Alexis Rich

Alexis Rich serves as a Senior Lecturer in Packaging Science at Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Engineering Technology, where she manages both the Packaging Dynamics Lab and Packaging Materials Lab while teaching undergraduate and graduate courses across packaging disciplines.

Her educational credentials include:

• MS from Rochester Institute of Technology
• ME in Sustainable Engineering from RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Rich's research integrates sustainable engineering principles with practical packaging systems, focusing on material optimization, FDA regulatory validation, and cost-efficient distribution solutions. She directs third-party testing for hundreds of industry clients through the Packaging Dynamics Lab, emphasizing circular economy approaches in packaging design and waste reduction.

Her teaching portfolio spans foundational materials science (PACK-212), distribution engineering (PACK-421), and advanced sustainability courses (PACK-530/730), where she mentors student researchers through PACK-599/797 projects. Currently pursuing a part-time PhD in GIS Sustainability, she oversees a team of over a dozen student lab technicians while collaborating with corporate partners on real-world packaging validation studies.

Laboratory operations focus on year-round package testing for physical protection, materials conservation, and regulatory compliance, directly influencing sustainable packaging implementations for diverse product categories across global supply chains.