News by Topic: Women

Rochester has a proud history of breaking barriers and fighting for social change. Susan B. Anthony and Anna Murray Douglass were Rochesterians and our community continues to celebrate their social contributions. RIT upholds a tradition of social equity by supporting female students with a host of clubs and organizations, as well as community resources, that provide platforms for meaningful discussion centering on feminine social justice.

  • February 1, 2023

    college student posing in front of a wall of National Geographic magazine covers.

    Finding a future profession

    Fourth-year student Anna Pasquantonio has always loved National Geographic and has fond memories of collecting animal trading cards from the National Geographic Kids magazine. Pasquantonio’s summer 2022 internship experience at the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., helped turn a life-long interest into a possible career.

  • February 1, 2023

    man presenting at the front of a room.

    Community members commit to diversity and inclusion

    People from across the university are helping RIT make substantial progress on the initiatives laid out in the Action Plan for Race and Ethnicity. Launched in July 2021, the plan unveiled an extensive series of initiatives designed to make RIT more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

  • January 9, 2023

    person working in a studio surrounded by metalworking tools and supplies.

    MBA student uses experience at Shop One to help grow her own business

    Some people categorize themselves as right-brained or left-brained when describing what they excel at—whether they are more analytical and practical, or more creative and artistic. Both sides have their value, and Maddy Schoenfeld ’20 (metals and jewelry design) believes that combining the analytical and creative can elevate a small business.

  • January 9, 2023

    four esports students posing like an album cover.

    Building an esports community

    Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are engaging in electronic sports, called esports. It’s a billion dollar industry, where fans watch as their favorite professional and amateur players take each other on in some of the most popular video games. Since starting an esports club in 2016, RIT has become one of the nation’s largest and best collegiate esports programs.

  • January 9, 2023

    a baboon sitting.

    Teaching STEM by playing with primates

    Caroline DeLong, professor and undergraduate program director of psychology, and a team of researchers at RIT and Carnegie Mellon University are exploring the idea of engaging children with STEM skills through the lens of interacting with animals. They are working with a group of olive baboons at Rochester’s Seneca Park Zoo.

  • January 9, 2023

    mosaic of five images of person with a tablet in a remote area, person with an off-road vehicle, person singing, person in a lab, and person with a leafy plant.

    Staying busy between semesters

    During the 15 weeks between spring and fall semester, RIT students are finding ways to embrace new challenges. Some are taking the stage and performing. Others are winning club championships. For many, summer is a time to get work experience and participate in research projects, traveling abroad, and helping others while pursuing their passions.

  • January 9, 2023

    five women posing for a photo against a white backdrop.

    Pursuing the promise of Title IX

    Fifty years ago, Title IX set the stage for change. But the reason why RIT now has more women faculty, administrators, coaches, and exemplary students is that women acted. Prior generations of women invested their careers to make RIT a better version of itself, including winning two transformative grants from the National Science Foundation focused on gender equity.

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