May 26, 1999

NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS AND FACULTY
HONORED FOR SCHOLARSHIP IN MATHEMATICS

NEWARK - May 26, 1999 -

     Twelve New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) students and four faculty members were recently honored with induction into Pi Mu Epsilon Fraternity Incorporated, the most distinguished mathematical organization in the nation.

     With this induction, NJIT achieved a distinction of its own by becoming one of just 10 New Jersey Schools to have a chapter of this honorary mathematical society established on its campus. Chapters of Pi Mu Epsilon, which aim to promote scholarship in mathematical sciences, may be chartered only in an academic institution whose standards are excellent in all liberal arts departments and particularly Mathematical Sciences.

     "This recognition is an acknowledgement of the excellence of NJIT's Department of Mathematics among our peers nationally," said John Poate, Dean of NJIT's College of Science and Liberal Arts. "A first quality math program is critical to NJIT's reputation as a leading technological university, because mathematics is the basic underpinning of technological progress."

     NJIT's math department is also noted for its focus on applied mathematics rather than pure theory, according to Daljit S. Ahluwalia, Chairperson of the Department of Mathematical Sciences and Director of the Center for Mathematics and Statistics.

     "NJIT's emphasis on application in the physical, biological and statistical sciences makes the Department of Mathematical Sciences one of the most unique in the country," said Ahluwalia. "Our success is best measured by our students - many of whom go on to prestigious Ph.D. programs at universities like California Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania, or to challenging positions at some of the nation's foremost technological companies, like IBM and Lucent Technologies."

     Announcement of the NJIT honorees and procession of the ceremony was led by Dr. Eileen Poiani, Professor of Mathematical Sciences and Vice President of Student Affairs at St. Peter's College, Jersey City. Professor Poiani is Past President of Pi Mu Epsilon (1987-1990) and first woman to be elected president in its 75-year history.

     "The responsibility to carry forward the goals of the society, namely the responsibility to promote scholarly activity in Mathematical Sciences and to maintain high standards of academic excellence - your past accomplishments have clearly laid the groundwork for assuming this responsibility," Poiani said.

     Inductees into NJIT's New Jersey Kappa -Pi Mu Epsilon include:

Faculty

• Daljit Singh Ahluwalia of Pearl River, NY, Chairperson of the Department of Mathematical Sciences
• John Bechtold of Ridgewood, NJ, associate professor of Mathematical Sciences
• Amitabha Bose of Brooklyn, NY, assistant professor of Mathematical Sciences
• Burt Tilley of Denville, NJ, assistant professor of Mathematical Sciences

Students and recent graduates

• Robin Tanenbaum of Chestnut Ridge, NY, Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Dorota Moscicka of Clifton, NJ, Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Brandy Rapatski of Howell, NJ, Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Matthew Detlet of New Providence, NJ, Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Hoa K. Tran of Secaucus, NJ, Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Michelle Debonis of Caldwell, NJ, Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Robert Gloria of Wildwood, NJ, Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Dan Stier of Marlboro, NJ, Actuarial Science
• Maria Barrios of Elmwood Park, NJ, Actuarial Science
• Shirley Yap of Piscataway, NJ, Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Ivory Kilpatrick of Newark, NJ Applied Mathematical Sciences
• Jose Enriques of Newark, NJ, Actuarial Science

     At the undergraduate level, the Department of Mathematical Sciences at NJIT offers programs in applied mathematics, actuarial science and statistics. A five-year B.S/M.S. is also available. At the graduate level, NJIT offers an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and Applied Statistics and a joint Ph.D program with Rutgers/Newark in the Mathematical Sciences, with the tracks in Applied Mathematics and Applied Statistics at NJIT.