Photo Spotlights

Nearly 200 RIT students on co-op in the Rochester area celebrated together July 8 at Innovative Field for RIT Co-op Night at the Rochester Red Wings. The group of students and staff, which also included RIT President David Munson and Neeraj Buch, dean of undergraduate education and associate provost for student success, enjoyed the game, food, a performance by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and a fireworks display. The event was sponsored by RIT’s Career Services and Cooperative Education.

College of Science Dean André Hudson addresses the crowd that gathered for the 40th anniversary celebration of the Munsell Color Science Lab on June 15. RIT alumni, current and former students, faculty, staff, and supporters and friends of the lab were invited to honor its history and accomplishments. Other presenters included Michael Murdoch, lab director; former lab director Mark Fairchild; and others.

RIT held its annual Retiree Luncheon June 7 in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center. More than 500 university retirees and guests attended the event, which featured lunch, presentations, and opportunities to connect with colleagues.

The RIT campus was filled with smiles last weekend during the university’s 138th commencement. RIT is celebrating more than 4,800 graduates this year, including those attending global campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo.

Five honorary degrees were conferred during the commencement ceremony on May 12. Among those recognized was Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer and a 1988 graduate of RIT’s Saunders College of Business, who received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of her distinguished career in public service and leadership in finance. Pictured, from left to right, are RIT President David Munson, RIT Provost Ellen Granberg, Ma, RIT Board of Trustees Chairman Jeff Harris, and RIT Trustee Kevin Surace.

Graduating students prepared for commencement ceremonies by decorating their mortarboards, posing for pictures with friends, and having a toast to the future during the Last Bash event Wednesday in the Gene Polisseni Center.

On May 6, students, faculty, and staff celebrated Black Graduation, a student-driven event to recognize and celebrate the success and hard work of Black students at RIT.

The College Activities Board held GradPalooza on Friday, an end-of-of-the-year festival featuring mechanical bull riding, axe throwing, music, cornhole, caricatures, and more, at Global Village. RIT’s commencement will be this Friday and Saturday. More than 4,800 people, including students at RIT’s global campuses, are on track to graduate this year.

On Monday, students about to graduate celebrated during Rainbow Graduation, a ceremony for LGBTQIA+ students and allies. Students, left to right, are Sinclaire Ogof, Alexis Gordon, David Prichett, Aidan Grant, and Jordan Carroll.

RIT welcomed Pete Docter, chief creative officer at Pixar Animation Studios, as part of the MAGIC Speaker Series April 14. Docter is the Oscar-winning director of Monsters, Inc., Up, Inside Out, and Soul. He also helped develop the story and characters for Toy Story. During his visit, Docter, left center, met with students, faculty, and staff, and presented about his animation and directing experiences with Flip Phillips, right center, professor in the School of Film and Animation.

RIT faculty winners of the Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching, pictured here with RIT President David Munson, were among those honored at the Celebration of Teaching and Scholarship on April 13. The annual spring event recognizes the university’s outstanding faculty, staff, and students for their excellence in innovation, teaching, and developing the next generation of leaders. Several other awards were presented during the event hosted by RIT’s Office of the Provost.

RIT President David Munson, center, emceed the 2023 Alfred L. Davis Public Service Awards on April 11. Recipients Susan Fox, left, and Jade Myers, right, were honored for their outstanding record of service. The Four Presidents Distinguished Public Service Award was presented to Fox, a prospect researcher in University Advancement, for her commitment to the Rochester community through volunteering for the Dining Room Ministry program run by Third Presbyterian Church, and the East Avenue Grocery Run, an annual event that has raised more than $400,000 for 24 food pantries and meal programs. A gift in Fox’s name will be made to the grocery run. The Bruce R. James ’64 Distinguished Public Service Award was given to Myers, a mechanical and industrial engineering doctoral student in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering, who focuses on designing prostheses for individuals who have lost limbs. A gift in Myers’ name will be made to the Healing Hands for Haiti Foundation.