[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF THE CAREER AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF DR. ALBERT J. SIMONE

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 7, 2007

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
achievements of a distinguished academic who I am privileged to call my 
friend, Dr. Albert J. Simone. Dr. Simone has served as the president of 
Rochester Institute of Technology since September 1, 1992, and during 
that time I have had the pleasure of working with him as he advanced 
the university's reputation as a leading career-oriented institution. 
He is retiring his post this year, and his vision and leadership will 
be sorely missed.
  Before taking the helm at RIT, Dr. Simone served as president of the 
University of Hawaii System and chancellor of the University of Hawaii 
at Manoa. He also taught at several well-respected institutions for 
higher education, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
Tufts University, Northeastern University, Boston College, Boston 
University, University of Cincinnati, and the University of Hawaii. But 
his achievements go far beyond administration and instruction.
  Dr. Simone has authored countless publications, including books and 
journal articles on the application of mathematics, statistics, and 
computers to economics and business. He is a founding editor of 
Decision Sciences and is a past president and fellow of the Institute 
of Decision Sciences. And, although he is retiring, he will continue to 
make contributions to academia as he is currently in the process of 
collecting data for a book he will be writing on higher education.
  A true trailblazer, Dr. Simone was the first American university 
president to officially visit North Korea, Vietnam, and Vladivostok 
when these regions were closed to the United States except for cultural 
and educational exchange. He oversaw the launch of three Ph.D. programs 
at RIT in the areas of microsystems engineering, computing and 
information sciences, and color science. And, under his stewardship, 
six bachelor's degree programs have been added to the university's 
offerings, including programs in information technology, software 
engineering, chemistry and polymer chemistry, biochemistry, advertising 
and public relations, and new media publishing. These new programs 
represent the university's understanding of the needs of the community 
outside of it, and help distinguish the city of Rochester as a center 
for innovation and entrepreneurship.
  Dr. Simone led RIT's largest capital campaign, raising $310 million 
which enabled the university to add over 210 new scholarships, name 
three colleges, add seven new endowed professorships, build nine new 
campus facilities, add $90 million in new applied research initiatives, 
and add $34 to the RIT endowment. This capital campaign enhanced RIT's 
reputation, made college education more accessible for more students, 
and gave students and faculty better resources to pursue their academic 
endeavors.
  Thanks to Dr. Simone and the programs he has cultivated at RIT, the 
university has become a strong partner in regional economic development 
efforts. His endeavors have consistently reflected his belief that the 
`` `R' in RIT means something.'' Aside from creating academic programs 
at the university to address the business needs of the Rochester and 
the surrounding region, Dr. Simone served as chairman of the board of 
the Greater Rochester Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and currently 
serves on the boards of the Rochester Business Alliance, the Center for 
Government Research, and the Finger Lakes Partnership for the WIRED 
initiative. His involvement in these and countless other community 
organizations has benefited not only the organizations themselves, but 
also the university and its students by establishing important 
networking opportunities and using the knowledge from those 
relationships to inform the direction of the university.
  Dr. Simone has been recognized by several organizations throughout 
western New York and the Nation for his outstanding leadership and 
community involvement. He was the recipient of the Entrepreneurial 
American Leadership Award from Partners for Livable Communities--2006, 
the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County Racial Justice Award--2005, the 
Rochester International Council International Citizen Award--2004, the 
National Association of Student Affairs Professionals President's 
Award--2001, and the Rochester Business Alliance Civic Medal among 
many, many others.
  RIT and the community surrounding it owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. 
Simone, and I am honored today to have the opportunity to pay tribute 
to his service. His legacy will live on at RIT, and I look forward to 
seeing the university continue to flourish. I wish Dr. Simone and his 
wife Carolie, their four children, and five grandchildren the best 
during his retirement.

                          ____________________