Class Notes
Name: Willy (Perry L) Conley (Jr.)
Class Year(s): 1981
Note: Willy Conley Jr. ’81 (GAP) is thrilled to announce the release of his newest book, Plays of Our Own – An Anthology of Scripts by Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Writers – a part of the Routledge Series in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Theatre and Performance. This has been his result of over twenty years of researching and collecting the works of these unique writers who have made major, positive contributions to world drama or Deaf theatre arts. Directors, producers, Deaf and hearing students, professors, and researchers will be able to pick up this one-of-a-kind book of "Deaf plays" for production consideration, Deaf culture or multicultural analysis, or the simple pleasure of reading. Routledge: Taylor & Francis: https://www.routledge.com/Plays-of-Our-Own-An-Anthology-of-Scripts-by-Deaf-and-Hard--of/Conley/p/book/9780367632373 The book is also listed on www.amazon.com. As another option, people may order a paperback copy directly from him, especially if they wish to receive an inscription and/or autograph: www.willyconley.com. Here is a short promo video that gives insight into the book: https://youtu.be/29U2A1JXDr4
Submitted on: January 9, 2023
Name: Madison Cardone
Class Year(s): 2019
Note: Maddie Mitchell ’19 (CAD) and Mike Cardone ’19 (COS) were married in Omaha, NE on September 10, 2022. They met at RIT where they dated for 3 years, then 2 years long-distance in separate states, before finally tying the knot. They made sure to incorporate orange into their wedding decor to show their tiger pride!
Submitted on: January 7, 2023
Name: Therese Dane
Class Year(s): 2011
Note: Therese Dane ’11 (COS) was invited to be a guest speaker at the International Symposium on ALS/MND 2022 and presented her research on C9orf72 in iPSC-derived motor neurons.
Submitted on: January 4, 2023
Name: Nam Nguyen
Class Year(s): 88
Note: Nam Nguyen ’88 (SCB) is currently the M365/Power Platform Solution Architect for FPT/Intellinet and an eBook Author with the 30 best education book titles with 2400 eBooks in 105 Languages. The eBooks are available on Google Play. Protect Earth Today – starts with you at namhnguyen.org
Submitted on: January 4, 2023
Name: Emily Hartmann
Class Year(s): 2012
Note: Emily (Sowa) Hartmann ’12 (CIAS) was recently recognized with two Emmy Awards. Currently, Emily is the Senior Producer at New York’s #1 News Station WABC-TV. Emily produces, shoots, and edits premium content for ABC7NY, Hulu, and ABC Owned Television’s streaming platforms. Emily is the lead videographer and editor for the Emmy-winning investigative series ’Missing’ -- now streaming on Hulu. She has a passion for documentary-style storytelling and true crime and a record of success producing innovative, high-impact content for digital, social, broadcast, and marketing. 2022 was a huge year for Emily - both personally and professionally. After getting engaged in Japan in 2019, postponing her wedding because of the coronavirus pandemic, Emily finally got to marry fellow videographer Josh Hartmann, who she met at WABC in 2017. Their marriage took place in Kingston, NY on May 21, 2022, with a special addition to their guest list - baby girl Charlotte Hartmann, who was born on October 6, 2022. While in the hospital recovering from the birth of her daughter, Emily missed the ceremony where her colleagues accepted two Emmy awards on her behalf. An Emmy for her work on the documentary ’Eyewitness to 9/11: Behind the Lens’ and the true crime series ‘Missing: Leanne Marie Hausberg’ - both available on Hulu. In the past two years, Emily was also awarded a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winner for Large Television Market News Documentary for her work on the documentary ’Eyewitness to the Death of John Lennon’ and a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for Excellence in Journalism for Large-Market Station Documentary ’Eyewitness to 9/11: Behind the Lens’. After her maternity leave, Emily looks forward to creating more ground-breaking, innovative content and connecting with other SOFA and RIT alumni students.
Submitted on: January 3, 2023
Name: Harry Friedman
Class Year(s): 1985
Note: Harry "O" Friedman ’85 (CAST) of Silver Spring, MD retired from the United States Navy after a 37 year career in the Communications Department producing Television, Videos and Photography at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in West Bethesda, MD !! His last day ever at work was July 31, 2022 as it was a great honor working for our country !! Go Navy !!!
Submitted on: January 3, 2023
Name: Josa Hanzlik
Class Year(s): 2008, 2008
Note: Dr. Josa Hanzlik ’08, MS ’08 (KGCOE) was promoted to Senior Manager, Scientific Services at Haemonetics in May 2022. She manages of team of 15 people that maintains a portfolio of blood and plasma services through global compliance of equipment and disposables for biocompatibility, sterilization, and stability. In November 2022, she became a American Board of Toxicology Diplomate (DABT) by passing the Toxicology Board Exam.
Submitted on: January 2, 2023
Name: Justin Katich
Class Year(s): 2012
Note: Justin Katich AOS ’12 (NTID) has been working for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as a Bridge and Structural Drafter/Designer. He was hired into the Engineering Technology program in October of 2013 and a year later was promoted to the position of Bridge and Structural Drafter. Several years later he was promoted to his current position as Bridge and Structural Drafter/Designer. Justin enjoys traveling, especially to baseball spring training in Arizona. If you are in the Phoenix area in the early part of March, email Justin (playstationarea51@yahoo.com) to meet up at a spring training game!
Submitted on: January 1, 2023
Name: Ilena Finocchi
Class Year(s): 2005
Note: After a successful run on the film festival circuit, Creatures in My House is now available to view on line on both Youtube and Vimeo. Ilena Finocchi ’05 (CIAS) is behind this stop motion animated short film, Creatures in My House, which took the artist three years to make. The exquisitely handcrafted world in this stop motion animated short, follows a house full of peculiar monsters waking up amuck in this askew home. This quirky and tactile household is full of frenetic energy set off by the morning alarm. Discover what the ruckus brewing in the kitchen is really about in this colorful nod to film noir and German expressionism. It’s horrifyingly delightful. View on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/535320846 view on Youtube: https://youtu.be/KMmHBpJcDzk Website: www.ilenaf.com
Submitted on: January 1, 2023
Name: Melissa Derby
Class Year(s): 2018
Note: Melissa (Barton) Derby ’18 (COS) and Mitchell Derby ’18 (GCCIS) were married in Buffalo, NY on August 27, 2022. They met while at RIT and were thrilled that many college friends were able to be in attendance to celebrate!
Submitted on: December 31, 2022