NJIT President Awarded NACME Lifetime Achievement Award
NJIT President Joel S. Bloom has been presented the Lifetime Achievement award by The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc. for his and the university’s extensive experience, notable accomplishments and role as a leader, role model and significant contributor in championing diversity in STEM.
NACME — which seeks to build a diverse workforce in STEM fields — is the largest provider of college scholarships for underrepresented minorities pursuing degrees at schools of engineering.
In addition to Bloom and NJIT’s recognition, NACME also honored Laurence “Tony” Howell, the longtime representative to the council and former executive director of NJIT’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). Under Howell’s leadership for 20 years, NJIT’s EOP helped roughly 2,500 students prepare to excel through NJIT’s rigorous academic programs.
“I am truly honored to be recognized by the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering for my efforts, as well as those of NJIT, to serve and advance the interests of underserved and underrepresented students,” said President Bloom in his acceptance remarks. “It is particularly gratifying to be recognized alongside my dear former colleague, Tony Howell, who is a champion of this cause.”
NJIT has well-established programs that have demonstrated success in attracting, retaining and graduating students from underrepresented populations including the Center for Pre-College Programs, which works with over 4,000 pre-college students annually running camps and educational programs throughout the year.
The university has also launched academic-specific programs to encourage enrollment in STEM fields. The Math Success Initiative, a partnership between the Office of the Mayor and the Newark Public School District, provides direct instruction and support to rising 12th graders and mathematics certified teachers. The Forensic Science Initiative, which is backed by a $1.4M grant from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, features class work, lab work, field research, tutoring and college preparation counseling in one of New Jersey’s newest academic fields.
Most recently, NJIT formed the Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Council (HLLC), which has a mission to enroll more Hispanic and Latinx students and achieve NJIT’s goal of becoming a Hispanic-serving institution. The 11-person council features leaders in business and community advocacy who serve as ambassadors and advocates for NJIT, mentor STEM-oriented Hispanic and Latinx students in high schools and community colleges, and help secure gifts and grants to aid enrollment and engagement efforts.
NJIT has also fostered an impactful support and tutoring network to ensure students stay on successful paths, headlined by The Norma J. Clayton '81 Learning Center.
The university’s commitment to diversity has been one of its great strengths and has helped make NJIT a Top 50 Public University in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report, as well as the No. 1 university in the country for the upward economic mobility of students from the lowest income households. Notably, NJIT’s 2021 class is the largest and most diverse freshman class in its history.
“Thank you for honoring me today, and thank you for honoring NJIT, as well as Tony Howell,” said Bloom. “Most of all, thank you for your efforts to create opportunities for underrepresented students.”