- Golisano awards RIT $10 millionB. Thomas Golisano announced Tuesday that he plans to award Rochester Institute of Technology $10 million. The gift is part of $360 million that the Paychex founder is distributing to nonprofit organizations across upstate New York. “This award is unrestricted and given with the confidence and understanding that it will be used to strengthen your organization and our community through the outstanding work you do every day,” Golisano said in a letter to RIT. “I’m extremely pleased to provide this financial support to your organization and look forward to receiving yearly updates on the planned use of this award.” A. Sue Weisler In 2001, Paychex founder Tom Golisano gave a $14 million gift to the university to create Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. RIT will receive $2 million a year for five years from the Golisano Foundation. Eighty-two organizations in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse are receiving funding. The unrestricted, multiyear awards range from $250,000 to $20 million each, paid over four to five years, spanning healthcare, education, animal welfare, disability services, and other community needs. “Tom Golisano has been a magnificent supporter of the Rochester community and today’s announcement strongly reinforces his love for the nonprofit sector that benefits the people in our region so greatly,” said RIT President David Munson. “We are truly appreciative of this wonderful and unexpected gift to RIT. We cannot thank Tom enough.” Golisano has been a longtime supporter of RIT. The gift Tuesday brings his total giving to RIT to $36.2 million. In 2001, RIT President Albert Simone presented Golisano with the opportunity of investing in a new computing college at RIT. It didn’t take Golisano long to consider what that might mean for Paychex and people around the world. With a $14 million gift from the philanthropist, RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences was launched. The college now enrolls more than a quarter of RIT’s students. In 2007, he donated $10 million to RIT to create the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, one of the first of its kind in the nation, focusing on research and education in sustainable design, pollution prevention, remanufacturing, and alternative energy development. In 2011, Golisano joined forces with the Polisseni Foundation to give a $4.5 million gift to name the Gene Polisseni Center. The center is home to RIT men’s and women’s hockey. In 2015, the Golisano family selected RIT as the home for the leader’s archives. The collection is housed in RIT Archives, with a multimedia display available for the public to see in the atrium of Golisano Hall. Golisano is an emeritus trustee on RIT’s Board of Trustees. According to the Golisano Foundation, the $360 million announced Tuesday nearly doubles Golisano’s lifetime giving, bringing the total to $775 million, with more to be expected. “The only wealth that you get to keep is the wealth that you give away,” said Golisano.
- Community opportunity to 'paint with light' returns with RIT Big Shot 36Rochester Institute of Technology’s annual Big Shot is returning for its 36th event on Friday, Sept. 20. The Rochester community is invited to shine a light on RIT’s Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED), the university’s newest facility housing makerspaces, performing arts areas, and high-tech classrooms. The event is free and open to the public. RIT students, faculty, and staff can RSVP online, but volunteers outside of RIT do not need to register. Registration is not required to participate. Volunteers are asked to arrive by 7:15 p.m. and check in at the welcome tent adjacent to the SHED between the Student Alumni Union and Eastman Hall. The first 500 attendees to arrive will receive a flashlight and Nikon hat. “The SHED was chosen because it’s a brand new structure at RIT and we wanted to highlight it and share it with the world,” said Dan Hughes, lecturer and lead coordinator for this year’s Big Shot. “It’s a new and exciting community-based place where students can embark on cool projects, so we thought the location would be a great fit for us.” RIT Big Shot, described as “painting with light,” engages student and community volunteers by asking them to provide a light source while RIT photographers shoot an extended exposure image. It’s a signature event for RIT’s College of Art and Design and is led by the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences (SPAS), which is nationally recognized for its degree programs. Hughes said that the SHED presents some unique technical challenges for this year’s project. “With the SHED, we've got two of the most difficult kinds of lighting situations to control because it's all reflective metal and glass. Glass transmits light, or it lets light through, whereas the metal reflects the light,” said Hughes. “We have to be even more precise when asking volunteers where they need to be lighting the subject so we can achieve that aesthetically pleasing effect.” Hughes and the Big Shot team plan to take the first photograph at 8 p.m., with three photographs to follow before wrapping up at 8:30 p.m. The event is part of RIT FallFest and is sponsored by the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, NTID’s Department of Visual Communications Studies, and Nikon. For help with navigation and parking, participants can reference the interactive campus map. About RIT Big Shot RIT started its Big Shot project in 1987. The event has traveled to several national landmarks and twice crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Through their viewfinders, RIT Big Shot photographers have captured landmarks in the United States such as Kodak Tower in Rochester; Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.; the Alamo in San Antonio; and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Internationally, the RIT team has captured Pile Gate in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. To learn more about the project and view photographs of past Big Shot images, go to the Big Shot Facebook page or the Big Shot webpage. The project also can be followed on X at @RITBigShot along with the hashtag #RITBigShot.
- Sady Alvarado-Fischer named Minett ProfessorAward-winning Queer Latina changemaker Sady Alvarado-Fischer has been announced as RIT’s Frederick H. Minett Professor for the 2024-2025 academic year. Alvarado-Fischer serves as the vice president, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and volunteers for numerous community organizations. As a result of her own intersecting identities, she has a strong passion for social justice with a special interest in women, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ issues. “I am honored to be named the next Minett Professor, joining a list of dedicated leaders in our community whose shoulders I stand on.,” said Alvarado-Fischer. “RIT has a robust diversity and inclusion division and I’m excited about the partnership and the ability to both share my expertise and learn from what the campus community is doing in the DEI space. I truly believe that inclusion, diversity, equity, and access is everyone’s responsibility and look forward to advancing positive change together!” The Minett Professorship brings distinguished Rochester-area multicultural professionals to the RIT campus to share professional knowledge and experience, emphasizing the connections between education and industry while highlighting the value of diversity. The position is an annual appointment with the honoree selected by the Minett Professors Emeriti and appointed by RIT President David Munson and Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Keith Jenkins. “Sady is a proven changemaker,” said Jenkins. “Her experience and accomplishments will be an asset to students, faculty, and staff across campus. We are thrilled to name her this year’s Minett Professor.” In her current professional role, Alvarado-Fischer leads the company’s DEI strategy, including developing a framework that became one of the company’s core values. Her leadership has led Excellus BCBS to receive numerous workplace inclusion awards. Alvarado-Fischer is also involved with the Rochester Latinx Roundtable, the United Way’s Leadership Development programs, the Rochester Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council, YMCA of Greater Rochester, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, and Causewave Community Partners. Her list of awards includes the Power List of LGBTQ+ Business Leaders by the Rochester Business Journal, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award winner, and one of 200 women featured in the Changemakers exhibit at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. Alvarado-Fischer takes over the professorship from Distinguished Professor Sherry Perry Tshibangu, who served the previous academic year. Others who have held the role include many prominent business, academic, medical, and law enforcement professionals working in Rochester. The professorship is named after one of RIT’s early benefactors, Frederick Minett, who started a tool and die company on Water Street in downtown Rochester in the early 1920s. He was familiar with RIT, formerly called the Mechanics Institute, and employed some students. Minett died in 1971, leaving a more than $5 million endowment to RIT. Originally divided between RIT’s College of Continuing Education and the general endowment, the bequest was intended to support Minett’s and RIT’s vision of career education.
- RIT President says it’s ‘an extraordinary time at RIT’New doctoral programs. Huge opportunities in artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship. Enhanced relationships with Rochester Regional Health. Expansion at RIT Dubai … and RIT student victories over the likes of MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Cal Tech, and other globally respected universities. Rochester Institute of Technology President David Munson delivered his annual Welcome and State of the University address Sept. 12, where he also highlighted a strong enrollment, research milestones, the initial stages of a new strategic plan, and achievements by students, faculty, and staff. Despite challenging headwinds faced by all institutions in higher education, the president announced that RIT welcomed more than 3,100 new undergraduates this fall from 47 states and 44 countries. The incoming class boasts an average high school GPA of 93.8 and increased diversity, with 22 percent of new undergraduates identifying as African American, Latin American, or Native American. “Our enrollment situation should be the envy of most universities across the nation,” Munson said. The president also emphasized RIT’s growing research initiatives, noting that the university surpassed its strategic plan goal of $100 million in annual sponsored research a year early, reaching $102 million. Munson also praised student achievements, including a record six Fulbright U.S. Student awardees and victories in various academic competitions. He also noted athletic successes, with 19 Tigers named All-American and strong performances in multiple sports. Looking ahead, Munson outlined several initiatives:Launch of new Ph.D. programs in cognitive science and physics. Creation of an Artificial Intelligence Hub and plans to hire more than two dozen AI faculty members. Establishment of an Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Expansion of RIT’s marketing efforts to elevate the university's reputation nationally and globally. A presence in Los Angeles that capitalizes on RIT’s strengths in entertainment science and technology. Ongoing campus infrastructure improvements, including new facilities for performing arts, athletics, and research. Munson also announced the beginning of a new strategic planning process for the next decade, inviting community involvement through concept papers, town halls, and surveys. The goal is to have a comprehensive plan ready for Board of Trustee approval by October 2025. This was Munson’s last annual state of the university address, as he has announced he will be retiring in June 2025 after serving 40-plus years in higher education. “This is a perfect time to recruit a new president to help shape RIT's future,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to remain focused on his duties over the next year. The address concluded with Munson expressing gratitude for the RIT community's contributions. “Together, we can continue to chart a path to an extraordinary future,” he said. “This remains an extraordinary time for RIT. Thank you all for moving this great university forward. I am honored and humbled to be your colleague.” Read the full text of President Munson’s address.
- RIT student team named finalists in national packaging design challengeFive students from RIT combined talents and designed a packaging campaign for garlic that will be among the finalists for the Paperboard Packaging Student Design Challenge. The packaging design for the Grovey Garlic project is one of three finalists among 20 teams from five U.S. universities that participated in the annual challenge. It is a familiar, but hard-won spot for RIT’s teams that have competed in the challenge for nearly 20 years. Each year, the Paperboard Packaging organization develops a different design challenge, and universities like RIT use this as an opportunity for students to apply concepts such as design, material choices, performance, and shelf appeal. Teams detail project needs and possible solutions and, by the end of the semester, they have prototypes. Most are “shelf-ready,” said Lorrie Frear, professor of graphic design in RIT’s College of Art and Design. “The students put a lot of hard work into the projects and doing well in the competition gives a sense of pride. It feels like we were in the Olympics,” Frear said. Grovey Garlic was developed during the previous spring semester course Packaging Design that combines concepts of technology, art, and design, as well as real-world problem solving. Design requirements for the 2024 challenge were to create sustainable paperboard packaging for a fresh produce product that is not typically packaged in this type of material. Packages are designed to protect products, reflect brand messaging and incorporate sustainable materials and practices. They also must be user friendly. “You have to know what the people want, and we have to make a product that people will know how it works,” said Malena Juif, a fourth-year packaging science student from Rochester, N.Y. She worked with Nicole Wright, ’24 (graphic design); Lucy Rose Miles, ‘24, (graphic design); Nathaniel Cardiel ’24 (graphic design); and Mackenzie Gidusko ’24 (graphic design) on the Grovey Garlic team. Frear and Carlos Diaz-Acosta, professor of packaging science, mentor teams to create innovative packaging solutions. RIT has an edge in this area with its focus on alternative packaging materials and sustainability. “Through the Student Design Challenge, students all across the country get to exercise their creativity and apply their knowledge of sustainable design at the same time,” said Heidi Brock, American Forest & Paper Association chief executive officer, in a statement. “Each year, we are impressed by every submission from the next generation of sustainability leaders. The challenge also gives participants real-world experience. Many Student Design Challenge participants have pursued careers in packaging design.” Winners will be announced at the Paperboard Packaging Alliance’s fall meeting and leadership conference in Atlanta in late September. The Alliance is a joint initiative between the American Forest & Paper Association and the Paperboard Packaging Council. Student teams must present final designs to a panel of judges, all professionals in the field. This year one of the judges is RIT alumna Kelly Fellner ’22 (packaging science), who was on three winning project teams while an undergraduate, and is currently creative manager at Burt Rigid Box, Inc., in Oneonta, N.Y.
- RIT uses new technology upgrades and increased training to keep campus safeWhen school is in session, Rochester Institute of Technology can have more than 20,000 people on its main campus, which covers 1,200 acres, half of which is wooded or undeveloped. Thanks to new technologies and training, the 43-member Public Safety department is now able to better manage the expansive campus and respond to the thousands of calls or safety checks they handle each year. Some of the new technology includes monitors and drones, and its communications are now better linked with neighboring agencies. “Technology helps us with a lot of things,” said Public Safety Executive Director Gary Moxley. “If we didn’t have the use of new technology, we would have to use more of our physical resources, and it could take longer to take action.” Public Safety has a new communications center, more than triple in size from its previous one, which is staffed 24/7. Several locations on campus and on other RIT properties, such as the RIT Inn and Conference Center, Tait Preserve, and RIT’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship in downtown Rochester, are also monitored from the communications center. That’s especially important during severe weather incidents or other emergencies. For example, if a fire is reported, dispatchers can look for evidence of smoke or flames and relay that information to responding firefighters. Every public safety officer at RIT has undergone CPR training and weeklong crisis training offered through Monroe County. RIT has made an investment to update the current access control infrastructure from magnetic swipe card readers to encrypted smart card readers and is scheduled to be completed by next spring. Public Safety has also integrated access control, surveillance cameras, and alarm systems into one system to provide enhanced monitoring and quicker response. In addition, RIT’s Public Safety radio channels can now easily connect with area police agencies, including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, which patrols the area bordering RIT. This will enable quicker responses if mutual aid is needed. Calls to 911 are now shared with the department if they originate from campus or an RIT phone. This year, the department purchased three 18-inch drones – two for use, one for training – and four officers received FAA certification to use them when needed. The drones, which can free up dozens of public safety officers to respond to other calls, have already been used to help find missing children during the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival and monitor capacity in parking lots during events, including commencement and high school graduation ceremonies held on campus. RIT does not allow students to use drones, and when Public Safety uses theirs, they must keep them under 200 feet, or 400 feet with FAA permission due to the proximity to the airport. RIT also has agreed to keep their drones no lower than the top of buildings they are near, so there is no worry that drones will be flying by windows to respect occupant privacy. “Most of the time, we’ve used them for events and to monitor traffic flow and parking lot space. Before drones, we couldn’t see any of that,” Moxley said. Moxley encourages anyone on campus needing assistance to contact Public Safety though RIT’s TigerSafe app, call or text (585) 475-3333 or text (585) 205-8333 to report an emergency or use one of nearly 100 BlueLight emergency phones throughout campus. He says his office is receiving more requests for mental health issues, which he believes is a testament to increased awareness of when to seek help. “If you don’t know who to call, give us a call,” he said. “If we can’t help you, we can turn you to the people who can help, even after hours.” Moxley’s office is contacted daily by companies wanting to sell RIT safety products. Most are not needed, not practical, or not proven. Still, he says he can see the day when AI technology could be used in some way. “It’s inevitable,” he said. “We certainly investigate any new technology to help keep RIT safe, especially for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.”
- Upcoming lecture explores the social potential of artificial intelligenceKerrie Holley, a pioneering force in technology and innovation, will headline the 2024 Eugene H. Fram Signature Lecture in Critical Thinking at RIT, offering insights on one of the more critical topics of our time: artificial intelligence. Hosted by RIT’s Division of Academic Affairs, Holley’s public talk is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, in Ingle Auditorium, Student Alumni Union. Admission is free and the lecture is open to the community, but registration is recommended for his speech titled, “Critical Thinking: Is AI Nothing More than Machine Learning or Existential Threat?” A reception at RIT’s Fireside Lounge follows. Register online to attend the lecture. In addition, RIT will host an informal conversation with Holley on AI’s possible impact on careers and employment on Monday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m., inside Wallace Library. That event is geared toward RIT students, faculty, and staff. Holley has been involved in the tech and business world for over 40 years, with broad experience in artificial intelligence, healthcare, cloud architecture, and leading-edge technologies. He was IBM’s first Black Distinguished Engineer and later became the tech giant’s second Black Fellow, breaking barriers in the tech industry while holding over 30 patents. Holley later earned executive roles with IBM, Google, Cisco, and Optum. Holley was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2023 and has authored four books. His latest book, co-authored by Manish Mathur titled LLMs and Generative AI for Healthcare, was released this past August. During his presentation, Holley will discuss the technical and social impacts of artificial intelligence. Thought-provoking questions will include: AI is often given human-like qualities, but what does that mean for humans? Is AI just advanced technology, or could it pose a serious threat to our future as a species? Are there hidden abilities in the large AI models we see today, and is the idea of a super-intelligent AI based on facts or science-fiction theories? How can we harness this technology to benefit society? And how can we augment student and professional technical skills to work in beneficial ways with AI? “The RIT Fram Applied Critical Thinking chairship and initiative has been building for over a decade now,” said Jennifer Schneider, Eugene Fram Chair and a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management & Safety at RIT. “I can think of no more important subject at this moment to explore for RIT and our greater community than the impact that artificial intelligence will have on our futures. And I can think of no better person to talk about how we harness and manage that AI than Kerrie.” The Eugene H. Fram Chair in Applied Critical Thinking was funded in 2011 by Mr. Henry Navas, RIT alumnus and former university trustee, to honor his professor, Eugene H. Fram. Dr. Fram was the impetus for RIT’s efforts in the application of critical thinking. Gene Fram is a Professor Emeritus of Marketing who retired from RIT in 2008 after 51 years of teaching in the Saunders College of Business. He is also known for his expertise in the study of brick and mortar and the beginnings of internet retailing, nonprofit and corporate governance, and advertising. Dr. Fram served as the J. Warren McClure Professor of Marketing, and Marketing department chair at RIT. Gene received the 1997 Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching and the 2008 RIT Presidential Medallion.
- Universitywide effort hopes to improve math readiness and success for incoming studentsIn the United States, math performance and scores continues to decline significantly, according to recent reporting in U.S. News and World Report. In addition, U.S. teenagers trail global competitors, continuing an underperformance in math that predates the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, RIT is making strides to better prepare first-year students for math coursework through the implementation of a revamped math placement examination. The new exam helps determine areas of strength and those requiring additional attention, focusing on tackling individual students’ gaps in learning. To take the initiative one step further, faculty and teaching assistants can more effectively hone in on math topics and modify intervention strategies during discussions or workshop settings. The goal is to ultimately improve student success and retention. Deana Olles, principal lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, led a taskforce spearheading the project. “Faculty and academic advisers have been asking for a way to better assess students’ strengths and weaknesses when it comes to concepts in mathematics,” said Olles. “We needed a way to bridge gaps in learning, and now we know more about the students we are teaching before they arrive at RIT. The new math placement exam helps instructors identify the areas where students need more attention, as well as place students in the math courses that will benefit them the most.” Also new for RIT this year is an optional online diagnostic assessment designed to give incoming students a better understanding of their math preparedness prior to taking the math placement exam. Approximately 1,600 incoming students took advantage of the assessment. Additionally, online learning modules were utilized to complement the required summer math placement examination. The modules, which were optional but encouraged, served as supplemental review of major math concepts that could be accessed by incoming students prior to taking the exam in June, or after a first attempt, to better assess a student’s comprehension level. Neeraj Buch, dean of Undergraduate Studies and associate provost for Student Success, is pleased with the level of university wide involvement and is hopeful that the new initiative will be impactful. “This initiative involves many areas including Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, all nine RIT colleges, ITS, Student Government, Diversity and Inclusion, and high school math teachers and administrators who were valuable consultants to the taskforce. It’s an example of what can be accomplished when departments work together to benefit our students,” said Buch. Olles is working with a team to analyze data based on the findings from the placement exam, and further determine any remedial work that students need. At the end of the fall semester, the team will initiate the investigation of course related D, F, and W (withdraw) grades and subsequent impact on future persistence rates. “This project is helping to put essential instructional building blocks in place to meet our students where they are and maximize their successes,” said Olles.
- New Office of Pre-Health Professions is a campuswide resourceUndergraduates can easily get lost on the winding road to health professional school—be it medical, nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, or vet school, among others—but now, RIT’s new Office of Pre-Health Professions gives them both a roadmap and road-side assistance. Students from any major can prepare for health professional school as long as they fulfill the prerequisite courses and application requirements, said Amber Charlebois (“Dr. C”), director of the Office of Pre-Health Professions. Planning ahead is essential for students to become competitive candidates, and the pre-health advising office helps them navigate the application process, whether they are studying for their entrance exams and writing their personal statement during their third year or waiting until after they graduate. Amber Charlebois is the director of RIT’s Office of Pre-Health Professions Charlebois provided committee letters for 30 students applying to medical and dental school during the admission cycle this past June. Five of the applicants were third-year students, six were graduating seniors, and the rest were alumni. This reflects a national trend where gap years are becoming the norm and students are entering medical school later. Twenty-four is now the national average age of students accepted to medical school, she said. Students can use the additional time to gain more experience, take entrance exams, and complete the nearly yearlong application process to health professional schools. “We’re trying to change the culture to recognize and embrace the idea that any additional time spent getting ready for medical school is going to make you more competitive,” Charlebois said. “A gap year or two, used strategically, could make you a much better candidate and give you the maturity that can highly increase your chances of getting in. I think we need to start calling it a growth year instead of a gap year.” The new advisory office helps students plan their course load to ensure they are taking the right sequence of science and math prerequisites and maintaining a high grade point average. An adviser helps students stay on track and learn to balance academics, research, and professional experience. Depending on the health field, students will need to complete between 60 to more than 1,000 patient-care hours. Different ways to gain clinical experience include volunteering, shadowing, working as EMTs, patient-care and pharmacy technicians, and medical scribes, or animal care assistants for students pursuing veterinary school. The office encourages students to volunteer for community service, conduct research, and explore leadership opportunities. Charlebois works with the Health Professions Advisory Committee, comprised of faculty and staff from across campus, to conduct mock interviews for students. Alumni participate in these practice interviews and lend their insight through panel discussions and “White Coat Wednesday” events. Charlebois’ office helps students prepare personal statements, collect reference letters, study for entrance exams, and apply for scholarships. Charlebois encourages new students to visit her office “early and often to begin their journey together.” She shows them how to plan their four or five years at RIT and take advantage of opportunities to build their resumes while keeping academic excellence a priority. “I ask first-year students to focus solely on doing amazing in their courses,” Charlebois said. “The minute they feel that they are struggling is when they need to ask for help. They need to be proactive and to keep their GPA strong and competitive. Then, they can start thinking about adding patient-care hours to their schedule.” The pre-health professions office also helps educate students about all the possible health professional careers. For instance, a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) education takes a holistic approach to becoming a doctor and admission requirements to these programs—while still rigorous—are not as steep as for traditional allopathic medicine (MD). Interested students can take advantage of RIT’s affiliation with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and apply early for a seat in osteopathic medicine school upon graduation. This option, which does not require the MCAT exam, is available for prospective students and RIT students enrolled in their first or second year of study. Provided RIT student Morgan Long is president of the Pre-Health Society student club. Charlebois, who joined RIT last year, created a centralized office for pre-health advising that would be easily accessible to students from any major. So far, most students interested in health professional school are enrolled in the College of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Science, Kate Gleason College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, and the School of Individualized Study. Charlebois is also advising two students from the medical illustration BFA program in the College of Art and Design. When Charlebois arrived at RIT, she formed a student advisory board consisting of nearly a dozen pre-health students from multiple colleges to help develop the program and provide insights about resources and events to offer. “Their feedback helped me modify the existing Premedical Studies Seminar upper-level course (which students take as they are getting ready to apply to professional school) into a more inclusive experience by decreasing the number of credit hours to zero and delivering it as both a synchronous and asynchronous class,” she said. The student advisory board spun off into the Pre-Health Society, an academic club that will launch this fall to continue its efforts. Morgan Long, a third-year biomedical sciences major from Victor, N.Y., is the president of the Pre-Health Society. “We hope to be a resource-based club,” Long said. “We wanted to make a community for the pre-health population to have a place for everyone to get their questions answered.” Pre-health advising services originated in the College of Science, then moved to the College of Health Sciences and Technology, and last year, moved to a central location in the University Studies division within the School of Individualized Studies. Charlebois also supports pre-veterinary advising in collaboration with Larry Buckley, senior associate dean of the College of Science.
- Bridging finance and sustainability: RIT student interns at New York Climate ExchangeEricka Chen, a third-year accounting major from Great Neck, N.Y., was one of 11 students–and the first student from RIT–to intern this past summer for the New York Climate Exchange in New York City as part of their inaugural internship program. The Exchange is a first-of-its kind international consortium that brings public and private higher education institutions and companies together with a goal of developing and deploying effective and inclusive solutions to our global climate crisis. RIT is a proud higher education partner in The Exchange, joining other prestigious institutions including Stony Brook University, Georgia Tech, Duke, Oxford, and the University of Washington. Ericka Chen Ericka Chen (middle row, second from left) poses with fellow interns and staff of the New York Climate Exchange. Chen, a third-year accounting major, was the first RIT student to participate in this internship. Chen, a Beta Gamma Sigma honoree this past April, has also earned the Saunders College of Business Women’s Alumnae Network, and Daniel D. Tessoni and Donald Margolis CPA endowed scholarships. She serves as an accounting tutor and resident assistant at RIT, and is the president of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional co-ed business fraternity, as well as the vice-president of communication for the Next Generation of Accountants, a professional organization within the Saunders College of Business. As an accounting major, what inspired you to pursue an internship with the New York Climate Exchange? In my first year, I took an honors course called “Greening of RIT,” which introduced me to various sustainability initiatives and programs. The course also highlighted wasteful practices and areas of improvement, sparking my interest in sustainability. Therefore, when I learned about the New York Climate Exchange, I decided to apply as a finance and accounting intern. I was also curious about the sustainability efforts in New York City, given its proximity to my home on Long Island. What specific projects were you involved in during your internship? The internship was split into two parts. From Monday to Thursday, I worked with my host organization, the Beam Center. I was involved in various projects where I analyzed their financial statements, created year-by-year comparisons, and broke down their expenses by program. Another significant project I undertook was managing their database through Airtable, where I ensured all information was up to date and created new interfaces to improve efficiency. On Fridays, I worked with the New York Climate Exchange staff on Governors Island, where I participated in professional programming focused on sustainability initiatives across a range of organizations from small nonprofits like the Billion Oyster Project to large corporations such as IBM and Bloomberg. Following these sessions, I developed a capstone project that provided recommendations on how the Climate Exchange could enhance its partnerships and introduce new programs that benefited both the organization and its partners. How did your experience on Governor's Island and in New York City shape your understanding of climate change and sustainability, and what impact do you hope to make in this field going forward? I was able to observe the wide range of initiatives undertaken by different organizations, each focusing on different aspects of the climate challenge, yet all working toward the common goal of addressing climate change. Witnessing these organizations make tangible progress and achieve impacts on their communities filled me with hope and reinforced my belief in the necessity of collective action. Looking ahead, I aim to contribute by incorporating sustainability into accounting practices and creating clear guidelines that support organizations in the fight against climate change. While this may take a long time to achieve due to its impact on multiple interests, it’s a goal I am determined to pursue. How did your experience at The Exchange broaden your understanding of the role of financial management in addressing climate change and sustainability challenges? My experience provided valuable considerations for the future, particularly in New York City. It broadened my understanding of how I can contribute to various projects as an accountant while integrating sustainability, demonstrating how sustainability can be a part of any career path. For example, in various discussions, I explored materiality and climate disclosures, specifically how climate awareness can help companies mitigate potential damages by proactively planning for changes. A clear example of this is the New York Climate Exchange’s site, which was designed with future flooding on the island in mind, ensuring its resilience and longevity. Finally, what made RIT and the Saunders College of Business the right fit for you? Both RIT and Saunders provided me with opportunities that aligned with my aspirations. As a third-year accounting student, I’ve taken on various roles, from serving as a resident advisor to working with e-boards such as Delta Sigma Pi and Next Generation of Accountants. These roles have honed my leadership and teamwork skills, allowing me to thrive while building upon my existing knowledge. My entire time at RIT has been filled with new experiences, allowing me to engage with others and understand new perspectives. Working with impactful organizations such as the New York Climate Exchange has been a significant part of this journey, helping me grow both personally and professionally. Without the support from Saunders and RIT, my journey and achievements wouldn’t have been possible.
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