From the NTID President's Office - September

September 2022

Fall semester is in full swing with many events and activities that are truly bringing the campus back to life. Both on and off campus, in the classroom and in clubs and organizations, RIT/NTID’s vibrant academic and extracurricular life is helping students develop knowledge, leadership, and memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for being such an instrumental part of their journey.

Gerry

Archives

Submitted by Heather Eaggleston

The federal fiscal year (FY) ends on September 30, 2022, and with it, NTID’s fiscal year 2022 funding ($88.5M). Funding for FY 2023, which begins on October 1, 2022, has not yet passed Congress. Before October 1, Congress is expected to pass a Continuing Resolution, or CR, that will fund federal programs, including NTID, at the same FY 2022 funding levels (with a few possible exceptions) until some date in December. Depending on what happens in the mid-term elections and other factors, Congress could make decisions on FY 2023 funding in December before the new Congress is sworn in or wait until after the new Congress is sworn in and make FY 2023 funding decisions in early 2023. We will have to wait and see. For now, we anticipate a CR to maintain our funding at the FY 2022 level for the next few months.

Regarding mid-term elections, RIT’s ROAR the Vote committee, led by RIT’s Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (CLCE), is ramping up for November. ROAR the Vote supports students’ involvement in electoral politics by helping ensure that students understand the voting process—including voter registration and absentee ballots as well as the importance of voting in local, state, and national elections. The committee itself is looking for ways to grow intentionally to be as inclusive and meaningful as possible, with meetings every other week. The committee also will work to recruit and train student volunteers who will help register and remind their peers to vote. All of ROAR the Vote’s activities are non-partisan. If you are curious about joining the committee or want to highlight ROAR the Vote activities with your students, please contact Heather Eaggleston.

Submitted by John Macko

The NTID Career Fair is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6, 12:30 - 4:00 p.m. We are expecting 35 employers to attend. The career fair is by invitation only for employers who are actively hiring and have positions available.

• Amy Stornello has joined NCCC as a full-time senior employment advisor, supporting science students. Amy has more than 22 years of professional experience at RIT and NTID and collaborates very well with students, employers, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and VR counselors—the multitude of individuals with whom NC3 works. We are happy to have Amy on our team.
• Beth Karbowski, Ernie Roszkowski and John Macko met with Katie White, director of accountability at Initiative, to explore an employer partnership with RIT/NTID. Katie is a graduate of RIT (Class of 2003) and has since had a rewarding career in media advertising. Katie left the meeting inspired and impressed with NTID.
• Dawn Lucas and Amy Stornello will present Cultivating a Culture of Employment: Fostering Career Success through Early Interactions and Collaborations at the Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness (SERID) conference on Friday, Oct. 14.
• Regina Kiperman, Sophie Powell, Amy Stornello, and Beth Karbowski went to Professional Development’s Enneagram training with St. John Fisher University’s Career Services Team on Aug. 25.
• Beth Karbowski recently started her PhD in Global Leadership at St. Mary of the Woods College.
• Miranda Harms celebrated her one-year anniversary with NC3 on Sept. 1. We are fortunate to have her on our team, and she is grateful for the opportunity to represent RIT/NTID.
• Pam Christopher is coordinating the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP).
  • WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.
  • Students should contact Pam Christopher by Oct. 13 to register.

As director of NTID’s Student Life Team, Albert brings a positive—and youthful—energy to his work.

1. What is the best part of your work? The students are the best part of my work! I love providing RIT/NTID students with the guidance and support that will help them grow professionally. The SLT is a place where I want RIT/NTID students to feel welcomed and supported.

2. What would surprise people to learn about you? Two things that people may not realize are: 1) My personality is still the same as when I was an NTID student—and I am the Director of Student Life Team; and 2) I used to work as a Cultural Peer Mentor under the Multicultural Program in the Department of Human Development when I was an NTID student (a long time ago!). I decided to come back to work with the SLT (formerly Department of Human Development) again in 2017.

3. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I have always loved running my entire life. I also enjoy spending time with my wife, Michelle, two dogs and four cats, and watching one of my favorite movies on Turner Classic Movies.

This fourth-year ASLIE student from Staten Island, New York, enjoys her fellow students and can’t turn down a good book conversation.

1. What is the best part of your major? The best thing about my major is the understanding and camaraderie that comes with a small group of us going through the program together. With about 30-40 students in our graduating class, we all get to know each other pretty well, we are always willing to help each other out (both with program related concerns and personal ones), and we enjoy being around each other. I love learning ASL and about the Deaf community, but it does not mean much without others to discuss content with. I appreciate my cohort for their support as I have gone through this program and needed assistance numerous times. 

2. What would surprise people to learn about you? It would surprise people to know that one of my dream fields of interpreting is performance, yet I have never been involved with theater growing up. I do not know how to act, I do not like to dance, and I do not really know how to express myself visually (yet). I have always appreciated theater for what it is, but never felt the desire to be a part of it. Until now, that is. I am taking classes to learn how to get out of my comfort zone, use my body language to communicate, and how to take on the role of different characters. My first time ever being involved with theater was three years ago when I was a freshman, and I worked backstage on NTID’s production of “Dial M for Murder." 

3. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I love to read whenever I get the chance. I am fascinated by fantasy stories—how completely different worlds can exist within the pages of our own, and how one person has the capacity to create something never seen before. I can talk about the books I have read for hours. 

Help boost enrollment in your academic department’s programs. The Communications, Marketing, and Multimedia Services Department is updating photos and videos for all academic departments and needs your help. Images and videos will be shared electronically and in print publications with prospective students and their families.

We will be shooting general classroom lectures as well as students interacting with each other, with faculty members, and with equipment (hands-on activities) that best represent the variety of programs your department offers. To schedule, contact Ilene Avallone with the name of the course, instructor name, and days and times offered.