In remembrance of Ethan Sulik-Doty, Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Dear members of the RIT community,

With a heavy heart and profound sadness, I reach out to you again, far sooner than any of us could have anticipated. Tragically, we find ourselves mourning the loss of another cherished member of our campus community.

Ethan Sulik-Doty passed away due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident last evening. Ethan joined our RIT family in the fall of 2019 from Whiting, Vt., and was working towards his master's degree in electrical engineering as a BS/MS student in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

We have reached out to Ethan’s family to extend our sincere condolences on behalf of the RIT community. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and loved ones as they cope with their tremendous heartbreak and grief.

In these moments, words often seem insufficient to express the depth of our emotions. To our students, faculty, and staff, I want to acknowledge the immense sorrow and strain you may be feeling. Grief, especially under these circumstances, can be complex and overwhelming. It is necessary for us to lean on one another for support. We are a community bound by a shared human experience. Let this bring our Tiger community together with compassion, sympathy, and understanding.

I encourage you to reach out to your family and your support system that extends beyond our campus community, as well. Sharing your feelings and concerns with those you trust can provide relief and emotional healing.

Counseling and Psychological Services, Spirituality and Religious Life, and NTID Counseling & Academic Advising Services provide a space for students who need to talk, grieve, or be in the company of others. Faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize RIT’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support services provided at no charge to eligible employees.

In closing, I extend a heartfelt plea to all of you: take care of yourselves and each other. In times of loss, let our bond, as humans, be a source of strength and comfort.

Respectfully,
Dr. Sandra (Sandy) Johnson
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs