RIT has huge presence at graphic communications conference

Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Media Sciences (SMS) returned to the PRINT trade show recently to engage with prospective students, reconnect with alumni and network with industry leaders and other schools. 

PRINT 18 was held from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago. The event serves the community of printing and graphic professionals and is billed as “the platform for breakthrough ideas and technologies,” with attendees growing their connections and expertise. 

SMS’ booth was in the Workforce Solutions pavilion area of the show, and was a virtual beehive of activity. Booth visitors included industry leaders inquiring about the status of SMS, with a particular interest in hiring alumni for career positions and students for co-op positions. 

Shauna Newcomb, RIT career services coordinator for, among other programs, SMS and packaging science in the College of Engineering Technology, was busy collecting contact information to ensure that opportunities are posted and properly diffused among students and alumni. 

Additionally, dozens of alumni stopped by to be updated on their alma mater. They were greeted by Lisa Vasaturo and Katie Coyne, directors of alumni relations for the College of Art and Design and CET, respectively. 

Alumni attendees were offered a complementary edition of Test Targets 11, a publication of SMS research printed by the school last spring. Dormant since 2011, the republication of Test Targets especially represents the current direction of the school. 

With SMS transitioning from the College of Art and Design to CET, to be completed July 1, 2019, information about the move was well received by alumni. Many of them gathered for a post-show alumni reception, where they networked with RIT representatives, including CET interim dean S. Manian Ramkumar, who formally provided an update on plans for SMS. 

In another example of RIT’s participation at PRINT, SMS alumnus Nick Gawreluk ’13, a sales operation manager at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, addressed high school students on the topic of creating a successful career path as a student in graphic communications. The talk was acclaimed by students and educators alike, as they streamed from the ballroom to the show floor to visit RIT.

Nick Gawreluk poses with the promotional poster for his talk.

Throughout the show, RIT faculty were busy staffing the booth and attending important events. 

SMS director Bruce Myers was joined by several faculty, including Irma Abu-Jumah, Chris Bondy and Greg D’Amico. Networking with industry representatives and keeping abreast of the latest technological advancements was a primary motivating factor for show activity, as was attending important meetings and seminars. 

SMS faculty spoke to many vendors and industry associations about their continued support for the school, while promoting the resources and opportunities offered at RIT, including the Printing Applications Lab.

SMS looks forward to participation in other industry events in the coming months, including the TAGA and DSCOOP conferences in the spring, the Graphic Communications Education Association conference in the summer and PRINT 19, to be held next October in Chicago.