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Dear JH CSLA Community,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Fall 2024 semester! I hope each of you had an enjoyable and fulfilling summer. As we begin this new academic year, I would like to share some important developments within the College:

College Naming

As you may know, the College of Science & Liberal Arts has been renamed the Jordan Hu College of Science & Liberal Arts. This momentous occasion was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Jordan Hu, who earned his Master of Science in Computer Science from NJIT in 1989 when the program was still housed in CSLA. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), earned in 1984.

Mr. Hu's philanthropy represents the largest-ever gift from an NJIT alumnus. His generosity will create numerous scholarship opportunities for both domestic and international students, including those from his birthplace, Taiwan. This gift will help make the Jordan Hu College of Science & Liberal Arts a true Nexus of Innovation and propel us forward as we work toward the goals of NJIT’s 2030 strategic plan.

You are invited to celebrate the naming of our College and recognize Jordan Hu for his historic generosity in support of the university on September 6, 2024, from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm in the NJIT Campus Center Atrium. If you would like to attend and have not already done so, you can RSVP here.

New Faculty and Instructional Staff

I am thrilled to introduce several new faculty and instructional staff members who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our community. This year, JH CSLA has made strategic hires within the following departments, strengthening our commitment to excellence and innovation.

Department of Biological Sciences:
  • Michael Nelson - University Lecturer
Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science:
  • Guillermo Jimenez-Aleman - Assistant Professor
Federated Department of History:
  • Mary Mitchell - Assistant Professor
Department of Humanities & Social Sciences:
  • Michael Laudenbach - Assistant Professor
  • Andrew Burnside - University Lecturer
  • Laura Devorah Dickerman - University Lecturer
  • Kuan Lin Pan - Instructor of Chinese Mandarin Language & Culture
Department of Mathematical Sciences:
  • Michelle Cirillo - Professor
  • Amir Sagiv - Assistant Professor
  • Chenlu Shi - Assistant Professor
  • Xinyu Zhao - Assistant Professor
  • Trang Bui - Senior University Lecturer
Department of Physics:
  • Keiji Hayashi - Research Professor (Center for Computational Heliophysics)
  • William Longley - Research Professor (Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research)
  • Nengyi Huang - Assistant Research Professor (Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research)
  • Sijie Yu - Associate Research Professor (Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research)

Please join me in welcoming these new faculty members who are so crucial to our continued development. A special thanks is due to department chairs and search committee members for their diligence in recruiting our new colleagues.

Faculty and Tenure Promotion Decisions

This past July, the NJIT Board of Trustees approved the following tenure/promotion actions in the Jordan Hu College of Science & Liberal Arts, which are effective beginning this academic year.

Department of Biological Sciences:
  • Simon Garnier was promoted to Full Professor.
Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science:
  • Yuanwei Zhang was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure.
Department of Humanities & Social Sciences:
  • Rebekah Rutkoff was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure.
Department of Mathematical Sciences:
  • Casey Diekman was promoted to Full Professor.
  • Roy Goodman was promoted to Full Professor.
Department of Physics:
  • Bin Chen was promoted to Full Professor.
  • Cristiano Dias was promoted to Full Professor.

Please join me in congratulating our colleagues for these important milestones in their academic careers and wishing them continued success in their research, instructional, and professional activities.

In closing, I want to express my sincere gratitude to you – our dedicated faculty, staff, and students – for your continued hard work. Your dedication makes our academic environment unique and vibrant. Together, we will make this semester memorable and successful.

Sincerely,

Kevin D. Belfield

Dean, Jordan Hu College of Science & Liberal Arts
Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science
Becton Dickinson Research Professor
Fellow of the ACS and AAAS, FRSC

Published August 30, 2024

Dear CSLA Community,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Spring 2024 semester! I hope each of you was able to rest and recharge during the winter recess. As we begin the spring semester, I would like to update you on some recent developments within the College of Science & Liberal Arts.

Faculty and Instructional Staff Searches

In accordance with our goal to build upon our expertise in the sciences and liberal arts and expand the horizon of opportunity for our students, CSLA is in the process of interviewing new faculty and instructional staff.

These search efforts are vital to the development of our College and a special thanks is due to department chairs and search committee members for their diligence in recruiting new colleagues and continuing to bolster their departments. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of these candidates already and look forward to meeting with others in the coming weeks.

CSLA Enrollment & Diversity Milestone

Last semester, CSLA reached another enrollment milestone, with over 1,200 students across all degree levels. In Fall 2022, CSLA had more female students than male students for the first time in our 40-year history. I am pleased to announce this trend has continued.

Today, 57% of CSLA undergraduate students and 53% of graduate students are female. These enrollment figures underscore our commitment to NJIT’s mission and core values. As we continue to expand, our increasing diversity and inclusivity stand as noteworthy accomplishments that will undoubtedly enhance and enrich our community.

The Right Question Institute Workshops

CSLA faculty, instructional and administrative staff are invited to participate in a series of collaborative workshops with the Right Question Institute throughout the course of the Spring 2024 semester. The goal of these workshops is to build institutional capacity in CSLA and NJIT to continuously support the development of question formulation skills for both learning and research purposes.

Please click here to learn more about these workshops, view the workshop schedule, and RSVP. 

In closing, I want to express my sincere gratitude to you – our dedicated faculty, staff, and students – for your continued hard work. Your efforts are what makes our academic environment unique and exciting. My best wishes for a productive and pleasant semester.

Sincerely,

Kevin D. Belfield

Dean, College of Science & Liberal Arts
Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science
Becton Dickinson Research Professor
Fellow of the ACS and AAAS, FRSC

Published January 17, 2024

Dear CSLA Community,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Fall 2023 semester. I hope each of you had an enjoyable and fulfilling summer. As we begin this new semester, there are a number of developments within the College I would like to share with you:

New Faculty and Instructional Staff

To further our goal of building upon our expertise in the sciences and liberal arts, as well as expanding the horizon of opportunity for our students, CSLA has hired new faculty and instructional staff within the following departments.

Department of Biological Sciences:
  • Allison Edgar - Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science:
  • Trevor Del Castillo - Assistant Professor
  • Gregory Edens - University Lecturer
  • Patrick Depaolo - University Lecturer
  • Kevin Koh - University Lecturer
Department of Humanities & Social Sciences:
  • Eugene Snyder - Assistant Professor
  • Drew Ciccolo - University Lecturer
  • Andres Crespo-Solis - University Lecturer
  • Griselle Gonzalez-Ledezma - University Lecturer
Department of Mathematical Sciences:
  • Jonathan Jaquette - Assistant Professor

Please join me in welcoming these outstanding new faculty members who are so crucial to our continued development. A special thanks is due department chairs and search committee members for their diligence in recruiting our new colleagues.

Faculty and Staff Recognitions

Our colleagues continue to achieve significant recognition and success in their respective fields. I would like to highlight and congratulate the following individuals for their outstanding achievements over the course of the past academic year.

Department of Biological Sciences:
  • Phillip Barden - Elected Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society
Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science:
  • Omowunmi Sadik - Elected Fellow of the American Chemical Society
Federated Department of History:
  • Neil Maher - The Shelby Cullom Davis Center for Historical Studies Fellowship
Department of Physics:
  • Junjie Yang - National Science Foundation CAREER Award
  • Bin Chen - AAS Solar Physics Division Karen Harvey Prize

Student Recognitions

Our students continue to achieve significant success as well. Though too numerous to mention here, I would like to highlight and congratulate the following students for their outstanding achievements over the course of the past academic year.

Undergraduate:
  • Patricia Dzwill (B.S. Computer Science & B.S. Applied Physics) | German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Research Internship in Science and Engineering
  • Mrunmayi Joshi (B.S. Biology & B.S. Mathematical Sciences) | Governor’s STEM Scholar
  • Yukthi Sangoi (B.A. Communication and Media) | NJ Sustainability Reporting Fellowship
Graduate:
  • Sambel Yaqoob (Ph.D. Environmental Science) | National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

Our College is, indeed, a diverse group of scientists, scholars, and artists. I want to express my sincere gratitude to you – our dedicated faculty, staff, and students – for your continued hard work. Your ongoing efforts are what makes our academic environment unique and exciting. I look forward to working with you all, and my best wishes for a productive and pleasant semester.

Sincerely,

Kevin D. Belfield

Dean, College of Science & Liberal Arts
Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science
Becton Dickinson Research Professor
Fellow of the ACS and AAAS, FRSC

Published September 5, 2023

Dear CSLA Community,

It is my pleasure to welcome you back for the Spring 2023 semester! I hope each of you were able to enjoy time with family or friends during the winter recess, and have some much-needed rest and recharge. There are a number of developments within the College I would like to share with you:

Faculty and Instructional Staff Search

In accordance with our goal to build upon our expertise in the sciences and liberal arts, as well as expand the horizon of opportunity for our students, CSLA is in the process of interviewing new faculty and instructional staff.

A special thanks is due department chairs and search committee members for their diligence in recruiting new colleagues and continuing to bolster their departments and opportunities for our students. These search efforts are vital to the development of our College, and I look forwarding to meeting with these candidates in the coming weeks.

New CSLA Business Manager & Associate Director of Theatre

OI am delighted to announce the appointment of Mihaela Cohanoschi as the Business Manager of the College of Science & Liberal Arts (CSLA).

As the business manager, Mihaela will oversee the College's business affairs and administrative operations. She holds an M.S. in Industrial Chemistry and over 18 years of experience in higher education. She is well-versed in all aspects of faculty personnel/payroll, budget and administration, and other job duties with a wide range. As many of you know, Mihaela's office is at 208B Cullimore Hall, and you may contact her via email at mihaela.cohanoschi@njit.edu or via phone at extension 5383.

I am also excited to announce Rodney Reyes as Associate Director of Theatre. Rodney has worked within the Theatre unit for over a decade, and his dedication to its operations and the Theatre Arts and Technology degree program is evident.

In this new role, Rodney will provide administrative guidance, program planning, and student advisement. He will also continue to instruct courses, coordinate outreach events, and develop promotional materials for the Theatre Arts and Technology program.

CSLA Enrollment & Diversity Milestone

Fall 2022 was a milestone semester for CSLA, with a record enrollment total of nearly 1,200 students. What's more, CSLA now has more female students than male students for the first time in our 40-year history, and CSLA undergraduates pursuing STEM degrees are now more than 55% female.

These enrollment and gender diversity figures are representative of our commitment to NJIT’s mission and core values. We are growing and becoming more diverse and inclusive–achievements that will enrich our lives and the lives of our students. Thank you all for the outstanding work you do to help realize this.

Our College is, indeed, a diverse group of scientists, scholars, and artists. I want to express my sincere gratitude to you – our dedicated faculty, staff, and students – for your continued hard work and support. Your ongoing efforts are what makes our academic environment unique and exciting. I look forward to working with you all, and my best wishes for a productive and pleasant spring semester.

Sincerely,

Kevin D. Belfield

Dean, College of Science & Liberal Arts
Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science
Becton Dickinson Research Professor
Fellow of the ACS and AAAS, FRSC

Published January 17, 2023

Dear CSLA Community,

It is my pleasure to welcome you back for the Fall 2022 semester! I hope each of you had an enjoyable and effectual summer. In advance of the upcoming semester, there are a number of developments within the College I would like to share with you:

New Faculty and Instructional Staff

In accordance with our goal to build upon our expertise in the sciences and liberal arts and expand the horizon of opportunity for our students, CSLA has hired new faculty and instructional staff within the following departments:

Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science:
  • Cassandra Diaz-Allen - University Lecturer
  • Mieke Peels - University Lecturer
  • Kevin Parmelee - Professor of Practice
Federated Department of History:
  • Teal Arcadi - University Lecturer
Department of Humanities & Social Sciences:
  • Julia Hyland-Bruno - Assistant Professor
  • Yao Sun - Assistant Professor
  • Emily Edwards - University Lecturer
Department of Mathematical Sciences:
  • Chong Jin - Assistant Professor
  • Thi-Phong Nguyen - Assistant Professor
  • Kristina Wicke - Assistant Professor
  • Michal Ryduchowski - Professor of Practice
Department of Physics:
  • Lindsay Goodwin - Assistant Professor
  • Marsela Cina - University Lecturer

A special thanks is due department chairs and search committee members for their diligence in recruiting our new colleagues. Please join me in welcoming these outstanding new faculty members who are so crucial to our continued development.

Faculty and Staff Recognitions

In addition to welcoming new faculty and instructional staff, many of our colleagues achieved significant recognition and success in their fields. Though too numerous to mention here, I would like to call out a few and congratulate the following individuals on their achievements this past academic year:

Department of Biological Sciences:
  • Phillip Barden - National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science:
  • Mengyan Li - Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors
Federated Department of History:
  • Neil Maher - New York Public Library Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers Fellowship
Department of Humanities & Social Sciences:
  • Burt Kimmelman - New Jersey College English Association Steven J. Rosen Mentor Award
Department of Mathematical Sciences:
  • Eliza Michalopoulou - Distinguished Lecturer by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Oceanic Engineering Society
Department of Physics:
  • Satoshi Inoue - National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Facility Improvements

I would also like to highlight the redesign and improvement of several CSLA spaces. Cullimore Hall Lecture Hall I was completely renovated, and the first floor Cullimore Hall Lobby is currently undergoing significant improvements. When finished, the floor will have an updated look and be equipped with quiet rooms that students can use for individual or group study, or as breakout spaces.

The Department of Physics Instructional Labs (Tiernan Hall 4th Floor) are also in the process of a full-scale renovation. Upon conclusion, the labs will feature a flexible, adaptive floor plan to accommodate the changing needs of physics laboratory instruction and learning.

A new Crime Scene Investigation Lab was opened on the first floor of the Student Mall. This facility serves our Forensic Science degree program as well as pre-college students, high school teachers, and professionals in the field for continuing education and development. 

Renovations and updates are in the works for other CSLA spaces to accommodate new faculty hires and our increasing student body. I will be sure to make further announcements as more details about these facility improvements become available.

Pandemic Recovery

The transition to in-person semester classes, studios, and labs first enacted on January 31, 2022, will continue for the Fall 2022 Term. We are extremely excited to have everyone back on campus. Throughout the pandemic, NJIT has acted strategically in promoting policies intended to promote the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. The Pandemic Recovery Steering Committee continues to monitor COVID-19 conditions and will remain nimble in its approach to keep campus safe for living, learning, working, and research.

All students, faculty and staff are required to have the COVID-19 primary series and initial booster when eligible. Please note, in concert with current CDC guidance, NJIT also recommends the following:

  • Get tested if you have symptoms.
  • Students and employees should continue to report positive COVID-19 cases to Campus Health Services via covid.notify@njit.edu.
  • If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, consider additional precautions

Click here or further information on NJIT's COVID-19 policies, recommendations, FAQ's, updates, and alerts:

Our College is a diverse group of scientists, scholars, and artists. I want to thank you – our dedicated faculty, staff, and students – for your continued hard work and enthusiastic support. Your ongoing efforts are what makes our academic environment unique and exciting, and I look forward to working with you all throughout the upcoming academic year. My best wishes for a productive and pleasant fall semester.

Sincerely,

Kevin D. Belfield

Dean, College of Science & Liberal Arts
Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science
Becton Dickinson Research Professor
Fellow of the ACS and AAAS, FRSC

Published September 8, 2022