News

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.

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.

For the third consecutive year, wealth management adviser Fern (Grossman) Schwartz '77 (business administration) has been featured on the Forbes list of "America's Top Women Wealth Advisors" for 2019.

Michael Mandina, president of Optimax, and Richard Plympton, CEO of Optimax, have been named the 2019 recipients of the Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award, presented by Saunders College of Business. The award is given to entrepreneurial leaders in the greater Rochester region who have developed a business that has improved the local or regional economy or whose innovative management skills have changed the course of an existing business.

Prishtina Insight features an urban interactive installation created by Lauren Peace ’17 (journalism).

Thomas Macias ’13 (applied arts and sciences) has made his feature film debut, co-staring with actor Jeff Daniels in Guest Artist. Guest Artist was originally written as a play by Daniels and turned into a film by director Timothy Busfield.

The New York Times features artist Christine Sun Kim ’02 (applied arts and sciences).

The gift, the largest single gift ever made to RIT’s College of Art and Design, comes from Chance Wright and his mother, Pamela Mars Wright, whose late father was the co-president of Mars Inc.

This year, more students will graduate from RIT’s international campuses than ever before. RIT’s campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai and Kosovo are expected to award degrees to more than 500 students, up from 369 degrees granted in 2017-18.

CNN features photography by Jackie Molloy '16 (professional photographic illustration).