, became the Poet Laureate of Prince William County, Virginia—the first African American to hold this title in the region. Recognized with multiple accolades, including Voice of America's documentary feature, Miller also leads impactful workshops, has presented at institutions, including UC Berkeley and Google, and performed poetry at prestigious venues nationwide.