WINTER 2021

MAGAZINE NJIT biologist uncovers a 99-million-year-old amber fossil

NJIT’S ACADEMIC RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC

FACILITIES PROJECTS BUILD AND BRIGHTEN CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY

HONORS COLLEGE CELEBRATES A MILESTONE EXPLORATIONS OF NATURE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A MESSAGE FROM NJIT PRESIDENT JOEL S. BLOOM

EMBRACING CHANGE

appy New Year! The past several months certainly have been challenging, requiring us to assess, adapt and alter how we go about our daily lives. While Hthe circumstances necessitating such change are difficult, embracing new ways to live and learn can render positive and productive results. In this issue of NJIT Magazine, we take a look at the university’s academic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It began with a prompt change to fully virtual instruction to finish the spring 2020 semester, and has continued this academic year with a comprehensive implementation of converged learning. This mode of instruction, pioneered by NJIT in 2013, essentially breaks down the distinction between face-to- face and remote learning, with students attending the same class at the same time either in person or virtually. More than 7,000 students registered for at least one or more converged courses in fall 2020, and were able to have the same educational experience as their classmates, regardless of their physical location. We also welcomed change to our physical campus and the surrounding community. Throughout recent years, NJIT has completed more than $400 million in capital projects that have renovated and preserved historic structures, such as the Central King Building, and constructed new facilities that serve both the university and the community, such as the Wellness and Events Center. The economic impact of these efforts, together with NJIT’s growing research prowess and many other contributions to business and industry, has been substantial: more than $853 million on the City of Newark and over $2.8 billion on the State of New Jersey. Plans for further investment are underway and are highlighted in this issue. Other stories of interest include the fascinating studies being conducted by NJIT faculty who explore the natural environment. From dinosaur-era ants to diminutive worms to singing whales, this extraordinary research has sent our investigators to distant corners of the world and spurred international collaborations. And we mark a milestone at Albert Dorman Honors College (ADHC), which recently celebrated a quarter of a century of providing students who demonstrate excellence and engagement in their academic activities with a rich, individualized educational experience. As the first dean of ADHC, I am particularly pleased by all the college has accomplished. We welcome your feedback, as always, and hope you enjoy this issue of

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Joel S. Bloom President Matthew Golden Chief Strategy Officer Karen Hume Executive Director of Publications and Creative Services features Julie Jacobs Editor Explorations of Nature 10 Andrew McMains Fascinating investigations of our Contributing Editor natural world have taken NJIT faculty Jesse Jenkins, Evan Koblentz, Tracey L. Regan to distant corners of the globe, and Contributing Writers 14 even millions of years into the past. Diane Cuddy Designer Babette Hoyle Strategy for Instruction: Production Manager NJIT Responds to the ______Pandemic in Forward-Thinking

Kenneth Alexo Jr., Kevin D. Belfield, Fashion 14 Marybeth Boger, Atam P. Dhawan, The university has drawn upon its Craig Gotsman, Louis Hamilton, technological resources and know- Moshe Kam, Branko Kolarevic, how to provide a comprehensive Michael K. Smullen, Oya Tukel converged-learning experience for Editorial Advisory Board its students. ______

NJIT Magazine is published by New Jersey Facilities Projects Build Institute of Technology, Office of Strategic and Brighten Campus and Communications. Its mission is to foster ties with alumni, university friends and corporate Community 17 partners and to report on relevant issues, NJIT has completed over $400 million particularly those in education, science, in capital projects that have both research and technology. improved the university’s physical Please send questions and comments to: campus and benefited the local community. NJIT Magazine Office of Strategic Communications 17 University Heights Albert Dorman Honors Newark, NJ 07102-1982 College Celebrates a [email protected] Milestone 20 ______The college marked its 25th On the web: anniversary with a virtual tour, videos magazine.njit.edu and reflection. ______

departments

20 Abstracts 2 Point By Point 7 Alumni Circuit 23 In Conclusion Inside Back Cover

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TIME CAPSULE WILL INFORM FUTURE HIGHLANDERS

ewark College of Engineering (NCE) and letters representing daily will install a time capsule on the lives and routines during the NNJIT campus to commemorate the NCE era when the capsule was Centennial. The capsule will be interred in first sealed.” March 2021 and opened at the college’s The team collected NCE Bicentennial in 2119. artifacts from 1919 to the “A time capsule is a sealed historic cache present, and conducted a collegewide of goods and information, intended to survey to gain fresh ideas about the communicate with future people, and serve content of the capsule. The proposed as a resource for future archaeologists, items include old and new images of NCE anthropologists and historians,” explained and NJIT, papers, newsletters, books and Jaskirat Sodhi, senior university lecturer, patents authored by faculty and students, Senior University Lecturer Jaskirat Sodhi closes mechanical and industrial engineering, lab prototypes, NCE yearbooks and up the NCE time capsule, which contains, among who spearheaded the project with NCE distinctive souvenirs. Several letters “to our many items, Centennial celebration souvenirs Dean Moshe Kam, Director of Experiential future successors” were written especially (inset) and is scheduled to be opened in 2119. Learning Dan Brateris and Coordinator for for the capsule by students, faculty Infrastructure and Outreach Carolina Yanez. members and administrators. “The capsule is interred for a long period, Kam noted, “As we celebrated the NCE when the 2021 time capsule is retrieved between 50 and 150 years, and is to be Centennial in 2019, we had many questions and opened in 2119, we hope that it will retrieved and opened at the end of that about the environment and atmosphere in be meaningful and interesting to our period by members of a future generation. the college in 1919. If we had access to a successors, by helping them find It includes personal notes, pictures, artifacts time capsule from 1919, perhaps we could out what life at NCE was like in 2019, get good answers to these questions. and in the very unusual year of the While we are not likely to be around pandemic, 2020.” n

GSA Gift Assists NJIT Students in Need

ighlanders helping other to help our graduate students, but we also Highlanders continues, with a want to make sure that the needs of the NJIT H$50,000 commitment from NJIT’s community itself are being taken care of. We Graduate Student Association know that it’s an especially difficult time for (GSA) to the Highlander Student some people.” Emergency Fund (HSEF). Established some The HSEF has been particularly active 10 years ago, the fund provides grants of up to during the pandemic, awarding grants totaling $500 for emergency expenses, ranging from more than $236,000 to over 500 students as of housing to books to tuition and more. late November. Prior to the GSA gift, the fund “We had some extra funds in our reserve received more than $255,000 in gifts from account and we’ve been looking for an alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends appropriate way to spend that,” said GSA between April and Thanksgiving 2020. This President John Stefan, a physics doctoral amount includes a donation of $50,000 from student from North Brunswick. “We are trying the NJIT Student Senate. n

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Tuchman School of Management’s

New FinTech Major Answers Associate Dean Zhipeng Marketplace Demand (Alan) Yan leads the FinTech JIT’s Martin Tuchman School of program. Management (MTSM) is adding a B.S. inN financial technology that’s inspired by the Oya Tukel. “We have to adjust ourselves pressing need of corporations on Wall Street accordingly in the universities. It’s all around The major requires 120 credits and and beyond to hire a new generation of us, but people don’t realize it. Those are the includes courses that are redesigned or new, workers who are skilled in the latest trends jobs that are well paid and in demand.” including Artificial Intelligence for Business, of applying computing to commerce. In addition to traditional finance, Blockchain Technology for Business, and FinTech, as the field is known, is a the new major, which begins in fall 2021, Data Mining and Machine Learning. category of software and online services will cover the theories and evolution of The new offering expands MTSM’s that helps people better use and understand financial technology, so that students existing FinTech concentration, which finance. Crowdfunding, cryptocurrency, understand context rather than just debuted in 2017 and saw 35 students market analysis and mobile payments all fall facts. They’ll also learn about analytics, enrolled as of 2020. The major is expected under the FinTech umbrella. But it’s hard to data-driven financial modeling, financial to begin with 40 students, produce its find experts. data mining and machine learning, first graduates in spring 2024 and reach Big companies “really do not need and innovations such as bitcoin, cloud enrollment of 200 by 2024-25. Also, another finance person. They need a computing, crowdfunding, the Internet-of- business administration majors can FinTech person,” explained MTSM Dean things and peer-to-peer lending. still opt for the concentration. n

Matthew YING WU COLLEGE OF COMPUTING Cherrey GRAD EARNS FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP atthew Cherrey has never traveled with its vibrant industrial sector, is leading overseas but always wanted to do so, the charge among EU nations to improve Mparticularly to Germany, where his family computer privacy and security. Experts has roots. Now he’s getting an opportunity, like Fischlin are pursuing new solutions representing NJIT next year as a Fulbright to these challenges. Research Award Scholar. “I was eager to connect with Professor The Ying Wu College of Computing Fischlin,” said Cherrey, who earned a alumnus and future graduate student will B.S. in computer science in May. “I was travel to Darmstadt, just south of Frankfurt, immediately drawn to his expertise to spend several months at the Darmstadt in cryptography and network security University of Technology. Working with a protocols, and I am excited to work with team led by prominent internet security him to develop and implement a general expert Professor Marc Fischlin, Cherrey’s model of a safe network security protocol.” research will address the growing need for “I am proud that a talented young about Matthew’s experience in Germany stronger, safer internet security protocols. computer scientist like Matthew will and how he can continue that here at NJIT Cherrey previously was a software represent NJIT, YWCC and the United as a graduate student working with our engineering intern at Facebook. States as a Fulbright Scholar,” said YWCC own strong cybersecurity research group.” Beyond his family connections to Dean Craig Gotsman. “International Cherrey, also an Honors graduate, is the country, Cherrey chose Germany collaboration is a fertile breeding ground NJIT’s fifth Fulbright winner. Daniel Meza of because of the European Union’s (EU) for good ideas and can only benefit science Hillier College of Architecture and Design strong focus on data privacy. Germany, and technology. I look forward to hearing also earned the award this year. n

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Gabrielle Rejouis ’15

AT CONVOCATION, NJIT ALUMNA ASKS, ‘WILL YOU BE A HELPER?’

uoting Fred Rogers, NJIT alumna When the time comes, Gabrielle Rejouis urged Class of 2024 will you be a helper?” studentsQ to be helpers and foster communities President Joel S. Bloom celebrated the during the university’s annual convocation. 1,316 students entering NJIT, noting their Kondic. Chandra is a pioneer in the study of “You all have a contribution to make,” diversity and academic achievement, blast-induced brain injuries and associated said Rejouis ’15, an Albert Dorman Honors including a collective high school grade point neurotraumas, and Kondic is an expert in College Scholar who majored in history and average of 3.6. They come from 18 countries complex fluid dynamics and granular flows. now is a senior policy manager at Color and 23 states. The Constance A. Murray Diversity Award of Change. “Your contribution might be a “You’ll spend the coming years with was bestowed upon James Geller, a professor new program or policy at NJIT. It might be people who are driven, talented and diverse,” and former associate dean for research at winning an election or getting a research Bloom said. “Embrace the opportunity you Ying Wu College of Computing (YWCC), grant. On the other hand, your contribution have to learn from one another and support for fostering diversity with a demonstrated might be backing up a classmate during class one another.” commitment to fairness and equality. discussion. It might be affirming someone’s During the ceremony, professors and The Excellence in Research Award expression or identity. Your contribution students were honored with five awards and recognized six faculty members at five might be building a friendship. seven levels of promotions. schools: Qiang Tang at YWCC; Xiaoyang Xu “The latter contributions don’t get you Earning the Presidential Leadership Award, at NCE; Haisu Zhang at Martin Tuchman interviewed or win awards. But they are which recognizes both undergraduate and School of Management (MTSM); Gabrielle remembered and make a difference,” she graduate students, were Newark College of Esperdy at Hillier College of Architecture and added. “You have the potential to change lives Engineering’s (NCE) Ayushi Sangoi ’20, an Design; and Wenda Cao and Maurie Cohen at with your skills and your kindness.” Honors Scholar who earned a bachelor’s the College of Science and Liberal Arts. Rejouis concluded with, “We’re in a in biomedical engineering and computer Earning the Overseers Excellence in moment where we need positive changes. engineering, and William Ho, who’s pursuing Service Award were Associate Professor of The next generation will look to us for help. a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. In particular, Finance Michael Ehrlich of MTSM and four NJIT cited Sangoi’s passion for individuals in the Office of Digital Learning: service, education and advocacy, Nicole Bosca, Blake Haggerty, Cassandra and Ho’s energy, enthusiasm and Sardo and Amal Shah. commitment to helping others. Among the faculty members honored for Winning the Overseers promotions were three who rose to master Excellence in Research Prize teacher: Cesar Bandera at MTSM, Ecevit and Medal were Distinguished Bilgili in the Department of Chemical Professor of Biomedical and Materials Engineering and Stephen Engineering Namas Chandra Pemberton in the Federated Department and Distinguished Professor of History. n of Applied Mathematics Lou

President Joel S. Bloom

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New Recognition Society Honors Donors to NJIT

he Colton Society, NJIT’s newest “We would not have come so far, so recognition circle, welcomed 63 fast, without the leadership and support inauguralT members at a virtual induction of our Colton Society donors. Their event held Oct. 29 and hosted by NJIT investments in programs, facilities and, President Joel S. Bloom and NJIT First above all, our talented and hardworking Lady Diane Bloom. Membership in the students, have ensured that we remain society is extended to donors whose true to our founding value of excellence lifetime giving exceeds $500,000. and affordability. Our gratitude for their “Our success in launching the Colton generosity cannot be overstated.” Society reflects NJIT’s rise to prominence The society is named in honor of as a science and technology powerhouse. Charles A. Colton, founding director of the With more than $160 million in research Newark Technical School, which opened expenditures and a $2.8 billion annual in 1881 and later became New Jersey impact on the State of New Jersey, Institute of Technology. A plaque bearing NJIT has joined the ranks of the nation’s the names of the members was unveiled premier polytechnic universities,” said at the online event and hangs in Eberhardt Charles A. Colton Kenneth Alexo Jr., vice president, Hall. Nearly half of the benefactors are Development and Alumni Relations. NJIT alumni. n

Roberto Rivera ANALYST AT NJ TRANSIT EARNS DATA MINING CERTIFICATE AT NJIT@JERSEYCITY

oluminous amounts of data can be and cybersecurity. Voverwhelming to even the most “My current role at NJ TRANSIT requires experienced professional. That was the discovering patterns and relationships in the experience of Roberto Rivera, a senior data in order to help make better business research analyst with NJ TRANSIT and one decisions,” Rivera said. “The data mining of the first six graduates of NJIT@JerseyCity certificate program at Jersey City had an (jerseycity.njit.edu). Spending his days intense workload, but I now have a clear immersed in large data sets, Rivera realized idea on how to automate, collect, manage, that continuing his education would provide calculate and analyze the processing of data the additional skills and training he needed and information more efficiently.” to manage the increasingly data-intensive In addition to benefiting from a nature of his work. curriculum created and taught by data with the academic credits from his certificate At NJIT@JerseyCity, Rivera earned a science experts, Rivera enjoyed sharing a counting toward the degree. “I hope to certificate in data mining. The hub, which classroom with people who are passionate be able to get better at my job, enhance opened in the fall of 2019, focuses on about furthering their education and my career, become an authority, build my the needs of professionals interested in applying new knowledge to their work. credibility and set myself apart in the job graduate-level education, offering part- Fueled by the certificate, Rivera is market,” he explained. “NJIT@JerseyCity time and full-time master’s and certificate continuing his education at NJIT as he helped prepare me to achieve those goals programs in data science, computer science pursues a master’s in information systems, and more.” n

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A model of Newark, here in the Newark Public Library, is now at Newark City Hall. Photo Credit: People Power Planning Newark

the area as an arts and entertainment hub. Schuman’s enthusiasm for the project is palpable. “The essence of the Newark Design Collaborative is community engagement, which poses two essential questions: How does the community benefit and what do the students learn? The work we do at Hillier College helps the city strive toward a more equitable and sustainable future, and provides our students with a rich learning experience HILLIER COLLEGE TURNS AD that provides insight and encourages empathy,” he said. HOC RELATIONSHIPS INTO Student participant Mateo Aristizabal, who has a B.Arch. and is studying for DESIGN COLLABORATIVE a Master of Infrastructure Planning, will serve as a teaching assistant in the aculty from Hillier College of also been many research papers and collaborative studios. Architecture and Design are studio designs for other city landmarks, A Newark neighborhood that Aristizabal formalizingF ad hoc relationships with including Newark Liberty International would like to help is the northeast tip of NJIT departments, the City of Newark, Airport and Branch Brook Park. the historic Ironbound district, located just local neighborhood groups and private To support the collaborative, organizers 1 mile from the Covanta Essex County developers into a new entity called the plan to create a downtown Newark facility Resource Recovery Facility. Research Newark Design Collaborative. featuring studios, an exhibit gallery and suggests that pediatric illnesses there Doing so will transition students from possibly event space or meeting rooms. are related to the air residents breathe, theoretical studio instruction to practical Among the participants in the he explained. He’s also concerned about real-world projects, explained Hillier’s Tony collaborative are Jonathan Curley, senior gentrification throughout the city, where Schuman, professor of architecture and university lecturer in the humanities the opinions of longtime residents may co-organizer of the collaborative. Newark, department, who taught a seminar called be ignored by those who prioritize profits. for one, has plenty to do as it develops “Newark Narrative”; Pallavi Shinde, a And as a fitness enthusiast, he’d like to its next master plan, which is due in 2023, senior planner for Newark who holds a incorporate health and recreation into according to City Planner Christopher Master of Infrastructure Planning from future designs. Watson, who’s also pursuing a doctorate in NJIT; Samer Hanini ’99, ’03, a managing Such perspectives resonate with urban systems at NJIT. partner at real estate firm Hanini Group Watson, the city planner. “What the Previous Newark student projects and member of the Hillier College community needs to know is, when you produced a massive handmade model advisory board; and Anthony Smith, collaborate like this, you really link the of the entire city, a 3D-printed model of executive director of Lincoln Park/Coast theoretical with the practical,” Watson downtown, a preservation plan for parts Cultural District, whose members aim to said. “It’s a great way for students to really of the abandoned Essex County Jail and a improve the downtown neighborhood. get hands-on experience while in school design called Music Village in the historic That organization produces an annual and hands-on experience at places where Lincoln Park neighborhood. There have music festival and other efforts to position they’re going to be employed.” n

6 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu POINT BY POINT

The Latest News About NJIT Sports njithighlanders.com

police brutality following the killings vessel for our message.” of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and When The Black Squares Fade features Breonna Taylor; many activists took to over a dozen diverse student-athletes, social media June 2 to post black squares from many different NJIT sports, speaking and the SAAC executive board posted a emphatically about doing their part to SAAC RELEASES statement in support of the movement on make the world a better place. Participants its Instagram. submitted their own videos, which were ‘WHEN THE BLACK “We wanted to show our athletes and the spliced together to create the final product. SQUARES FADE’ world that NJIT has not forgotten about SAAC posted it on Instagram and, as of the atrocities committed against these early October, received more than 2,000 The NJIT Student-Athlete Advisory individuals and that we will continue to views and hundreds of likes. Committee (SAAC) released a video, When fight to bring awareness to issues that affect “We hope that a video like this will The Black Squares Fade, that reinforces the our very own,” noted Logan Heft, SAAC never be necessary again,” Heft added. Highlander student-athlete community’s vice president and financial technology “However, with this being said, NJIT SAAC commitment to social justice. The video’s major. “To do this, we thought a video that is committed to fighting for and standing name is derived from Blackout Tuesday, was written, read and produced entirely by with its athletes from all different walks a collective action protesting racism and student athletes would act as a powerful of life.” n

RING CEREMONY PAYS TRIBUTE TO 2019 ASUN MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONS Valuable Player Regsan Watkins scored the championship-winning goal in the 86th minute of the title match. With the victory, the Highlanders advanced to the NCAA Tournament for both the first time at the Division I level and since 1974. NJIT also captured the ASUN Conference regular season title and garnered four major ASUN Conference awards: Coach of the Year (Fernando Barboto), Player of the Year (Rene White), Goalkeeper of the Year (Samuel Reisgys) and Rookie of the Year (Alejandro Rabell). The Highlanders, who finished with a Division I school-record 10 wins, ranked The NJIT Department of Athletics The team’s historic season culminated in the Top 10 of the United Soccer honored the 2019 men’s soccer team with the university’s first-ever ASUN Coaches Atlantic Region poll all season, with a ring ceremony, held Sept. 16 on Conference Championship in any sport. with its highest ranking, No. 2, coming Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium, to In the ASUN Championship game, the during the second week of the season. commemorate the team’s Athletic Sun top-seeded Highlanders defeated No. 2 NJIT closed the season ranked fifth out Conference (ASUN) Championship Florida Gulf Coast University, 2-1. Rising of 10 teams. n last November. junior and ASUN Tournament Most

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 7 A TOP 10% National University

- QS World University Rankings® 2020 S Y O T C I E

RALPH MADDALENA ’75, ’77 IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

“I CAN REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY,” Ralph Maddalena ’75, M.S. ’77 says, reminiscing about one particular winter night when he was an NJIT student. “It was after 9 p.m. and snowing. I had just finished basketball practice and was waiting for the bus, adding up the hours of homework still ahead of me. All I could think was, ‘This had better be worth it!’ I later realized that, of course, it was.” Those disciplined years at NJIT prepared Ralph for an accomplished 30-year career at ExxonMobil. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, Ralph has worked in 28 countries around the world, and his projects have ranged from leading water quality initiatives that protected U.S. communities’ drinking water supplies to heading an international consortium to market natural gas from Sakhalin Island in Russia.

Ralph’s affinity for sports, both as a basketball player and an avid runner, has influenced his giving to NJIT. A longtime donor to the university’s basketball program, Ralph recently joined the 1881 Society when he and his wife Pam created the Pam and Ralph Maddalena ’75 Endowed Scholarship by including NJIT in their estate plans. The Maddalena Scholarship will provide much-needed financial aid for a student athlete pursuing a STEM degree. It is a wonderful expression of Ralph’s gratitude toward NJIT, as well as a legacy that will benefit NJIT students for generations to come. Ralph is passionate about the value of giving to the university. “I would encourage anyone who is thinking about making a gift to NJIT to just do it,” he says. “Find a way to make a gift, because it will have such a positive impact on a deserving student’s life.”

To learn more about Ralph and the legacy he and his wife Pam have created at NJIT, please visit “Donor Stories” at njit.giftplans.org.

For further information on the 1881 Society or to discuss leaving a legacy at NJIT through a planned gift, please contact: Beth S. Kornstein Associate Vice President, Planned Giving 973-596-8548 [email protected] • njit.giftplans.org

Your legacy begins today. EXPLORATIONS

Top left: A macro image of two ants walking in the evening. Photo Credit: iStock/Chadked Top right: A remora fish readies to feed and skim along a whale body. Photo Credit: Stanford University, Cascadia Research Collective and Journal of Experimental Biology Bottom left: Phil Barden, NJIT biologist, displays “hell ant” fossils in his lab at NJIT. Bottom right: C. elegans worms are expanded nearly 2.5x their size. Photo Credit: NJIT/MIT

10 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu OF NATURE

NJIT’s elevation to the highest classification of research activity among

doctoral universities (R1 Carnegie Classification®) has brought with it

some extraordinary explorations of our natural world, sparking both

scientific discovery and the imagination of millions worldwide. These

fascinating inquiries have spurred international research collaborations

and support from the National Science Foundation, among many other

prestigious grants and awards, while featuring in prominent high-impact

journals and across international news headlines.

Here, we look back on recent investigations that have taken NJIT faculty

to distant corners of the world, and even millions of years into the past.

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 11 DISCOVERING VLAD THE IMPALER AND THE “HELL ANTS”

The fossil discovery of a prehistoric ant with NJIT Distinguished Professor of scythe-like mandibles and a metal-reinforced Humanities David Rothenberg has horn on its head used for impaling its collected thousands of hours of complex whale songs from miles victims would be a crowning find for any below the ocean’s surface. paleontologist. In 2017, that seemed the case Photo Credit: David Rothenberg for NJIT biologist Phil Barden when his team uncovered a 99-million-year-old amber fossil encasing such a predator — a long-extinct act of capturing its prey is invaluable,” said basic microscope, potentially making the ant species from the Cretaceous Period, Barden. “This fossilized predation confirms nematode even more valuable and accessible appropriately named “Vlad the Impaler” our hypothesis for how hell ant mouthparts as a model for exploring the nervous system. (Linguamyrmex vladi) after the infamous worked. … The only way for prey to be “The last time that all the synapses were Wallachian ruler from the 1400s. captured in such an arrangement is for the mapped in a single animal was in 1986, However, Barden’s latest fossil discovery ant mouthparts to move up and downward and it took the researchers 15 years using this year rivals that of Vlad and offers in a direction unlike that of all living ants electron microscopy to map a single nervous deeper insight into its enigmatic family of and nearly all insects.” system. … The tracing of neurons and 16 known ant members, known as the “hell Barden is continuing to study what finding of synapses were done manually ants” (haidomyrmecine), which used their ultimately led to the hell ants’ demise, on large photoprints,” said Gal Haspel, distinctive headgear to successfully hunt prey and is leading an NJIT student-faculty collaborating author of the paper and for nearly 20 million years before vanishing collaboration to make digital and 3D professor in NJIT’s Department of Biological with many early ant groups around the models of the Cretaceous-era insects Sciences. “The most important advancement Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 65 that are being displayed at museums with this new approach is that microscopic million years ago. throughout the Northeast. resolution can be improved by expanding In findings published in Current Biology, the sample instead of improving the optics, Barden’s team unveiled a stunning fossil NJIT BIOLOGISTS HELP which has given us a greater ability to see preserving a newly identified hell ant “SUPERSIZE” A TINY WORM the nematode’s synaptic connections among species — Ceratomyrmex ellenbergeri WITH BIG POTENTIAL neurons — only about 50 nanometers in size — as it embraced its unsuspecting final The diminutive worm, Caenorhabditis — with a standard confocal microscope.” victim almost 100 million years ago, an (C. elegans), isn’t so small of a figure in With ExCel — capable of imaging extinct relative of the cockroach known as the labs of researchers. In fact, its small fluorescent proteins after fivefold linear Caputoraptor elegans. The ancient encounter, stature — roughly the size of a comma in expansion — the team has been able to locate locked in amber recovered from the country length — is its biggest asset in that it’s helped and tag the nematode’s synaptic connections, of Myanmar, presents some of the first direct make it the only animal to have its compact something previously not possible according evidence that shows how it and other hell connectome of 302 neurons and their 7,000 to Haspel. Gaining the ability to florescent ants once used their killer features unlike any synaptic connections fully mapped. Recently tag such proteins at such resolution could living ant today. in the journal eLife, NJIT, MIT and Stanford open new doors for more advanced studies “Fossilized behavior is exceedingly rare, researchers developed a new advanced of synaptic connections in other animals. predation especially so. As paleontologists, imaging technique — called expansion “Now, we’d like to collect connectivity we speculate about the function of ancient of C. elegans (ExCel) — that has allowed data from multiple animals and establish the adaptations using available evidence, but them to physically blow the worm up in variability of connectivity and its distribution to see an extinct predator caught in the size to study it in greater detail with only a in the nervous system,” said Haspel.

12 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu RECOVERING OCEANS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDY the study’s corresponding author. “Through SOUND FROM HUMPBACK UNCOVERS SECRET SURFING coincidence, our recordings captured how WHALE ORCA-STRAS LIFE OF REMORAS HITCHHIKING remoras interact in this environment and With clarinet in-hand, NJIT Distinguished ON BLUE WHALES are able to use the distinct flow dynamics Professor of Humanities and world- Sticking to the bodies of sharks and other of these whales to their advantage. It is renowned jazz musician David Rothenberg larger marine life is a well-known specialty incredible, because we’ve really known next has spent decades traveling around the world of remora fishes (Echeneidae), accomplished to nothing about how remoras behave on to investigate the sounds of nature, creating through super-powered suction disks on their hosts in the wild over any prolonged music alongside everything from birds to their heads. But now, NJIT researchers have period of time.” whales to insects. He has even been referred led a study that has fully documented the The study shows that remoras successfully to as an “interspecies musician.” Recently, “suckerfish” in hitchhiking action below the hitchhike aboard baleen whales more than Rothenberg collaborated with Pattern Radio, ocean’s surface, uncovering a more refined 30 times their size by selecting the most a project in partnership with Google and skill set the fish uses for navigating intense flow-optimal regions on the whale’s body to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric hydrodynamics aboard a 100-foot blue whale stick to, such as behind the whale’s blowhole Administration, to collect thousands of (Balaenoptera musculus). and dorsal fin, where drag resistance for hours of whale songs from miles below the In the Journal of Experimental Biology, the fish is reduced by as much as 84%. The ocean’s surface. an international research team, studying researchers also discovered remoras can His method for communication with this the complex fluid environments of blue freely move around to feed and socialize species is simple: dropping an underwater whales off the California coast, successfully even as their whale host hits burst speeds of speaker deep into the ocean so the whale captured the first-ever continuous recording more than 5 meters per second, by utilizing can hear the music played, along with a of remora behavior on their host, using surfing and skimming behaviors along hydrophone hooked up to headphones so advanced biosensing tags with video- special low-drag traveling lanes that exist just Rothenberg can hear the reactions from the recording capabilities. off the surface of the whale’s body. The team whales. Rothenberg has traveled to the Arctic “Whales are like their own floating is using their new insights into the remora’s and many other far reaches of the world to island, basically like their own little preferred low-drag attachment locations to submerge mics and capture the melodic and ecosystems. ...To get a look into the flow better inform how they might tag and track rhythmic sounds of belugas, sperm whales, environment of blue whales within a whales in studies to come. n humpbacks and more. millimeter resolution through this study is “Beluga whales have always been interested extremely exciting,” said Brooke Flammang, Author: Jesse Jenkins is an NJIT Magazine in human music, so much so that they’d hang assistant professor of biology at NJIT and contributing writer. around boats when sailors were singing. Their songs contain so much sonic diversity that they can be turned into almost anything,” Rothenberg said. “From echolocation creaks to social whistles and grunts, these white Researchers discover whales have it all. The way so many animals a worker of the hell ant Ceratomyrmex communicate is in a way much more like ellenbergeri grasping a music than like language.” nymph of Caputoraptor The results have been presented both elegans (Alienoptera) preserved in amber in raw and musically sequenced forms by dated to ~99 Ma Rothenberg and his son, the experimental (mega annum). Photo Credit: NJIT, pop producer and sound designer Umru Chinese Academy of Rothenberg. They have teamed up to release Sciences and University a sample collection aptly titled Whale Sounds of Rennes, France on Splice.com, a Netflix-style supplier of sound samples for music producers.

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 13 STRATEGY FOR NJIT Responds to the Pandemic in Forward-Thinking Fashion

en months ago, as the COVID-19 provide a virtual learning experience for its University Lecturer Catherine Siemann conducts Tpandemic began its inexorable march more than 11,000 students while completing her Honors Humanities class with students attending either in person or, via the back-wall across the country, NJIT, along with higher the spring 2020 semester as scheduled. screen, from a virtual location. education institutions nationwide, faced an Within a span of two weeks, the Digital unprecedented challenge: how to best move Learning and Technology Support team 150 document cameras, tablet laptops and to fully remote instruction, both quickly and at NJIT helped prepare faculty to teach drawing tablets were distributed to faculty, safely. Immediately, the university drew upon online effectively and assisted students who and dozens of computers were delivered to its technological resources and know-how to lacked the means to engage. More than students in need of virtual access to their

14 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu INSTRUCTION: NJIT Responds to the Pandemic in Forward-Thinking Fashion

classes. Additionally, over 6,700 Webex interact with and work simultaneously in sessions were held and nearly 2,000 real-time with all attendees. videos were created through Kaltura, a As NJIT Provost and Senior Executive platform enabling live and on-demand Vice President Fadi P. Deek emphasized, video presentations. NJIT always has invested in technology Making modifications to the spring that allows students to learn from the semester would turn out to be just the start classroom, the residence hall, their home or of a more than six-month-long undertaking, wherever it is most convenient for them to to not only finish the past academic year but do so. Between March and November 2020, also ready for the next one. NJIT’s initial utilization of Webex and Kaltura increased, COVID-19 Task Force handed over the reins with upwards of 163,800 sessions and more to a Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee than 31,800 uploaded videos, respectively. that comprised more than 80 individuals With regard to classroom occupancy and a Pandemic Advisory Committee that this academic year, he explained that no

featured broad representation from the more than 18 students are enrolled in any Seating is designated according to colored dots campus community. in-person course, versus the usual 30. Of this on student desks. “Since first presented with the onset reduced group, only nine students at a time of the COVID-19 pandemic, senior are permitted to attend in person, with the being taken to ensure the safety of students administrators have worked alongside the other half of the class participating remotely. and faculty, including designated seating to Faculty Senate’s leadership, individual faculty Students with concerns about coming to the facilitate social distancing, sanitization of and staff members, union representatives, classroom can continue to learn virtually, seats and desks after every use and enhanced health care experts, students and others while those eager for face-to-face instruction air exchange in buildings. Additionally, on committees and subcommittees, and can engage accordingly whenever possible. face coverings are required for all faculty, through consultation, in order to draw upon Inside the classrooms, other measures are students and staff, and plexiglass screens diverse and informed perspectives and make difficult decisions in the best interests of our university community,” noted NJIT President Joel S. Bloom. DID YOU KNOW? Among those perspectives and decisions, which proved critical to the development of When the Spanish flu caused Newark schools to an overall Pandemic Recovery Plan, was the close in the fall of 1918, NJIT (then known as the resolve to implement converged learning Newark Technical School) remained open for radio classes conducted weekday evenings for together with traditional online instruction. the government, according to Newark Evening Converged learning, pioneered by NJIT since News. As written in the paper, there was “an 2013, essentially breaks down the distinction attendance of about fifty at the radio classes between face-to-face and remote learning, and as the course is only six or eight weeks, and with students attending the same class at new groups come in as rapidly as others finish, the same time either in person or virtually. it was decided that because of these facts and With this model, students have the same because it is federal work requiring haste, this educational experience regardless of their department should remain open.” physical location, and professors can see,

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 15 Mobile plexiglass screens placed in front of instructors’ desks offer an extra barrier between teachers and students.

registered for of learning either at home or in school, at least one or depending on my schedule and whether or more converged not I want to go into school,” said Youssef, courses for the who commutes from Livingston, N.J. As for fall semester. being on campus, she remarked, “I feel very Victoria Youssef, safe in all of my classes, because every seat a first-year biology is assigned a color and I am always 6+ feet major, is one of those apart from everyone.” students. She regularly “The importance of having students, attends her chemistry faculty and staff on campus cannot be and calculus lectures understated. We all are integral to the NJIT and chemistry community,” Deek stressed. “We’ve had to have been installed as an extra physical lab in person, while participating in her make a number of behavioral, physical and barrier between students and instructors. humanities course, freshman seminar and technological modifications. We’ve had to “We know from available research biology lecture and recitation remotely. Her adopt new principles for learning, working that in-person learning is an important experience with converged learning is going and living. … But the students are, by choice, component of a STEM curriculum, and our well, she says, with her instructors posting in the classrooms.” n students have made their strong desire for more resources, recording their lectures and such opportunities clear,” Bloom pointed providing assistance via virtual office hours. Author: Julie Jacobs is the editor of out, adding that more than 7,000 students “I love the fact that I have the convenience NJIT Magazine.

COMPUTING PROFESSOR’S APP MANAGES NJIT CONVERGED LEARNING

Coordinating converged learning for thousands of all students to participate in classroom-based learning,” students across hundreds of course sections could easily said Pantelis Monogioudis, professor of practice at become a logistical nightmare. Enter back2classroom.app, Ying Wu College of Computing, who leads the team of developed to automatically coordinate the in-person developers with Aegean AI Inc., a software-as-service versus virtual participation of students enrolled in a class. company co-founded by Monogioudis and students from This benefits the university by generating detailed New York University. “The app implements NJIT’s detailed analytics that give a campuswide view of student Pandemic Recovery Plan, which lays out attendance presence, allowing NJIT to know the in-person utilization limits and protocols, establishing a round-robin policy for rate on any given day, or time of day, for different classroom attendance.” buildings, classrooms and common spaces frequented by An additional benefit is the app’s potential to support students. There are easy-to-follow user guides for students and enhance contact tracing efforts, if needed, thanks to and faculty. Students use the app to reserve or cancel their its tracking capabilities. Monogioudis also looks forward in-person participation in a class, download their reserved to expanding use of the app to include common spaces spots to their calendars and mark their attendance for a popular with students such as libraries, meeting rooms, spot for in-person or remote instruction. Faculty reference group study spaces and dining halls. the app to see student statuses and can take attendance. - Dean G. Mudgett, director of marketing and communications, “The goal of this app is to provide equal opportunity to Ying Wu College of Computing

16 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu FACILITIES PROJECTS BUILD AND BRIGHTEN BOTH CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY

PROPOSED VIEW AT INTERSECTION OF WICKLIFF ST & WARREN ST NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - NEWARK, NJ

| 03.31.2020 |

Throughout recent years, NJIT has completed more than $400 million in capital projects that have improved the university’s physical campus, while creating jobs and amenities that benefit the local community. Our university’s annual economic impact on the State of New Jersey is more than $2.8 billion, and NJIT’s impact on the City of Newark exceeds $853 million. The capital projects we have completed in recent years have included both the renovation of historic structures and the construction of new facilities that serve the needs of the campus and community. We are not yet done, though, and will continue to invest in our surrounding community in ways that contribute to economic growth, as well as public safety and well-being.

Above, left: Last year, NJIT purchased the Warren Street School. The university is now working with a private partner to develop the property into student housing, while maintaining the school’s history through design elements in the new structure (above, right). The anticipated opening for the complex is 2022.

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 17 Eberhardt Hall, erected in 1857, was meticulously restored by NJIT to maintain its authenticity and is today listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings.

PRESERVING HISTORIC STRUCTURES the State of New Jersey through the 2012 wellness facilities, large-scale space for Formerly the Newark Orphan Asylum and Building Our Future Bond Act. The building NCAA Division I athletics, professional an Elizabethan Gothic Revival building now is a hub for innovation and collaborative conferencing space (it hosted two successive created by prominent architect John Welch learning. It is home to classrooms, teaching years of the Amazon Alexa international in 1857, Eberhardt Hall was renovated by and research laboratories, spaces for voice technology conference) and space for NJIT in 2005 and serves as a home for the academic advising and pre-professional major academic events and career fairs, as development and alumni relations office, mentoring, a STEM tutoring center, a writing well as social settings for NJIT students, as well as the host site for multiple events center, a math emporium and the New Jersey faculty and staff. The design of the three- and meetings. NJIT purchased the building Innovation Institute, which is a catalyst for story, 220,000-square-foot building features a in 1947 and named it in honor of Fred workforce and economic development. number of flexible spaces that can be quickly Eberhardt, who served on the university’s configured to support the numerous and board of trustees from 1910 until his death EXPANDING THE CAMPUS varied missions of the university community. in 1946. In restoring Eberhardt Hall, which In 2013, NJIT opened the Warren Street The WEC has proudly hosted numerous is listed in the National Register of Historic Village, a three-acre mixed-use complex Essex County and Newark community Buildings, NJIT took great care to ensure that includes the residential Albert Dorman events since it opened. period authenticity. Honors College, separate houses for NJIT’s Makerspace at NJIT opened its doors Once home to thousands of Newark fraternities and sororities, a convenience in December 2017 and recently completed Central High School students, the Central store and Smashburger, among other an expansion. Makerspace is a training- King Building (CKB) at NJIT exemplifies amenities. The Village was the first phase focused, rapid prototyping facility that is intelligent, creative and economically of the multiphase NJIT Campus Gateway central to both NJIT’s hands-on learning impactful urban redevelopment that Redevelopment plan, a part of the City mission and its growing relationship with preserves the architectural and historical of Newark Broad Street Station District New Jersey’s manufacturing community. significance of a structure, while serving Redevelopment Plan. The 20,000-square-foot space operates modern students, industry and the local NJIT’s Wellness and Events Center equipment ranging from small 3D printers community. The $86 million CKB renovation (WEC) opened in fall 2017 as an iconic to large industrial machining centers, such was the largest single project funded by multipurpose building that provides as precision-measurement and laser-cutting

NJIT’s $86 million Central King Building renovation, which preserved the building’s architectural significance, serves as a hub for innovation and collaborative learning.

18 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu NJIT GREEN AT UNIVERSITY PARK

CENTRAL AVENUE SUMMIT STREET

BLEEKER STREET DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BOULEVARD JR KING LUTHER MARTIN DR

Site Plan Color Rendering City of Newark, Essex County, NJ October 31, 2019 (MC19005253A) machines, as well as a Direct Metal Laser the community. These properties include NJIT intends to transform the Sintering 3D printer, which was donated the former Mueller’s Wholesale Flower antiquated Mueller’s Flower Shop building (left) into an attractive, by Stryker and created the first 3D-printed Distribution building and the former Warren welcoming green space (right) for porous metal hip implant approved for use Street School. While our vision for both both the university campus and local community. by the FDA. It is a dual-use facility that of these properties was a catalyst for our helps prepare the workforce of the future, decision to acquire them, we also recognized while also serving the needs of industry, and are acting upon the reality that these In 2019, NJIT purchased the Warren particularly manufacturing businesses. The properties have posed a hazard to both NJIT Street School, which had been vacant facility provides opportunities for industrial and its neighbors. and was severely damaged by a fire. After partners to participate as mentors, trainers The Mueller’s Flower Shop building is purchasing this property, NJIT went and instructors, for companies to collaborate an antiquated wooden structure in severe through an RFP process and has reached an with students and faculty members on disrepair and is a significant fire hazard. The agreement with a private partner to develop research and development projects, and for structure actually includes several buildings the property into housing for NJIT students. employees to receive customized training wrapped by an external shell and lacks We anticipate opening the new housing tailored to their needs. Makerspace at architectural character or value. Therefore, complex as soon as fall 2022 and have been NJIT also has played a critical role in we are in the process of razing this structure successful in securing commitments from manufacturing face shields for front-line in order to mitigate the fire hazard it presents the developer to keep costs at affordable, medical personnel in the battle against to our community. The location will be market rates and to incorporate the history COVID-19. converted into an attractive green space on of the Warren Street School into certain a temporary basis. We believe that adding a design elements of the new structure. n ON THE HORIZON small park at the corner of our open campus NJIT has acquired two properties adjacent will be of great benefit and serve as a passive Author: Matthew Golden is Chief Strategy to its campus that have great potential for recreation and aesthetically pleasing resource Officer in the Office of Strategic Initiatives positive impact on both the university and for our campus and local communities. at NJIT.

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 19 Albert Dorman Honors College Celebrates A Milestone Anniversary 220 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 5 njit.edu Joan and Albert Dorman ’45, ’99 HON

In the first of a series of events honoring its 25th anniversary, Albert Dorman Honors College held a live, online celebration. Reflecting on the anniversary of the college that he endowed, NJIT alumnus Albert Dorman Albert Dorman ’45, ’99 HON revisited his remarks from its inauguration, and they are as relevant today as they were in 1995 — perhaps even more so.

“I said to these brilliant, young students, Joel S. Bloom — the founding dean of the Indeed, making personal connections ‘Learn to manage controversy so that it may college — the event captured what students is as core to ADHC today as it was before onors ollege lead to consensus. Learn to meld strongly and alumni love about the institution and its building opened in 1995. Back then, H C held differing opinions into an action plan the people behind it. Bloom was dean of a program that included for the common good. Recognize our Dorman, Bloom and Hamilton noted personal touches such as dinners at his differences, but emphasize our similarities. the contributions of others through home and annual camping retreats for Pay homage to our different beginnings, the years, including the founder of the first-year students that alumni still cherish but concentrate on our potential common preceding Honors Program, Richard Sher, and bond over. He said it was all about Celebrates ending,’’’ said Dorman. and previous and current members of developing human capital — something In 1995, Dorman also challenged the Honors College board of visitors like that Dorman also touted. students to “make it a lifelong duty to help former Chairs Stephen Cordes ’72, Paul “What we’re trying to build here at define and achieve important social as well Kastner ’73, Dick Sweeney ’82, ’18 HON NJIT and in the Honors College and in as scientific goals and to help inform an and Richard Schatzberg ’93 and Vice Chair our Educational Opportunity Program is unscientific segment of the body politic.” Mike Smith ’95. the human capital. And the way you engage A Milestone Looking back on those words today, Students shared their favorite classes people is by personal relationships,” Dorman said, “I’m proud to say that and projects, and Bloom and Hamilton Bloom explained. almost all of these students and graduates reflected on the past and the future, with Hamilton described the college as a place have followed those remarks.” He added all expressing admiration and gratitude that offers a rich, creative and “profound” that “particularly in these days, where the for Dorman, who earned a bachelor’s in education that connects the dots between nniversary country is so divided, it’s so important for mechanical engineering at NJIT at the technical expertise and liberal arts and A us to find common goals, to reach common age of 19 and rose to become founding serves society by addressing its most critical aims that are good for all.” chairman and CEO of the global issues. And today, that’s home to about Those who attended the virtual engineering firm AECOM. 700 students, including 139 who arrived celebration included current students, The building tour focused on common this fall. Collectively, they’ll deliver 40,000 professors, administrators, board members, areas, such as lobbies, labs and lounges hours of community service during the alumni and generous benefactors such as where students can converge to tackle 2020-21 academic year. n Dorman, who, with his wife, Joan, also school work or simply share a meal, watch a endowed two faculty fellowships. Through movie or play a grand piano, at least before Author: Andrew McMains is an NJIT a virtual tour of the college’s building led the coronavirus forced them to limit their Magazine contributing editor. by students, videos and the words of Dean face-to-face interaction and embrace Louis I. Hamilton and NJIT President online alternatives. 5njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 21 Offer your support to the Highlander Nation with a gift today, and make an immediate impact!

Consider a donation in support of the Highlander Student Emergency Fund, CREATE A whichLASTING provides LEGACY. relief to students facing financial adversity.

njit.edu/givenow ALUMNI CIRCUIT

MAL & FRIENDS

After a quarter of a century delighting readers with alumni news and stories, Mal Simon is retiring his column. Professor emeritus of physical education and athletics, Mal was director of physical education and athletics, and men’s soccer coach, for 30 years. In 1993, he received the Cullimore Medal for his service to the university. While we will miss his column, Mal encourages everyone to continue to stay in touch!

And now, the latest news from Mal.

his column marks 25 years of my a physics professor wax eloquently George Tikijian Twriting for alumni publications, about electricity, George realized he beginning in 1996 for the Alumni was more suited to the mysteries of Voice and continuing to today for NJIT invisible electrons than gears and cams, Magazine. I began my literary career so he changed his major to electrical Nancy when I retired, with a “Thanks for the engineering in his sophomore year. He lived in Memories” letter followed by two years also almost dropped out of AFROTC. Rome and penning the column “Doc and Mal” When he and Nancy got married, George Florence. with the legendary Doc Estrin, both in agonized over the pros and cons of Sounds the Voice, and then when Doc passed AFROTC, but in the end decided to stay exotic, away, getting my own byline with “Mal in the corps. However, he was almost except that and Friends.” dropped from the program due to failing Rome was I’ve truly enjoyed being in touch with an eye test on the first day of AFROTC in New alumni, many whom I knew as students at summer camp and could not be an York and NCE/NJIT and others whom I met for the Air Force officer. But George, being Florence first time through a phone call or written an ornery cuss, said “Nobody throws in South communication. It has been an honor me out of anything.” He spent the next Carolina. His first duty assignment was at and pleasure to write about so many semester proving that his eyesight was well the Verona (also New York, not Italy) test distinguished men and women. I have within the acceptable range. His efforts site, where he worked on methods and been awed by the achievements of these paid off and at graduation he was sworn in equipment to foil enemy radar jammers alumni. But it is now time to step down, as a second lieutenant in the USAF. and spoofers. so this column will be my “swan song.” George spent three years in Air Force One of his major projects was in radio And now, as Jackie Gleason said on The research and development. During the frequency interference (RFI) with Sperry Honeymooners, “Away we go.” course of their marriage, George and in Clearwater, Fla. RFI is the disruption When we last heard about GEORGE of an electronic signal caused by electric TIKIJIAN and his wife, Nancy, we had noise from another device. His project was bypassed a host of years and they had to develop a mobile test system that could already settled in Indiana. George had said measure and record electronic emissions he didn’t think he could write anything, from ultralow frequencies through to 40 but once he started he became a writing GHz. The final result was the MSM63 machine that could not turn off. I had system involving two vehicles, one a van to tell him I would have to edit his story packed with electronic receivers, and the due to word limitations, but he told me other an antenna truck (a cherry picker not to worry because his children and with antennae) that could be extended grandchildren love hearing the stories. 100 feet in the air. It was an interesting George talks about some twists and experience for a 24-year-old brand-new turns in his life. He expected to major in engineer to shepherd a $1.5 million state- mechanical engineering, but after hearing George and Nancy Tikijian of-the-art project.

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 23 ALUMNI CIRCUIT

During his three-year term, George from stupid or arrogant mistakes, and where he and Nancy live in Zionsville managed to make a few mistakes that sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness enjoying a well-deserved retirement. could have been deleterious to his career. than permission. Sounds like good It was a pleasant surprise to hear from In the RFI project noted before, he bought advice to get around red tape and get PETERIS JANSONS ’67 BSEE. Pete two trucks as government equipment things done. was always a quiet person, so it was and gave them to Sperry as government- After his release from the USAF, George not unusual for Pete to simply write, furnished equipment. By purchasing worked for Weston Instruments briefly “Greetings from your Latvian goalie.” directly, he did not have to pay the federal before starting as a full-time assistant After earning a BSEE at NCE, Pete excise tax that one would think was an instructor in NCE’s electrical engineering continued his education at Fairleigh economical way to save the USAF money. (EE) department and graduate student Dickinson University, where he received However, he soon learned this was not working on his MSEE at night. His income an MSEE. He began his professional the military way. He received a call from as a teaching assistant was abysmal, career as an engineer at Picatinny Arsenal, a major general who explained that all although he was scheduled for an increase working on many different programs. such purchases must go through his that would raise it to pitiful. George His first program was the Sprint/Spartan department. After chewing out George received his MSEE in June 1965. anti-ballistic missile program. He also without mercy, the major general told He toyed briefly about going on for worked on several 155mm smart- him to never do it again. a Ph.D., but decided against it after his munitions programs. He ended his career In another unusual case, George was mother said, “Four years college, three at Picatinny before retiring as project called on the carpet by a U.S. Navy captain years Air Force, and then two more years manager of the M109-Paladin, which is a at the Pentagon. The captain wanted to of college. Aren’t you ever going to get a self-propelled 155mm howitzer. know why George had requisitioned a U.S. paying job?” So he went to work for Pete was a steady, strong athlete who Navy diesel submarine even though his Union Carbide in New Jersey and was a four-year starter on the soccer project was located 250 miles from any continued as an EE adjunct instructor at team, playing two years as a halfback ocean. George said he really didn’t need NJIT until 1973, when Union Carbide and two years as goalie. His teammates the submarine, but he or the Navy captain transferred him to Indianapolis, voted him Most Valuable could not figure out how the requisition Player in his senior year. passed up the USAF chain of command Peteris and He reminded me about and over to the U.S. Navy before being Inara Jansons what he believed was our noticed. George finally learned that the most exciting game, at part number for his requisition, which Hartwick College when was for a special resistor for a U.S. Navy we lost 1-0 on a penalty project, was taken from an old technical kick with only 30 manual and the digits were wrong. George seconds remaining in also bent a few rules on other R & D the game. projects, but had no trouble because his Pete and his wife, direct supervisor was a career civilian who Inara, recently would give George assignments, but made celebrated their 50th it clear he did not want to know how each wedding anniversary task was accomplished with a family trip to George said that he learned some good Costa Rica. They have life lessons in the USAF. By treating senior two children and NCOs with respect, they can save you five grandchildren

24 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu ALUMNI CIRCUIT

with whom they really enjoy spending “Holger forgotten in NCE lore.” time and traveling. They live in Chicago memorized During our years at NCE/NJIT, my wife, near three of their grandchildren. Their Pi to 100 Diane, and I have had many wonderful hobby is traveling the world and so far places while experiences and have made many they have visited 75 countries. Pete and a student unforgettable friends. I’ve tried to come up Inara have encouraged their children and at NCE. with a pithy goodbye, but decided to close grandchildren to remember their Latvian This could with the same words I used in my 1996 heritage and are proud that they are fluent be a world Alumni Voice letter: Bob Hope’s “Thanks in Latvian and several other languages. record. He for the Memories.” n I decided to end my literary career with was a close Holger this interesting and historical bit from Jensen buddy JIM MORGAN of mine Mal ’56 BSEE, ’64 growing Simon MSMGT. Jim up in Clifton, N.J., and we were in most of never misses the same classes, K-12. He dared to step an opportunity out. Here’s how it happened. Around 1954, to remind me something got him to memorize Pi to 30 that he was places on his own. He casually showed the person it off one day to some NCE classmates. responsible Well, you can just guess that it couldn’t for getting stop there. Goaded on, Holger decided Bob Swanson, to memorize three more places per day, Jim Paul Hauser daring to set a goal of 100. Within a week Morgan and me to he had a big following, all coming to The be judges Commons lunchroom daily to hear him to select the go another three — all with their brown Queen of NCE’s 1956 AFROTC Ball. This bag lunches that all NCE students brought time, however, his purpose in writing from home daily. Each day more fans and was to tell me a story about HOLGER a louder roar for another three. Holger JENSEN ’56 BSEE, who had a unique was always correct, with ‘official monitors/ way of remembering the annual Pi Day judges’ designated. 66, 69, 71… Well, the celebration March 14. I must tell you that big day finally came. 100! Virtually every Holger graduated four months before NCE student (hundreds) were there for And finally, as said by I started teaching at NCE, so I did not the momentous occasion. And as always, witness this event, and also that he has Holger got it the first try. You can just Porky Pig of Loony Tunes fame, passed away, so I am taking Jim at his imagine the whooping, clapping, awe, word(s). Following is almost how Jim admiration and hero worship. Such a “That’s all, folks!” tells the story. significant and unique event must not be

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 25 ALUMNI profile

Texas Instruments engineers Kelvin Siebeng ‘19 and Jeffrey Jude-Ibe ‘20 take to the Trinity Skyline Trail in their new hometown, Dallas.

Engineering Graduates Bring Tech Skills and Gwara Gwara to the Lone Star State

hen Jeffrey Jude-Ibe ’20 flew to automotive, industrial and personal generators — and seeing how impactful Dallas in September to begin electronics markets, among others. they are in communities.” work as a quality engineer at “We manufacture, test and sell analog Both also love Afrobeats and may be WTexas Instruments (TI), Kelvin Siebeng ’19, and embedded semiconductor chips the first devotees to entertain Dallas with the person who put the semiconductor that read real-world signals such as live performances of mesmerizing, liquid giant on Jude-Ibe’s job-search horizon, temperature, pressure and humidity, moves such as “gwara gwara,” the South picked him up at the airport. With three process the data digitally, and then send African dance craze. Thursday evenings, full-time offers from major corporations it back in analog signals to be read by the the two take to the Trinity Skyline Trail and another from the FBI at his choosing, consumer,” Jude-Ibe explained, noting that that overlooks the Margaret Hunt Hill Siebeng also cemented the deal. the chips speed up the process of “making Bridge and the skyscrapers of downtown “Kelvin described TI as a company real-time decisions.” Dallas, turn on their JBL speaker and that re-engineers itself constantly to meet His job is to analyze digital power begin gyrating. the market’s demands. As an engineer, I controllers that are returned to the “There is a lot of simultaneous upper like that idea of constantly learning and company to determine what happened body and leg movement — it’s ‘body adapting,” he noted, adding that he’d when the embedded processer chips in wiggly’ — and people will sometimes ask highlighted other key considerations for digital power supplies and controller us, ‘How do you make those moves?’” a recent college graduate starting out in devices fail. Siebeng noted of awestruck observers. the world: the company’s strong employee The two are now roommates in Dallas. His friend’s final pitch, Jude-Ibe retention programs and profit-sharing. While they pursued different majors recounted, was Dallas itself. “He said Siebeng, a manufacturing supervisor in college — Siebeng in industrial that the folks here are very welcoming, for the company for the past year, oversees engineering and Jude-Ibe in electrical the weather is great, the food is ‘delish’ production of its core technology, the engineering — they overlapped in and expenses are cheap. And he always semiconductor chip, “from scratch — from organizations such as the National Society seemed to be up to something fun the moment the silicon comes into the of Black Engineers and the African Student whenever we spoke.” lab to the moment the finished chip leaves Association. Siebeng’s family moved to the His move to Texas, it turns out, has it. I’m involved from start to finish.” As a United States from Accra, Ghana, when been as smooth as his dance moves. budding entrepreneur who would like to he was in high school, while Jude-Ibe, “It hasn’t been a culture shock at all. I launch his own startup someday, his job who was born in New York, has extended love the food, especially barbecue. Kelvin affords a close-up view of the heart of family in Nigeria’s Imo State. told me how much he appreciated the an industry and the technical prowess, Indeed, Jude-Ibe traces his fascination Dallas community. I definitely get a sense soft skills and discipline required to run with engineering back to his many visits of that southern hospitality here.” n it optimally. with cousins in his family’s village. “The But he saw a fitting role there for Jude- houses run on generators and whenever Author: Tracey L. Regan is an NJIT Ibe, who is more interested in power they’d fail, I would go out to help fix Magazine contributing writer. electronics, based on the company’s them with my dad. I chose the power huge business supplying devices to the track because of those experiences with

26 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu ALUMNI profile

Promoting Justice Through Architectural Design: BRYAN C. LEE JR. ’08

fter completing his undergraduate in the movement, holding workshops his work as Place + Civic design director studies at Ohio State University, across the country since 2015, and is both for the Arts Council of New Orleans, in where he was involved with co-founder and co-organizer of Design as 2017 Lee launched Colloqate Design, a theA National Organization of Minority Protest (DAP). DAP is a coalition of design multidisciplinary Architecture + Design Architects (NOMAS) student chapter, and arts activists and educators, with a core Justice practice focused on expanding Bryan C. Lee Jr. ’08 came to NJIT’s Hillier group that includes De Nichols, Michael community access to, and building power College of Architecture and Design for an Ford, V. Mitch McEwen, Sunni Patterson through, the design of social, civic and M.Arch. in 2006 and became co-president and Taylor Holloway leading the effort cultural spaces. Colloqate is now home of the NJIT NOMAS chapter. He graduated and focusing on the role of design in social to the Design Justice Platform to support two years later with a license to practice and issues, in particular racism. the work of Design Justice in all its forms, in 2008 formed his own consulting firm in “For every injustice in the world, there whether as a not-for-profit design firm, the midst of the financial crisis. is an architecture, a plan, a design that educational platform or resource for “I graduated maybe a month before sustains it,” Lee remarked, citing a highway designers and activists. the market crashed, and what happened built through a thriving black community Lee presented a soon-to-be-published was that there were essentially no jobs. I as only one example of many destructive work on the Design Justice platform and started a practice right out of grad school urban renewal projects across the U.S. in movement at the Hillier College Design and I spent about two years working as a the ’60s. “In New Orleans, this highway Showcase 2020. There, he laid out a clear consultant with clients across the New York, infrastructure development resulted in set of principles to guide students and New Jersey and Philadelphia area,” said Lee. the loss of 400 black-owned businesses practitioners: honor the voices of an “That December, I wrote out everything I and just as many live oak trees, cutting existing community that have the deepest wanted to see myself doing in this practice through the park spaces that tied the knowledge of community needs; work to and how I wanted to practice architecture, community together.” build collective power; develop roles and if I was going to. Frankly, I was a little Engaging in the rigorous and creative opportunities for community members disillusioned. I didn’t know if I wanted to inquiry that is central to the practice to actively engage in the design process; continue. I didn’t believe that this profession of architecture and design, in order understand the stories and history of a cared about who I cared about.” to understand how spaces and places place that make it meaningful and valuable; In 2010, he got involved in coaching contribute to and manifest injustice, the seek to repair harms of the past; and always football as well as community activism DAP collective develops and disseminates stay committed to getting to the root of the and design with the community-based pre- an educational program tailored to issues as expressed in the social spaces and apprenticeship program YouthBuild, at the empower designers and activists in the places of the built environment. n University of Orange. While there, his work Design Justice movement. The data and began in earnest in what has come to be research team at DAP is responsible for the Author: Amy Stinchcombe is known as “Design Justice,” a movement that development of the Design Justice Index, communications coordinator at Hillier centers on new systems, spaces and models the definitions, concepts and frameworks College of Architecture and Design. that address, mitigate, eliminate and repair that are the guiding foundation for injustice through design. practicing anti-racist design. Lee has since become a recognized voice Building on his experience with DAP and

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JOSEPH E. SALMON M.S. ‘68 has RAJNI C. SHAH M.S. ‘78 is proud of been happily retired for several years, after his three children, including two doctors 1950BOHDAN C. HRYNIEWICZs ‘54 wrote a satisfying engineering career. Joseph and and one pharmacist. a book titled, My Boyhood War, Warsaw wife Ginny are enjoying life and cheering 1944, now available at Amazon. It includes their grandchildren’s achievements a description of his time at NCE. in school and on the soccer field. 1980MICHAEL R. CLARKEs ‘81, M.S. ‘86 WILLIAM R. DEMMER ‘55 has JOHN E. TRAINA ‘68, M.S. ‘72 is retired from the Ocean County Vocational enjoyed retirement with his wife in south working on his third startup company, Technical School after teaching computer Florida for the last 25 years. Despite recent making machines that produce eyeglass science for 18 years. Previously, Michael health issues, he enjoyed spending last lenses using the technology known as free- worked as a senior computer systems Christmas with over 20 members of form surfacing. He will be introducing analyst for Microwarehouse in Lakewood, his family. a new product next month, which will N.J., and computer manager for UMA change the way lens blanks are held for Shoe Company in Carlstadt, N.J. Michael machining. He was also proud to celebrate served five years in the Air Force as a his 56th wedding anniversary with his computer systems officer, five years in 1960PHILIP F. MINALGAs ‘66, M.S. ‘71 wife Nancy. the U.S. Army Reserve as a weapons fondly recalls Professor Stelzenmuller, instructor, and three years in the Active who opened his eyes to engineering JAMES J. CARROLL ‘69 was proud Army as a military police dog handler. design and helped him become an expert to receive professor emeritus status in filter design. from the board of trustees of Georgian PETER J. GRAZIANO ‘81 has retired Court University. James retired from the after 40 years of working in the computer STEVE M. ROHDE ‘67 was recently university this year after 29 years, and technology field. He plans to clean house, announced as a member of the Society 37 years in academia. He will continue improve his health, spend time with his of Automotive Engineers’ Contributor of to provide forensic services to the wife and pursue his passions of archery the Year Class that recognizes engineers legal community. and bowhunting. for their ongoing commitment and contributions to the organization and the ROLANDO A. ORGUEIRA ‘82 is entire mobility industry. president of R.O.’S Electric Service, Inc. 1970HARRY T. ROMANs ‘70, M.S. ‘74 ROBERT A. ROSSI ’67 has been elected published his 30th IEEE USA E-book ROBERT C. COHEN ‘83, M.S. ‘84, a Fellow by the Board of the American titled Electrical Engineering Activities for M.S. ‘87, president, Digital, Robotics, Institute of Chemical Engineers, in Use in the Classroom, for middle and high and Enabling Technologies at Stryker recognition of his 53 years of diversified school students. Corporation, spoke at the 2020 Irish industrial chemical engineering practice Medtech Business Leaders Virtual and service to the profession. For the past KENNETH C. SCHIFFTNER ‘70 is Conference, a world-class event that 12 years, he has been a process engineering an editor for the upcoming third edition brings together the world’s leading consultant to Carbon Engineering Ltd., of the Air Pollution Control Equipment business leaders and international experts in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. Selection Guide. The new edition includes on many pertinent topics including: The company is developing technology an extensive new section focused on medtech at the center of a health care to directly remove carbon dioxide from maximizing the performance of the revolution to deliver ‘whole person health the air to remediate climate change, and specific type of equipment selected. care,’ new technologies, Ireland as a global he has five related U.S. and Canadian Previous editions have found homes hub for digital health, building stronger patents. At NJIT, he was a board member on the reference shelves of engineers, supply chains, the future of work and how of the Alumni Association and currently regulatory personnel and air-pollution leaders are responding to COVID-19. serves on the Industrial Advisory Board control-equipment operators and for the NCE Department of Chemical and maintenance professionals. Materials Engineering. In 2016, he received a Distinguished Alumni Achievement KEVIN G. PAGE ‘73 plans to retire 1990GREGORY A. KELLYs P.E., M.S. ’91 Award. He is forever grateful to NJIT for from his work in land development design has been named president and CEO of setting him on the path of professionalism, next December. STV, a leader in providing engineering, constant learning and service. architectural, planning, environmental

28 NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 njit.edu 1940s 1930s 2020s 1950s CLASS NOTES 1990s 1960s 2000s

and program management and and the execution of product delivery. ANDREW M. WOO ‘08 is proud to construction management services for move into a new house! transportation systems, infrastructure, PRASHANTI ARRABOTHU M.S. ‘99 buildings, energy and other facilities. In was a featured speaker at TechSparks 2020, his new role, he is responsible for guiding a conference that brings together leaders the firm toward achieving its short- and from the tech industry, venture capitalists 2010DANIELLE L. GREENs M.S. ‘11 was long-term strategic goals with an emphasis and women from all walks of life to give a accepted to the Leadership Psychology on performance, business development, boost to women’s entrepreneurship. Doctorate Program at William James technology and human capital. He is based College in Newton, Mass., this past in New York. SAMER J. HANINI ‘99, M.S. ‘04 January. She recently became the is the founder and managing partner chief operating officer of SPAN Parent MICHAEL W. WELLET P.E., C.P.E., of Newark-based Hanini Group. He Advocacy Network in Newark, N.J. ‘95, M.S. ‘01, CEO of Whitman, has participated in the second episode of the accepted a board of advisers position at American Building podcast by Michael AMEY R. SAWANT M.S. ‘12 loves Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Graves Architecture, which talked about his job at LG Mobile. He is progressing Business, with the school’s Transformative the People’s Bank Building, his recently professionally and enjoying the lack of Leadership Program. As a member of the completed 120,000-square-foot mixed-use red tape. “When you love what you do, it board of advisers, Michael will participate project in downtown Passaic, N.J. isn’t work any more — it’s passion!” Amey in a curriculum development advisory role recommends not focusing on money in with his real-world experience providing the beginning; focus on figuring out what hands-on training that prepares students you love. to ask relevant questions, manage and lead 2000ED JIMENEZ M.A. ‘00s recently others, and communicate opportunities joined the Princeton University Office of HITESH MONGA ‘13 has enjoyed and strategies. Capital Projects management team. He traveling the world after graduating, and is is proud to contribute to the design and thankful that NJIT opened his eyes to the MICHAEL J. HANRAHAN ‘96H development of the new Lake Campus and many opportunities he has pursued. has been named a new principal of preservation of main campus facilities. Clarke Caton Hintz. Michael is based Since graduation, he has been fortunate WILLIAM H. PENNOCK III ‘13H at the firm’s headquarters in Trenton, to experience multiple building types spoke at NJIT’s Engineers Without N.J., and earned the promotion after and delivery methods working in the Borders (EWB) student chapter Oct. 1, more than 20 years with the practice. He Philadelphia and Princeton area with 2020. William is a former EWB NJIT has led many of the firm’s architecture FFMG, Hillier, AECOM and HDR. member and current mentor for the projects, with a specialty in revitalizing Ecuador Water Distribution project. historic buildings such as the Hunterdon BRUCE M. BELLAK ‘03, MMBA ‘05 County Courthouse, home of the famed took the PMP® exam in October and MATTHEW W. NAWN M.S. ‘14 has Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial of the passed on his first attempt. been managing the restoration of a former 1930s. He has been an active member of Newark city subway car for the nonprofit the New Jersey chapter of the American MATTHEW R. DOREY ‘06 has been Baltimore Streetcar Museum in inner city Institute of Architects since 1999 and rose employed by Presidio, Inc. as a senior Baltimore, Md., since 2014. This historic to AIA-NJ president in 2011. Currently, account executive in the IT industry for vehicle carried countless NJIT students Michael is working on the restoration of the past eight years. He has been married and Newark residents from 1954 until it both Lambert Castle for Passaic County for nine years to wife Megan, with whom was retired in 2001. Upon completion of and the Hoboken Public Library. he has proudly raised their 5-year-old the extensive restoration work in 2021, daughter Emma. the vehicle will return to operating THOMAS J. PETITE CERT ‘98, condition and serve to educate current M.S. ‘02 started a new role as vice APARNA J. SHAH M.S. ‘07, to and future generations of museum visitors president, Medidata Technology help make a positive difference in his about public transportation, especially Program Management Office, at community, has proudly begun to from Newark. Medidata Solutions. He works directly volunteer as a local government officer, in with Medidata’s product, engineering addition to his job in service delivery-IT. ANNA H. SRIGIRI ‘14 and WILLIAM and service teams to ensure the H. PENNOCK III ‘13H are proud to implementation of agile processes announce the birth of their second child

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in June. William has also started a South Asian Law Students Association, position as associate professor (tenure vice president of the Muslim Law Students IN MEMORIAM track) at NJIT in the Department of Civil Association and Women of Color chair in and Environmental Engineering. They the Women’s Law Student Association, and are proud NJIT sweethearts and happy is involved with various other law school John P. Humphrey ’36 to be part of the NJIT family for the activities. She is passionate about making Joseph T. Kelley ’49 long haul! Harvard a more inclusive, representative Frank S. Gutleber ’52 and supportive space for diverse people, Frederick L. Johnson ’54 JUAN S. CORDOVA ‘15 is working in the full sense of diversity. As vice chair on a $113 million reconstruction project for policy, Cynthia strives to help students Charles R. Yorio ’54 in Far Rockaway, Queens, N.Y., despite across the Harvard graduate schools build Theodore L. Beeler ’60 the pandemic. The project includes collaboration and successfully advocate for Roger F. Hone ’60 new underground sewers and water policy changes and initiatives that serve all mains, and reconstruction of the streets, of our communities. Marvin S. Zigman ’60 including a new community plaza. This Arthur E. Fuerherm ’64 is part of the New York City Department has joined RYAN J. CONWAY ’17 Kenneth D. Meola ’64 of Design and Construction’s efforts McCrone Inc. in its Salisbury, Md., office to revitalize the area. He attributes as a design engineer. Ryan joins McCrone George D. Calder ’66 his success to his NJIT degree, which from Vista Design, Inc., where he was a civil Richard L. MacGregor ’66 encouraged him to work for the project engineer. Donald J. Sime ’68 betterment of society. MARY GESCHWINDT ‘17H is pursuing Dennis R. Surbrug ’70 CYNTHIA AHMED ‘17H is currently a Master of Urban Planning at the Harvard John T. Olthof ’74 a third-year J.D. candidate at Harvard Graduate School of Design. Robert G. Kilian ’76 Law School. Cynthia is a proud first- Frederick E. Oliver ’78 generation Bangladeshi-American and SIXTO R. BAEZ MONEGRO M.S. ‘19 an enthusiastic New Jersey native. She is worked as a dishwasher when he first Nestor M. Nonato ’79 also a proud product of the public school came to the United States. After receiving John P. Fell ’83 system, having attended public schools in his degree from NJIT, he is now manager Ronald A. Sticco ’85 New Jersey for her K-college education. at New York City Transit, the largest At Harvard Law School, Cynthia transportation agency in North America. Irving Pressley McPhail ‘15 HON currently serves as the president of the

Highlander History Project

The Highlander History Project is a record of favorite memories, heartfelt stories, anecdotes about 2,738 1,811 635 professors and classmates, and campus recollections respondents stories photos from NJIT alumni. The project, now complete, will compile these stories into a printed publication All alumni are invited to share their accomplishments and milestones for possible for alumni. n inclusion in NJIT Magazine at njit.edu/development/class-notes.

3230 NJIT MAGAZINE || WINTERWINTER 20212020 njit.edu RECENT VIRTUAL EVENTS

Young Alumni Trivia Night

Virtual Holiday Wine Tasting

Cyber Resilience: Decrease Risk, Empower Growth

Virtual Celebration of Dr. Angelo Perna’s Life and Legacy

Highlander Chat: Building Corporate Partnerships With Universities Robert C. Cohen ’83, ’84, ’87 Chairman, NJIT Board of Trustees President of Digital, Robotics, and Enabling Technologies at Stryker Corporation

Highlander Chat: Living Entrepreneurship Marjorie A. Perry ’05 MBA Chairwoman, NJIT Board of Overseers President and CEO, MZM Construction

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To view these and other recent virtual events, and see what’s coming up, visit njitalumni.vids.io

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 31 R1 “Very High Research Activity” NJIT Research Ranking by Carnegie Classification® of Institutions of Higher Education One of only three R1 research universities in New Jersey

$161M total research expenditures in FY2019

4 National Science Foundation CAREER award winners in 2020

CAREER awards are prestigious, highly selective grants supporting early-career researchers. IN CONCLUSION

The real-life Grovers Mill, in West Windsor, N.J., site of the 1938 radio version of The War of the Worlds.

HISTORIC SCIENCE FICTION OFFERS LESSONS FOR LIVING WITH PANDEMICS

cience fiction sometimes shows us “The notion that you can see the special effects; however, there is plenty we the future, but really just shows us future is a reassuring fantasy. But science can learn from more realistic science such ourselves, asserts Associate Professor fiction isn’t really a window; it’s a mirror. as depicted in the 2011 film Contagion, Sof Humanities and sci-fi aficionado Nancy At its best, it creates a kind of metaspace Steffen-Fluhr said. “But it won’t make you Steffen-Fluhr. from which we can see the shape of the necessarily feel better,” she added. The She was teaching the 2014 novel present,” Steffen-Fluhr observed. “But plot features heroic government leaders, Station Eleven, about a troupe of actors the future itself eludes us. Life is full which many people today would see as and musicians struggling for normalcy of surprises, as we have recently differing from reality. after a global pandemic kills most of the been reminded.” Steffen-Fluhr also cited British author world’s population, in spring 2020 right She asked students what possessions H.G. Wells’ 1897 story The War of the as COVID-19 formed in Asia, reached they would want to take along if COVID-19 Worlds — better known here in New America and found its way to Newark. or some future pandemic ever became Jersey for Orson Welles’ 1938 variant as “First time I ever taught it. I didn’t as bad as in Station Eleven. She was a radio drama, set at the real-life Grovers know we were having a pandemic,” joked pleasantly surprised that they didn’t Mill in West Windsor Township — for its Steffen-Fluhr, who teaches science fiction automatically say their smartphones, surprise ending where marauding Martians as a 400-level humanities senior seminar instead desiring the information therein. are revealed as utterly vulnerable to and a 300-level literature course. She is Memories such as pictures, messages and human germs. also director of NJIT’s Murray Center for gifts were the most common answers. For “Science fiction rarely gets the future Women in Technology. humankind, merely surviving a pandemic exactly right. It’s more like a collective Station Eleven, by Canadian author isn’t sufficient if our new normal lacks whistling in the dark. But the best of it Emily St. John, won Britain’s Arthur C. social bonds, she said. reminds us that, for all our dreams of Clarke award for best sci-fi book of the In good sci-fi, she observed, “There’s an transcendence, we are part of the web of year and other prestigious honors. But intense sense of existential vulnerability. life and not outside of it — a good thing it may have improved with age, due to It pulls the ground out from under our to remember as we put on our face masks relevance. It could be a warning, even feet, even if it usually restores our sense of each day.” n though it has a happy ending where the equilibrium at the end.” main characters stumble on a community Too many pandemic stories use disease Author: Evan Koblentz is an NJIT Magazine rebuilding itself. only as an excuse to bring on zombies or contributing writer. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Newark, NJ New Jersey Institute of Technology Permit No. 3353 University Heights Newark, NJ 07102-1982 njit.edu

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