Dinner celebrated accomplishments of women

‌

Elizabeth Torgerson-Lamark

Honored guests at the fifth annual Women’s Career Achievement Dinner included, from left, Lorri Strem ’82, Barbara Switzer ’93, Donna Rankin-Parobek ’88, ’93, keynote speaker Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, Rita Straubhaar ’91, Christine Peters ’91, Laura Zigarowicz ’98 and Jennifer Indovina ’06, ’07.

Eight alumnae were recognized at the fifth annual Women’s Career Achievement Dinner, sponsored by the RIT Women’s Center, RIT Leadership Institute and Alumni Relations Office.

More than 460 students, staff, faculty and others attended the event, which took place in Clark Gymnasium on April 26.

Diane Hope, the William A. Kern Professor in Communications, and Harvey Palmer, dean of the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, were recipients of the Edwina Award for Gender Diversity and Inclusiveness, named for Edwina Hogodone, former Dean of the College of Business, from 1960-1970.

Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, national political correspondent for People magazine, was keynote speaker for the event. A native of Rochester, Westfall received the White House Correspondents’ Association Award “for excellence in presidential news coverage under deadline pressure” in 2001 and 2009.

Alumnae honored at the event are:

Jennifer Indovina ’06, ’07 (electrical engineering, business administration), CEO and founder of Tenrehte Technologies, a semiconductor company developing wireless smart-grid consumer products.

Christine Peters ’91 (accounting), president and chief executive officer of Family First of NY Federal Credit Union.

Donna Rankin-Parobek ’88, ’93 (imaging science), intellectual property director for Carestream Health Inc.

Rita Straubhaar ’91 (graphic arts and photography) assistant professor in American Sign Language at Monroe Community College (MCC).

Lorri Strem ’82 (criminal justice), a captain in the Rochester Police Department.

Barbara Switzer ’93 (computer science), senior applications manager at Global Crossing.

Alison Tyler ’97, ’01 (packaging science, biotechnoloty, technical director at Beacon Converters Inc of Saddle Brook, N.J., a manufacturer of packaging for the medical and healthcare markets.

Laura Zigarowicz ’98 (biomedical photography), marketing manager for Eastman Kodak Company’s Chief Marketing Office.