Class Notes
Name: Jon Santer
Class Year(s): 1985
Note: Franklyn Athias ’85 (CAST) recently received the Diversity in Technology Award at the 2022 National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) Conference, held Oct. 11-12 in New York City. As Senior Vice President for Emerging Technology and Services at Comcast Cable, Franklyn leads the convergence of Comcast’s mobile product with its broadband connectivity services. Last year, Franklyn earned the 2021-2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. “I’m honored and grateful to be nominated by my peers and to be selected by NAMIC for this inaugural award,” Athias said. “Diversity in technology and a mission for change have always been a passion of mine and I’m inspired by the progress that is being made to strengthen inclusive opportunities in our industry.” NAMIC is the premier organization that educates, advocates, and empowers for multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. To read more about the award, go to https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/meet-namic-s-leaders-and-luminaries-for-2022/ar-AA12zTor.
Submitted on: October 14, 2022
Name: Susan Wilson (Cook)
Class Year(s): 2009
Note: Susan (Cook) Wilson ’09 (CIAS) recently became the Social Media Communications Specialist for Inductive Automation, a software company out of Folsom, CA.
Submitted on: October 7, 2022
Name: Brian Moon
Class Year(s): 2000
Note: Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) recently announced the appointment of Brian Moon ’00 (CLA) as CEO of the organization following a global search process.
Submitted on: October 4, 2022
Name: Matthew Poliniak
Class Year(s): 2003
Note: Matthew Poliniak ’03, MS ’08 (CIAS) was recently promoted to Senior Manager, Product Marketing at Canon USA
Submitted on: October 3, 2022
Name: Alysa Wolfe
Class Year(s): 2014
Note: Alysa Wolfe ’14 (CIAS) recently published her first novel, Evolve. Evolve is a futuristic fantasy and coming of age story of a young princess and is now available in Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
Submitted on: October 3, 2022
Name: Jon Santer
Class Year(s): 2007
Note: Sylvia David-West ’07 (CAST), Project Engineering, L3Harris Technologies, has recently been recognized for her achievements within Engineering and her leadership in advancing diversity within STEM. Recipient: National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) – Professional Leader, 2022 Evening of Excellence Award Nominee: Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Colors of Success DEI Award The NSBE Professional Leader Award recognizes a professional who has made significant discoveries, advanced in their chosen STEM career path, and is acknowledged as a leader of large STEM initiatives. The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Colors of Success DEI Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the greater Rochester community with clear positive impacts as a result of these efforts. David-West is highly involved in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at L3Harris and volunteers to support several diverse clubs/organizations at RIT.
Submitted on: September 26, 2022
Name: Rashid Tangirbergen
Class Year(s): 2010
Note: In October of 2021, Alibek Katpabayev ’10 (SCB) got married to Aigerim Katpabayev in Astana, Kazakhstan and was joined by nine other RIT alumni, including (from left to right) Dastan Kazhigulov ’08 MS ’09 (CAST), Daniyar Amanchin ’10 (GCCIS), Assylbek Zhumadyrov MS ’09 (GCCIS), Bauyrzhan Aitileu MS ’10 (GCCIS), Alexandr Karzhavin ’13 (CAST), Almas Kabsamatov MS ’09 (CAST), Raimbek Alimbayev ’12 (CAST), Rashid Tangirbergen MS ’10 (GCCIS), Daniyar Kassenov ’14 (CAST).
Submitted on: September 12, 2022
Name: Carly Kraft
Class Year(s): 2018
Note: Carly Kraft ’18 (GCCIS) is currently a software engineer during the day and a rock star by night! Her band, Coral Moons, is going on tour September 6, starting in Rochester N.Y. and ending in Nashville, T.N.! Coral Moons will be playing the Club at Waterstreet on Thursday, September 8! Rochester is always their favorite place to play. Learn more about Coral Moons: https://www.coralmoons.com/press
Submitted on: September 2, 2022
Name: Skip Hine
Class Year(s): 1975
Note: This past February, Skip Hine ’75 (GAP) published "Memories in Hine Sight - My Life With a Camera" reflecting on his years at RIT and his ultimate destination to NYC - a career that last more than 45 years, from assisting to running his own studio. The photographs are from his corporate, advertising and personal work, all giving him the opportunity to travel the world and work with famous people. It is available online for purchase through RIT’s Shop One store or his website skiphine.com
Submitted on: September 2, 2022
Name: Michael Nixt
Class Year(s): 2018
Note: Michael Nixt ’18 (KGCOE) has graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, CA) with a Masters of Science in Systems Engineering, with a focus on Reliability and Maintainability. His research and capstone in using AI for real-time wargaming will provide the warfighters with better tools to aid in decision making and mission planning. The new knowledge gained from this degree is already being employed in his current role at Naval Air Systems Command (Department of the Navy) to provide cost-effective, reliable and capable tools to naval aviators and maintainers.
Submitted on: September 2, 2022