Alumni News and Recognitions

Check out some of the great things our Saunders alumni are doing around the globe. Submit your latest career move or latest achievement to communications@saunders.rit.edu.

March 2025

Mary Anne Detmer, '98 (MS human resource development), Friendly Senior Living; Cheryl Leader, '96 (business administration), ’99 (MBA), Lifetime Assistance Inc.; Raquel Denise Lowry, '18 (MS management), Coordinated Care Services Inc.; Dr. Candice A. Lucas, '96 (criminal justice), '06 (EMBA), Urban League of Rochester; and Ebony T. Miller, '22 (EMBA), Rochester Institute of Technology, have been named Women of Excellence by Rochester Business Journal. According to RBJ, “Women of Excellence identifies high-achieving women for their tremendous career accomplishments. The women are selected based on their professional experience, community involvement, leadership and sustained commitment to mentoring.” The awardees will be honored on May 8, 2025, at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

Tony Sampognaro '23 (Online EMBA) '00 (MS Chemistry) '98 (BS Biochemistry) was interviewed by Outsource Pharma for an article, “Pain And Pleasure In Project Management Of CDMOs.” He offered details about how his executive MBA has enhanced his abilities in navigating the business complexities of CDMOs in his current role at Stoke Therapeutics, where he is Director, CMC Project Management.

January 2025

Lys Luzolo ‘25 (marketing) was featured on a Spectrum News segment on TikTok, where she is an influencer. The segment explores the ways in which influencers are affected by the TikTok ban.

Riya Bhanushali ‘24 (MS, accounting and business analytics) has joined EFPR Group, Rochester, NY, as a staff accountant in their Attest Department.

Parth Chaudhari ‘24 (MS, business analytics) has been selected as a research assistant as part of Saunders College Student Research Initiative (SRI). He will work with mentor Sriniwas Mahapatro, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of finance and accounting.

Parker Hoyt ‘24 (marketing) began a digital marketing content co-op with Linden Digital Marketing in January 2025.

December 2024

Noah Blankenship ‘20 (MBA) was interviewed by NHL.com for a feature about NHL in ASL, which Blankenship broadcasts. The telecast provides real-time coverage of play-by-play and color commentary for hockey games in American Sign Language. Blankenship works at the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services in Denver, CO.

August 2024

Kwong Voon (James) Wong ’23 (EMBA), will co-teach an international finance class in the Saunders Online Executive MBA program in fall 2024. He is the Director of Global NEMA Product Management for Pfannenberg USA.

Patrick Shoemay ’21 (finance, and management and information systems) recently donated bone marrow to help save the life of a teen with leukemia. Patrick joined the Gift of Life Marrow Registry while a student at RIT.

Zachary White ’17 (management information systems and marketing) was interviewed for an episode of the podcast CareerTea with Sohrab Memar. White spoke about his studies at Saunders; his co-op and internship experience; his career trajectory at Amazon, EY, and Highspot; and his summiting of Mt. Everest in 2022.

Robert D Allen ’16 (MBA) has published a novel, Kolnari Prologue, a science fiction adventure featuring two stranded Klingon anthropologists.

Jyothi Bhavani Bachu ’24 (MBA) has begun a product management internship role with GE Vernova.

View the accomplishments of alumni from previous years!