Robert Pearson announces his retirement after more than four decades leading RIT’s microelectronic engineering program

Rochester, New York – After more than four decades shaping the future of microelectronic engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Pearson is stepping away from the classroom, the cleanrooms, and the campus he helped build from the ground up. His story, deeply intertwined with RIT’s own journey into semiconductor education, is one of quiet persistence, deep-rooted passion, and an unshakable commitment to students, innovation, and industry. As he retires this summer, Pearson leaves behind a legacy that has not only shaped a program but also influenced generations of engineers working across the globe.

Pearson’s professional journey is, in many ways, a story of coming full circle. An RIT alumnus himself, he arrived on campus in 1976 as an electrical engineering student with athletic ambitions and a curiosity about how electronics and imaging could come together. “I started here in fall ’76 and played soccer,” Pearson recalled. “Before my first co-op I didn’t have a resume and went over to see sports information director, Roger Dykes. I made copies, sent it out, and got a co-op at Fairchild in Maine because Roger typed up my resume.”

That small but pivotal moment eventually propelled Pearson into the semiconductor industry, where his early work at Fairchild Semiconductor’s facilities in Maine and California gave him valuable industry exposure. Those real-world insights would later become the backbone of his teaching philosophy. “When I came back, I had classes with Lynn Fuller in semiconductor physics and thick film integrated circuits,” he said. “He said, ‘I’ve got some equipment here, do you want to try to make some transistors? Just come in and start working. But you’ve got to write it up as lab reports.’”

That hands-on experimentation—fabricating photo masks, capacitors, solar cells, and transistors—culminated in a master’s thesis that would later be integrated into the sophomore curriculum. “It is basically what we teach in our sophomore course, Integrated Circuit Technology now. It has survived the test of time.”

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Pearson officially transitioned from student to professor in 1983. While visiting RIT during a Thanksgiving trip, he stopped by the newly launched microelectronic engineering program. Founder Lynn Fuller offered him a position on the spot. “‘I don’t have any faculty—it’s just me and 60 freshmen. Would you like to be a teacher?’” Pearson remembered Fuller saying. “‘When?’ I asked. He said, ‘January.’ So I went back to Maine, quit my job and moved back home with my wife.”

That moment marked the beginning of what would become a monumental career. Teaching initially took place in just a few crowded rooms on the third floor of the engineering building. But Pearson was undeterred. “People were interested in the semiconductor field, and the country was very much interested in re-shoring—just like now.” With Fuller leading the charge, the program secured funding for a dedicated facility. “By 1985, we were ready to open the building, and who do we invite—Jack Kilby, inventor of the integrated circuit. And we gave him an honorary Ph.D. even before he was awarded the Nobel Prize.”

Over the decades, Pearson played a key role in growing the program into what is now widely considered one of the most respected undergraduate microelectronic engineering programs in the country. He credits much of its success to strong ties with industry and the quality of students. “If they found they were getting good hires from RIT, and it was helping them, they did their best to encourage us,” Pearson said of industry partners. “That kept us on track for teaching what they wanted.”

While the tools and techniques of the semiconductor world have evolved dramatically, Pearson says one thing hasn’t changed: the drive of RIT students. “The students were eager, and they worked hard. They still do. Our alumni said their careers took off because of RIT. They traveled internationally, managed big departments and projects, started their own companies. It just amazes me what all our students have done.”

Pearson’s career wasn’t confined to the RIT campus. For 14 years, he took his talents to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he developed a microelectronic engineering program. It was a challenging yet eye-opening experience. “It’s interesting that people thought they could do what RIT did, like it was no big deal, and they could not. The uniqueness of this program is immense.” He returned to RIT in 2003 and became program director in 2008, guiding the department through new phases of growth, change, and challenge.

Outside of teaching, Pearson made his mark in academic and professional circles. “I’ve been a steering committee member of two large conferences—the University Industry Government Microelectronic Symposium since 1985 and the Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference (founded by Lynn Fuller) since 1992.” His involvement wasn’t just organizational; he also documented the history of both conferences. “It was good advertising for our programs at RIT and what we are doing. It earned us the respect of other universities, and I’m very proud of that.”

In 2023, Pearson was recognized with the prestigious IEEE Outstanding Teaching Award, a moment that held special meaning. “Academically, winning the IEEE Outstanding Teaching Award in 2023 was great and I’m proud that Ivan Puchades, a former student and now an RIT engineering faculty member, nominated me for that.”

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Throughout his tenure, Pearson never lost sight of the importance of helping the next generation. He played an instrumental role in establishing three scholarship funds to support microelectronic engineering students and is already thinking about how to do more. “I’ve also been involved in the funding and creation of three different RIT scholarship awards for our microelectronic engineering students, and I’d like to start some more.”

As he turns the page to retirement, Pearson says he’s looking forward to a simpler pace—one that includes more time outdoors, family activities, and hobbies long put on hold. “Helping coach my grandkids’ soccer teams. I’ll be doing some gardening, woodworking, I like wood carving and getting back into kayaking. I haven’t done much but now will be able to get out more and do this. I’ll have more time to ride my bike—if my knee still works—those old soccer injuries.”

Despite stepping away from teaching full-time, he admits he may not stray far from the place he’s called home for so long. “I live in Henrietta and will probably still be on campus, I can’t seem to stay away.”

Robert Pearson’s departure marks the end of a remarkable era, but his influence will live on in the labs, classrooms, and careers he helped shape. He may no longer be guiding students through transistor fabrication or leading conference sessions, but his legacy is built into the very foundation of the program he helped pioneer—a living reminder that education, when combined with passion and persistence, can ripple far beyond the walls of any one institution.