Celebrating Excellence | May 2022
The Division of Diversity and Inclusion (DDI) held two celebratory events on April 21, 2022, beginning with a graduation reception in the Student Alumni Union for the Class of 2022 Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars. President David Munson thanked them for their contributions and noted since the program’s inception in 2010, more than 100 Rochester City Scholars have graduated from RIT.
Keith Jenkins, vice president and associate provost for Diversity and Inclusion, also recognized three long-time RIT leaders with DDI Vice-President and Associate Provost Awards for their diversity initiatives: Anne Haake, dean of Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences (GCCIS), Twyla Cummings, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School and DDI’s Kit Mayberry, senior advisor for Diversity Outreach Enrollment and Retention.
The Division of Diversity and Inclusion’s 6th Annual Celebration of Excellence followed in Ingle Auditorium. It is held to honor Beacon Award recipients. They are RIT students, staff, faculty and alumni who are leaders and help foster diversity and inclusion. Please join us in congratulating the following:
FACULTY BEACON AWARD: Scott Franklin, professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science.
STAFF BEACON AWARD: Luke Auburn: senior communication specialist in the division of Marketing and Communications
ALUMNI BEACON AWARD: Alumna Loretha J. McCullough, ’03 management information systems, ’06 MBA. Global Human Resources Director, Linde, plc.
DDI STUDENT BEACON AWARDS: Muniyath Chowdhury, fifth-year robotics and manufacturing engineering technology student and Sherralyn “Sherry” Sneezer, Sustainability PhD program
WOCHA WOMAN OF THE YEAR: Chloe Sparkman, physician assistant studies/ immersion political science
MOCHA MAN OF THE YEAR: Xavier Thomas, a fourth-year dual degree Mechanical Engineering Student
ALANA Collegiate Association: Phoenix Award- National Society of Black Engineers, ALANA Family Award -Asian Culture Society and the Affiliate of the Year Award-alpha Kappa Delta Phi - Pre-Associate Chapter