Class Notes
Name: Rob Snowden
Class Year(s): 2002
Note: Rob Snowden MBA 2002 (SCB), founding partner of South Park Advisors and business valuation expert, has been named to the Cabinet of Professional Advisors for the Foundation of the Carolinas. The Foundation for the Carolinas (FFTC) serves as a catalyst for philanthropic activity in a 13-county region. Established in 1958, the FFTC has more than $2.5 billion in charitable assets across nearly 3,000 charitable funds established by families, nonprofits, and businesses.
Submitted on: February 12, 2021
Name: Mariya Kofman (Lyubman) Mlyubman@arkmortgage.com
Class Year(s): 2001
Note: Mariya (Lyubman) Kofman ’21 (SCB) joined Ark Mortgage Inc., a financial lender, as a chief administrative officer in January.
Submitted on: February 6, 2021
Name: Mark Higgins
Class Year(s): 1997, 2003
Note: RIT graduates from all over came together to support the 11th Annual Autism Open, hosted by Mark Higgins ’97 (SCB) MBA ’03 (SCB) and Ron Toper ’97 (SCB) MBA (SCB). This year’s event raised over $18,000 for Autism Up, a local autism support group in Rochester NY. In 11 years of the event, RIT grads (many from the Triangle Fraternity in the late 80’s and 90’s) have helped the event raise over $140k! RIT Grads in attendance included David Payne ’83 (CAST), Brian Fox ’88 (KGCOE), Vince Hesketh ’90 (SCB), Dave Bardusch ’92 (SCB), Mike Derose ’89 (CAST), James Stroud ’94 (KGCOE), Mike Scorzelli ’94 (KGCOE), Trevor Young ’94 (KGCOE), Jim Senall ’95 (KGCOE), Chris Merz ’95 (KGCOE), Donny Gentilcor ’02 (CAST), Eric Schmidt ’95 (KGCOE), Jack Degrace ’95 (KGCOE), John Flannery ’95 (SCB), Ryan Shooshan ’96 (SCB), Ryan Kiley ’15 (CIAS), Eddie Aro, Adam Platzer ’01 (SCB) MBS ’02 (SCB), Matt Deis ’95 (KGCOE), Joe Valenti ’95 (KGCOE), Tony Ruland ’92 (SCB) and Dan Christner ’07 (SCB). The Autism Open thanks you for years of generosity and looks forward to seeing all the RIT grads at the 12th Annual Autism Open in June 2021!
Submitted on: January 12, 2021
Name: Alan Frohlichstein
Class Year(s): 1977
Note: Alan Frohlichstein ’77 (GAP) has a book chapter on Ophthalmic Photography (Chapter 20, pp. 291 - 308) in the newly published book "Photography in Clinical Medicine published by Springer." Alan has also been elected to a 4 year term on the Ophthalmic Photographers’ Society Board of Directors.
Submitted on: January 8, 2021
Name: Parth Shah
Class Year(s): 2014,2016
Note: Parth Shah ME ’16 (KGCOE) recently gradated in the winter term of 2020 from The George Washington University with a Doctoral degree in Engineering Management. He is the first in his family to graduate with a Doctorate and says he owes a lot of the credit to his undergraduate and graduate professors and RIT family for the support.
Submitted on: January 8, 2021
Name: Gene DePrez
Class Year(s): 1962, 1968
Note: Gene DePrez ’68 (FAA) advised the board and staff of the Greater Richmond Partnership in the development of their Regional Strategic Economic Development plan. He teamed with IBM’s Global Business Services Brussels-based business location client consulting team, which he co-led prior to retiring from IBM. He also moderated a panel on "The Power of Design Leadership" at the Annual Conference of the International Economic Development Council. At RIT, he is helping to guide the Vignelli Center for Design Studies as a member of its Vision Committee. Gene and his wife, Patty DePrez ’76 (CLA) recently moved from the NYC area back to Rochester where they now live downtown along the city’s new Riverway Promenade.
Submitted on: January 8, 2021
Name: Mary Mihajlov
Class Year(s): 2008
Note: Mary Mihajlov ’08 (CIAS) accepted a new position as a Human Resources Generalist at Banner Engineering in Minnapolis, MN.
Submitted on: January 8, 2021
Name: John McNicholl
Class Year(s): 1981
Note: John J. McNicholl ’81 (GAP) ran a successful printing company for many years and is still in the printing industry today. His son, John P. McNicholl, is proud to be a Tiger and is in his final semester of a 5-year dual degree program graduating, with an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management.
Submitted on: January 6, 2021
Name: Laura Glazer
Class Year(s): 1999
Note: Laura Glazer ’99 (CIAS) writes: Twenty years after graduating from RIT with and a career as a graphic designer, I decided to go back to school! In September 2020, I started my first term as a graduate student at Portland State University, working towards a Master of Fine Arts in Art and Social Practice. I’m thrilled to be a student again!
Submitted on: January 5, 2021
Name: Robert J Jackson
Class Year(s): 1999
Note: Through his sole proprietorship, Bobby James & Co. Media, Robert J. Jackson ’99 (CAST) released his next children’s book in November ’20 titled “I Like the Me You See”, second in a three book series. It is a vivid story with a sincere life lesson helpful for all. It is his third book overall. Additionally, he is a Ph.D. student at Carolina University.
Submitted on: January 5, 2021