Three RIT alumni join the university’s Board of Trustees

Rochester, New York – Rochester Institute of Technology is expanding the experience and expertise guiding its future with the appointment of three distinguished alumni to its Board of Trustees. The university has selected Chris Estrin, Bradley J. Fluke, and Amy Zhen, all graduates of RIT, to join the board, bringing decades of leadership across accessibility, technology, engineering, business, and commercial real estate.

The appointments reinforce the university’s commitment to drawing on the accomplishments of alumni who have remained closely connected to RIT while building influential careers in their respective industries. Each of the new trustees has also demonstrated a long history of supporting the university through mentorship, philanthropy, and volunteer service.

Chris Estrin, a 1994 graduate in social work from RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), has devoted much of his professional life to improving communication access and expanding opportunities for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. As chief experience officer for ZP Better Together, Estrin oversees initiatives focused on customer experience, marketing, and service delivery, continuing work that has had a lasting impact since he joined the company and its predecessor, ZVRS, in 2007.

During his tenure, Estrin has helped open doors for more than 100 NTID students and graduates by creating employment opportunities while also playing a central role in launching NTID’s Next Big Idea entrepreneurship competition. His efforts have strengthened the relationship between industry and education, encouraging innovation among students preparing to enter the workforce.

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Estrin’s ties to RIT stretch back more than 30 years. He has served on the NTID Foundation Board since 2009 and remains an active member of the university’s Sentinel Society. His volunteer work has included co-chairing NTID’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, and his dedication has been recognized through several honors, including RIT’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2019 and the NTID Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2009.

His commitment to future generations of students extends beyond volunteer service. Together with his family, Estrin established the Plough-Estrin Memorial Endowed Scholarship, providing financial support for deaf students pursuing their education at RIT. Outside the university, he also serves as chair of Bridges Oregon and vice president of the National Association of the Deaf, continuing his advocacy for accessibility and inclusion.

Joining Estrin on the Board of Trustees is Bradley J. Fluke, a 1984 graduate in electrical engineering whose professional career spans more than three decades in the semiconductor industry. Throughout his career, Fluke held leadership positions at several prominent technology companies, including Analog Devices, Silicon Laboratories, Javelin Semiconductor, and Cirrus Logic, where he concluded his career as general manager before retiring in 2020.

Fluke has remained deeply engaged with RIT over the years. He has contributed to university leadership through the President’s Roundtable, the Kate Gleason College of Engineering National Council, and multiple advisory boards supporting engineering education.

His philanthropic support has also left a visible mark on campus. A major gift from Fluke helped fund renovations within Gleason Hall, leading to the creation of the Bradley J. Fluke ’84 Concourse in 2025. Earlier, in 2012, he was recognized with the Kate Gleason College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award in acknowledgment of both his professional success and dedication to the university.

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Beyond his involvement with RIT, Fluke has shared his expertise with nonprofit organizations in the Austin, Texas, area, serving on advisory and governing boards that focus on education and youth development.

The third new trustee, Amy Zhen, graduated from RIT in 2010 with a degree in applied science and technology. She has established herself as a respected leader in New York City’s competitive commercial real estate market and currently serves as executive managing director at Cushman & Wakefield.

Zhen has built a reputation for strategic business development and office and retail leasing. Before joining Cushman & Wakefield, she served as executive vice president at JLL, where she became one of the company’s leading national revenue generators.

Her relationship with RIT has remained strong since graduation. Zhen is an active member of the President’s Roundtable and was among the founding members of the university’s Sentinel Society. She also contributes to the Metro New York City Regional Council, helping strengthen alumni engagement and support for the institution.

Outside the university, Zhen dedicates time to several nonprofit organizations, including Shoe4Africa and the National Dance Institute, reflecting a commitment to community service alongside her business leadership.

With the addition of Estrin, Fluke, and Zhen, Rochester Institute of Technology welcomes three accomplished alumni whose careers span a wide range of industries while sharing a common dedication to advancing education, innovation, and service. Their combined experience is expected to strengthen the Board of Trustees as the university continues shaping its academic mission and preparing students for success in an increasingly dynamic global workforce.