Antoinette McCorvey and James Norman named RIT Minett Professors

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Antoinette McCorvey

For the second time in its 19-year history, the Frederick H. Minett Professorship at RIT will have two community leaders filling the position that brings distinguished, Rochester-area minority professionals to RIT to share their professional knowledge and experience with students and faculty.

Antoinette McCorvey, chief financial officer for Eastman Kodak Co., and James Norman, president and chief executive officer of Action for a Better Community, have been named to the prestigious position for 2010-2011.

McCorvey, former director of investor relations and vice president with Kodak prior to her appointment as CFO, brings more than 30 years of financial management experience to the position. While at RIT, McCorvey will provide lectures and seminar classes in RIT’s E. Philip Saunders College of Business. As a member of the national Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, she expects to participate with the RIT chapter of this organization on projects and initiatives. Additionally, McCorvey will work with and mentor the Rochester City Scholars.

Norman has been a part of the local nonprofit organization Action for a Better Community since 1987. The organization has played a significant role in advocating for individuals living in poverty, providing educational, financial and family services in the city of Rochester for more than 45 years. Norman will be teaching in the RIT College of Liberal Arts and working with the community planning committee to bring the national traveling exhibit “RACE: Are We So Different?” to Rochester (tentatively scheduled for 2013). This exhibit profiles social, historical and scientific aspects of race in the United States.

The Minett Professorship was established in 1991. President Bill Destler and Chief Diversity Officer Kevin McDonald appoint individuals to act as adjunct faculty in one of RIT’s colleges for one academic year.

“RIT is delighted to have two people of the caliber of Ann McCorvey and James Norman,” says McDonald. “Both bring a wealth of experience in their respective fields, and they will serve as wonderful resources for our entire campus community.”

Past Minett professors include Essie Calhoun, recently retired chief diversity officer and community affairs director, Eastman Kodak Co.; Clayton Osbourne, former vice president of human resources, Bausch & Lomb; H. Moka Lantum, director of medical services, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield; G. Peter Jemison, curator of the Fenimore Art Museum; Augustin Melendez, vice president for human resources, Eastman Kodak Co.; Michael Finney, former president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise; Gladys Santiago, president of Rochester City Council; Robert Colon, chief legal counsel and director, RIT Office of Legal Affairs; and Emerson Fullwood, former Xerox Corp. vice president and executive chief of staff and marketing officer for Xerox North America.

James Norman Matt DeTurck/City Newspaper