Among scientists are collectors, classifiers and compulsive tidiers-up; many are detectives by temperament and many are explorers; some are artists and others artisans. There are poet-scientists and philosopher-scientists and even a few mystics.
-Sir Peter Brian Medawar

One of the most important endeavors of a scientist is research. Being a technological, research university, we need to ensure that our educational programs are not only sound and serve a diverse student population abut that they are also coupled with our research programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

As we work to grow the research program at NJIT, it is therefore important to link it to the educational program. Oftentimes the argument is made that teaching and research are at odds-- that doing both well is unattainable. To the contrary, what better teacher and mentor than that faculty member fully engaged in uncovering knowledge so that cutting-edge technology is discussed in the classroom and learning laboratories? The secret to success in managing the teaching and research enterprises together is to ensure that an institution's faculty members have time and ability to pursue both earnestly. Undergraduate participation in research, and learning from it, should be a hallmark of what we do.

The incubator program at NJIT, one of the most extensive in the country, offers students and faculty a unique environment for nontraditional research and learning. The opportunity to work side-by-side with faculty at their own spin-offs and start-ups housed in the incubator is an invaluable experience in entrepreneurship. We will work to ensure that such experiences are available to a large number of our students and that NJIT is a leader in research and its commercialization thus impacting the economy and the student's education in the business of technology.

My background in engineering teaching, research and  administration and my experience leveraging university efforts for economic development, coupled with NJIT's technological focus, makes for a good fit. Beth and I look forward to working with the NJIT community and reaching for the next level of achievement and recognition.