Keene State Safety

After nearly a decade of inspiring students in the Safety and Construction Sciences department, this week marked the final lecture and student presentations of Dr. Chris Rennix. 💛

From serving as an epidemiologist in the U.S. Navy to shaping future safety professionals at Keene State College, Dr. Rennix has dedicated his life to protecting and educating others. His stories, wisdom, humor, and mentorship have left a lasting impact on so many students and colleagues over the years.

While we may no longer hear “one last announcement” before class ends, the lessons he shared will continue far beyond the classroom walls.

Thank you, Dr. Rennix, for your years of service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to student success. Wishing you a retirement filled with adventure, relaxation, and plenty of well-deserved time doing the things you love.

Fair winds and following seas, Dr. Rennix! ⚓️🎓

Catch him speak at the Graduation Ceremony on Saturday as the Educator of the Year, and if you see him, don’t forget to congratulate Chris.

Empathy. Resilience. Respect. Compassion.

These were the values our students carried with them following today’s Workers’ Memorial event.

We were honored to welcome Dr. Gerard Ayers, Director of Occupational Health, Safety & Environment and Worker Welfare, who traveled from Melbourne, Australia to emphasize the importance of advocating for workers by influencing leadership at both organizational and governmental levels.

Rena Harrington’s powerful and deeply personal story of her son’s workplace fatality left a lasting impact on everyone in attendance. Her advocacy continues to inspire the next generation of safety professionals to “mourn the dead and fight for the living.”

This meaningful event, made possible through the efforts of Dr. Mike Behm and our ASSP Student Chapter, served as a powerful close to the semester as we head into finals week.

Thank you, Dr. Ayers and Ms. Harrington, for your time, leadership, and inspiration.

Owls on the move at Big Green 🦉💚

Today, two of our safety students got out of the classroom and onto the job site at Dartmouth! Alongside Dr. Launen and Dr. Amit, Joe and Ryan toured the construction of the Thompson Ice Hockey Arena—getting a behind-the-scenes look at real-world safety and project management in action.

From connecting with safety professionals to chatting with the project superintendent, it was a day full of learning, insight, and inspiration.

Huge thanks to for the warm welcome and for investing in the next generation of safety leaders 🙌

Undergraduate research is thriving in our department!

Yesterday, during this year’s Academic Excellence Celebration (AEC), 8 of our students presented their research work.

The topics covered Industrial Hygiene, Ergonomics, and Construction Management.

The students collected indoor and outdoor air samples, developed an original shoulders’ musculoskeletal injury risk calculator, surveyed disaster-hit communities through drone use, and explored the topic on professionalism in the safety profession.

We are grateful for the mentorship and dedication of their faculty mentors; Prof. Stephanie Carroll, Dr. Daniel Perrucci, and Dr. Lito Amit.

Congratulations to our students and their mentors! 👏🏻

TDS welcomes future Safety and Construction Sciences owls!

It’s been a busy week for our department. From the Leadership Community Meeting to our Career Fair, we are wrapping up the week with warm smiles and informational chats through our first Admitted Students’ Day today.

We thank our wonderful Student Ambassadors, faculty, future owls and their parents for showing up today.

Resume Help Nights this week and next.

Important Dates to Calendar

Important Dates to Calendar!

A well deserved recognition for one of our professors at Keene State College!

Professor Lito Amit is the kind of person people should aim to become. He leads with care, shows up for students in real ways, and brings a steady, thoughtful energy to everything he touches.

He is deeply committed to his students, and just as committed to the work behind the scenes that makes a program better. His dedication to research is real, and it shows in how he teaches, mentors, and keeps pushing our work forward.

“While he is successful in his career, it is his commitment to the community that is why he was chosen for this honor,” alongside 39 other influential young professionals in the State of NH.

Keene State is better because he is here.

Congrats, Lito!

Read the inspiring stories and backgrounds of NH Union Leader 40 Under Forty Class 2026 from the link below:

https://www.unionleader.com/union_leader_events/40_under_forty/

“A Firenze ha fatto fresco!”
(Florence has been cool!)

Becket Barlow has this to say after landing in Florence, Italy a few days ago and immersing in its beauty and culture.

As a Safety major, Beckett is currently spending his Spring semester at the Lorenzo de Medici International Institute in Florence for his Study Away program.

Like him, our students are now exploring the possibility of studying abroad and coming back with a new sense of appreciation and adventure in their college lives. Last year, another Safety student, Charles Sette made the coastal region of Spain his temporarily home at the University of Alicante.

Divertiti, Beckett! 😊