University News

RIT has solidified its presence in Los Angeles through a study-away experience focused on the entertainment industry.

The annual Futurists Symposium, featuring a unique collection of the university’s alumni innovators, spotlights panelists highlighting their expertise on a variety of topics. The event begins at 4 p.m. Friday in Ingle Auditorium.

By leaning into their authentic approach to the craft, Sean Malony ’12 (film and animation), Max Lopez ’12 (film and animation), and Cami Kwan ’15 (film and animation) carved out their niche in the industry.

If festivalgoers have trouble exploring the more than 430 exhibits at this year’s Imagine RIT, they can now enlist the help of AI by using the Imagine RIT Bot—a generative AI chatbot that’s like ChatGPT with a focus on answering questions about the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival.

This is the first semester RIT in NYC was offered, and nine students jumped at the opportunity to gain work experience through internships, take in-person classes tailored to the program, and enjoy excursions around one of the largest creative industry landscapes on the East Coast.

RIT’s 10th president will be remembered for many things after he retires June 30—construction of the SHED, completion of the 2025 Strategic Plan, creation of the Performing Arts Scholarship program. But a key piece of David Munson’s legacy is the six playful and sometimes wacky videos that welcomed students each year to RIT.

Grace Perna, a third-year biotechnology student, and Eva Reilly, a second-year biochemistry major, will use the scholarship to further their research in labs that aim to find better solutions for a range of diseases.

Anna Valentine ’17 (packaging science) is acquiring a rich package of skills as a principal scientist on the Research and Development Breakthrough Development team at Keurig Dr Pepper.