Golisano Outreach Archives Assistant

Position Highlights

The Marie Golisano Graham Outreach Archives Assistant Fellowship position supports public-facing initiatives that engage the RIT community with the

B. Thomas Golisano collection in RIT Archives. This position will be working for an eighteen-month project term under the guidance of the Innovation & Engagement Archivist.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop physical and digital exhibits related to the
  
  B. Thomas Golisano collection.
• Collaborate with RIT faculty to teach with and integrate Golisano collection materials into their classes.
• Conduct oral history projects that enhance collection interpretations and profile individuals related to the life and legacy of
  
  B. Thomas Golisano.
• Coordinate logistics for events and public programs related to the Golisano collection.
• Communicate in collaborative partnership with the Golisano Foundation to support Fellowship goals.
• Contribute to the creation of digital content that increases accessibility and engagement with the Golisano collection.
• Provide general support and perform shared responsibilities within RIT Archives; including: assisting with reference requests; project-based work; attending department meetings; updating, planning, and/or establishing departmental policies and workflows.

The Marie Golisano Graham Outreach Archives Assistant Fellowship model was recently established to honor its namesake donor’s dual commitments to long-term engagement with the

B. Thomas Golisano collection, and to supporting early-career individuals at a critical point in their professional development. Recent graduates of Library and Information Science, Museum Studies, Public History or related degree programs will have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between pursuing advanced study or entering the workforce; and gain intensive hands‑on experience in archival outreach, student‑centered advocacy within university environments, curation, and living donor relations under professional mentorship.

Blase Thomas “Tom” Golisano (b. 1941) is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader, mentor, and change‑maker for Western New York and Southwest Florida communities. In 1971, he founded Paychex, Inc., a leading national provider of payroll services for small businesses, and served as its President and CEO until his retirement in 2004.

In 1985, Golisano established the Golisano Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States supporting initiatives for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). His philanthropic contributions, both personal and through the Golisano Foundation, now exceed $1 billion, including state‑of‑the‑art healthcare facilities and educational institutions like RIT.

The

B. Thomas Golisano collection was donated to RIT Archives by his sister Marie Golisano Graham in 2015, and spans Golisano’s personal and professional lives from 1965 to present. Since 2022, the collaborative partnership between RIT Archives and the Golisano Foundation has supported dynamic outreach initiatives with the

B. Thomas Golisano collection, which continues to accrue as part of this living donor relationship.

• Monitors, organizes, and maintains library stacks to ensure accurate shelving, accessibility, and preservation of materials
• Assists with collection assessment projects, identifies duplicate items, and coordinates removal or relocation as needed
• Processes incoming donations and transfers by creating accession records, labeling materials, and ensuring proper documentation
• Updates and manages collection management systems, tracking the location, condition, and status of archival and library holdings
• Prepares materials for exhibitions,…