Alumni News

RIT’s Venture Creations technology business incubator has named upstate New York entrepreneur Peter Parts as interim director. Parts assumes the role from former director Richard Notargiacomo, who will continue his work with Venture Creations as a coach while he transitions into retirement.

Journalist Anderson Cooper, anchor of CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° and a correspondent for CBS’s 60 Minutes, will be the Student Government Distinguished Speaker at Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend, Oct. 18-20. The weekend typically draws 17,000 participants to RIT’s campus and the Rochester area and features more than 100 events during three days.

As part of a growing trend in enriching engineering education, RIT has approved a new course in soft skills for engineers. The one-credit elective course, originally piloted in the last academic year, has been approved as a credit-bearing option for students in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology and will begin in September.

A therapeutic game called Space Adventure designed by an RIT class officially launched this month on the Rochester Society for the Protection and Care of Children (SPCC) website. The SPCC specializes in supporting families whose lives have been impacted by trauma.

Cloud-based billing company IDI recognizes Saunders alumnus and Dean's Advisory Council member Patrick Talty. 

Syracuse.com features Susan Fahrenkrug '07 (telecommunications network management).

A new Netflix glassblowing reality series features an RIT alumna as an expert glassmaker. Blown Away, which begins airing July 12 on the streaming platform, follows a group of 10 highly skilled glassmakers who compete in challenges in 10 episodes. Catherine Ayers ’06 (glass) is one of six Corning Museum of Glass experts who assists the two finalists in the last challenge.

RIT alumnus Ryan Steenberg ’17 MFA (medical illustration) can drive a golf ball the length of nearly five football fields. Steenberg, the No. 1-ranked long drive hitter in the world, will represent his hometown July 20 to 24 in the “ROC City Rumble,” part of World Long Drive’s 2019 Tour.

Guest column by Lauren Peace ’17 (journalism) published in The New York Times.

Andy Koupal '09 (glass) worked with College of Art and Design interim dean Robin Cass during a weeklong artist-in-residency program Koupal helps manage.

The fellowship program provides opportunities to outstanding scientists and engineers to learn first-hand about policymaking and contribute their knowledge and analytical skills in the policy realm. Brennan Ireland ’18 Ph.D. (astrophysical sciences and technology) will use his analytical skills to quantitatively evaluate countries to get a better picture of what their futures look like.

Youth Ki Awaaz features Shweta Mangal '99 (MBA), who is advancing education and emergency medical services in India.