MEDIA ADVISORY: NJIT Convocation Tomorrow Promises Bright New Start: New President Speaks

NEWARK, Sep 11 2012

WHAT: NJIT marks the start of the new school tomorrow at University Convocation, an annual celebration and awards ceremony. Convocation traditionally honors select NJIT faculty and staff members who have demonstrated the highest level of excellence over a sustained period. Two notable awards will be announced. The Overseers Excellence in Research Prize and Medal will be announced. Recipient Reginald Farrow, PhD, of Somerset, a research professor in the department of physics in the College of Science and Liberal Arts (CSLA), will receive the honor at an upcoming Oct. 4 ceremony. The Overseers Excellence in Service Award will be awarded to Norbert Elliot, PhD, Little Egg Harbor, a long-time professor in the department of humanities, also in CSLA.

WHO: Speakers will include NJIT President Joel S. Bloom and NJIT alum Sean Duffy, who will deliver the keynote address. Duffy, who grew up in Parlin, was in the first Albert Dorman Honors College class and has kept a long personal relationship with the new NJIT President Bloom, who was the founder and long-time dean of the Honors College.

WHEN: 3 p.m., Sept. 12, 2012

WHERE: Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility on the NJIT campus

BACKGROUND: Convocation is the first of a trio of important university events leading to the inauguration of Bloom as NJIT’s eighth president this coming Friday at 11:30 a.m. in the Naimoli Center. Bloom was appointed president of NJIT president this past January. Almost two dozen NJIT faculty and staff members from the following NJ towns will be honored at the ceremony: Bernardsville; Bridgewater; Clifton; Dayton; Franklin Park; Jersey City; Little Egg Harbor: Morris Plains; Scotch Plains; Short Hills; Somerset; Summit; Union; Warren; West Orange.

HOW: To attend tomorrow’s event, interview by phone or email or receive (after Sept. 19, 2012) professional hi-res photos of faculty and staff awardees, please contact Tanya M. Klein, 973-596-3433; klein@njit.edu or Sheryl Weinstein, 973-596-3436; Sheryl.m.weinstein@njit.edu.

Tagged: college of science and liberal arts, albert dorman honors college, department of humanities, csla, department of physics, convocation, joel bloom, reginald farrow, norbert elliot, overseers excellence in research prize and medal, overseers excellence in service award, sean duffy

NJIT, New Jersey's science and technology university, enrolls more than 9,558 students pursuing bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in 120 programs. The university consists of six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, College of Computing Sciences and Albert Dorman Honors College. U.S. News & World Report's 2011 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges ranked NJIT in the top tier of national research universities. NJIT is internationally recognized for being at the edge in knowledge in architecture, applied mathematics, wireless communications and networking, solar physics, advanced engineered particulate materials, nanotechnology, neural engineering and e-learning. Many courses and certificate programs, as well as graduate degrees, are available online through the Office of Continuing Professional Education.