Alumni Leadership
Our alumni volunteers are critical to advancing NJIT’s STEM-focused mission of education, research, service, and economic development.
The Alumni Association of NJIT supports the University through the development and implementation of programs, activities, and events for alumni and friends. The Association promotes connections among alumni and with students, supports the advancement of education and research, and engages alumni with activities that foster unity and good will towards the University. Among our activities, we provide a network for alumni to be active in the affairs of the University, and opportunities for social interaction, and celebration of college memories. We keep alumni informed of research, technology, and new developments, assist with the recruitment, recognition, and professional placement of well-qualified students and alumni, facilitate links between business and University resources, and represent the interests of the University to the general public.
Officers of the Alumni Association
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Vatsal Shah PE, Ph.D. ’08H, ’09, ’15 Vatsal is a three-time NJIT grad (‘08H BSCE, 09’ MSCE, ’14 Ph.D), and has come full-circle from student to Honors College Faculty Fellow at NJIT. Vatsal is a Professional Engineer licensed in 40 states, and is Principal of ANS Geo, a full-service civil, structural, and geotechnical engineer with offices across the US. Vatsal is an avid volunteer, dedicated to encouraging STEM, and provides support for NJIT students and alumni. |
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Alfred Martinez ’10, ’18 Alfred Martinez ’10, ’18 (Clifton, NJ) Alfred S. Martinez received his BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from NCE in 2010 and 2018, respectively. Alfred is a Senior Estimator for BOND Mechanical Construction, LLC; his previous experience in project management and estimating positions with cost consultant, Ellana, Inc, and Durr Mechanical Construction, Inc. has prepared him for this venture. Alfred is a former Chair of the NY Metro Regional Alumni Club and has served on the committee since 2011. In his free time, Alfred enjoys spending quality time with his wife and family. He also enjoys collecting paperweights, traveling, hiking, and playing golf – shooting well over par. |
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Vincent L. Cerone ’82 Vince is a product specialist for HP, one of the worlds largest technology companies ranking 55 on the Fortune 500. He focuses on introducing new disruptive technologies to traditional markets,new markets and HP resellers. Vince’s career in the technology sector spans almost 40 years, 27 of which were spent at Xerox. Starting as a programmer/systems consultant, Vince eventually transitioned into an account management role. He spent most of his career working with large companies in the NY//NJ area in the engineering, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and utility sectors. In 2015 Vince moved to Denver CO to spend his free time outdoors hiking, skiing and biking. |
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Dania Shahzad, ’13H Dania Shahzad received her BS in Business Management from SOM in 2013 and is a graduate of the Albert Dorman Honors College. Dania is a Business Manager supporting the executive office at PGIM Fixed Income. Based out of Newark, NJ, Dania works on various priority initiatives across the organization ranging from reporting out business updates to adapting to new regulatory laws for the business. Dania is also the co-chair of the Prudential / NJIT Corporate Club. |
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Paul S. Attallah ’05, MBA ’15 Paul serves as a Director of Sales for the Northeast U.S., and Eastern Canada at DataBank. Paul enables mid-size and enterprise organizations transform and advance their digital transformation by strategizing and delivering them with a full technology stack of IT Hosting solutions. In addition to his professional career, Paul also teaches Business and Management at New Jersey Institute of Technology, as an Adjunct Professor for the AACSB accredited Martin Tuchman School of Management. His experience is complemented by his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, as well as an Executive MBA degree, both of which are from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. |
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Alana Dudley ’17 Alana Dudley graduated from the NJIT Albert Dorman Honors College with a B.S. in Mathematics of Finance and Actuarial Sciences and a minor in Business in 2017. Currently, she is a Senior Investment Analyst in the Portfolio Analysis Group at PGIM Fixed Income. In her spare time, Alana serves on the College of Science and Liberal Arts Board of Visitors and enjoys working out, hiking, and developing players as a volunteer basketball coach. |
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Alumni Association Board Members
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Dominick Cirillo ’11H Dominick graduated Cum Laude from NJIT with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems (MIS)/Finance. He then went on to receive his Master’s of Management Information Systems (MIS)/Finance at the University of St. Thomas. During his time at NJIT, Dominick was an active member of the community, serving as a Resident Assistant and Student Body President. As to his professional career, Dominick worked for UnitedHealth Group, where he started out as a Technology Development Program Associate and rose through the ranks to Director of Software Engineering. Currently, he is a Senior Customer Solutions Manager for Amazon Web Services (AWS). |
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Marvin S. Cohen ’66 |
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Robert C. Cohen ’83, ’84, ’87 Robert Cohen is President of Digital, Robotics, and Enabling Technologies, a division of Stryker Corp. which is one of the world’s leading healthcare technology companies. His position includes driving Stryker’s accelerating innovation on surgical robotics and digitally connecting equipment in the operating room for the benefit of physicians, hospitals and patients. As an engineer, he holds more than 25 patents and is noted for innovating orthopaedic prosthesis designs using metal 3D printing, bringing bone-cutting surgical robotics into hospitals for orthopedic total joint procedures, and leveraging digital health clinical data to assist in improving patient outcomes. |
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Muhammad Elgammal, PE, PMP ’12, ’15 (West Orange, NJ) Muhammad is an Associate for Stantec, a 'Top 10' global professional services firm (ENR). He provides engineering services for Aviation facilities both domestically and internationally. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the States of NJ and NY-- and an Adjunct Professor at the John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Muhammad received his B.S. in Civil Engineering, with honors, and his M.S. in Critical Infrastructure from the Newark College of Engineering at NJIT. |
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Jacob Fattakhov ’20 Jacob, better known as Jake, graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 2020 as part of the honors class. During his undergraduate years he was heavily involved with alumni engagement and was a founding member of the professional business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. After college Jake joined the Young Alumni Association while working at Texas Instruments as a Product Marketing Engineer. Today he also sits on the Alumni Board and will be returning to NJIT for his MBA starting Fall 2022. |
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Michael Haraka ’19 Michael graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering with a minor in Mathematics in 2016. During his undergraduate years he served as President of the professional fraternity Pi Kappa Phi, and after graduation Michael became a member of the Board of Trustees for the fraternity. Michael was also heavily involved in sports throughout his college career, and was a member of the Men’s Track & Field Team with a focus in Discus, for which he received numerous awards for his stellar performance. |
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Susana Holguin-Veras ’06 Susana earned her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from NJIT, and then went on to receive her Master’s in Architectural History & Theory from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College of London. She also pursued coursework at Rutgers University, where she earned her PhD in Art History. Susana is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Marketing and Communications Committee, a commissioner in the Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission, and a board member of LINK Community Charter School in Newark. Currently, she leads TheoryCo., an emerging marketing agency serving design, architecture, and real estate firms, as President. Prior to becoming President at TheoryCo., Susana served as Director of Marketing at Howard L. Zimmerman Architects and Business Development Manager at NELSON, both architecture firms located in New York City. |
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Dolores Martinez-Wooden ’05, ’07 Dolores has over 19 years of industry experience in construction project engineering, controls, project management, budget/cost management, and CCIP/OCIP insurance management. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and then went on to receive her Master’s in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Construction Management and a minor in Mechanical Engineering. Dolores’ skillset led to becoming a Project Engineer for Turner Construction Co., where she worked for the past 17 years. Recently, she became the Director of Engineering for the City of Newark. |
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Mawulom Nenonene ’07 Mawulom is a talent leader currently supporting Point Digital Finance as a Senior Talent and HR Advisor. He draws on his experience within talent, operations, engineering, inclusion, and belonging programming to build equitable, scalable recruiting practices. His professional career includes recruiting for companies at all stages with a focus on tech startups including LTSE, BetterUp, Thumbtack, Nava PBC, Patreon, and Google. He finds meaning and purpose through empowering others to achieve their professional goals. Educated as a biomedical engineer, early in his career he was driven by making impact on the individual level. What moves him now is the opportunity to help whole ecosystems evolve through fundamental, large-scale shifts. Mawulom's pronouns are he/him/his. |
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Will Paul ’95 Will Paul is an Applications Architect focusing on designing applications and software services that enable UPS to deliver innovative products & services to market. Will is also a board member of Math Engineering Technology and Science Exchange, a non-profit organization focusing on STEM readiness, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. |
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L. Richard “Rick” Pedersen ’81 Rick graduated from NJIT in 1981 with a BSME; and earned his MBA from the Bauer College of Business in Houston in 1989. He worked most of his career in the industrial gas business. Before retiring from Air Liquide in 2014, he served in numerous senior leadership roles. Rick is now a consultant in the industrial gas industry, and now resides in Georgetown, TX with his wife, Maureen. In addition to hiking, global travel, woodworking and various other activities, Rick has enjoyed his participation with the NJIT Texas regional alumni group and the Alumni Board. |
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Joseph M. Racanelli ’83, ’90 Joe is currently the Senior Director of Platform Technology Development at Stryker Corporation. His responsibilities have included the development of next generation performance enhancing technologies for orthopedic reconstructive hip and knee medical devices. Since 1983, when Joe received his BS in Mechanical Engineering at NJIT, Joe’s responsibilities have included research, design, structural and thermal analysis, testing, and program leadership. He has worked in various companies across four diverse industries: aerospace, telecommunications, elevator, and currently, medical devices, all based in New Jersey. Joe received his MS in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT in 1990. Since 2016, Joe also has had a key role in developing a stronger connection between Stryker and the more than 100 NJIT Alumni currently employed there. As the Co-Chair of the Stryker-NJIT Alumni Corporate Club, Joe organizes Stryker tours for NJIT students, faculty and leadership, and organizes NJIT tours and events for Stryker employees. Joe is also a conduit for NJIT senior Capstone projects. |
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Gabrielle Rejouis ’15H Gabrielle Rejouis earned her B.A. in History in 2015 and was an Albert Dorman Honors Scholar in the Accelerated Pre-Law program. She currently leads tech and antitrust policy lobbying at Color Of Change. Gabrielle also founded the Black Alumni Association. |
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Glendon Scott ’14 Glendon Scott earned two Bachelor’s degrees during his time at NJIT: a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering and a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. During his collegiate career, he tutored Physics, Chemistry, Math, and English. Upon graduation, Glendon joined PSEG as a Project Engineer, and currently he is a successful Staff Engineer focusing on Electric Delivery Planning. |
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Marlon Scott ’96 Marlon earned his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, and upon graduation joined Turner Construction Company. Marlon has twenty six years in the construction industry with past few projects in the Health Care Sector. He is currently working on RWJBI project in Newark NJ. |
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Glenn Steiger ’70 Glenn Steiger is a 1970 and '87 NCE/NJIT graduate who has spent over 52 years in the electric, gas, and water utility industry. As a VP for Jersey Central Power and Light and CEO of various municipal utilities in MA, CA and AZ, he has served on numerous professional, industry-related civic boards. Glenn was honored as one of 10 national "Electric Utility Movers and Shakers" in 2011. He currently provides consulting services to the electric utility in the Navajo Nation and is proud to give back at this stage of his career. Glenn is married to Barb who reside in Mesa, AZ, have a combined family of four daughters, one son, and seven grandchildren. Glenn is a dedicated and proud supporter of NJIT and its "Golden Highlanders"! |
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The NJIT Board of Trustees is the legal governing body of the university appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate.
The NJIT Board of Overseers serves as the governing body for the Foundation at NJIT, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization which is the fundraising arm of the university.
The Board of Overseers has fiduciary responsibility for the Foundation, provides a leadership role in fundraising, and provides a critical link between academe and the business community, providing information on corporate and state priorities and assisting NJIT in meeting research and funding goals.
Each college of the university maintains an Advisory Board to advise on academics and administration.