RIT surpasses $1B campaign goal 

Rochester Institute of Technology has surpassed the $1 billion goal for its Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness, with a recent $1 million gift from alumnus John Traver for an endowed professorship in the College of Art and Design putting it over the top.  

RIT will match the gift with a university fund of $2 million, for a total of $3 million in funding for the John Traver Endowed Professorship. 

Traver is the co-founder and senior principal scientist at Frame.io, a video review and collaboration platform designed to unify media assets and creative conversations in a user-friendly environment.  

The Transforming RIT blended campaign seeks support from a variety of investors, including alumni, government and corporate partners, and research foundations and agencies.  

Launched publicly in 2018, the campaign’s priorities include investing in student success, creating world class facilities, advancing research and discovery, and innovating careers of the future.  

“Together, we are transforming the future, by transforming RIT,” said David Munson, RIT president. 

Munson cited several examples of success from the campaign, including: 

• The more than $137.7 million that has been given to support scholarships and the student experience; 
• The $4.5 million gift from the Polisseni Foundation to support the construction of the Gene Polisseni Center, home to RIT’s men’s and women’s hockey programs; 
• The Saunders College of Business Challenge and expansion of Lowenthal Hall. Gifts from numerous donors, including E. Philip Saunders, have elevated Saunders College; 
• The establishment of MAGIC Spell Studios – a program and facility where RIT’s internationally ranked academic programs connect to commercialize computer gaming, film and animation and digital media projects; 
• The creation of the ESL Global Cybersecurity, and 
• Alumnus and trustee Austin McChord’s gift of $50 million that was used to help build the SHED, ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute, MAGIC, endowed professorships and support for student entrepreneurs. 

Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness continues through June 30. 

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