FALL 2020

MAGAZINE

HIGHLANDER GRADS SOAR DESPITE TURBULENT TIMES

NJIT APPOINTS NEW VICE PROVOST AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

NJ CONSORTIUM DEVELOPS MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A MESSAGE FROM NJIT PRESIDENT JOEL S. BLOOM

STORIES OF SUCCESS

s we enter the fall season, our country remains gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating effects. At NJIT, though, we are heartened A by the many ways in which our university community has responded with an unrelenting focus and dedication, which we reported on in the spring/summer issue of NJIT Magazine. Our success has continued. When NJIT moved swiftly to remote instruction in March — to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff — our graduating seniors deftly balanced finishing their coursework with launching their careers. Under trying circumstances, they persevered and began the next chapter of their lives. Many landed positions at prominent companies, including American Express, Google and Facebook, while others went on to pursue advanced degrees in fields ranging from entomology and astronomy to medicine and structural engineering. In this issue, we highlight a handful of this year’s Highlander graduates. Another noteworthy achievement is NJIT’s collaboration with University Hospital in Newark and The Tuchman Foundation in developing modular, mobile medical care facilities for rapid deployment to regions in need of health care infrastructure and challenged by disease outbreaks and other disasters. These modules, fabricated from 40-foot-long repurposed shipping containers, include customizable internal environments that can be configured for a variety of medical needs. Created in response to clinical capacity constraints posed by the pandemic, the modules were tested in July through patient-care simulations at University Hospital and proved highly effective. Welcoming new faculty and staff to NJIT always is a pleasure, and we are delighted in this issue to introduce you to Kamalika Sandell, NJIT’s new chief information officer (CIO) and vice provost. Kamalika joins us from American University, where she was deputy CIO, and brings decades of experience in the information technology field. (She speaks three languages as well!) Her vision is to transform the information services and technology department into “solutions architects” by building on existing work and initiating data and enterprise services that are more personalized. We look forward to seeing how those initiatives benefit our university community. I hope you enjoy this issue of NJIT Magazine. As always, we welcome

your feedback. n NJIT MAGAZINE FALL 2020 Fall 2020

Joel S. Bloom President Matthew Golden Chief Strategy Officer Karen Hume Executive Director of Publications and Creative Services features Julie Jacobs Editor NJ Consortium Jesse Jenkins, Evan Koblentz, Tracey L. Regan Develops Mobile Medical Contributing Writers Unit to Address Health Diane Cuddy Facility Shortage 8 Designer NJIT, University Hospital in Newark Babette Hoyle and The Tuchman Foundation are Production Manager 8 engaged in a unique partnership ______to help areas faced with disease Kenneth Alexo, Jr., Kevin D. Belfield, outbreaks and a lack of health Marybeth Boger, Atam P. Dhawan, care infrastructure. Craig Gotsman, Louis Hamilton, Moshe Kam, Branko Kolarevic, NJIT Appoints New Michael K. Smullen, Oya Tukel Editorial Advisory Board Vice Provost and ______Chief Information Officer 12 Kamalika Sandell looks to make an NJIT Magazine is published by New Jersey impact by building scalable services Institute of Technology, Office of Strategic Communications. Its mission is to foster ties that transform the information services with alumni, university friends and corporate 12 and technology department. partners and to report on relevant issues, particularly those in education, science, Highlander Grads Soar research and technology. Despite Turbulent Times 14 Please send letters of comment and The university’s most recent graduates requests to reproduce material from persevered and prospered, landing the magazine to: positions at many notable companies NJIT Magazine and pursuing advanced degrees in a Office of Strategic Communications range of disciplines. University Heights Newark, NJ 07102-1982 [email protected] ______

On the web: 14 departments magazine.njit.edu ______Abstracts 2

Point By Point 7 Alumni Circuit 18

In Conclusion Inside Back Cover

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and provides further validation of our university’s uncommon results and growing reputation for both student success and research productivity.” NJIT Provost and Senior Executive Vice President Fadi P. Deek added, “Our performance in the first-ever QS USA University Rankings 2020, placing NJIT among the Top 100 universities in the U.S., is yet another result of the superb work of our faculty and students. It also provides one more confirmation of NJIT’s evolution that has been effected through meticulous strategic thinking and action in support of our four-pronged Over 700 universities were evaluated mission of education, research, economic NJIT RANKS according to 17 metrics falling into the development and engagement.” following broad categories: employability, The university also has been named AMONG THE diversity and internationalization, a top college according to The Princeton learning experience and research. Some Review in the newest edition of its college TOP UNIVERSITIES of the highest-weighted metrics include: guide, “The Best 386 Colleges” — a academic reputation, alumni outcomes, designation only about 14% of America’s ew Jersey Institute of Technology salary after 10 years, Fulbright recipients 2,800 four-year colleges have earned. (NJIT) has been ranked third in per institution, international research NJIT received honors as a top college NNew Jersey and 74th nationally in a network, Pell Grant recipient ratios in the Northeast region and a best Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World and instructional expenditure per value college as well. Additionally, NJIT University Rankings®: USA 2020 list, full-time student. has been selected as a Top 50 College placing NJIT in the top 10% of NJIT President Joel S. Bloom said for Undergraduate Game Design and universities nationwide. of the ranking, “This is excellent news Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Studies. n

BOARD OF TRUSTEES WELCOMES NEW CHAIR

obert Cohen ’83, M.S. ’84, M.S. ’87 is the Joint Replacement. He has worked in the new chair of NJIT’s board of trustees. orthopedic medical device industry for CohenR is president of Digital, Robotics, and more than 35 years and holds more than Enabling Technologies at Stryker Corporation, 25 patents. At NJIT, Cohen has served on a recent promotion from his previous position Newark College of Engineering’s board as vice president for Global Research and of visitors for over 10 years and joined Development and chief technology officer, the university’s board of trustees in

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Math Success Initiative Celebrates First Cohort of Graduates

ast summer 35 11th-graders from The university celebrated the students’ four Newark high schools — Central, success at a virtual ceremony in June. The first cohort of the Math Success Initiative. MalcolmL X Shabazz (where Naseed Gifted As Jacqueline Cusack, CPCP’s executive ‘01 is the principal), Science Park and director, noted in welcoming the Technology — participated in a seven- attendees, “We dare not let this moment ready for an NJIT educational experience week enrichment program as part of the pass without saying what a great job and degree.” inaugural Math Success Initiative (MSI), an they’ve done.” He later added, “We do want to be academic partnership between NJIT, the Many were on hand to congratulate a model of how you educate diverse city of Newark and Newark Public Schools. the MSI participants for their hard work, populations of students, so they know how During the past school year, 23 of the 35 persistence and determination, including they can think together, work together, completed either Math 110 or Math 111 Joel S. Bloom, president of NJIT; Mayor enjoy one another and continue to learn as a student at the university. And this fall, Ras J. Baraka, city of Newark; Nicole about the differences as well as the 17 of the 23 are full-time Highlanders; Johnson, deputy superintendent of the similarities in each and every one of another two will begin attending NJIT Newark Board of Education (NBOE); our backgrounds.” in spring 2020. Mario Santos, assistant superintendent for Mayor Baraka commented that the work Beyond representing the first cohort of high schools, NBOE; Marsha Armstrong, the students have done “becomes much the program, these students exemplify the youth program director, city of Newark; more important, not just for yourself but for MSI mission: to increase the number of Kevin Belfield, dean, CSLA; Bruce Bukiet, hundreds and thousands of people that are Newark high school graduates who enroll associate professor, NJIT mathematical around you and that will come after you.” at NJIT for undergraduate education. sciences; Donivyn Schmidt, university Perhaps the most impactful remarks MSI is designed to strengthen their lecturer, NJIT mathematical sciences; came from the MSI graduates themselves, math knowledge and skills as well as Ken Horowitz, university lecturer, NJIT who described the program as a “life- their college readiness. It also provides mathematical sciences; Levelle Burr- changing experience” that both improved professional development to a select Alexander, director of special projects, their math skills and offered a bird’s-eye number of mathematics teachers from the CPCP; and Monique Paden-Hutchinson, view of college. designated high schools to build learning director of the TRIO-Talent Search The MSI cohort for summer 2020 communities that support best practices Program, CPCP. welcomed 46 students from five Newark in mathematics instruction. NJIT’s Center “We want more Newark residents high schools (West Side High was added for Pre-College Programs (CPCP) and engaged in our university,” said Bloom, this year). Of the 46, 41 were invited and College of Science and Liberal Arts (CSLA) calling the MSI a “critically important 37 agreed to take Math 110 or Math 111 administer the program. program” for “getting more students this academic year. n

2018. He also is a recipient of the Alumni capacity. I also am very fortunate in that my at what has been a rapidly increasing rate, and Achievement Award in 2012, and served as colleagues — my fellow members of the board are exceptional not only at teaching the core vice president of the Alumni Association of trustees — are an amazing and dedicated subjects but also at adapting and teaching board of directors. group of diverse individuals who are equally the newer, cutting-edge technologies,” he “Robert Cohen is a three-time alumnus of committed to seeing the continued success of continued. “Our university’s reputation has NJIT with both undergraduate and advanced this university,” offered Cohen in a message to grown widely, and NJIT has garnered many degrees, and he is a perfect example of what the NJIT community. prestigious accolades, both nationally and our university is about,” said NJIT President “Over the lengthy duration of my internationally. There is no doubt in my mind Joel S. Bloom. “We are thrilled to have him relationship with NJIT, my pride in this that our future will be a bright one.” lead our board of trustees, and play an even university only has grown. Our students Cohen assumes the reins from outgoing more prominent role in the university’s future.” and alumni are realizing incredible personal chair Stephen P. DePalma ’72, who served on “Without question, it is a privilege and and professional success. Our faculty are the board of trustees from 2003-2020, as well honor to serve my alma mater in this producing innovative and impactful research as on the board of overseers from 1989-2003. n

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Angelo Perna (center) was honored by NJIT at the 2019 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Beside him are (left) Durgamadhab Misra, associate chair and professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Abdallah Khreishah, program director of the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at NJIT.

NJIT REMEMBERS BELOVED FACULTY MEMBER

ngelo Perna, educator, researcher Professor Perna joined NJIT in 1967 many of whom kept professional ties and mentor at NJIT for more than after graduating with a doctorate from with him, sometimes many decades A50 years, died July 1, 2020, after a the University of Connecticut. He earned after graduation. Alumni often came long illness. A professor of chemical his Master of Science and Bachelor looking for him at annual reunions, and engineering, he also was director of the of Science in Chemical Engineering mentioned him in letters and articles as a Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate from Clemson University. Among his key influencer who helped them prepare Achievement Program and adviser to many contributions to the education of for professional success. Indeed, Professor the chemical engineering honor society, chemical engineers at NJIT, Professor Perna’s legacy is the generations of NJIT Omega Chi Epsilon. He served for many Perna was the developer of the NJIT students who owe him the training and years as the adviser to the Student pilot-scale Unit Operations Laboratory, careful preparation that launched their Chapter of the American Institute of designed and implemented with his rewarding careers and positioned them Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and taught longtime collaborator and friend Professor to make a mark in a highly competitive many courses to undergraduate and Deran Hanesian. This remarkable facility environment. Moreover, with his longtime graduate students. continues to serve NJIT’s chemical service and dedicated involvement, he Professor Perna was widely recognized engineering students to this day, often served as our living institutional in his field. A Fellow of AIChE, he was providing realistic hands-on experiences memory. He carried our collective highly active in this professional society and preparing our students to tackle the knowledge and learned experiences, and was the recipient of its highest complex challenges of the industry and and provided insight and advice from service awards, including AIChE’s the marketplace. decades of experience and careful “Shining Star Award” in 2015, recognizing Professor Perna was highly active observation. His colleagues and students significant contributions and exceptional until his last days at NJIT, involved in all will miss his intelligence, guidance, volunteerism. Most recently, he earned aspects of NJIT life — education, research, counsel and friendship. n the distinction of a “Lifetime of Service retention, recruitment, governance and to AIChE,” presented to him in long-term planning. He had a large Contributed by Moshe Kam February 2020. group of followers among NJIT’s alumni, Dean, Newark College of Engineering

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“There probably weren’t that and build bridges among communities many engineers that applied through international educational … so that made my application programs for emerging leaders who share stand out from the start — like, a strong commitment to social equity in ‘hey, look, we have an engineer their own communities, and beyond.” from Kentucky applying for The organization has engaged more than this social sciences fellowship 2,000 fellows and senior fellows to date, in Europe,’” said Andrews and partners with foundations, nonprofits, laughingly. businesses and universities. The now third-year industrial Through his fellowship, Andrews engineering major and Albert examined democracy and pluralism in Dorman Honors College student modern Germany in the context of the was scheduled to travel to Berlin for the Holocaust. The program required him to June 2020 fellowship, which centers on complete an individual “action project” Honors Student Is diversity, human rights and citizenship that addressed the issues delved into around the world. He would have met during the fellowship. the First at NJIT to with community leaders, politicians and “I think it was the focus on preserving Receive Prestigious activists and toured the city, all as part the rights of those who historically would of an international group of 26 students not have them, especially now,” Andrews Fellowship from Germany, Greece, Bosnia, the United remarked of what appealed to him about States and other countries. While an the opportunity. “We are in troubled onald “Will” Andrews, NJIT’s first- in-person experience may come at a later times and this was even before COVID hit. ever recipient of the Humanity in date, the fellowship continued as planned, There are people in unfortunate situations DAction Fellowship, attributes his selection albeit virtually via Zoom during this time around the world, and there are different for the distinguished summertime of COVID-19. contexts for those bad situations.” n program to his choice of study at the Established in 1997, Humanity in Action university: industrial engineering. seeks to “foster democratic awareness

NJIT STUDENT SENATE MAKES HISTORIC GIFT TO THE HIGHLANDER STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND

ulika Das, a biomedical engineer who New Jersey region into lockdown aspires to discover new treatments for and shut students out of jobs. traumaticT brain injury, confronted her own Between April 1 and June 30 alone, health care conundrum this summer just the NJIT community contributed as she was making the leap from master’s $175,000. An infusion of $50,000 to doctoral student: She lost her job in the from the NJIT Student Senate in pandemic-driven shutdown, landed in the August boosted the fund’s restorative hospital after suffering an allergic reaction powers substantially. Left: Anuj Patel, Student Senate president. and found herself short of funds to cover “Every year, we use unspent funds Right: Tulika Das, biomedical engineer and her co-payment. from student organizations’ activity fees doctoral student. “This is the first time I’m living outside to put toward major projects, such as of my family’s house in Kolkata, India. the renovation of the Campus Center I was also in the process of paying to lobby. This year, we decided to help approximately $462 per student. extend my visa to pursue a Ph.D. in NJIT students,” said Anuj Patel, the NJIT President Joel S. Bloom Professor Bryan Pfister’s brain injury lab, so Senate president. applauded the student senators for it was a difficult period,” Das recounted. The fund currently provides grants of their “wonderful generosity and A timely award from NJIT’s Highlander up to $500 for unanticipated emergency decisive action.” Student Emergency Fund, she said, came expenses. Recipients have applied them “To recognize — and act on — the to the rescue. this year toward medical expenses, urgent needs of their fellow students at While the fund was established nearly housing costs, books, educational this uniquely difficult time in the life of a decade ago, it became a focus for technology and even tuition. As of our country is to me a shining example of fundraising this past spring, shortly after early August, the fund had distributed student leadership at its best,” the pandemic drove the New York and $210,250, for a total of 455 awards, or Bloom said. n

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Matthew Joseph Moye, graduate student speaker and a Ph.D. recipient in mathematical sciences, noted, “We are graduating during a truly challenging time. In the years to come, we can reflect on the adversity we’ve had to face, both personal and as a community, and recognize how we embodied the strength needed to overcome it, aided through the lessons and experiences we’ve shared at NJIT.” Four honorary degrees were presented by Stephen P. DePalma ’72, outgoing AT NJIT’S 104TH COMMENCEMENT, NJIT board of trustees chair. Vincent L. DeCaprio ’72, president and CEO (retired) HELD VIRTUALLY, CLASS OF 2020 URGED of Vyteris, Inc., and past vice chair of NJIT’s board of trustees, and M. Stanley TO MAKE AN IMPACT Whittingham, distinguished professor at Binghamton University’s Department “It is an unusual graduation, but what world that needs you so much.” of Chemistry and Materials Science and is extraordinary always is the work of All of the virtual Commencement Engineering, and the 2019 Nobel Prize this class,” said U.S. Sen. Cory Booker speakers that followed echoed the in chemistry recipient for developing HON ’09, who began NJIT’s 104th senator’s sentiments. NJIT President Joel the lithium-ion battery, each received Commencement with a pre-ceremony S. Bloom said, “There is no question an honorary Doctor of Science. heartfelt greeting thanking the university’s that we are living through one of the Steven B. Kalafer, chair and CEO of 2020 graduates for their grit, hard work, most difficult and uncertain times in our Flemington Car & Truck Country, owner sacrifice and struggle, and for epitomizing history,” but that the graduates are cause and chair emeritus of the Somerset Patriots what “Jersey Strong” is all about. The for optimism as NJIT sends them “into and member of NJIT’s board of overseers, senator’s message of congratulations a world that desperately needs them, and Sheila Y. Oliver, lieutenant governor was one of many during the June 12 maybe now more than ever.” of New Jersey, were recipients of honorary ceremony, held virtually this year as He also noted their intelligence, Doctor of Humane Letters degrees. the world continues to face disruption inquisitiveness, determination, diversity, Oliver also delivered the Commencement and devastation caused by the collaboration and bravery, and how many address, during which she celebrated the coronavirus pandemic. stepped up during this unprecedented graduates for their fortitude. A longtime Sen. Booker shared a meaningful story time of COVID-19 by serving as EMTs, advocate of the university, she remarked, with the 2,931 graduates, one of NJIT’s producing personal protective equipment, “We know the success and value of largest classes to date. In the aftermath volunteering in hospitals and food this institution is not only measured in of Superstorm Sandy, when he was then kitchens, and more. numbers, statistics or rankings. It is first mayor of the city of Newark, he came Undergraduate student speaker and and foremost measured by your success, upon a man on a hill amid downed live Student Senate President Amanda Azer, and your future is bright because you have wires. The man, he said, had shown up who received her bachelor’s in biology, been very well prepared. with a floodlight to alert other people started her message with a creative rap “While we cannot physically be to the wires, many of whom he did not song. In addressing her fellow graduates, together, we are certainly in this together. know. With this tale, the senator urged she commented. “Though we are unable We are one New Jersey family.” the graduates to bring love, kindness and to celebrate in the manner we had Degrees later conferred, the ceremony decency into every decision they make. hoped for, we must remember that your ended with graduates declaring, “We “Don’t underestimate your power. Use accomplishment is one of great measures, hope that you are ready for us!” it every day to make a difference in this and you are now the future of society.” The world awaits them. n

6 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu POINT BY POINT

The Latest News About NJIT Sports njithighlanders.com

NJIT JOINS THE AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE

of the America East Conference. “They basketball, men’s and women’s cross will be a great addition to our league and country, men’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s Effective July 1, 2020, NJIT became strengthen the academic and athletic soccer, men’s and women’s indoor and the 10th full member institution of the profile of our conference.” outdoor track and field, men’s swimming America East Conference. The current “We are very excited to begin this next and diving, and women’s volleyball. members of the conference are State chapter of NJIT athletics as a member The Highlanders depart the ASUN University of New York at Albany, of the America East Conference,” said Conference after five seasons as a member Binghamton University, University of Associate Vice President/Director of (first season 2015-16), which marked the Hartford, University of Maine, University Athletics Lenny Kaplan. “Since the first time that they had been a full member of Maryland, Baltimore County, University beginning of our Division I journey 15 of an automatic qualifying NCAA Division of Massachusetts Lowell, University of New years ago, the goal has always been to be I multisport conference. The efforts of the Hampshire, Stony Brook University and in a regional conference and aligned with NJIT administration and the Highlanders University of Vermont. The Highlanders like-minded institutions. The America athletics department and coaching staff are the first addition to the America East East provides us with an exceptional have paid off, as the Highlanders have Conference since UMass Lowell joined opportunity, and we are happy to call the achieved national, regional and local in 2013. America East our new athletics home.” recognition for their accomplishments on “We are thrilled to welcome NJIT as NJIT will compete for the America East the playing field, including honors, titles America East’s 10th member institution,” Championships in a total of 14 sports, and awards earned as a member of the said Amy Huchthausen, commissioner including baseball, men’s and women’s ASUN Conference. n

NJIT’S ALVARO GIMENO REPRESENTED SPANISH NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL TEAM

NJIT men’s volleyball rising senior Alvaro Gimeno represented the Spanish National Team for the third straight summer. The team competed from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 in Cyprus, with the qualifier games consisting of three days of games, two days of rest and three more games against Cyprus, Moldavia and Latvia. The champion, Latvia, now qualifies for 2021 EuroVolley. Gimeno, one of the youngest players on the 22-person Spanish roster, competed with the U20 Spain National Team at the 2019 CEV European Golden League and 2018 CEV U20 Volleyball European Championships. The 6-foot-9-inch outside hitter, who was selected to the 2020 American Volleyball Coaches Association men’s Division I-II All- America second-team and named Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Co-Player of the Year, led the Highlanders in three categories: kills (174; 3.62 kills per set; 20th in the nation), service aces (25; 0.52 aces per set; 9th in the nation) and digs (74; 1.54 digs per set). An Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association first-team honoree, Gimeno’s .353 hitting percentage ranked 23rd in the nation. He reached double-digit kills in 12 out of 14 matches this season, including a career-best 26 kills at George Mason (2.21). The 26 kills tied for second in the nation in a four-set match. Gimeno posted four service aces in a pair of matches, at Lindenwood (1.18) and at George Mason (2.21), season-best eight digs in three matches and six total blocks (all assists) at McKendree (1.17). n

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 7 NJ Consortium Develops Mobile Medical Unit to Address Health Facility Shortage

8 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu A prototype of the mobile medical care unit developed by a New Jersey-based consortium to deploy to areas in need of health care infrastructure.

In response to the extreme challenges to clinical capacity posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, three New Jersey institutions — NJIT, University Hospital in Newark and

The Tuchman Foundation — are collaborating in a unique partnership on the development of modular, mobile medical care facilities to be deployed to areas of surging disease outbreaks and other disasters, as well as to regions that lack health care infrastructure.

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 9 he modules, constructed in CEO of the Tuchman Group, chairman of of the bright spots has been the innovation Woodbridge, N.J., are fabricated from The Tuchman Foundation and alumnus it has sparked between the hospital and T 40-foot-long repurposed shipping of NJIT’s Newark College of Engineering. partners like NJIT,” said Shereef Elnahal, containers. They were tested in July for their “For example, in areas where the hospital president and CEO of University Hospital. effectiveness as triage centers in a series of system is overwhelmed, rather than shipping “The work between University Hospital staged patient-care simulations conducted by patients out of the affected area, we can ship and NJIT and The Tuchman Foundation medical personnel at University Hospital. containers into the area to meet the needs of exemplifies a new era for the hospital, The units include customizable internal the patient population.” which now promises to be a bright spot environments that can be configured for The partners are contributing their for innovation in New Jersey. Together, we various medical needs, including clinical respective expertise in these areas: will help everyone be better prepared for point-of-care services and the testing NJIT provides architectural design, whatever challenges come next.” and treatment of communicable and management and technological know-how. “As one of the states hit hardest by this noncommunicable diseases. They are easily Julio Garcia Figueroa, an architect and public health crisis, we must ensure we transportable for rapid deployment and can university lecturer in NJIT’s Hillier College are doing all we can to protect the health be staged horizontally to create larger clinical of Architecture and Design, is the principal and safety of each and every New Jerseyan. field operations sites with effective patient designer. Officials at NJIT’s Martin Tuchman Tackling this pandemic demands an all- separation and management. School of Management are overseeing hands-on-deck approach, and innovative “This pandemic has challenged emergency project management. projects through strategic partnerships like health care systems and patient management University Hospital, the state’s only public this one are key to providing our health care capacity globally. But it has also emphasized hospital and Northern New Jersey’s only professionals with the resources and capacity the critical importance of distributed health Level-1 trauma center, is the consortium’s they need while better preparing us for the care facilities in resource-constrained medical partner. The hospital is responsible future,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who environments in both urban and rural areas,” for, among other aspects, input and feedback inspected the medical unit this past summer. said Atam Dhawan, senior vice provost for on the units’ internal configurations, clinical The prototype was constructed by research at NJIT. “The mobile medical care use and regulatory requirements. The clinical Woodbridge, N.J.-based Integrated units we’re developing can be reconfigured team running the simulations — physicians, Industries Corp, a company that provides and adapted to deliver a variety of medical nurses, technicians and infrastructure intermodal services including container needs to augment facilities at hospitals and support personnel — is assessing the efficacy and chassis modification, fabrication and nursing homes. They can also function of workflows in the modules in order to storage services. The two demonstration independently in communities lacking continuously refine them. units tested at University Hospital in these facilities.” The Kingston, N.J.-based Tuchman July were staged one in front of the other As shipping containers, they can be Foundation, established by Martin Tuchman, with a central corridor connecting them, deployed rapidly and redeployed regionally, supplies his company’s deep experience in and included a registration/triage area, a nationally and internationally within existing shipping and logistics. The foundation, a patient waiting room and two testing and commercial intermodal networks. nonprofit corporation that supports research examination rooms. “All of these units are standard and can be on health care, including diseases and The group’s phase-1 prototype focuses moved to a particular area when there is an cures, provided initial funding to develop on simple health care provisioning, urgent need. They can be sent to any place in the prototype. including initial COVID-19 point-of-care the United States, Canada and Mexico in a “The COVID-19 public health emergency examination and testing. A potential phase-2 matter of days,” noted Martin Tuchman ‘62, has impacted every facet of our lives. But one model would address increased health

10 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu care complexity with an airborne infection manage patient overflow during the height Upper left: NJIT President Joel S. Bloom (left) isolation room required to treat and manage of the pandemic surge in the New York-New and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (right) talking about the need for innovation and collaboration critical patients. Jersey region. at the July unveiling of a New Jersey “If we’re able to scale up our model — that “Managing the COVID pandemic was consortium’s mobile medical care unit (center). Earlier in the week, the prototype, fashioned is, quickly transforming the same containers challenging because of the clinical needs from two repurposed shipping containers, was for use from testing centers to mobile field of these patients and the unique infection tested for its effectiveness as a triage center units capable of housing critically ill patients in a series of staged patient-care simulations control requirements that posed. We had to conducted by medical personnel at University who have contracted infectious diseases — isolate patients on a greater scale than ever Hospital in Newark. we will need to develop something highly before. At the peak of the surge, almost every Below: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (fifth from left) adaptable and flexible. Some areas may lack patient in the emergency department needed joins members of the New Jersey consortium ICU beds, others testing and triage centers,” to be distanced from other patients or placed that developed a mobile medical care unit, including NJIT, University Hospital in Newark said Steven Rubin, the project manager and in a negative pressure isolation room,” and The Tuchman Foundation, a nonprofit an adviser to The Tuchman Foundation who said Jonathan Green, executive director of corporation that provided initial funding to has worked in the intermodal and container University Hospital’s emergency department. develop the prototype. shipping logistics sectors for three decades “By rapidly expanding our space with and is a member of the board of advisers of the tents, we were able to take patients The clinical needs of COVID-19 patients, the Martin Tuchman School of Management. who were not very sick out of the hospital, and the isolation requirements necessary Garcia Figueroa designed the initial units including lower-severity COVID patients, to protect our staff and other patients, to create a workflow around patients who and keep them away from the flow inside required a brand new approach,” said had potentially been exposed but displayed the ED [Emergency Department],” said Maureen Gang, M.D., vice chair of quality no symptoms, by creating enough space Lewis Nelson, chief of service of University and patient safety for University Hospital’s throughout them to safely admit, test and Hospital’s emergency department and chair emergency department, and professor of examine patients. of emergency medicine at Rutgers New emergency medicine for Rutgers New Jersey “We’ll test the value of the box’s Jersey Medical School. “By expanding our Medical School. “This spring, we were able to modularity, with the idea of potentially capacity to rapidly and safely manage the rapidly expand our emergency department scaling it up vertically or horizontally, to very ill patients in the main ED, we surely testing capacity for patients with possible accommodate dozens of beds if needed,” saved lives.” COVID-19 by using tents adjacent to our he said. In light of these experiences, the University ED. This project will provide an even better The prototype’s designers worked closely Hospital team said it viewed the mobile units solution, with built-in medical capabilities with Tomas Gregorio, chief innovation and as potentially useful screening rooms to and the ability to withstand inclement technology officer at University Hospital, fast-track care for patients needing moderate weather and storm conditions, that can be as well as with a group of emergency levels of medical attention. Their ability to quickly deployed to COVID-19 hotspots or physicians, nurses and hospital operations withstand extreme weather, such as high used for other emergencies.” experts. The team members contributed their winds, and to control the temperature inside experience in managing COVID-19 patients them, would also be an advantage, it said. Author: Tracey L. Regan is an NJIT Magazine at the hospital and in additional tented “COVID-19 has created unprecedented contributing writer. structures set up on the facility’s grounds to challenges to our medical infrastructure. NJIT Appoints Kamalika Sandell as Vice Provost and Chief Information Officer

12 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu amalika Sandell, who started earlier this summer as NJIT’s chief information officer and vice provost, is settling into her role and looking to make a positive impact. Sandell was previously deputy CIO at K American University. She’s worked in the information technology field since the 1990s, spent time in the corporate world, earned a master’s in organizational development and speaks three languages.

“Even pre-pandemic, higher Sandell said the information services and your tastes and your needs, then you should education was going through a full-scale technology department has an opportunity probably be part of making it come to life. transformation,” Sandell observed. to serve as solutions architects. In IT-jargon, “We need diversity in every possible “We know that today’s students want that means acting as strategic partners who way. Information technology is a broad choices — they want to choose the modality strive to understand problems and explore profession but sometimes to young minds it for learning, the courses, they want to solutions that add technology as a key anchor, gets very narrow — they say, ‘I have to write balance learning, research and hand-on sometimes changing the way things had been code’,” she noted. experience, they want a campus with working in the past, in order to bring in the Sandell emphasized that plenty of choices that enables them to engage and level of transformation that is needed. important jobs in STEM fields do not explore at their pace and time. … They want “The fundamental underpinnings of require coding, but simply a technical to be the architects of their own experience. a great group are already there, but the aptitude and curious mind. “I love learning “When you translate this into strategies we are using are extensions of the programming languages and new platforms. architecting enterprise services that can same strategies that were there in 2000- Every time I learn something new, it’s like support them, we need to build these 2010. Those don’t scale in their current flexing a different muscle. I don’t have a services in a completely different way than form, not anymore,” she said. favorite — I’m just glad this field allows us how they had been built during the early An example is the university’s high- to learn something new constantly.” 2000s. The same applies to learning and performance computing systems for Sandell regularly coaches girls to research from a faculty point of view. We researchers. Such systems tend to be consider technology careers and said want to incorporate research involving designed for horsepower but aren’t always she’s pleased to learn about the efforts of massive simulations and research involving exactly what researchers need — they Ying Wu College of Computing Associate data science and artificial intelligence,” can be dragsters designed for top speed Dean James Geller to recruit and retain she continued. “It’s the art and science of in a straight line, where a Formula 1 car female students, as part of a $520,000 grant building enterprise-level services that are designed to be nimble on tight turns is a through Northeastern University. differentiated, specialized, scalable, apply better choice. Her predecessor, Gregg Chottiner, broadly and incorporate specific choices, “What we don’t want to do is to get in the oversaw the addition of universitywide but integrate without friction and are way of innovation,” Sandell said, balanced cybersecurity training, an increased smart enough to continue evolving without against concerns such as security, risks, move to cloud-based services, and greater massive application changes. resources and budgets. cooperation with campus departments “I like building scalable services, and I Sandell first used Unix workstations in in selecting systems. He also moved the like building teams who are empowered to college. Her first work was IT support for university to develop capital budgets plans explore and innovate as the needs of the a local police station in India, arranged by for technology. institution changes,” Sandell added. “I was her grandfather. She entered a computer Now, Sandell said, it’s time to build looking for a challenge, a place that is bold engineering program and was one of only on existing work and initiate data and and ambitious with its vision and not afraid three women in a class of 32 students. enterprise services that offer differentiation to support transformation. Transformation That left a lasting impression. “When I and personalization, and leverage public comes with a level of risk-taking, not talk to elementary and middle-school aged and private partnerships. limiting ourselves to model things the way kids, I always remind them that computing they were modeled 10 years back, but to is not necessarily for the guys and the geeks,” Author: Evan Koblentz is an NJIT Magazine model things anticipating what lies ahead.” Sandell said. “If you want these apps to suit contributing writer.

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 13 Highlander Grads Soar Despite Turbulent Times

When the United States went into lockdown in March to stem the coronavirus pandemic, NJIT moved swiftly to

remote instruction, to both position at Fidelity and with a 20% higher ensure the safety of all the base salary. Auriemma is on the professional practices university’s community team in the internal audit group. “We members and continue support the audit function as a whole. So I personally manage the governance risk the higher education and controls platform, which is what they CHARLES AURIEMMA ‘20 experience expected by use to input all of our audits so we can From Martin Tuchman School of have historical data,” the Hopatcong, N.J., its students with the Management to American Express native explained. He also serves as a liaison or the latter half of 2019, Charles between the data analytics and business least disruption possible. FAuriemma was working double-time — people to facilitate continuous monitoring Perhaps most affected spending 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as an audit analyst of controls within the business units. for Fidelity Investments in Jersey City, and was the senior class, evenings completing his degree in financial which balanced finishing technology at NJIT’s Martin Tuchman RUKAYAT BALOGUN ‘19 School of Management (MTSM), through a From Newark College of Engineering coursework with finding full and final semester of both online and on- to Facebook jobs. As anticipated, NJIT’s campus classes. He didn’t get many zzz’s. ince the end of March, Rukayat “Yes, [I was] very tired,” he said with a SBalogun has been working for most recent graduates laugh. But, “I got lots of sleep in January.” Facebook as a site logistics analyst, persevered and prospered, Fidelity was one of three job offers overseeing staff that maintain the servers Auriemma received many months before and the facility, and ensuring compliance landing positions at many he graduated early in December 2019. with industry standards. notable companies and The others were audit positions from Logistics and leadership have become Guggenheim Partners, where he interned, the December 2019 industrial engineering pursuing advanced degrees and Interactive Brokers. graduate’s strong suits. She left her full- in a range of disciplines. This past January, he received a fourth, time job as a data analyst (that began as a from American Express. Auriemma was on a part-time internship) at the National Action Here, we feature just a well-earned vacation in Cancun when a rep Council for Minorities in Engineering to handful of the Highlander from the global company’s human resources department found him through LinkedIn graduates* who have made and reached out. A phone interview and NJIT proud, and take a an in-person meeting one week later were followed immediately by an offer to be a glance at the newest senior audit analyst, two rungs up from his members of the NJIT community — the Class of 2024.

* Professional status as of September 2020

14 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu Highlander Grads Soar Despite Turbulent Times

DAVID MICHAELSON ‘20 start at Facebook. Her work there entailed From Ying Wu College of Computing updating and cleaning the data on the to Google organization’s scholarship recipients, as well avid Michaelson is the latest Ying Wu as streamlining the process to access it. DCollege of Computing graduate to enter She also stepped away from another role: Google’s software engineering residency national vice chairperson of the National program. Michaelson finished his computer Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), after a science degree in May with plenty of year of service. Balogun was active in the experience. Besides studying, he worked 20 organization while an undergrad as well. It hours per week for several semesters starting was through NSBE conventions and career in 2018 as an applications development fairs that Balogun, who grew up in East intern at Broadridge Financial Solutions. Orange, N.J., landed an internship with Otis The resident of Lawrence Township is Elevator Company and co-ops with Johnson a nerd’s nerd — “I really do like DevOps,” & Johnson during her years at NJIT. he said, using the trendy industry term How does she think her experiences for a converged philosophy of software underscore the progress women have made development and information technology in STEM? She chalks it up a lot in her case site and zone analysis and carrying out operations. “A lot of operations, automation to exposure. the design proposal in plans, sections and and that kind of stuff. I’m really open-ended.” “Being exposed to STEM and engineering renderings. With that came technical work By working at Google, in New York, gave me the idea that I could do it. Being such as processing submittals, shop drawings he’ll have gotten two months of training exposed [to] leadership let me know that I and product data,” said Elkomos. followed by rotations to work on different could go very far in this leadership position In the spring, projects were being put projects. However, he said, sometimes there [at NSBE]. Being exposed to corporate on hold due to the pandemic and Elkomos is an excellent match and a project group America and exposed to the duties of what found herself on furlough. Speaking of her keeps the resident full time. Overall, he an actual practicing engineer can do let me classmates and peers she said, “Among the explained, “This is a yearlong program know that, OK, well you’re in the right major group of us, about half kept our jobs. Many where they will look to convert you to a and you’re capable of doing anything.” of the rest of us decided to go back to school. permanent employee.” I started doing freelance graphic design Asked which Google product team he projects by sharing my work via social media would most like to join, Michaelson said YOULIANA ELKOMOS ‘20 and building up some clientele like that. Now he’s happy to be there but could not hide his From Hillier College of Architecture and I have just started back in the Master passion for two applications in particular. Design to Design Resources Group of Infrastructure Planning program at “This is my dream job. I’m not going to ouliana Elkomos completed her Hillier College.” lie,” he said. “I’m a huge geography nerd ... so Yfive-year B.Arch. a semester early in Elkomos added, “The market will open Google Maps, Google Earth, you’ll just find January 2020 while also interning for Design again, and many more architects will me looking around randomly.” Resources Group (DRG) in Somerset, N.J. be needed to handle the changes in our DRG has the New York School Construction lifestyles. We are going to have to rewire the Authority and the New Jersey public way we think and the way we design.” schools on its client list. “While I was an intern at DRG, we worked mainly on New York public schools doing things like 3D-modeling existing buildings for new renovations and additions,

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 15 SCHOOL DAYS academic background in law that Singletary These Albert Dorman Honors walked away with this past May. Singletary College graduates are continuing says he wanted to do whatever he could do their education. to improve himself as an officer of the law • Biology graduate CHLOE JELLEY ’20 and better protect and serve his community. worked as an understudy to He saw the LTC program — which evolutionary biologist and ant expert DARIUS SINGLETARY ‘20 covers coursework in everything from Phil Barden at NJIT’s Department From College of Science and “Constitutional Issues in Criminal Justice” of Biological Sciences. Now she is Liberal Arts to the Police Force to “Digital Crime” — as a way to do that. attending Cornell University, where “I really focused on the criminal justice she was accepted into the Ph.D. arius Singletary went beyond the call entomology program with Cornell Dof duty in his five years at NJIT. By day, side of the LTC program,” said Singletary. fellowship funding to continue Singletary had been a hard-working college “I was attracted to the program because I researching the evolution and student in the Law, Technology and Culture already was interested in pursuing a career ecology of ants. (LTC) program at NJIT. By night, he was in law enforcement, and I knew having a and continues to be a full-time active police background in law would help. • Under Vivek Kumar, director of the officer for the town he grew up in, with the “My future plans are to continue to be a Biomaterial Drug Development, police officer and climb the ranks to one day Discovery and Delivery Laboratory, Rahway Police Department. SOOJIN KIM ’20 worked on a Not all officers that complete the civil become the chief of police,” said Singletary. hydrogel therapy to block formation service exam after earning their high school “And at NJIT, I learned when you put in of aberrant blood vessels in the degree — core requirements for entry into hard work and sacrifice, you will see your eyes of diabetes patients. This fall, police academy training — will share the goals achieved.” she headed to Rowan University’s Cooper Medical School with plans to specialize in trauma or urgent care.

• Working with astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History, SAMANTHA LOMUSCIO ’20 conducted high-energy astrophysics research to detect Jupiter through NJIT First-Year Class 2020 gamma-ray emissions. Today she is at the University of Virginia pursuing a 3.63 Ph.D. in astronomy. 1292 average average overall GPA • Chemistry graduate MARY SAT score MCGUINNESS ’20 is continuing her academic career as a master’s student at the University of Connecticut studying oceanography. 1,241 students emerged • For his senior capstone project, applicants civil engineering graduate NIYAM from more than 10,299 SHAH ’20 and his teammates designed a 40-story commercial tower for an empty lot in Manhattan. He hopes to make a career of Albert Dorman 23 building “very tall” steel buildings, 7 Honors College states and and is at the University of Texas high school Students at Austin pursuing a master’s in 18 structural engineering. valedictorians 1502 countries 10 salutatorians average overall SAT score • With her biology degree, SRAVYA 3.89 represented VEGUNTA ’20 is now studying at average GPA New Jersey Medical School, as part 139 of Albert Dorman Honors College’s incoming students seven-year, accelerated B.S./M.D. program. She aspires to deliver direct patient care, conduct clinical research and, down the road, engage with Doctors Without Borders and the World Health Organization.

16 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu 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

NJIT Magazine invites new correspondents to join Mal Simon in sharing news about class members and alumni organizations. 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. If you would like to be a regular correspondent, don’t hesitate to send an email to the editor of NJIT Magazine: [email protected] First, the latest news from Mal –

n June 5, 1960, a memorable event in the Navy as an R.N. WAVE (Women Otook place as the first honorary Accepted for Volunteer Emergency degrees were awarded to 99 spouses of the Service). They left the service together Class of 1960 graduating seniors. Class after four years when Mike entered President Michael Cafone, Phil Bloom Newark College of Engineering. Mike and George Tikijian organized the affair and Lois had three children — Marie, and Bernard Finver gave an inspirational Marlene and Michael — during his tribute celebrating these spouses. The college days. Their first child was born Class of 1960 was comprised of military at St. Michael’s Hospital while Mike veterans and students who attended was in chemistry class virtually next evening classes. One day Mike and some door. All together they had six children, other veterans were discussing what they all with M as the first letter in their could do to let their spouses know how first names; the additional three were Bernard and Agnes Finver much they appreciated the support they named Max, Marjory and Matthew. Mike his honorary-degree tribute. He sent me provided for so many years. They came up worked for PSE&G until his retirement the following story that he titled “A Call with the idea of awarding them a degree in 1980. Lois died after his retirement. He from Mal Simon.” similar to the degrees awarded to the remarried two years later to Ann Marie, “Recently I received a telephone call college’s students. NCE President Robert a friend whose husband had also passed from Mal Simon. Wow! What a surprise. Van Houten gave his hearty approval to away. Sadly, Ann Marie died two years He drew me back 60+ years to my the idea. ago. During his 33 years undergraduate days at NCE. I remember MICHAEL of work at PSE&G, plus Mal, the phys ed instructor, who all too JOHN CAFONE his years working in the often disrupted our strenuous study ’60 BSME was construction companies activities. Phys ed was a requirement but junior and senior of his father and son, we all liked Mal as he made a necessity class president and Mike learned all there fun. We students got up early five days a member of the was to know about a week, traveled to Newark, attended varsity basketball the building trade. He eight hours of class time or hung around team. He joined the and his son have built our frat house (Alpha Sigma Mu, the United States Navy their own homes and veterans fraternity) for a couple of hours after high school and renovated many homes to take advantage of well-prepared files served four years at in Ship Bottom, N.J. or contribute to them, and then traveled the Pomona Naval I contacted home to spend another three to five hours Station in New Jersey BERNARD FINVER on homework and study (weekends and where he met his ’60 BSME and his holidays were no exception). wife, Lois Blanche, wife, Agnes, and asked I was an aerospace engineer for most of who was also serving about their days at the ’60s, working for Curtiss-Wright and NCE while married Hughes Aerospace. Through the ’70s and Michael John Cafone and what he said in ’80s and early part of the ’90s, I ran my

18 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu ALUMNI CIRCUIT

own businesses manufacturing, importing fast-forwards to June 1960. As it turned and distributing ophthalmic products. out, we had four graduation ceremonies of During this time, I got involved with sorts. First was the AFROTC President’s George and Nancy Tikijian computers. By the mid-’90s I became quite review. I received the AFROTC medal proficient in both software development for best academic performance by an and hardware systems and began One might consider the deal I made EE cadet. Next was the commissioning migrating to larger corporations as a with my mother to enroll at NCE ceremony where I was sworn in as consultant software developer. From 1994 frivolous. She had saved enough for me a second lieutenant in the United through 2010, I was active in software to go to any college who accepted me, but States Air Force. After that was NCE’s systems development for such clients as since NCE was unbelievably inexpensive, commencement where I received my AT&T, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Ernst mom could redo her kitchen as well as BSEE. And finally, the ceremony where & Young and Goldman Sachs. Toward the buy me a new car. The deal was made; she Nancy received recognition for working to end of my career, I did technical recruiting got the kitchen and I went to NCE with support me and our children while I spent mostly for Ernst & Young. At age 77, it a brand-new ’56 blue and cream Chevy my time learning the mysteries of the was time to quit and at age 78, Agnes and Impala hardtop. On our first day at NCE, ‘electronic black box.’ So here we are today, I moved to Boynton Beach, Fla. Now my incoming freshmen were directed to with a few stops along the way, 82 years hobby is photography. the gym for orientation. We were given old, living in Zionsville, Ind.” I recall delivering an essay at the that old ‘look to the left and look to the JOSEPH P. BARRY ’60 BSME started honorary-degree ceremony that right, that person won’t be here when you at NCE in 1949. He spent two years in recognized our spouses’ unwavering graduate.’ The other thing I remember was the Army from 1953 to 1955 during the support, as we were consumed by our a brief talk about physical education from Korean War, after which he returned to curriculum and its long hours with no none other than Mal Simon! NCE at night. Joe’s wife, Patricia, received time for our family.” I persevered at NCE and with Nancy. an Honorary Degree Summa Cum GEORGE TIKIJIAN ’60 BSEE opened We were married in August 1958 and Laude. She was one of the four spouses his tribute with how he first got together I continued full time at NCE while with Nancy Magnus, who was the ultimate Nancy supported us. Our story now honorary-degree recipient. He follows Joseph and Patricia Barry, then and now. with a delightful tale that the legendary Doc Estrin would have graded an A+. It is somewhat lengthy so I had to edit and save the second part for the magazine’s next edition. Here George tells the first part of the Tikijian love story. “One Friday night a couple of buddies and I decided to crash an all-girls party we knew of. There in the rec room of a friend was Nancy Magnus. She was in plaid Bermuda shorts with a white blouse, penny loafers and bobby sox. The sight of her caused my brain to scream WOW! I decided then and there that Nancy was going to be my date at the Senior Prom and on as many other occasions as possible.

njit.edu NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 19 ALUMNI CIRCUIT

of graduates who had four children. brought out children from troubled I recall chatting with Paul at an alumni Their family continued to grow and now Northern Ireland for six-week vacations reception three years ago. Among other numbers eight children, 26 grandchildren every summer. He was Bloomfield things, we spoke about the inability of and 15 great-grandchildren. Their son Joe area coordinator and New Jersey state Rhea and Paul to take part in on-campus graduated from NJIT in 1980 with a BSCE. coordinator. The project has given over activities as a night student and how Patricia was born in the Bronx in 20,000 children, both Catholic and important the friendships were that he 1932 and moved with her family to the Protestant, a peaceful summer respite. and Rhea had with other couples going Vailsburg section of Newark in 1940. PAUL W. KLEIN ’64 BSChE wrote through the same adventure. They tried to She attended Saint Vincent Academy in that his late wife, Rhea, who earned B.A. normalize a social life by spending some Newark and this proved providential as and M.A. degrees in business education weekend dates with other couples from she met Joe at the famous NCE Dance at Montclair State University and the Paul’s class section. Rhea got to know the Club attended by girls from Saint Vincent other spouses quite well and when they and other schools in the area. When Joe all received their honorary degrees at the met Patricia it was a case of “love at first same ceremony, it was a great occasion sight” because after the dance Joe told a and meaningful to all. classmate, Bob, he was going to marry Rhea and Paul moved to Cincinnati in Patricia. After 64 years of a “blessed 1976 and then to Sarasota, Fla., in 2004; marriage,” Patricia died in 2019. Rhea had been suffering with early onset During college, Joe worked as a junior Alzheimer’s since 1996. After more than underwriter for Glens Falls Insurance three decades at Sun Chemical, Paul took in Newark, lab technician for General early retirement to allow him to stay at Electric in Bloomfield, N.J., and assistant home as her primary caregiver. She passed to the plant engineer at Maas & Waldstein away in April 2009, after spending the Co. in Newark. He joined McNeil previous four years in an assisted living Construction Co. in 1959, starting as facility. Paul is still active with NJIT’s salesman and completing his career there Florida Gulf Coast Alumni Chapter. as president. In 1989 he became township Stay tuned for the next issue of NJIT administrator of Bloomfield, retiring Magazine where, as Paul Harvey was in 1995. famous for saying, will be “the rest of A lifelong resident of Bloomfield, Joe the story.” We’ll tell you about George served as councilman for 19 years. He Tikijian’s AFROTC and U.S. Air Force was involved in numerous public and career and his career at Union Carbide, church activities, including The United and you’ll find out if you had George for a Way of Bloomfield, Essex County Heart TA or instructor in electrical engineering. Association, The Historical Association Also included in the next edition will of Bloomfield, Lions Club, The American Paul and Rhea Klein be greetings from your Latvian goalie, Legion, The Knights of Columbus and the Peteris Jansons ’67 BSEE, and a story from Parish Council of Sacred Heart Church. University of Cincinnati, respectively, Jim Morgan ’56 BSEE ’64 MSMgt about He is a life member of NSPE. was also proud of her honorary diploma Holger Jensen ’56 BSEE and his unique He is perhaps best known in Essex presented by NCE when Paul finally way of remembering the annual Pi Day, County for his work with Project finished his degree after a “lifetime” of as well as stories from other alumni. Children, a nonprofit organization that night school.

20 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu “The leaders of tomorrow are counting on us.”

S Y O T C I E

MARJORIE A. PERRY ’05 OWNS HER LEGACY

Marjorie A. Perry '05 (right) with “OWN YOUR GREATNESS. OWN YOUR POWER.” That’s what Marjorie A. Perry ’05, NJIT mentee, Rashmi chair of the NJIT Board of Overseers, tells the young people who come to her seeking advice. Kamkeri '18. Thinking big extends to Marjorie’s philanthropy as well. When she considered what she wanted to accomplish by giving to NJIT, she wanted it to be special. “NJIT helped me build the economic strength to do something that would make people take notice,” she says.

With the naming of the Marjorie A. Perry Theatre in the university’s Wellness and Events Center, Marjorie achieved her vision. “It is so wonderful to see my name displayed in a place where students go to cultivate their minds. I want them to ask who I am, and to find inspiration in my story,” she remarks.

Marjorie has ensured the longevity of her gift by including NJIT in her will, thus becoming a member of the 1881 Society. Her bequest will create an endowed fund to provide funding for the Perry Theatre and for the leadership-focused programs that will be presented there.

Marjorie is eager to inspire others to join her in building something great. “Education makes a difference,” she says. “Let’s see to it that every student who wants to go to college can afford to do so. They need us now more than ever.”

To learn more about Marjorie’s life and her legacy at NJIT, please visit 1881 Society Legacy Stories — Marjorie Perry

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. ALUMNI profile

Tech-Savvy Judge Helps Usher in COVID-Era Virtual Courtrooms: SOHAIL MOHAMMED ‘88

n March 15, Chief Justice Stuart from 21 pre-COVID virtual courtrooms, pre-trial intervention conditions, Rabner suspended in-person which support first court appearance a program designed to keep low-level, proceedings in New Jersey hearings for people over weekends, to typically first-time, offenders out of the OSuperior Court, giving the judiciary two 230 virtual courtrooms for routine court system, and the case is supposed to be days to prepare for virtual courtrooms. By matters that are streamed live to the public. dismissed. Should he or she wait until I that afternoon, Passaic County Superior By the end of May, there were around 350. return to my physical courtroom to do it?” Court Judge Sohail Mohammed ’88, a Because of his technical savvy, Addressing a matrimonial lawyer’s former electrical engineer and technology Mohammed was asked by his assignment privacy concerns in a May training session, enthusiast, had already established one in judge, Ernest Caposela, to help expedite he noted that confidential meetings the basement of his house. the massive push. Over the course of three between lawyers and clients that take place His real work began the next day, months, he instructed more than 2,500 in breakout rooms are not recorded. however. In Zoom conferences with people from around the state, from the Mohammed says he views virtual about 150 people, Mohammed began Passaic County Bar Association in the courtrooms as superior in some aspects. instructing fellow judges, law clerks and early days, to the Bergen, Essex and “I can create five private breakout rooms attorneys on the mechanics of conducting state bars, to municipal court judges for discussions. We can always figure out cases remotely by phone, tablet and and attorneys. the logistics.” videoconference. He taught them how to At the height of the pandemic, with the He calls virtual courtrooms a normal hold proceedings such as plea negotiations, exception of jury trials, New Jersey courts progression for a tech-savvy society. In hearings, oral arguments, sentencing and handled virtually all types of legal matters, September, the Passaic vicinage became restraining orders; merge phone calls from drug court hearings, to domestic the first in the state to select a grand jury and join interpreters; send encrypted violence cases, to adoptions. Seated at a entirely virtually. documents to protect medical and other desk in his basement with an image of “A lot of procedures that can be done personal records; and create virtual his physical courtroom as background, virtually will be. My vision is that as people breakout rooms on Zoom that allow Mohammed, a Criminal Court judge, was become accustomed to the technology, a attorneys to confer privately with their managing a full calendar of two to three remote presence may become the norm clients one minute and the judge the next. dozen cases on his busiest days. for making arguments, filing motions, Within a couple of weeks, New Jersey “There are truly emergent cases that pleading to charges and downgrading had moved all court functions handled can’t wait, including children who are charges and paying fines,” he noted. by the judiciary’s nearly 10,000 employees neglected or abused, people contending “Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the across 600 facilities to remote operations. with domestic violence, tenants about to platforms are already there. So why should In one week alone, the system jumped be evicted with nowhere to go and people people have to take time off from work and in immediate need of medical treatment spend several hours waiting for a simple weighing decisions about whether to go matter to be heard?” n on life support or not,” Mohammed said. He added, “But there are so many Author: Tracey L. Regan is an NJIT other cases I view as pressing. For Magazine contributing writer. example, a person has completed their

Passaic County Superior Court Judge Sohail Mohammed ’88, a former electrical engineer and technology enthusiast, establishes a virtual courtroom in the basement of his house.

22 NJIT MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 njit.edu ALUMNI profile

Architecture Alumni Redesign Historic N.J. Church for New Harriet Tubman Museum

ape May’s new Harriet Tubman community throughout the 19th Museum, which is hosting virtual century. Tubman worked in local hotels openings this year due to COVID-19 as a summertime cook from 1850- andC plans to open conventionally in spring 1852. It’s still debated by historians 2021, has a touch of Highlander inside. whether she also raised funds from The museum in June 2019 hired Fulcrum vacationing Northern abolitionists Design Group, owned by Hillier College of and actively planned local stops on Architecture and Design alumni Paul and the Underground Railroad. Around Cassandra (Alberto) Farnan — who both the corner is the segregation-era graduated with Bachelor of Architecture Franklin Street School, built for degrees in 2013 and married in 2018 African-American students in 1927, — to plan and draw improvements to now slated for renovation as a library a 19th-century parish house formerly and community center. All around are associated with the adjacent Macedonia modern homes, offices and stores. Baptist Church. While the building itself survived Agreeing to help with the museum’s Cape May’s revitalization period in architectural redesign on a volunteer basis the second half of the 20th century, its was an easy decision for Paul, raised in interior was gutted by a developer who Cape May, and Cassandra, whose great- once intended to purchase it. That gave the Tubman museum main gallery. great-grandfather was from Africa. They Farnans an opportunity to redesign it for Photo courtesy Michelle Giorla / CapeMay.com. felt even stronger about it as the Black Lives the needs of a museum, rather than work Matter movement accelerated. around rooms intended for residential Top left: Hillier College alumni Paul and Cassandra (Alberto) Farnan “Knowing the purpose of this purposes. They added structural supports [museum] program and what it was to be, below the first floor, which will hold the that was enough for us,” Paul said. “We weight of a 9-foot-tall, 2,400-pound Harriet “He was one of the most positive people participated in a Black Lives Matter march Tubman statue called The Journey to we knew. He would be ecstatic knowing and vigil for George Floyd on June 6. ... It’s Freedom. They also planned galleries and that his artwork is in a museum, for sure, important for us to keep that spirit alive a two-story-tall exhibit area, along with especially one like this. And I think during down here. Some of the perception, and conference space, while advising museum this time, socially, nationally, he would 100% some of the thinking and ideology in chairman Bob Mullock about changes be someone that was trying to bring people South Jersey, is not necessarily in line with to avoid in keeping true to the original together. He was a friend to everyone,” Paul the rest of the state. That’s what makes this building. Initial exhibits will focus on said. Mullock agreed to display the piece on all the more important.” Tubman’s life, slave artifacts from Africa loan from the Ojentis family. “Taking that opportunity as a minority and the Civil Rights era. There are several other local preservation woman, I was compelled to help in any way The museum, recently featured in projects where the Farnans could assist, possible for this project,” Cassandra added. Smithsonian Magazine, will also display Mullock added. “I think they’re the up-and- The museum structure at 632 Lafayette a charcoal drawing of Tubman by Haitian- coming young architects in Cape May,” he Street was originally a private home American artist Schuller Ojentis, of said. “They are a great team.” n built around 1800. The surrounding Maplewood, N.J., who died in 2018. He was neighborhood blends several generations an NJIT classmate and close friend of Author: Evan Koblentz is an NJIT and functions. It thrived as a free Black the Farnans. Magazine contributing writer.

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M.S. ’77 CHARLES WASSER recently ‘83, M.S. ‘84, M.S. ‘87 ROBERT moved to San Antonio, Texas. He has been COHEN, chair of NJIT’s board of 1950’53, M.S. ’58 CHARLESs E. WILSON named chief of staff for Rotary District trustees, was recently promoted to was reappointed to the Environmental 5840 in South Central Texas. president, Digital, Robotics, and Enabling Assistance and Protection Board Technologies, at Stryker Corporation. He by the Forsyth County, N.C., Board ’77, M.S. ’92 RUSSELL C. PEPE previously served as vice president and of Commissioners. has been teaching at NJIT as an adjunct chief technology officer, Joint Replacement, professor since 1992, in the ECET and since joining Stryker in 2013. ECE departments. He enjoys educating future engineers. M.S. ’83, M.S. ’84 RAM MURTHY 1960’65 ROBERT A. MASONs fondly recalls has joined an independent agency commuting daily from Harrison, working ’77 GEORGE R. OLSON just welcomed within Washington, D.C., serving as very hard in class and socializing at the twin grandsons into the world, for a total the director of IT. He recently spent 15 Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Robert feels that of 10 grandchildren. years with the federal government, and attending NJIT was the best decision he served as chief information officer for ever made! U.S. Railroad Retirement Board for seven years. Ram and his family have traveled to ’65 REGIS P. ZELENZ has obtained 1980’80 DAVE WINDERs welcomed his 50 countries (including Antarctica) and his pilot license. He took up flying after second grandchild, Scarlett, July 30. enjoyed meeting many friendly people he retired, and found that golf was not as Scarlett’s big sister, 2-year-old Maker, despite differing political views. He most exciting. He has, in fact, flown into a golf was his first grandchild. He is enjoying recently traveled around the world in course that has an airport, close to his working from home. 87 days on trains, buses and ships, and home in Butter Valley, Pa. reached Antarctica from South America. ’80, M.S. ’81 WING KWOK MA He has been the recipient of several welcomed his first grandchild in leadership awards, namely the Federal September. 100 in 2019, Computer World Premier 1970’70 STANLEY H. LEIBOWITZs is 100 IT Leaders in 2007, GCN Technology president of his 896-unit condominium, ’93, M.S. ’80 THOMAS L. Leadership Award in 2008 and CIO and treasurer of his 2,536-unit recreation MANISCALCO is retired after 58 years Decisions Leadership Award in 2007. district in Sunrise, Fla. of working as an engineer for private industry and the Department of Defense. ’83 KAMAL SHAHRABI was appointed ’70, M.S. ’74 HARRY T. ROMAN just He volunteers as a mentor/tutor at NJIT’s the new president of Rochester Institute published his 26th IEEE USA E-book Learning Center, and Rutgers’ Department of Technology (RIT) – Kosovo. He has dealing with management/leadership/ of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. served as the dean of faculty since 2018, process skills, and his eighth STEM book as an interim president since 2019, and for teachers through ITEEA. M.S. ’81 JAYDEB K. KUNDU fondly assumed RIT Kosovo’s top post July 1. recalls his time at NJIT. He is proud to ’76, M.S.’78 MATTHEW E. PERRY have accomplished his lifelong dream of ’85, M.S. ’89 EDWIN S. SKROBACZ has retired from AT&T after 33 years achieving an M.S.M.E. degree. currently lives in Tampa, Fla., and has of service. He has moved from Franklin been married for 35 years with two Park, N.J., to Waxhaw, N.C., and now ’82 STEVEN J. DIFLORA, after a children. He works as a supervising enjoys life with wife Alverta, two sons 24-year career at Kallen & Lemelson LLP, structural engineer. He maintains a Matthew and Michael, and their families. Consulting Engineers, most recently as PE in three states. He has worked in Matthew enjoyed his time at NJIT, and partner, has joined MG Engineering, multiple offices for WSP for more than 30 his service on several NJIT community DPC as senior executive director. He and years. He works in project management advisory boards. his partner sold their firm to MG, which and developing plans, specifications, has allowed him to return to a hands-on estimates and calculations for the ’77 KENNETH M. COLAO’S company, engineering career. He is thankful for the design and rehabilitation of fixed and CNY Group, won two “Best Project” exposure to the mechanical engineering movable highway and railroad bridges, awards from the Engineering News-Record education and the background that NJIT slabs, walls, culverts, sign structures, magazine’s 2020 New York provided to him. canopies, bearings and pilings, and airport Best Projects. structures throughout the country.

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’85, M.S. ’10, PH.D. ’15 REGINA Clinical, Safety and Quality. and teacher at the new Crofton High S. COLLINS was recently promoted to School in Maryland. Jeffrey is a native director in NJIT’s Office of Institutional of Crofton, and will be entering his 18th Effectiveness. She is thrilled to contribute to year in the Anne Arundel County Public the university that has done so much for her. 1990’91 LEON K. BAPTISTE’Ss firm, LB Schools system. Electric Co., LLC has been selected by ’86 DEREK M. AZIZ enjoyed the MBDA Manhattan Center for the MBE ’02 JOYCE (SCATUCCIO) JOLLIFFE many early career opportunities provided of the Year award. His company has been is happy to announce her appointment by NJIT, which put him on the track awarded the contract to provide lighting to the board secretary position for the to success. He fondly recalls Professor for the entire EWR Terminal 1 Airport. section of AIA South Jersey. In 2020, she Ed Dauenheimer, who recognized his was also appointed to the position of potential, and provided him with a ’93 TODD B. HAVICAN has been the historical archives committee chair teaching assistant position. He landed appointed director of sales at GreCon. He for the chapter of American Institute of his first job working with one of the joined the organization in May, bringing Architects of New Jersey. Joyce and her most prominent construction over 25 years of experience leading sales husband, Keith, were excited to welcome management firms in the country with teams in a variety of industries including their first child in 2018. the help of NJIT’s Career Development fire protection, nonwovens, dust collection Services office. and food processing. ’02, ’04, M.S. ’09 VIRGINIA L. MAYO has been appointed an IBM Distinguished ’86 DENNIS R. MORRISON celebrates ’96, M.S. ’06 PANKESH P. PATEL Engineer in recognition of her outstanding 30 years at Sun Chemical Corporation. He has been promoted to executive regional history of technical leadership in security, lives in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. He and his wife, manager/program manager responsible vulnerability and threat management. Janice, also celebrate 32 years of marriage. for overseeing all project management As chief engineer of the GTS Security Their three children, Patrick, Kyle and activities for managing capital projects Patch Management Service, she powered Casey, have successfully launched the early in Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, innovation that transformed IBM’s security stages of their professional careers. Patrick Monmouth and Ocean counties for the and compliance solutions to standardize and his wife Brittney have two beautiful New Jersey Department of Transportation. the GTS service while converging on a sons, Nolan and Colin. Pankesh began his career at the New best-of-breed architecture and strategy. Jersey Department of Transportation ’88H DEAN L. HAWTHORNE in the Division of Construction and M.S. ’03 DHAWAL P. SHAH started recently celebrated 15 years of employment Materials (C&M) more than 31 years working as a data analyst at Tata at Cornell University. Dean’s research ago. Among his C&M accomplishments Consultancy Services. During the summer interests include underwater acoustics, is his work on the construction of the break, he went to the Pocono Mountains array signal processing and signal Route 287 Missing Link in northern New with friends and had an amazing time. representation theory. Jersey, and many other projects during his 10-year tenure in construction. Pankesh is ’06 TREVOR B. WILLIAMS, a serious M.S. ’89 VENKATRAMAN professionally affiliated with the American fan of science fiction, is proud to say that BALASUBRAMANIAN is excited to Society of Highway Engineers. Pankesh one of his lifelong dreams — being a share that the company he co-founded is also a registered professional engineer, published author — has come true. His with two others, Cabeus, was acquired last a certified public manager (CPM) and a science fiction novel, Eternal Shadow, was summer by Orion Innovation, a global project management professional (PMP). released in 2019. digital transformation company based out of Edison, N.J. With a global presence ’97, M.S. ’97 FRANK L. JASPER has M.ARCH. ’08 MATTHEW E. BILOW, in 16 locations with 4,000 associates, been promoted to project director for AFG principal architect at Bilow Garret Group, the company is poised for enabling Group, Inc. Frank is the project director and M.ARCH. ’11 THOMAS ASFOR, digital transformation with agility and for all federal government projects in the owner of CanalRoad Design Studios, have scale across multiple industry segments. Mid-Atlantic Region 3. been awarded a design-building project in Venkatraman heads the Life Sciences Forked River, N.J. They met and worked Business Unit, and supports a number together at NJIT’s School of Architecture of pharmaceutical and medical device (now Hillier College of Architecture and companies in the areas of information ’002000 JEFFREY A. STARRs has been Design) in 2005 in their Structures 1 class. management solutions for Regulatory, named the head boys basketball coach Fifteen years later, they continue to design

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professionally together on many projects Sewell, N.J. Moving down to the area was co-founding a company, and holding throughout New Jersey. an adjustment, but he settled down nicely district and global positions for public with his (then) fiancé, Kate. They were speaking and women at work initiatives. ’08, P.S.M. ’14 DAVID L. MORRIS married in September 2016, and shortly She looks forward to graduating from feels that NJIT is the gift that keeps thereafter purchased their first home. a Leadership Development Program at on giving — a place of hopes, dreams, He has gained much experience, and is work, and anticipates a bright future of purpose and accomplishments. As an proud to use his chemical engineering bringing technology and business together. alumnus, he knows that NJIT does not knowledge, as well as work with give up on you if you do not give up mechanical and electrical engineers. He PH.D. ’18 VALERIA BARRA is about on your dreams. From graduating high is proud to announce the birth of his son, to complete a postdoc at the University of school, going to college, moving into your Julian (right before COVID, whew!). He is Colorado at Boulder, and, despite all the first home, to starting a new family, he is grateful to have the opportunity to work uncertainties given by the pandemic in proud to be a part of the NJIT family. from home and to spend so much time the higher education sector, was able to with his son. land a full-time job as a research software engineer at Caltech. She has moved to PH.D. ’14 ZHE HE was granted tenure California and can’t wait to join a vibrant has 2010’11 GEORGE W. SMIDHUMs and early promotion to associate professor research team. been promoted to senior supervisor of at Florida State University this past August. operations at Pennsylvania American M.S. ’18 TASNUBA NUR was hired in Water for the Pocono District. He a manufacturing plant after graduation, ’16 is a senior is responsible for water production, RAHID A. CORNEJO designer at CallisonRTKL in New York but was layed off due to COVID-19. He distribution, sanitary sewer collections took the opportunity to work for The City and proud director of the Bergen and treatment. CommonHealth Project as a faceshield Arches Preservation Coalition (BAPC), builder, which spurred him to start his a Jersey City nonprofit organization he ’13 HITESH MONGA is teaching own small business, which is in its startup helped establish in 2018. He is proud to K-12 classes in Freeport, Long Island, phase but getting good response. He was announce BAPC’s membership into the N.Y. Prior to COVID, he was a frequent also hired by U.S. Army Reserves, and will High Line Network, created by the founder traveler and misses it. He is a proud join training in November. He is learning of Friends of the High Line in NYC. He is alumnus of NJIT. much and enjoying life. excited that his group will be part of the High Line Network, and the first member ’13H DANIEL A. CERONE is getting ’19 KELVIN SIEBENG just moved to a married to his best friend and fiancé, representing New Jersey. He believes that new apartment with a fellow Highlander! Sinead, this October. They are both the Arches will help break down socio- economic divides, figuratively embodied in very excited! ’19 SEAN W. PINKERTON just started the underutilized industrial infrastructure a Master of Engineering program in ’13H ERIC J. CAMPBELL recently of Jersey City. systems engineering this fall. received a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Rutgers University. ’16 DANNY J. CHIANG is proud to ’19 JOHN P. SILLIMAN was announced announce that he has purchased his as the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance ’14, M.S. ’15 JUSTYN PYZ has been first home! and Rescue Squad Member of the Month with Coperion Corporation close to six for July. years, and works as a process engineer ’17H SAMANTHA VERTUCCI in the Extrusion and Compounding recently received a promotion in her Division. He started working for role as mechanical engineer at NAVAIR Coperion as a process engineer co-op NAWCAD-Lakehurst. She is also 2020’20 TIFFANY R. OLIVERAs completed as a result of an interview through excited to announce that her husband, a dual baccalaureate degree in biology NJIT’s Career Development Services ’18 MICHAEL LA, is heading to Air and chemistry, and is pursuing a Ph.D. on campus. In November 2015, Force training. in applied physics at Rutgers University- Coperion moved from its original Newark starting this fall. She is very facility in Ramsey, N.J., to a facility ’17H, M.S. ’18 RASHMI B. KETHA grateful and excited for this new journey together with K-Tron (both companies has been progressing well in her career. and learning opportunity. acquired by Hillenbrand, Inc.) in She is working on her professional growth,

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IN MEMORIAM

Richard V. Muhlethaler ‘32 Robert R. Drummond ‘57 Bruce A. Hawkins ‘63 John G. Braun ‘72 Michael M. Mauriello ‘41 John P. Feltovic ‘57, ‘65 Anthony T. Johnson ‘63 Raymond C. Galea ‘72 Wilbur A. Rath ‘44 Carl H. Koch ‘57 Donald W. Johnstone ‘63 William A. Griffin ‘73, ‘81 Fred T. Rosamilia ‘45 Roland J. Pizzi ‘57 Charles F. Ames ‘64 Robert J. Matusevich ‘73 Raymond M. Kane ‘47 Richard A. Weber ‘57 Samuel Berman ‘64, ‘72 John R. Meszar ‘73 Frederick W. Idenden ‘48 Lou M. Contaldi ‘58 Matthew G. Fischer ‘64 John S. Thaller ‘73 Prisco Villani ‘48 Alfred G. Kunz ‘58 Felix H. Kuran ‘64 Stephen E. Pirnat ‘75 Robert E. Jarmick ‘49, ‘52 Harvey R. Prins ‘58 James C. Payne ‘64 Gregory J. Bieksha ‘77 George B. Kilbride ‘49 Otto W. Taddei ‘58 Edward J. Schlamp ‘64 Michael A. Rochefort ‘77 Richard Betts ‘50 Kenneth W. Clark ‘59 Clarence J. Sikorski ‘64 Eddy Germain ‘78, ‘84 John A. Johnson ‘50 Richard H. Dierkes ‘59 N. Eric Johanson ‘65 William S. Grzyb ‘78 William Easton ‘51 Bruce L. Samitt ‘59 Sawako “Sally” LeMann, Dean M. Munley ‘79 William H. Morgan ‘51 Earl W. Whittle ‘59 wife of Gary R. LeMann ‘65 James J. Mortimer ‘80 William H. Ade ‘52 Franklin O. Williamson ‘59 Douglas A. Morlock ‘65 Gary C. Burnett ‘81 William A. Kaepernik ‘52 Urs V. Cesana ‘60 Robert W. Walczuk ‘66 Vitalis Onyema ‘82 Raymond Kirpa ‘52 Gerald W. Hannay ‘60 Edwin A. Dokus ‘66 Edward F. O’Connor ‘83 Leonard B. Wilson ‘52 Terence J. McGurn ‘60, ‘63 Louis Hari ‘66 Michael J. Clarson ‘85 Steven N. Diamandas ‘53 John J. Mooney ‘60, ‘07 Andrew P. Srodin ‘66, ‘69 Esmail Y. Dhermajwala ‘85 Howard J. Lunin ‘53 Harvey Morginstin ‘60, ‘61 Travis G. Hutchinson ‘67 Michael T. Ham ‘85 Fred O. Beckmann ‘54 Edward J. Ossolinski ‘60 Charles G. Burns ‘68 Philip L. Nader ‘85 Ralph A. Bluntschli ‘54 Henry E. Struck ‘60 James G. Hart ‘68 Nagi L. Awad ‘86 Henry R. Krauss ‘54 Ralph T. Hansen ‘61 Joseph P. Katona ‘68 Michael Buchala ‘87 Stephen E. Scrupski ‘54, ‘58 John M. Kane ‘61 John J. McDonough ‘68 William J. Wright ‘88 Frank A. Bianco ‘55 Anthony J. Myura ‘61 John W. Broome ‘69 Brian K. Blanchard ‘89 Alan G. Finkel ‘55 James C. Layendecker ‘62 Joseph P. Cusumano ‘69, ‘72 Barry W. Halsey ‘91 Gilbert A. Godwin ‘55 Charles G. Aboyoun ‘62 Peter R. Cowie ‘70 Thomas H. Napolitano ‘91 David Teschner ‘55 Alfred S. Budnick ‘62 Harold C. Domanski ‘70 Kenneth B. West ‘91, ‘94 Stanley W. Wesolowski ‘55 Paul M. Cherubino ‘62 Kenneth J. Valovcin ‘70 Christopher M. Klammer ‘98 Robert A. Filler ‘56 Walter L. Hinman ‘62 Thomas L. Wagner ‘70, ‘78 Brian Hester ‘01 George L. Holterhoff ‘56 John A. Santangelo ‘62, ‘67 Thomas M. Child ‘71 Mohamed M. Elalem ‘09, ‘14 A. John Morelli ‘56 Manuel D. Fernandes ‘63 Joseph J. Baldini ‘72 Anthony J. Corsi ‘12

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REMEMBERING JOHN J. MOONEY M.S. ’60

he NJIT community notes with Foundation, which administers the awards, Little Award for Innovation, the Finnish great sadness the passing of John noted of his and Keith’s achievement. Academies of Technology’s 2001 Walter J. Mooney M.S. ’60, ’07 HON, an Remarking this week on his passing, Ahlstrom Prize and the American Institute inspiredT engineer, renowned inventor NJIT President Joel S. Bloom called of Chemical Engineers 2005 Kazutoshi and beloved alumnus of Newark College Mooney “a brilliant engineer, a trailblazing Fujimura Life Time Achievement in of Engineering who is best known for inventor and an esteemed mentor to many.” International Chemical Engineering developing a catalytic converter for “In his lifelong commitment to putting Award. He also received an Alumni vehicles that filters three toxic chemicals. science to work for the common good, Achievement Award from NJIT in 2004, In devising a so-called “three-way” John embodied all that NJIT seeks to and was awarded an honorary degree by scrubber, Mooney and Carl D. Keith, inspire in our students,” Bloom said. “It the university in 2007. his research partner at Engelhard has been our honor and privilege to count Born and raised in Paterson, N.J., Corporation (now part of BASF), were him among our alumni.” Mooney went to work for PSE&G responding to new air quality standards During his 43 years at Engelhard immediately after high school. established by the 1970 amendments to Corporation, Mooney also developed a “I was basically a clerk, but I was also the federal Clean Air Act. Their device process for the U.S. Air Force that used a encouraged by some of my co-workers to improved upon the original catalytic ruthenium catalyst to produce hydrogen ‘do something with my life,’” he recalled in converter by filtering exhaust pipe from liquid ammonia. The catalytic system a wide-ranging interview about his legacy. emissions of nitrogen oxides, in addition made it easier for the Air Force to supply He first earned a degree in chemistry at to hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. hydrogen for weather balloons, since it Seton Hall University before deciding to When he received the National Medal was more efficient to ship liquid ammonia add chemical engineering to his toolkit of Technology and Innovation in 2002, to distant locations than cylinders of gas. at NJIT. Mooney’s invention was lauded for He went on to secure 17 patents, “Although I liked my chemistry courses sparing the environment billions of tons while continuing to expand the potential well enough, I’ve always had a practical of automobile exhaust pollutants since of catalytic technology for reducing bent,” he recounted. “I like to make things its introduction in the mid-1970s, while emissions, including for small two-stroke happen, and that’s what engineers do saving lives. engines, the type that power chain saws — they take the basic science and make “The device has made an incredible and leaf blowers and are considered among things happen.” impact in curbing smog and eliminating the worst of internal combustion polluters. some of the most damaging side effects In addition to the National Medal Author: Tracey L. Regan is an NJIT of the internal combustion engine on of Technology and Innovation, Mooney Magazine contributing writer. the environment and on human life,” the received the American Institute of National Science and Technology Medals Chemical Engineers 1999 Arthur Dehon

3228 NJIT MAGAZINE || FALLWINTER 2020 2020 njit.edu IN CONCLUSION

Research into online shopping communities can explain larger online social connections.

ONLINE SHOPPING STUDY CAN HELP EXPLAIN THE INTERNET’S SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

tudying the evolution and function of Contributors, Xu said, are the most NJIT from the 1970s through the 1990s — online shopping communities could active members of online shopping predicted online shopping communities in teach computer science researchers communities. Reviewing products and their book, The Network Nation: Human Sabout online community-making in advising other shoppers is practically their Communication Via Computer in 1978. general, experts at NJIT said in a series of hobby. Explorers enter the communities Xu said he found inspiration for the recent papers. to browse and participate in discussions, research by participating in online gaming The papers cover the methods and but not necessarily for specific products. communities, where players could share motivations of how shoppers interact Followers are passive readers, Xu advice about matters such as the best with each other online, and examine explained. Opportunists participate for products and where to purchase them. how such communities depend on specific objectives and then disappear Other uses of community software are members’ participation and contributions, until they’re shopping again. websites such as Stack Overflow for according to doctoral student Yu Xu and Roles could change over time. “In computer programming advice and Assistant Professor Michael Lee, both addition, we discovered that the personas Wikipedia for crowdsourced encyclopedia of Ying Wu College of Computing’s identified in this study are dynamic and entries. Online dating and group event informatics department. transitional. As a result, users may also planning, such as Match.com or Until now, Xu explained, most research develop the contribution behaviors as Meetup.com, are also good examples. about online shopping was intended to they participate within online shopping “Our findings suggest that a socially help corporate sellers. Xu cares more communities,” Xu stated in the open- connected and interactive community about social and relational perspectives access journal Multimodal Technologies benefits both the informational of the shoppers themselves. He aims and Interaction. and emotional exchange within the to understand their contributions, These relationships happen in communities,” Xu concluded in the interactions and participation in such discussion forums, review platforms and Multimodal article. “Based on the virtual communities. social media. That much isn’t new, he findings, we discussed a series of design In his most recent work on these acknowledged, as product discussions implications to identify user types, issues, which involved conducting 20 also happened regularly in the days of facilitate user interaction to form bonds- interviews, meeting with 24 focus groups internet relay chat and dial-up bulletin based commitment, and encourage and receiving 194 survey responses, Xu board services. Even retired Distinguished contribution behaviors among concluded that the four types of shoppers Professors Murray Turoff and Starr Roxanne community members.” n who engage with others online are Hiltz, the co-inventors of EIES — Electronic contributors, explorers, followers Information Exchange System, which Author: Evan Koblentz is an NJIT Magazine and opportunists. was a social networking ancestor built at contributing writer. New Jersey Institute of Technology University Heights Newark, NJ 07102-1982 njit.edu

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