Class Notes
Name: Samuel Giannavola
Class Year(s): 1979
Note: Sam Giannavola ’79 (CIAS) has retired from a 34 year career at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science in Little Rock, Arkansas. He held a number of staff and administrative positions over the years including Director of the 40 person department that included photographers, graphic designers, videographers and a print shop. He was very active in the Biological Photographic Association for many years and held many elected positions including Executive Secretary of the Board of Registry and as a member of the House of Delegates. His photography earned many awards and he was an active presenter giving over forty podium presentations at local, national and international meetings. He became a Registered Biological Photographer (RBP) in 1980, was awarded Fellowship (FBPA) for meritorious contributions to the biological sciences in 1998 and a lifetime services award, the Louis Schmidt Laurite award in 2005 by the Biological Photographic Association. Throughout his career he enjoyed teaching photography and presentation graphics to healthcare professionals. He is the proud father of Alexander Russell Giannavola and Madeline Rose Giannavola. Alex is his hero and he is in awe of Rosie.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: Ryan Vogt
Class Year(s): 2015
Note: Ryan Vogt ’15 (GCCIS) successfully defended his Ph.D thesis "Interface Problems and Binary Electromagnetic Cloaking Designs in Computational Electromagnetics";. Ryan is currently a mathematician at Argonne National Laboratory working on partial-differential equation optimization theory and optimal control of partial-differential equations. He is starting a new role at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the Quantum Computing group, focusing on the optimal control of quantum systems to construct the next generation quantum computers.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: Jasmine Newton
Class Year(s): 2018
Note: Jasmine Newton ’18 (COLA) and Nick Sprague ’18 (COLA), both Psychology majors, were married on November 30, 2019. They are high school sweethearts and had been together for over six years at the time of their wedding.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: Laura McGowan
Class Year(s): 2010
Note: Laura McGowan ’10 (CIAS) previously worked as an Animation Production Assistant on Rio, an American 3D computer-animated musical comedy film produced in 2011 by Blue Sky Studios. Currently, Laura is working on the Warner Brothers animated comedy television series, Animaniacs, scheduled to be released later this year. Laura was recently promoted from Animation Assistant Editor to Animation Editor for the Animaniacs series.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: William Pruitt
Class Year(s): 1981
Note: W. Frazier Pruitt ’16 (CAST) has published the article, "Some Assembly Required: Structured problem solving demands structure." The article is the feature, and cover, of the May 2020 edition of American Society of Quality’s (ASQ) flagship periodical, Quality Progress. Across 143 counties, Quality Progress has a print circulation of 55,433 and readership of 112,000.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: Kimberlie Barrett
Class Year(s): 1981
Note: Kimberlie Barrett ’81 (SCB) writes: My company is expanding and we need to recruit a new part-time staff member. If you or someone you know would like to interview, please keep reading. Thank you! Title: Brand Ambassador Seeking an enthusiastic sales/marketing professional experienced in graphic design, creative writing, social media, video/webinar production, website and database management. Must have a college degree. Please send resume to Kim@1Magellan.com. We offer a great company culture and opportunity to grow with the company.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: Katherin Perchik
Class Year(s): 2016
Note: Katherine Perchik ’16 (NTID) married Dillon Ameigh on October 12, 2019 in the Finger Lakes. The couple met in Washington, D.C. after moving separately from the Western N.Y. region. The wedding was officiated by Jordan Roth ’16 (CIAS). Katherine and Jordan met while working as RAs with RIT’s Center for Residence Life from 2013 - 2016.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: William Truran
Class Year(s): 1975
Note: William (Bill) Truran '75 (GAP) writes: I am greatly blessed! While I am keeping away from others (as I should), I landed a brand new food client and am working remotely for the ones I already have. I love to be busy and am greatly thankful to be so now. The digital life is just great!
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: Colleen Mann
Class Year(s): 2015
Note: Colleen Mann ’15 (CIAS) and James Buxton ’16 (CIAS) married in Ogunquit, Maine on September 7, 2019. They met at RIT in early 2013 through Greek Life. Many Tigers joined in the celebration of their marriage, including their photographers, Hannah Hayes ’12 (CIAS) and Andy Baker.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020
Name: Michael James
Class Year(s): 1973
Note: Michael F. James MFA ’73 (FAA) retired in January after serving 20 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was Professor and Chair of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design in the College of Education and Human Sciences. At Nebraska, James taught in the areas of foundation design, textile design, material culture and quilt studies. Over the course of a nearly fifty-year career at the forefront of the studio quilt movement, James, a Fellow of the American Craft Council, built an international career as a maker, writer, lecturer and educator. His work is included in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in D.C., the Museum of Arts and Design in NYC, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Baltimore Art Museum, the Newark Museum, the Indianapolis Art Museum, and numerous others. James will continue to live and maintain his studio in Lincoln, NE. His work is represented by Modern Arts Midtown in Omaha, NE.
Submitted on: September 22, 2020