Engineering Alumni
Engineering Alumni
Engineering Alumni Stories
Erin Crowley Ellis '08
Erin Crowley Ellis BS ’08, an RIT mechanical engineering alumna, and her father, Michael Crowley launched a high-tech start-up, Sanatela Medical Solutions in Rochester, and developed a new tissue engineering system. Using the new system, researchers and clinicians can discover the effectiveness of chemotherapy in a cellular environment before using the therapies on individuals.
Michael Oshetski ’03
Michael Oshetski ’03 (electrical engineering) is the founder and chief executive officer of Micatu Inc. Micatu donated its groundbreaking Gridview optical sensors to Rochester Institute of Technology for a new campus learning lab. The equipment allows faculty and students to monitor renewable integration and manage the addition of distributed energy resources onto the campus microgrid. By giving students practical, hands-on experience with the campus microgrid, RIT’s outdoor lab encourages students to pursue careers in the electric industry—a critical initiative as utilities struggle with replacing a large number of retiring employees, along with the knowledge and experience they have contributed over several decades.
John McNicholl '21
John McNicholl, '21 (BS industrial engineering, MS engineering management) from Commack, NY, has launched a new game —Deceiver— that is now available on Amazon and at Shop One on campus and was recently incorporated into RIT’s New Student Orientation program as an icebreaker. McNicholl earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master’s in engineering management as part of RIT’s dual degree program.
Distinguished Alumni
2021: Michelle S. Spina ’91
Dr. Michelle Spina has over 20 years of technological leadership and strong interpersonal skills with deep management experience in both commercial and Department of Defense markets.
2019: Clayton P. Turner '90
Clayton Turner is the director at NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. Langley, founded in 1917, is the nation’s first civilian aeronautical research facility and NASA’s first field center.
2018: Michael G. Field '86
Michael G. Field is chief executive officer for The Raymond Corporation, which includes the operations, sales and marketing, engineering and administrative functions at Raymond.
2017: Paul Kayser '93
Paul Kayser has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Pretium Packaging, LLC, a leading supplier of custom rigid plastic packaging solutions, since February 2016.
2016: Wayne Plewniak ’83
Service and volunteerism is just a way of life for this year's Distinguished Alumnus from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, Wayne Plewniak ’83.
