From the NTID President's Office - May 2024

Submitted by Nancy Popolizio

Join me in congratulating the following students being recognized for their academic achievements:

• Academic Achievement Award – Connor Paige Concz Walter, MSSE
• Academic Achievement Award – Rahul Kumar Yadav, applied computer technology
• Outstanding Graduating Student Award – Martin Lopez, mechatronics engineering technology
• NTID Commencement Speaker – Taylor Lynn Parides, bachelor’s degree in interpreting
• Undergraduate College Delegate for NTID – Alexis J. Wathan, laboratory science technology
• Graduate College Delegate for NTID – Kenton DeMario Myers, MS Health Care Interpretation

Submitted by Rick Postl

Student recruitment is everyone’s job, whether a faculty or staff member, interacting with students, alumni, friends or relatives – we never know the impression we make as members of the RIT/NTID community. Brand identity and positioning require mindful communication in the world of admissions, marketing, and multimedia. I encourage all of us to exercise mindful communication when talking with the general public, especially incoming students and families, about RIT and NTID. Language can be flexible for internal communication between colleagues, but it’s important to remember to communicate basic facts about who we are.

RIT is composed of nine colleges, and international campuses in Croatia, Dubai and Kosovo. NTID is one of the nine RIT colleges on the Henrietta campus. All students are RIT students studying in one of RIT’s colleges, including NTID. Please avoid confusing language such as saying that students may begin at NTID and transfer to RIT because NTID is RIT. Likewise, there is no “here” and “over there.”

NTID is a source of pride for all of us. We want to showcase NTID front and center. Word your language to show NTID and all of the colleges of RIT complement each other.

Submitted by Todd Pagano

The Seventh Annual NTID Student Research Fair was Friday, April 12, in Rosica Hall. Under the guidance of RIT/NTID faculty, more than 30 student researchers presented over 20 posters across multiple disciplines.

Thank you to all of the wonderful student researchers, their dedicated faculty mentors, and everyone who attended in support of the students at this exciting event. Also, thank you to the planning committee: Todd Pagano, Hope Williams, Laurie Furibondo, Jessica Contreras, and Jorge Samper. For a complete list of poster presentations and abstracts, and to learn about funding opportunities to support NTID student researchers, please visit the website.

Submitted by Chris Knigga

There now are Automated External Defibrillator (AED) stations within NTID facilities. These AED stations are strategically placed to ensure quick access in the event of a medical emergency.

Please take note of the following locations:

• Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall:
  • Location: Lower level of the North stairwell
• CSD Student Development Center:
  • Location: North vestibule near the elevator
• Rosica Hall:
  • Location: First floor near the restrooms
• Hugh L. Carey Hall
  • Location: First floor near the restrooms

These AED stations are equipped with life-saving devices that can be used in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. In case of an emergency, it is important to remain calm and follow the instructions provided with the AED.

I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the locations of these AED stations and to inform others within your respective departments. Additionally, if you notice any issues with the AED equipment or have any questions regarding their use, please reach out to the facilities management team. More information here.

Submitted by Linda Bryant

During LBJ’s second-floor renovation, the NLC will be temporarily relocated to 50B A121—the tunnels under Peterson Hall between LBJ and CSD. Although smaller than the current location, we will still provide our signature student academic support by offering 12 PC and four Mac workstations, resources for loan, free printing, group study spaces, the Pearson Vue Test Center, and a high-tech video recording lab. Please visit us in our temporary location in August 2024!

Note: Due to the move, the Pearson Vue Test Center will not be available this summer.

Submitted by Charles McFadden

NTID’s Career Exploration Series (CES) offered a series of engaging virtual webinars for students in grades 9-12 this year, covering diverse career topics with hands-on STEM activities and insights into related RIT/NTID degree programs. Four of the last five CES sessions have drawn more than 300 students.

• January 25 – ASL Science Safari: Navigating the World of Scientific Signs (Marguerite Carrillo)
• February 22 – Why Bridges Use I-beams, but Corn Stalks are Round (Marriner Merrill)
• March 19 – Solar Eclipse (Jason Nordhaus)
• March 21 – Animation/Motion Graphics through Illustration and Technology (Ernie Roszkowski)
• April 11 – Blood and Rh Factor Typing (Liz Ayers)

In the coming weeks and months, the Outreach team will conduct or host several pre-college programs. We are anticipating as many as 500 students coming through these programs.

• May
  • STEM Trivia
  • Tiger Gaming League – eSports National Tournament
  • Deaf Chess
  • Youth Canada Tournament for the Deaf
• June
  • Pre-ETS in California and Illinois
  • STEM programs at AMPHL conference
• July
  • Explore your Future
  • Financial Wizards
  • Advanced Tech Careers
  • Health Care Careers Exploration
  • Tech Tigers

Submitted by Peter Hauser

Jessica Contreras has accepted a new role as a research assistant professor in the NTID Research Center on Culture and Language. She started on April 1.

If you have an email that you want to have sent to all NTID faculty, staff, and/or students, please send the following to Kimberly Prescott kakfnd@rit.edu: 

1. A Word document containing all of the text for your email. 
2. Any images or graphics that should be included in .jpg or .png format. 
3. Image descriptions to ensure that any images or graphics are accessible. 

(Note: get more information about image descriptions.)

Kimberly will send your email to your desired audience (NTID faculty, staff, and/or students) using the RITMail system.

Please note that due to the volume of requests, you should submit your email content to Kimberly as far in advance as possible and specify the date you would like the email to be sent.

If you have questions, please contact Kimberly for more information.

Submitted by Maria Ocasio

Join me in welcoming the newest members of NTID faculty and staff, and congratulate those who have transferred to other positions:

New hires:

• Nicole DelVesco – senior staff specialist, Academic Affairs
• Alex Jones – program coordinator, STEM Academy/Transition Services
• Margaret Renteria, senior staff assistant, Transition Services
• Baby Ruth Elvina Reyes, non-tenure track faculty, MSSE

Transfers:

• Jessica Contreras, research faculty, new position within the Center for Culture and Language
• Barbara Sinclair, senior staff specialist, new position within Communication Studies and Services

• Thank you to everyone who exhibited, volunteered, and attended Imagine RIT April 27. As always, it is impressive to see the commitment of our faculty, staff and students.
• Thank you to our Bachelor of Science in Interpreting students along with faculty Danny Maffia and others, who participated in the fourth Deaf Day of Play at the Strong National Museum of Play April 13.
• Hands waving to all of the BSI Practicum students who have provided pro bono community interpreting services.
• Join me in congratulating Dr. Kaitlin Stack Whitney, who has been awarded the 2024-2025 Dodge Grant for her project “Assessing ableism in campus biology textbooks and teaching materials.” Stack Whitney will receive $1,000 to provide funding for student assistance, equipment, and supplies.

• RIT President David Munson announces plans to step down in 2025
• National Technical Institute for the Deaf Will Receive $100,000 Grant from ... - BroadwayWorld
• A New Campus Hub That Fuses Arts and Tech Education - Bloomberg
• RIT/NTID to receive $100k grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
• Scouten Internship Scholarship Award to Alabama Teacher of the Deaf Alexandria Ried
• RIT/NTID business alum has a recipe for success in entrepreneurship and finance
• Deaf Day of Play at Strong Museum fostered community engagement - WXXI News
• Deaf Day of Play at Strong National Museum of Play - WHEC.com
• Strong Museum commemorates National Deaf History Month - 13WHAM
• Strong Museums’ Deaf Day of Play highlights inclusivity - Spectrum News
• Spectrum pilot program using ASL interpreters at some Rochester stores to help deaf customers-WROC  
• ASL pilot program in Spectrum stores – RBJ (subscriber access)
• The importance of Deaf Culture – Healthy Hearing
• Pilot ASL program testing in Rochester – Democrat & Chronicle