Class Notes
Name: Susan Cohen
Class Year(s): 1980
Note: Susan Cohen ’80 (CLA) retired from Montgomery County Public Libraries on October 1, 2020. As a public librarian, she served as the head of adult services and services for the Deaf and hard of hearing for 36 years. She also served as the first coordinator of the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library for the last five years. In February 2021, she was elected the president of the Jewish Deaf Resource Center, a national 501C3 nonprofit that serves as a bridge between Jewish Deaf and hard of hearing individuals (including DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, LBGQTi+, BIPOC) and individuals and organizations in the wider Jewish community through advocacy, communication access solutions, inclusive public policy, partnerships, resources, and training. She and her husband have relocated to Florida and often travel north to spend time with their grandchildren and family. They have taken up pickle ball, swimming, hiking, and other activities to fill our days.
Submitted on: July 29, 2022
Name: Mark Sanza
Class Year(s): 86,88
Note: Mark D. Sanza ’88 (CLA) has been appointed as deputy general counsel at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany, N.Y. He oversees a broad number of attorneys responsible for administering important environmental programs, such as climate change, air resources, and energy projects including renewable sources and transmission facilities.
Submitted on: July 29, 2022
Name: Amanda Lasicki
Class Year(s): 2009
Note: Amanda Lasicki ’09 (CIAS) and Ryan Kilmartin welcomed twins, Chris and Sean, on May 5, 2021.
Submitted on: July 29, 2022
Name: Cristophorus Budidharma
Class Year(s): 2016
Note: Cristophorus Badidharma ’16 (CHST) shares that he has worked at Silang.id in the Education Division for two years. Silang.id is an EduTech startup company, focused on empowering Deaf Indonesians and spreading awareness about Deaf culture in Indonesia. He has been developing the Indonesian sign language curriculum, pedagogical skills, and overall standards in teaching. His dream is to work as a college professor, especially in anatomy education. He feels that working at Silang.id is the beginning of his journey to be an educator.
Submitted on: July 29, 2022
Name: Gary S. Avratin
Class Year(s): 1989
Note: Gary S. Avratin ’89 (SCB) shares that his son, Max S. Avratin BS ’22, graduated. He wishes Emma R. Avratin BS ’24 great success for the upcoming year.
Submitted on: July 29, 2022
Name: Michael Fuszara
Class Year(s): 1999
Note: Michael Fuszara ’99 (KGCOE) has accepted a new position working for Moog Aircraft Group. It’s been his dream company to work for and he’s looking forward to many more years working for a fantastic company. His son was accepted into the RIT MET program in Robotics and Automation and the MS/BS program; he move in during August 2022.
Submitted on: July 29, 2022
Name: Michael Sperling
Class Year(s): 2005
Note: Michael Sperling ’05 (CIAS) owns Sperling Interactive, a marketing agency, which has been named on the Inc 5000 list as one of the 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the United States.
Submitted on: July 29, 2022
Name: Ryan Vogt
Class Year(s): 2015
Note: Ryan Vogt ’15 (GCCIS) was awarded a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from North Carolina State University (NCSU) in spring 2020. During his studies, he was a fellow at Argonne National Laboratory, part of the U.S. Department Of Energy (DOE), solving partial-differential equation optimization problems that arise in electrodynamics, and optimal control problems, for U.S. interests. Ryan became a postdoctoral fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, another laboratory in the DOE, during the summer of 2020, where he led efforts to develop state-of-the-art singe-flux quantum (SFQ) circuits to demonstrate the feasibility and lucrativeness of the emerging technology for the national laboratories. In the summer of 2021, Ryan joined the U.S Department of Defense (DOD), as well as the National Security Agency (NSA). At the DOD and NSA, Ryan serves as a subject-matter expert in electrodynamics, numerical analysis, scientific computing, optimization theory, and the theory of partial differential equations. He leverages his expertise in these subjects to directly impact U.S. interests and competitiveness, when it comes to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), in a positive manner.
Submitted on: July 12, 2022
Name: Adam Avrick
Class Year(s): 1985
Note: Adam Avrick ’85 (GAP), was elected chairman of the Printing Industries Alliance (PIA). Prior to his election as chairman, Adam served as PIA vice-chair and secretary, and has served as a director since 2009. Adam also serves as a trustee on the PIA Workers’ Compensation Safety Group Executive Committee. He is currently the president of Design Distributors, Inc., which joined PIA in 2008, soon after PIA acquired the Metro NY/NJ territory. Design Distributors, Inc. is a direct response printing and mailing company located on Long Island. In 1993, the company expanded from an envelope manufacturer to a full-service printing and mailing facility. Design Distributors most recently expanded into digital printing with both Sheet and Continuous Web printers. Adam has also served on the Executive boards of many industry organizations, including The Graphic Arts Professionals, The Young Printing Executives Club, The RIT Printing Alumni Association, and the Long Island Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization. Adam currently serves as treasurer of the Long Island Postal Customer Council (LIPCC) and is a member of the steering committee for the Print Industry Alliance of Long Island (PIALI).
Submitted on: July 1, 2022
Name: Jim Ferris
Class Year(s): 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81
Note: Jim Ferris ’81 (COS) recently retired after more than 40 years in IT and supply chain management, working in the industry and as a management consultant. His plans are to play more tennis, go boating, go on vacations, golf, and continue his passion--leading his own jazz combo. Visit www.jimferristrio.com
Submitted on: June 2, 2022