Photo Credit: Rensselaer/Mark McCarty

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a diverse community of student dreamers and doers who share several characteristics. They are drawn to science, engineering, and technology, and to disciplines ranging from architecture and business to literature. Rensselaer students love to tackle complex problems, and they have a sincere desire to improve the world. Now, a soon-to-be graduate from Rensselaer’s Class of 2009 will join the ranks of alumni students who came to Rensselaer seeking a pathway to greatness that is uniquely their own. 

Graduating with a double degree in biology and management, and motivated by her passion for social responsibility and desire to save and preserve the environment, Brittany Tofinchio, who hails from Shelton, Conn., says she is equipped to make a difference in any community that she chooses to live in.  

But, the truth is that Tofinchio has been making a difference in the lives of her family, classmates, friends, community members, and strangers since birth. And throughout the years, Tofinchio always made time to talk to about her experiences growing up, especially to young girls with disabilities, as a way to encourage them and demonstrate that you “can lead a normal life.” 

“For a long time, I’ve known that you can’t take life for granted, and in anything that I choose to pursue, I am always looking to help people and let them know that despite life’s challenges, things will be fine,” Tofinchio said.

Known by many for her self-confidence, fierce determination, passion for learning, innovative approach to problem-solving, and leadership and negotiation skills, Tofinchio has never allowed the fact that she is a congenital bilateral, below-elbow amputee impede her progress. Born missing both her hands and part of her arms below the elbow, she has overcome tremendous challenges.

In preparing for the adult world and a future career, her parents — David and Laura Tofinchio — emphasized that Brittany wasn’t to be treated special due to her disability. As part of the many life lessons they taught her, they always told her that it was very important for her to be upfront at interviews regarding her abilities.  

“Many people may look at me and wonder how I write or type,” Tofinchio said. “One of the first things that I will bring up in an interview is that I am able to do everything that the job requires, and in case I do need help, I have no problem asking for it.” 

College Life and the Future
Starting classes, meeting peers, and exploring a new region can seem intimidating for any new college student. The Rensselaer undergraduate experience is one that encourages the development of innovative, educational experiences that engages all segments of the community in a process that celebrates diversity, and understands, respects, and values differences. Upon enrolling at Rensselaer, Tofinchio joined Facebook and was able to connect with her roommate and other students prior to setting foot on campus, and told them about her disability before classes started. 

To address any potential challenges that she would encounter while at Rensselaer, Tofinchio and her family contacted the disability services department on campus and coordinated a visit with Residence Life staffers to assess any potential difficulties that she might encounter. They found that only minimal adaptive changes were needed.

Also, noting that she would be using lab equipment in her biology classes, Tofinchio conceded to getting a fitted body-powered prosthesis. This allowed for some independence within the lab setting on an occasional basis, but she also worked in groups as well. Tofinchio noted that the experience also helped her to realize that working within the laboratory environment might present some challenges. To complement her interest in the sciences with more humanistic studies, she decided to also pursue a degree in management, which she felt would prepare her well for her plans to attend law school.   

 “My parents raised me to believe that there are no limits to what I can do and that I should always have confidence in myself, so I never saw the need to hide my disability,” Tofinchio said. “My family and I found ways for me to adjust and do things differently, so that I could develop my self-confidence and independence, and do things on my own.” 

For the last three years at Rensselaer, Tofinchio took up to 20 credits toward her degrees each semester. Along the way, she found time to work as an intern for the New York State Department of Enviornmental Conservation in the Office of the General Counsel. In 2008, she held a summer internship position with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in New York City with responsibilities that included reviewing and assessing grants along with planning a seminar for Watersense, a program that promotes water efficiency. A year earlier, Tofinchio worked as an intern for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration in Gloucester, Mass., in the National Marine Fisheries Service division. 

Additionally, while at Rensselaer, Tofinchio pursued a plethora of activities that included joining the Alpha Phi International Fraternity, the Rensselaer crew team, intramural soccer, and serving as a team leader for several projects in her management classes, among others.

“Brittany is a focused, driven, and professionally committed young lady who is on her way to becoming a productive member of society,” said Frank Wright, courtesy clinical assistant professor and director of the undergraduate program in the Lally School of Management & Technology, who served as Tofinchio’s adviser. 

“I have had many great opportunities in my lifetime and at Rensselaer, that have helped me to grow as a person,” Tofinchio said. “I have worked really hard, and graduating will be the greatest accomplishment for me in my life thus far. I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything.”

Commencement day will be especially poignant for Tofinchio’s parents, who’ve shared the “amazing journey” with their daughter, and her younger brother, Garrett.  “To this day, my husband and I can remember the many concerns we had from the day Brittany was born,” Laura Tofinchio said. “Little did we know that there was nothing to be worried about.”  

By all counts, Tofinchio’s academic, experiential, social, and personal experiences will help her as she embarks on the next journey in her life. Following graduation on May 16, 2009, she will head off to Pace Law School, located in White Plains, N.Y., to pursue a Juris Doctor with a concentration in environmental and international law. In the future, she hopes that the background in biology, management, and law will put her a step closer to her goal of starting a consulting business focused on helping companies to adopt green practices.