2021 President’s Report
EXCELLENCE AND
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Letter From the President 1 Education 2 Research 4 Community 6 Expenses 8 Revenues and Enrollment 9 Fundraising 10 Milestones 12 NJIT Leadership 16 Rankings and Recognition Inside Back Cover
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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fter more than a year of mostly virtual interaction, it was immensely gratifying to welcome the NJIT community back to campus; in person, for the fall 2021 semester. Thanks to our students, faculty and staff, who followed our COVID-19 protocols, we were able to open our classrooms and offices to capacity and once again enjoy a vibrant and active campus. Last year also saw NJIT continue to advance and enhance our rigorous and highly regarded STEM education and research initiatives. With the single largest gift in the university’s history, from the Paul V. Profeta Foundation, Inc., we launched new centers for two burgeoning fields: real estate technology and entrepreneurship and innovation. We also partnered domestically and abroad with other colleges and universities, most notably with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel to create the Institute for Future Technologies in New Jersey, which is dedicated to expanding the tech sector in the tristate region. And, in addition to introducing new degree and certificate programs — such as in the ever-growing disciplines of data science and financial technology, or FinTech — we expanded our research capabilities with new laboratories and facilities. NJIT also was honored to join the new Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Northeast Hub, funded by a $15 million National Science Foundation grant, led by Princeton University and designed to help faculty and students convert federally sponsored research into successful businesses. Many well-respected publications and organizations lauded NJIT in 2021. U.S. News & World Report cited NJIT among the Top 50 Public Universities Nationally and as a Best Global University. The Princeton Review named us both a “Best Value College” and one of the country’s “Best 387 Colleges.” And Forbes, which had already ranked us No.1 nationally for student upward economic mobility, also acknowledged us for being No. 1 in New Jersey and No. 14 nationally among public universities for early-career salaries of graduates. We remained a Carnegie Classification® R1 university as well, a designation reserved for institutions with “Very High Research Activity.” In 2021, for the second straight year, NJIT broke its record for first-year student applications with more than 11,250 aspiring Highlanders. Our incoming class was also our largest and most diverse to date, with over 1,400 students, 29% of them female and those who identify as Black or Hispanic nearly doubling since 2016. Increasing diversity is paramount to NJIT, and toward this end we established a Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Council to help us enroll more Hispanic and Latinx students and realize our goal of becoming a Hispanicserving institution. On a final note, this annual report message is my last as president of NJIT. I will be transitioning to “President Emeritus” for the next two years beginning this June after more than a decade of leading this wonderful institution. My proudest accomplishment as president has been steering our growth trajectory in myriad ways — in faculty and facilities, enrollment, graduation rates and research expenditures, to name just a few. My hope for the university’s future is for this growth to continue, and I look forward to welcoming President Teik C. Lim, who I am sure will start a new and exciting chapter at NJIT. n Sincerely,
Joel S. Bloom President
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2021 President’s Report 1
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E D U C AT I O N
Historic Gift Launches Real Estate, Entrepreneurship Centers
Paul V. Profeta
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JIT established two new education and research centers, focused on real estate and on entrepreneurship. Both were made possible by the single largest donation in the university’s history. The gift comes from the Paul V. Profeta Foundation, Inc. Paul V. Profeta, president of the foundation and a member of NJIT’s Board of Overseers, is a real estate investor and developer with
commercial properties all over the country, a philanthropist focused on revitalizing Newark and an educator. The first-of-its-kind Profeta Real Estate Technology, Design, and Innovation Center, housed in NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management, serves as the hub for teaching, training and research related to the disruptive technologies, innovation
and novel design and construction techniques that are actively transforming the real estate field — with an emphasis on PropTech, the application of information technology and platform economics to real estate markets. The center draws on multidisciplinary expertise from faculty across the entire university. The newly formed Profeta Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship also serves as a hub, for Newarkfocused entrepreneurship initiatives that include the launch of the Newark Startup Studio, designed to cultivate and nurture historically underserved entrepreneurs from the greater Newark community and help them develop and launch sustainable companies driven by NJIT-generated intellectual property. In addition to supporting the center, the Profeta Foundation has established and endowed the Paul V. Profeta Foundation Inc. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellowship, which will provide entrepreneurship-related undergraduate scholarships, summer internships and a Profeta Fellows program. n
120+ degree programs at NJIT New Degrees and Department Answer Marketplace Demand
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n fall 2021, NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management (MTSM) added a B.S. in financial technology to its degree programs, inspired by the pressing need of corporations on Wall Street and beyond to hire a new generation of workers skilled in applying computing to commerce. FinTech, as the field is commonly known, involves software and online services that help people better use and understand finance. Crowdfunding,
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cryptocurrency, market analysis and mobile payments all fall under FinTech, which offers in-demand, well-paying jobs. In addition to traditional finance, the new major covers the theories and evolution of financial technology, so that students understand context rather than just facts. It teaches analytics, data-driven financial modeling, financial data mining and machine learning as well. MTSM also introduced a graduate certificate in IT sales and analytics, with classes on sales management, sales process and analytics, service management and legal and ethical issues. The online coursework is geared to early- to midcareer professionals
who want to break into sales, advance their skill sets or change direction, and those who complete the program can apply its 12 credits toward an MBA at MTSM. At the university’s Ying Wu College of Computing, a new Department of Data Science is instructing students in the deep, underlying technologies driving the field of data science and its broad spectrum of applications. This past fall, the department added a B.S. in data science to its degree offerings, which already included an M.S. in data science and graduate-level certificates in big data, data visualization and data mining; a Ph.D. program is soon to come. n
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Federal Grant Supports Forensic Science Initiative
From left: President Joel S. Bloom, Gov. Phil Murphy and BGU President Daniel Chamovitz at the partnership signing
Global and Local Partnerships Extend NJIT’s Reach
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he State of New Jersey, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and NJIT joined forces to create a world-class Institute for Future Technologies in New Jersey. The partnership aims to deliver bespoke cyber technologies, civil and environmental engineering education, applied research and development, and support for innovation and entrepreneurship through technological commercialization efforts. Operating out of both NJIT’s Ying Wu College of Computing satellite in Jersey City and its main campus in Newark, the institute represents the university’s latest contribution to expanding the tech sector in the tristate region, where it is the largest generator of tech talent with an annual economic impact
of $2.8 billion on New Jersey alone. BGU, for its part, gains entry into the U.S. higher education system and moves to share its valuable research and insights with students outside of Israel. NJIT also signed its 14th community college agreement. The memorandum of understanding with Hudson County Community College (HCCC) facilitates seamless transfer into the university’s Martin Tuchman School of Management for students who earn an associate degree in business administration at HCCC. At NJIT, these students have the opportunity to pursue bachelor’s degrees in business, entrepreneurship and financial technology. n
NJIT’s Forensic Science Initiative, led by the university’s Center for Pre-College Programs, will introduce the discipline to Newark high school students.
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acked by a $1.4 million U.S. Department of Education grant received in 2021, NJIT will launch a Forensic Science Initiative (FSI), led by NJIT’s Center for PreCollege Programs. The FSI will introduce Newark high schoolers to forensic science as a pathway to college and STEM education, as well as help qualify educators to teach the discipline at their own schools. Its first students will arrive this summer for a five-week intensive campus experience that features class and lab work, field research, tutoring and college preparation counseling. This fall, participants will work with a professional on a capstone research project and receive tutoring and counseling through NJIT’s TRiO programs. n
NJIT Awarded for Its Digital Transformation NJIT students attend class either in person or, via the back-wall screen, from a virtual location.
More than 11,250 students applied to enroll at NJIT for the fall 2021 semester.
NJIT Receives Record Number of First-Year Applications
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igher education technology solutions provider Ellucian honored NJIT’s digital transformation initiatives during the pandemic with a 2021 Ellucian Impact Award. The award — which recognized six institutions — celebrates visionaries who inspire others to push the boundaries of higher ed tech and innovation. Before the pandemic, NJIT created a new delivery model for certain classrooms to blur the lines between online and in-person learning experiences. When the pandemic hit, this Converged Learning Model (CLM) njit.edu
was immediately expanded to facilitate socially distanced attendance for the fall 2020 semester. The onset of the pandemic also presented opportunities to improve online service delivery and create a global campus supported by a synchronous experience like that of the CLM. As a result of these innovations, 44% of all classes were offered as part of the CLM, and more than 70% of all undergraduate students had an inperson experience that still provided social distancing for students and faculty. n
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or the second straight year, NJIT broke its record for first-year student applications, with more than 11,250. All five of NJIT’s academic colleges experienced increases, led by a 21% jump at Martin Tuchman School of Management, which eclipsed 1,000 applicants for the first time. The application surge is a multiyear trend and comes as NJIT gains national recognition for its programs, research capabilities and student outcomes, including the high-paying jobs and coveted graduate school opportunities alumni realize after graduation. n 2021 President’s Report
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RESEARCH
NJIT Joins $15M NSF Research Hub
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JIT joined other area universities as part of a new regional research hub to help faculty and students convert federally sponsored research into successful businesses. Dubbed the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Northeast Hub, it is funded by a $15 million National Science Foundation grant.
Hub members are providing entrepreneurial training, mentoring and resources to enable researchers to form startup companies that rapidly translate laboratory discoveries into breakthrough products. The objective is for members to build skills and generate opportunities among researchers from all backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in entrepreneurship, an area in which NJIT excels. The hub is one of five announced nationwide. It simplifies the federal government’s previous structure for academic technology transfer, as compelled by the American Innovation and
Competitiveness Act. NJIT has long been part of such transfer in the greater Newark area — as one of hundreds of standalone NSF I-Corps sites nationwide, and through its VentureLink small-business incubator — and now brings its expertise to the hub at the affiliate level under principal institution Princeton and partner institutions Rutgers University and the University of Delaware. Other affiliates are Delaware State University, Lehigh University, Rowan University and Temple University. Since 2014, NJIT’s NSF I-Corps site has hosted 240 faculty-student teams, a quarter of which gained additional funding to support commercialization. Diversity, equity and inclusion are equal priorities, with more than 75% of the teams in the last three years led by women or underrepresented minorities. n
140 research institutes, centers and specialized labs Institute for Data Science Aims to Democratize Supercomputing
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David Bader, distinguished professor and director of the Institute for Data Science
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rdinary people could soon have greater ability to analyze massive amounts of information, based on new algorithms and software tools being designed at NJIT with the intention to simplify access to a programming interface from data scientists at the U.S. Department of Defense. The university’s Institute for Data Science, directed by Distinguished Professor of Computer Science David Bader, received a National Science Foundation award to work toward this goal. Bader anticipates that his team’s efforts will greatly increase the user base for supercomputing, especially among women, high school students and other underrepresented groups in STEM fields that tend to have the least access to that power today. If the user base increases, they will demand even more tools, which could
cause the industry to rethink their design motivations and democratize high-end computing systems. Bader, doctoral student Oliver Alvarado Rodriguez and research scientist Zhihui Du have spent the past year extending Arkouda, the defense-derived opensource code library written in Python programming language for its front-end and Chapel compiler for its back-end. They have been building new algorithms and designing software that offers simple usability and adds capabilities for common data structures such as graphs, lists, strings and trees. While Bader says their work with Arkouda will bridge the frustrating gap between practical data science and high-performance computing technology, handling data sets that are tens of terabytes will still require a highperformance computer on the other side. As a result of his team’s efforts, however, programmers will be able to stay in Python rather than having to learn to program a supercomputer. n njit.edu
Photo: Wenda Cao, Sergey Shumko and Erika Norro, BBSO
NSF’s SOLIS Telescope to Call NJIT’s BBSO Home
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JIT’s Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research’s Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) will soon become the permanent home for the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun (SOLIS) facility — the most advanced solar telescope capable of long-term and consistent monitoring of the Sun as a whole globe. The NSF’s National
Crews pour concrete footings, the first step in the construction of a permanent home of the NSF’s SOLIS instrument at BBSO in California.
Solar Observatory (NSO), the organization that operates the SOLIS facility, and BBSO will relocate the telescope from Arizona to the observatory site stationed on California’s Big Bear Lake in the northern San Bernardino Mountains. The addition of SOLIS to Big Bear will give researchers new capabilities to more deeply investigate the long-term changes of the Sun over the course of its 11-year solar activity cycle, including explosive energy releases in the solar atmosphere, such as solar flares and other space weather events, that have the
potential to severely impact life on Earth. The arrival of SOLIS bolsters world-class observation facilities at Big Bear, which has been at the forefront of solar research since being established in 1969. BBSO is currently home to the 1.6-meter Goode Solar Telescope — the world’s largest operational solar telescope from 2008 until 2020, when NSF’s 4-meter Inouye Solar Telescope broke first light from its station in Maui, Hawaii. BBSO also hosts one of NSO’s six GONG (Global Oscillation Network Group) facilities located around the world, which provide 24/7 observations of the Sun by capturing sound waves from the star’s interior. The SOLIS facility is expected to resume full operations in 2022. Big Bear Solar Observatory will provide first-year support of SOLIS operation. n
Campus Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors Formed at NJIT
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JIT launched a campus chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), which promotes academic technology and innovation, and encourages their translation into devices and services that benefit society. The university inducted 32 faculty members and nine honorary members, including President Joel S. Bloom and Provost and Senior Executive Vice President Fadi P. Deek ’85, ’86, ’97. Chapter members must hold patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. NJIT’s chapter will advance translational research and its commercialization through campus research and development programs, grants, clubs and acceleration programs; offer invention-focused networking and educational activities; and mentor and advise faculty and student inventors on further NJIT’s National Academy of Inventors chapter welcomed its inaugural members. development of intellectual property assets. In addition, NJIT will hold events such as NAI-NJIT chapter awards and workshops, Innovation Day and the Summer Research Symposium. NAI’s Fellows Program recognizes academic inventors who have demonstrated a “prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.” NAI fellows at NJIT include Nirwan Ansari ’82, Rajesh Davé, Atam P. Dhawan, Craig Gotsman, Somenath Mitra, Yun-Qing Shi, Kamalesh Sirkar, Gordon Thomas and MengChu Zhou. n
‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Discovery Reveals New Species
Photo: NJIT and Harvard
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Researchers announced just the third-ever tardigrade fossil on record.
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hey have famously survived the vacuum of space, and even returned to life after being frozen for decades in Antarctic moss. But as hard as it is to kill the bizarre microscopic animal, the tardigrade, it is harder to find one fossilized. In a report published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, lead researchers at NJIT and Harvard University have described just the third fossil tardigrade on record — a new genus and species Paradoryphoribius chronocaribbeus gen. et sp. nov. (Pdo. chronocaribbeus), which is fully preserved in 16-million-year-old Dominican amber from the Miocene epoch. The specimen has been identified as a
relative of the modern living tardigrade superfamily, Isohypsibioidea, and represents the first tardigrade fossil recovered from the Cenozoic, the current geological era beginning 66 million years ago. Researchers say the pristine specimen is the best-imaged fossil tardigrade to date. It is deposited at the American Museum of Natural History Division of Invertebrate Zoology. Phil Barden, senior author of the study and assistant professor of biology at NJIT, describes the discovery as a “once-in-a-generation event” that will enable investigators to empirically see the tardigrade’s progression throughout the Earth’s history. n 2021 President’s Report
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COMMUNITY
New Council to Fuel Enrollment of Hispanic and Latinx Students
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JIT created a Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Council (HLLC) to propel its mission of enrolling more Hispanic
and Latinx students and achieve its goal of becoming a Hispanic-serving institution. The 11-person council — which features
leaders in business and community advocacy, including seven alumni — provides counsel and support to NJIT as it looks to increase its percentage of Hispanic and Latinx undergraduates from 20% to 25% by 2025, and thus qualify to earn the federal designation of being Hispanicserving. Council members also serve as ambassadors and advocates for NJIT, mentor STEM-oriented Hispanic and Latinx students in high schools and community colleges as an introduction to the university, and help secure gifts and grants to aid enrollment and engagement efforts. The HLLC seeks to deepen relationships with Hispanic and Latinx alumni, businesses and organizations as well. n
NJIT’s economic impact on the State of New Jersey: $2.8 billion
Sean Vroom, director of the NJIT TAB Program, and Colette Santasieri, executive director of the NJIT TAB Program, at a brownfield site
NJIT Selected to Help Communities Reclaim Brownfields
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he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chose NJIT to provide training and technical assistance to 6 2021 President’s Report
communities in EPA Region 2, which comprises New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, under the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program. Much of the assistance is for communities in underserved and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods — places where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed. This service is available to all stakeholders and comes at no cost to the communities.
The NJIT TAB Program serves as an independent resource for municipalities attempting to clean up and reclaim brownfields, helping them manage challenges such as engaging the public, interpreting technical data and reports, understanding the health impacts and risks, identifying funding and financing options, understanding environmental regulations, building partnerships and leveraging resources. The EPA noted that this program is an important part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to advancing economic opportunities and addressing environmental justice issues in disadvantaged areas. Colette Santasieri is executive director of the NJIT TAB, overseeing assistance to thousands of brownfield-challenged communities as they seek to “become more sustainable, resilient, environmentally just and economically sound.” n njit.edu
University Touted for Its Sustainability Efforts
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JIT earned both national and global recognition from the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking for its pursuit of and progress toward targets set forth by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development
Goals. The university was ranked No. 2 nationally for the goal of Decent Work and Economic Growth, which promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent
work for all. NJIT has long been recognized as a leader in economic development, especially for underserved communities, as noted by its Forbes No. 1 ranking for student upward economic mobility. The university ranked in the Top 100 globally for the goal of Affordable and Clean Energy, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. This type of work is exemplified by NJIT’s Center for Resilient Design and its microgrid resiliency initiative that helps communities understand the value and feasibility of microgrid development. Sustainability is one of four guiding themes for the university’s strategic plan, Building on a Strong Foundation—NJIT 2025. The Impact Ranking is the only global assessment of how universities live up to the U.N.’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. n
Federal Vaccination Site Hosted on NJIT Campus
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The FEMA-run vaccination site in NJIT’s Naimoli Center was the federal agency’s largest in the state.
or nearly three months in spring 2021, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) operated a much-needed COVID-19 Community Vaccination Site in NJIT’s Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility. FEMA and NJIT converted the 25,000 square feet of space into a vaccination center, a pilot of the Biden-Harris administration that, at its peak, delivered more than 6,700 inoculations in one day. The site sought to boost vaccination rates among underserved, minority communities and ultimately delivered 221,450 shots. The process of selecting the site, initiated by the City of Newark, under the N.J. Office of Emergency Management, N.J. Department of Health and Essex County, necessitated finding a location that would serve vulnerable communities based on the Centers for Disease Control’s Social Vulnerability Index. City, state and federal leaders who toured the facility included Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Gov. Phil Murphy, State Commissioner of Health Judith Persichilli, State Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill. n
NJIT Business Incubator Offers Programs to Minority Newark Residents
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hree new programs from the VentureLink arm of NJIT’s New Jersey Innovation Institute have been designed to assist minorities and underserved residents in Newark with establishing high-tech
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businesses. VentureLink is the Garden State’s largest small-business incubator. Brick City Entrepreneurship Training is a part-time boot camp that teaches the basics of building a company, whether technology-focused or traditional, while Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) is a fulltime, stipend-paying program that matches people of color or from indigenous heritage with NJIT-owned intellectual property. EIR, made possible by a significant donation from the Paul V. Profeta Foundation, Inc., and welcoming its first cohort in 2022 from among a pool of applicants, provides participants with access to workspace and entrepreneurial training and mentors, in addition to the stipend.
The third program, Newark Startup Studio, is also funded by the Profeta Foundation and is planned for 2023 as a larger version of Entrepreneur-in-Residence for any minority or underserved group. Participants will have access to the full range of VentureLink services normally reserved for startup founders from inside the NJIT community. These initiatives complement NJIT’s already robust slate of entrepreneurshipfocused offerings, which includes the National Science Foundation I-Corps Site at NJIT, New Business Model Competition, New Jersey Innovation Acceleration Center and others. n
2021 President’s Report 7
FY2021* EXPENSES $555,370
281,194
FY2020-2021 (Dollars in Thousands)
92,007
89,162
79,708
13,299
’11
’12
’13
’14
110,548
’10
106,082
’09
107,310
’08
102,851
’07
100,490
92,318
3) FY2021 total research expenditures is pending GASB 75 figures from the State.
80,000
92,893
2) FY2020 total research expenditures was re-stated post-audit.
100,000
89,557
1) FY2018 total research expenditures was re-stated post-audit. FY2018 audit was delayed until April 2019 due to delay in received GASB 75 from the State.
120,000
88,700
External
140,000
166,587
163,392
Auxiliary Enterprises
161,233
180,000 160,000
Internal
Depreciation & Change in Net Assets
152,234
(Dollars in Thousands)
Scholarships & Fellowships
130,887
2006-2021 RESEARCH EXPENDITURES
Support
Academic & Research
142,154
* FY2021 year-end financials are still pending GASB 75 information from the State. Subject to change once received.
77,580
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EXPENSES
60,000 40,000 20,000
FY2021* RESEARCH EXPENDITURE BY SOURCE $166,587
0
FY ’06
Institutional 60,952 37%
’15
’16
’17
’18(1)
’19
’20(2) ’21(3)
Federal 77,056 46%
(Dollars in Thousands)
* FY2021 total research expenditures is pending GASB 75 figures from the State.
8 2021 President’s Report
Corporate & Foundation 15,549 9%
State 13,030 8%
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FY2021* RESOURCES $555,370
207,713
FY2020-2021 (Dollars in Thousands)
104,182
96,797
* FY2021 year-end financials are still pending GASB 75 information from the State. Subject to change once received.
86,968 45,734
1) State Appropriation includes $40.4 million for Base Operations, and $57.2 million for Statesupported fringe benefits.
13,976
2) Other includes $30.2M in one-time HEERF I and HEERF II Federal Coronavirus Aid.
State Appropriations(1)
Tuition & Fees
State & Other Grants
Federal Grants
Auxiliary Enterprises
Other(2)
NJIT TOTAL OPERATING RESOURCES VS. STATE APPROPRIATIONS TOTAL REVENUES: $555,370 FY2020-2021* (Dollars in Thousands)
$451,188
Tuition, Fees and other Resources
$63,806
State-Supported Fringe Benefits
$40,376
State-Based Appropriation
560,000 520,000 480,000 440,000 400,000 360,000 320,000 280,000 240,000 200,000 160,000 120,000 80,000 40,000
Honors*
6000
’15
’16
’17
’18
’19
’20
’21
9183
’14
9084
’13
7000
Fall 2019
Fall 2020
627
2568
Fall 2018
653
Fall 2017
2724
Fall 2016
726
731
0
716
1000
2891
4000
2718
5000
2000
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’12
8000
3000
* Figures are not incremental, but rather included in Undergraduate enrollment.
’11
740
Graduate
’10
2963
Undergraduate
’09
8794
9000
’08
8532
TOTAL ENROLLMENT BREAKDOWN BY LEVEL
’07
8483
’06
8211
0
3016
* FY2021 year-end financials are still pending GASB 75 information from the State. Subject to change once received.
Fall 2021
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REVENUES AND ENROLLMENT
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FUNDRAISING
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he generosity of the NJIT community continues to inspire our faculty and students and to fuel the university’s unprecedented growth. Thanks to donations from 5,444 alumni, friends, corporate partners and foundation supporters, NJIT raised $19.2 million last year — a new record for the university. These generous philanthropic commitments represent significant and critical resources that enable us to recruit and retain the best and brightest students, regardless of their background or financial circumstances, to attract the most accomplished scholars whose pedagogy and research are pushing the frontiers of knowledge, and to purchase and maintain state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Our students, our faculty, our researchers and our facilities are what make NJIT an increasingly worldrenowned STEM-focused university. I am happy to report that, for the fourth consecutive year, a record number of NJIT alumni made gifts in support of their alma mater. These donations boosted the university’s undergraduate alumni giving rate — a metric that is used in many annual college rankings, including those published by U.S. News & World Report — to 10.8%. This number is more than double the national median for public universities. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention that NJIT’s transformation into one of our nation’s leading public polytechnic institutions has happened under the watchful eye and guiding hand of President Joel S. Bloom. With his tenure coming to an end in June 2022, I hope you will join me and the rest of the NJIT community in thanking Dr. Bloom for his 30 years of distinguished service to our university — and especially for the remarkable leadership he has provided as president since 2011. To everyone who invested in our talented and deserving students, our world-class faculty and the university as a whole during the past year, please accept my thanks for your dedication to NJIT. Together, we are sustaining the tremendous progress we have made and assuring an even more prosperous future for NJIT. Our gratitude for your generosity is deeper than ever. n
Kenneth Alexo Jr. Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations President, Foundation at NJIT
FY2021 Philanthropic Commitments to NJIT $1,000,000 or more Gerald M. Exstein ’72 Gustavus & Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation Lenda Naimoli and Vincent J. Naimoli* ’62, ’09 HON Joanne Malino and Paul V. Profeta Paul V. Profeta Foundation Vicki and Victor R. Wilford ’69 $500,000 to $999,999 Benjamin and Bernadette Aiello Compass Group North America Hope and Alfred J. Frungillo Jr. Gourmet Dining Services LLC Suzanne Kalafer and Steven B. Kalafer* ’20 HON R. Jeffrey Teller Martin Tuchman ’62 $250,000 to $499,999 Christine and Robert C. Cohen ’83, ’84, ’87 Robert English Michael Frungillo Independent Alumni of NJIT Leir Foundation, Inc. Martinson Family Foundation John H. Martinson Northeastern University
10 2021 President’s Report
Frederick W. Pflum* ’59 Somerset Patriots Baseball Team Stryker Orthopaedics Mary Ann and Richard P. Sweeney ’82 Weiss-Aug Co. Inc. Eleanor and Dieter Weissenrieder ’76 Elisabeth P. Weissenrieder-Bennis $100,000 to $249,999 AECOM Avanade, Inc. Dena and Leon K. Baptiste ’91 John Cardoni Ida A. Ciemniecki ’83 and Dennis L. Ciemniecki ’82 Francene A. and Stephen Cordes ’72 Fidelity Foundation Charles M. Forman ’72 Caren L. Freyer Valentin Guerin Barbara A. and J. Robert Hillier ’17 HON Deborah and Richard Maser ’73 Brett Newton PepsiCo American Beverage Company Pam Perna and Angelo Perna* PSEG Heba Ramzy $50,000 to $99,999 Tricia and Rolando E. Acosta Turney Baba
Theresa A. Bates BMI Rupp Foundation Norma J. Clayton ’81 Grace and Alfred A. De Seta ’84, ’86 Linda and Nicholas M. DeNichilo ’73, ’78 Jianbing Duan FreshGoGo, Inc. Matthew J. Hill ’99 Jordan Hu ’89 Barbara and George J. Kelly ’67 Jeffrey Koplik Joan Lueddeke* Sonia and Raymond J. McGowan ’64 Patricia E. Campos-Medina and Robert Medina ’75 Helen and King K. Moy ’74, ’77 National Steering Committee for CIM NJIT Graduate Student Association NJIT Student Senate Northeast CIM Patrons, Inc. Jean and Thomas C. Pedersen ’76 Prudential Foundation Robert Sydney Needham Foundation Ana Carolina and Alois J. Rupp Santander Bank Stevenson Family Fund Stefanie Stevenson and James F. Stevenson* Tuchman Foundation, Inc. Victoria Foundation, Inc. *deceased
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WHAT YOUR GIFTS SUPPORT FY2021 TOTAL GIFTS AND PLEDGES: $19.2 MILLION Campus & Facilities 1% Faculty & Programs 48%
Students 45%
Research 6%
TOTAL GIFTS AND PLEDGES FY2019-FY2021
12 10 8
$49.7 Million
6 4
ALUMNI PARTICIPATION RATES FY2019-FY2021
10.76 10%
8.12 8%
6%
4%
5.0 2019
2020
2021
Undergraduate Alumni Participation Rate Overall Alumni Participation Rate National Median for Public Universities
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MILESTONES
AAS Honors Physics Professor
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hilip Goode, distinguished research professor of physics at NJIT’s Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research, was named a 2021 Fellow of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), the leading organization of professional astronomers in North America. The fellowship is bestowed annually on select AAS members for extraordinary contributions toward enhancing and sharing humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe via “original research and publication, innovative contributions to astronomical techniques or instrumentation, significant contributions to education and public outreach and noteworthy service to astronomy and to the Society itself.” Goode was named for his “pioneering work in helioseismology and for leadership in university-based solar Philip Goode physics.” He joined 30 other researchers honored this year from across the astronomical sciences. Other NJIT faculty receiving professional society honors include Tara Alvarez, professor of biomedical engineering, American Academy of Optometry Diplomate; Julie Ancis, professor and interim chair of informatics, American Psychological Association Fellow; Treena Arinzeh, distinguished professor of biomedical engineering, National Academy of Inventors Fellow; David Bader, distinguished professor of computer science, IEEE Computer Society Sidney Fernbach Award; Zeynep Çelik, distinguished professor emerita of architecture, American Society of Architectural Historians Fellow; Atam P. Dhawan, distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering and senior vice provost for research, IEEE EMBS Award for Excellence in Biomedical Technology; Joerg Kliewer, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Fulbright Fellow; and Grace Guiling Wang, professor and associate dean for research at Ying Wu College of Computing, IEEE Fellow. n
New CFO Brings Experience in Public Finance and Budgeting
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Catherine Z. Brennan
atherine Z. Brennan joined NJIT as its new chief financial officer and senior vice president, assuming responsibility for financial management and accountability at the university and leading the offices of General Accounting, University Budgeting, Payroll, Procurement Services, Accounts Payable, Financial Systems and Innovation, Risk Management, Treasury and the Bursar. Brennan previously was deputy treasurer for the State of New Jersey. She led a team that developed the state’s annual budget and oversaw treasury responsibilities related to management of federal COVID-19 funding. Earlier in her career, Brennan held roles of increasing responsibility within the state’s Office of Legislative Services. n
Highlander Baseball and Fencing Teams Make History
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JIT’s baseball team earned the university’s athletics program its first-ever NCAA Tournament win, since moving to Division I in 2007, with a 3-2 victory over Northeastern in the 2021 Fayetteville Regional, hosted by Arkansas at Baum-Walker Stadium. Many of the players received regional honors for their accomplishments. Men’s and women’s fencing realized noteworthy success as well, finishing fourth at the 2021 NCAA Fencing Championships, hosted by Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center. With 128 points, the program earned its best-ever showing, eclipsing its 10th place finish in 2015-16. Between the two squads, the Highlanders racked up nine All-American accolades. Both programs were honored by NJIT President Joel S. Bloom and the Board of Trustees in September. n
NJIT’s baseball team celebrates victory.
ROI-NJ Honors NJIT Leaders and Donor
From left: Fadi P. Deek, Simon Nynens, Joel S. Bloom and Paul V. Profeta
12 2021 President’s Report Catherine Z. Brennan
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hree leaders at NJIT were featured in ROI-NJ’s annual recognition of the most impactful and influential educational leaders in New Jersey: Provost and Senior Executive Vice President Fadi P. Deek ’85, ’86, ’97, New Jersey Innovation Institute CEO Simon Nynens and President Joel S. Bloom, who is Influencer of the Year. ROI-NJ also recognized real estate leader Paul V. Profeta, a member of NJIT’s Board of Overseers, for endowing the launch of two new education and research centers at the university. n njit.edu
A Record 6 Students Named Fulbright Semifinalists From left: AnnaWadhwa, Daniel Meza, Joseph Torsiello, Kaylin Wittmeyer, Matthew Cherrey, Matthew DaSilva, Sydney Sweet
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JIT students submitted a record 11 applications for Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships during academic year 2020-2021, with six advancing to the semifinal round — also a record — and one ultimately earning a scholarship. All the semifinalists were Albert Dorman Honors College scholars. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Students are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic achievement and record of service. Fulbright finalist Kaylin Wittmeyer ’21, of the university’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design, began pursuing a graduate certificate in digital creature animation at Sheridan College in Ontario this past fall. She was joined in the semifinal round by Highlanders Sydney Sweet ’21, the university’s first candidate for study in the U.K., Matthew DaSilva ’21, Anna Wadhwa ’21, Matthew Cherrey ’20 and Daniel Meza ’20. A seventh student and fellow Dorman Scholar, Joseph Torsiello ’22, earned the Fulbright Canada–MITACS Globalink Research Internship, and spent summer 2021 at McGill University in Montreal studying subatomic particles called neutrinos. n
Construction Began on New Residence Hall
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he university broke ground on a new 548-bed apartment-style residence hall on Warren Street, scheduled to open in fall 2022. Maple Hall will include such amenities as private kitchens, a parking garage, indoor and outdoor cafes, a game room, bicycle storage and a grass courtyard. The building is being constructed with a focus on environmentally friendly methods and materials. At the groundbreaking, President Joel S. Bloom and Central Ward Councilwoman LaMonica McIver acknowledged the historic nature of the building that the residence hall is replacing: a former public school. A fire in the school building, however, made restoration unfeasible. To honor the site’s history, architects plan to include an exhibit in the hall’s lobby and incorporate the school’s original exterior archway indoors. The project’s advisers include Branko Kolarevic, dean of NJIT’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design. n
NJIT Named an International ‘Best Maker School’
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ake: magazine and Newsweek named NJIT a “Best Maker School” in Higher Education. The university shared this inaugural honor with 200 other colleges and universities. NJIT houses facilities that encourage engineers, architects, designers and scientists to create and test ideas, put theory into practice and quickly iterate to develop solutions. Most notably, NJIT boasts a 21,000-square-foot Makerspace with over $3 million in state-of-the-art equipment ranging from industrial to small prototyping machines. It is the largest of its kind in New Jersey, and has been used to both develop aircraft to compete in the Society of Automotive Engineers’ Aero competitions and rapidly manufacture face shields in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. n
NJIT and Newark Lead Coalition for Regional Challenge
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regional coalition led by the City of Newark and NJIT was among 60 projects selected as finalists for significant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Each of the 60 finalists, chosen from among 529 applicants, received a grant of $500,000 to further develop their proposed projects. The projects are designed to develop or scale industry sectors, train the workforce of today and tomorrow, and build resilient economies. Finalists will now compete in Phase 2 of the challenge, which will award 20-30 regional coalitions with up to $100 million to implement projects that support an industry sector. The $500,000 planning grants helped finalists prepare their Phase 2 proposals, which were due by March 15, 2022. The Newark-NJIT project is dubbed the Greater Newark Smart Port Regional Growth Cluster. Its focus is on transforming the Port of New York and New Jersey facilities in Newark and Elizabeth by developing and implementing critical smart and resilient infrastructure through advanced engineering, modeling and artificial intelligence (AI)-based innovative technologies for freight handling, transportation, tracking and delivery, as well as by supporting more efficient smart port operations to increase port capacity and security. The proposed project will create new jobs and business opportunities in a region with socioeconomically underprivileged communities, while also making a sustainable impact on the regional and state economy. The coalition also includes the City of Elizabeth, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Rutgers University and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. n njit.edu
2021 President’s Report 13
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MILESTONES
BACK ON CAMPUS! Class of 2021 Celebrated at 105th Commencement
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eautiful sunny days complemented joyous Commencement ceremonies, as NJIT honored the more than 3,000 bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. graduates making up the Class of 2021; also honored were August and December graduates from 2020. Due to
restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, students participated in in-person, on-campus ceremonies at the Wellness and Events Center (WEC) May 12 and 14, before a livestreamed ceremony was held at
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the WEC May 18 that featured university dignitaries, student speakers, honorary degree recipients and President’s Medal for Academic Excellence recipients. Here are just some of the many memorable moments. n
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1 Happy graduates pose on the campus’ Upper Green. 2 The Ph.D. Commencement Ceremony commences in the WEC. 3 Ogochukwu Enekwizu ’20, research associate at Brookhaven National Laboratory, addresses the Ph.D. graduates. 4 On Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium, bachelor’s and master’s candidates await entry into the WEC. 5 Graduating Highlanders congratulate one another during check-in. 6 Victoria Nguyen ’21, class crier and senior class president, and Anuj Patel ’21, Student Senate president. 7 From left: NJIT President Joel S. Bloom and honorary degree recipients Kimberly Bryant,
founder and CEO, Black Girls CODE, and Commencement speaker; Lawrence A. Raia ’65, partner, Raia Properties, and trustee (2012-2021); and Rev. Edwin D. Leahy, O.S.B., headmaster, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School.
14 2021 President’s Report
njit.edu
Convocation Welcomed NJIT Class of 2025
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JIT returned to in-person Convocation festivities Sept. 22, welcoming more than 1,400 first-year students — the largest and most diverse incoming class in NJIT’s history — and acknowledging excellence among alumni, faculty and staff. Gabrielle Grompone ’17, ’20, a construction project engineer with J. Fletcher Creamer & Son,
Inc., provided the keynote address, sharing how she overcame her own early struggles at NJIT with the support of the university community and advising the newest Highlanders to “stay resilient.” NJIT Board of Trustees Chair Robert C. Cohen ’83, ’84, ’87 then presided over the presentation of awards
and recognition of newly promoted/tenured faculty. The event, held in the Wellness and Events Center, was also livestreamed to the university community. Here, we feature some Convocation highlights. n
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1 President Joel S. Bloom thanks the students for joining the NJIT community. 2 Gonfalon carriers and faculty lead the processional. 3 Convocation 2021 was held in the WEC. 4 Twinkle Chaurasia ’21, flanked by NCE Dean Moshe Kam (left) and Provost and Senior Executive Vice President Fadi P. Deek ’85, ’86, ’97, receives the Presidential Leadership Award (Graduate). 5 Gabrielle Grompone ’17, ’20, civil engineering graduate, gives the keynote address virtually. 6 NJIT Student Senate President Anuja Badeti ’22 welcomes the first-year students.
njit.edu
2021 President’s Report 15
E X C E L L E N C E A N D I N N O VAT I O N
NJIT LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY OFFICERS Joel S. Bloom President
Fadi P. Deek ’85, ’86, ’97
Provost and Senior Executive Vice President
Catherine Z. Brennan
Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Andrew P. Christ, PE, ’94, ’01
Senior Vice President for Real Estate Development and Capital Operations
Trustees Emeriti Stephen P. DePalma ’72 (Chair Emeritus) Kathleen Wielkopolski (Chair Emerita) Philip K. Beachem Dennis M. Bone Peter A. Cistaro ’68 Vincent L. DeCaprio ’72, ’20 HON Elizabeth “Liz” Garcia ’73 Lawrence A. Raia, PE, ’65, ’21 HON
Kenneth Alexo Jr.
Holly Stern, Esq.
Marybeth Boger
Catherine Z. Brennan
Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Dale McLeod
Vice President for Human Resources
Simon Nynens
Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer CEO, New Jersey Innovation Institute
Holly Stern, Esq.
General Counsel and Vice President, Legal Affairs
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Hon. Philip D. Murphy ’19 HON, ex-officio Governor of the State of New Jersey
Hon. Ras J. Baraka ’18 HON, ex-officio Mayor of the City of Newark
Officers Robert C. Cohen ’83, ’84, ’87 (Chair)
President, Digital, Robotics, and Enabling Technologies Stryker
Secretary
Treasurer
Demetrios (Jim) Stamatis ’85 (Co-Vice Chair) Former CEO Louis Berger (A WSP Company)
Joseph M. Taylor ’11 HON (Co-Vice-Chair)
Chairman and CEO (Ret.), Panasonic Corporation of North America Managing Officer of the parent, Panasonic Corporation
Dr. Jason R. Baynes
Founding Member/Manager Baynes Orthopaedics
Elisa Charters ’92, ’93 President Latina Surge
Gary C. Dahms, PE, PP, CME President and CEO T&M Associates
Kuo-Lin (Jordan) Hu ’89
Chief Executive Officer RiskVal Financial Solutions, LLC
Richard M. Maser, PE, PP, CME, ’73 ounder and Executive Vice Chairman F Colliers Engineering and Design
Dhiraj Shah ‘00H
Founder and Executive Chairman Avaap
Dennis M. Toft, Esq.
Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
J. Robert Hillier ’17 HON Principal, Studio Hillier
Sonya Kakkar, Ph.D.
Regional Quality Head, Biotech Operating Unit Pfizer Inc.
Ralph Maddalena ’75, ’77
President, NSB Global Solutions LLC Retired Executive, ExxonMobil Corporation Chairman, JMC Enterprises Retired CEO, Quanta Services Retired Vice President, Bechtel Telecom, Power, Canada
Robert Medina ’75
Arthur A. Kapoor (Co-Executive Vice Chair)
Pascal Montilus ’87
President, CNY Group
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, HEALTHEC
Kenneth Alexo Jr.
President, Foundation at NJIT Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations
Catherine Z. Brennan
Secretary, Foundation at NJIT Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
President, NJIT
Financial Adviser Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.
Siddhartha Bala ’96H
Head of Product Management/Strategy, Public Cloud BNY Mellon
Fadi P. Deek ’85, ’86, ’97
Provost and Senior Executive Vice President, NJIT
Angelo Del Russo ’82
Founder and CEO Del-Sano Contracting Corp.
Alfred A. De Seta ’84, ’86
Partner, Robin Hood Ventures
Albert A. Dorman ’45, ’99 HON Founding Chairman (Ret.), AECOM
Kim Felix
SVP, Enterprise Technology The Walt Disney Company
Donald Flood Jr. ’87, ’95
Vice President and Corporate Marketing Officer Mott McDonald
Carlos Fonseca
Founder and CEO Dental Tourism Colombia LLC
Charles M. Forman ’72 Founder Forman Holt
Caren L. Freyer
Regional Public Affairs Manager PSEG Services
John J. Fumosa ’74
Vice President and District Manager Gilbane Building Company
16 2021 President’s Report
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Ret.) Hatch Mott MacDonald Infrastructure and Environment
Kenneth M. Colao ’77 (Co-Executive Vice Chair)
Steven Annunziato ’82
Former President DSA Engineering, LLC
Chief Executive Officer (Ret.), Intellect Wireless
Emil C. Herkert (Chair Emeritus) (Emeritus)
Raymond J. McGowan ’64
President and Chief Executive Officer MZM Construction & Management
Nicholas M. DeNichilo ’73, ’78 (Co-Vice Chair) Diane Montalto ’82 (Co-Vice Chair)
Daniel A. Henderson
John McCann
Board Members Joel S. Bloom
President and Chief Executive Officer (Ret.) Mott MacDonald
President and Chief Executive Officer Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc.
BOARD OF OVERSEERS Officers Marjorie A. Perry ’05 (Chair)
Norma J. Clayton ’81 (Co-Vice Chair)
Vice President of Learning, Training & Development (Ret.) The Boeing Company
David T. Gockel ’81
Executive Vice President (Ret.) ExxonMobil Chemical Company Founder, Medina 43 Business Strategies, LLC Vice President, Global Home Care Supply Chain Colgate-Palmolive Company
Patrick J. Natale ’70, ’75
Executive Director United Engineering Foundation
Kathleen Natriello
Partner, Fortium Partners, LP
George M. Newcombe, Esq. ’69
Partner (Ret.), Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Brett Newton
Vice President, Applications & Azure Platform Offerings Executive – Northeast Avanade
John H. Olson ’61, ’66
Managing Director, Northeast Region (Ret.) Morgan Stanley
Paul V. Profeta
President, Profeta Urban Investment Foundation
Philip L. Rinaldi ’68, ’77 (Chair Emeritus)
Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Ret.) Philadelphia Energy Solutions
Mark Romanski
Vice President and General Manager Turner Construction Company
Gregory Sauter
Founder, Smart City Works
Steve B. Saperstein ’84 (Emeritus)
Chief Operating Officer, PGIM Fixed Income
Edward J. Schmeltz ’71
Senior Vice President and Director of Maritime and Special Projects (Ret.), AECOM
John W. Seazholtz ’59 (Chair Emeritus)
Chairman of the Board (Ret.), Westell Technologies
W. Marcus Sheridan
Vice Chairman, Asset Management J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Stephanie Tonic
Senior Vice President, Northeast Region Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Martin Tuchman ’62
Chief Executive Officer, Kingstone Capital V
Kim Vierheilig ’99H, ’00 Vice President AECOM
Joseph T. Welch III ’62 (Emeritus) Division President (Ret.), BD
njit.edu
RANKINGS AND RECOGNITION R1 CARNEGIE ® CLASSIFICATION RESEARCH UNIVERSITY
BEST 387 COLLEGES - The Princeton Review
TOP 50 PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES NATIONALLY - U.S. News & World Report
#10 BEST CAREER PLACEMENT AMONG PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES - The Princeton Review
#1 IN NEW JERSEY, #14 NATIONALLY — EARLY-CAREER SALARIES, PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
TOP 2% IN RETURN ON INVESTMENT - Payscale.com
TOP 100 UNIVERSITIES NATIONALLY FOR MID-CAREER EARNINGS - Payscale.com
- Forbes
#1 NATIONALLY FOR STUDENT UPWARD ECONOMIC MOBILITY - Forbes
#39 BEST VALUE COLLEGE - The Princeton Review
#90 USA UNIVERSITY RANKINGS - Quacquarelli Symonds
4/22 3500 6/19 3,250
4/22 ?????
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