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Department of Public Policy

“Don’t be afraid to jump at opportunities and push your own boundaries” is the advice that Nala Mitas, a senior public policy major with urban studies immersion, lives by now. After attending the National Security Council Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at the White House earlier this semester, she’s inspired by a freshly expanded view of possibilities for making a positive difference. 

Valerie Horn believes accessibility should be at the forefront of entrepreneurs’ minds when developing their businesses. This belief pushed her to co-found Zestability, a consultation firm that advocates for prioritizing accessibility and inclusive business practices.

Conducting hands-on research was a hallmark of the time Mikkael Lamoca ‘24 (biomedical engineering), ‘24 MS (science, technology, and public policy) spent at RIT. A Fulbright award presents him a new opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at one of the top universities in Asia.

The path to obtaining a law degree typically requires at least seven years in higher education. However, students enrolled in RIT’s Accelerated 3+3 Law program are able to shave a year off of their journey and get a head start on establishing their career in law.

Divya Ramjee served as a member of the prosecution team for a criminal case against the operator of Bitcoin Fog. On March 12, a jury found the defendant, Roman Sterlingov, “guilty of operating among the longest-running and most prolific bitcoin money laundering services on the darknet.”

The Los Angeles Times talks to Eric Hittinger, associate professor in the Department of Public Policy, about flexible demand energy programs.

RIT’s College of Liberal Arts partners with Syracuse University’s College of Law to offer an accelerated 3+3 law program. Students complete both a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree in six years as opposed to the traditional seven-year timeline.

Essay by Eric Hittinger, associate professor of public policy; Eric Williams, professor of sustainability; Qing Miao, associate professor of public policy; and Ph.D. student Tiruwork B. Tibebu, published by The Conversation.

The New York Times references research by Nathan Lee, assistant professor in the Department of Public Policy.

While many colleges and universities require general education courses, RIT’s immersion requirement takes it a step further. Beyond the typical writing, math, science, social science, global studies, art, and ethics requirements, students are asked to fulfill an additional nine credits in a topic of interest. The intended result is to produce well-rounded students who have gained broader, more diverse perspectives.

Assistant professor of public policy, Dr. Nathan Lee, builds CivicPulse, an open-data platform available for use by both academics seeking information about local governments and by the local government officials themselves to identify issues such as gender parity. CivicPulse has collected data through surveys on some 21,000 local governments – villages, cities, towns and counties.

Diverse subjects involving safety and autonomous automobiles, Black women in computing, and Italian cinema are just some of the winning entries for this year’s student writing awards, sponsored by RIT’s College of Liberal Arts.