Dean's Messages
Messages from the Dean of the Jordan Hu College of Science & Liberal Arts
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Dear HCSLA Community,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Fall 2025 semester! I hope each of you had an enjoyable and fulfilling summer. As we embark on another exciting chapter together, I would like to share some important updates and developments within the College:
2020-2025 HCSLA Strategic Plan Outcomes Report
The publication of the NJIT Strategic Plan 2030 presents an opportunity to envision HCSLA’s future as we develop an HCSLA 2030 Implementation Plan in service of the University's broader mission. At the same time, it is important to reflect on the significant progress we have made over the past five years.
I am pleased to share the formal publication of the 2020–2025 HCSLA Strategic Plan Outcomes Report. This report highlights the many ways in which our College has advanced its mission and contributed to the success of our students, faculty, and the broader NJIT community.
I extend my sincere thanks to everyone whose hard work and dedication made these achievements possible. The accomplishments outlined in the report are a testament to the excellence, creativity, and commitment of HCSLA’s faculty, staff, and students.
New Faculty and Instructional Staff
I am excited to introduce several new faculty and instructional staff members who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our community. This year, HCSLA has made strategic hires within the following departments, strengthening our commitment to excellence and innovation.
Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science:- Stephen Previs - Professor of Practice
- Abriana Gresham - Assistant Professor
- Daniel Massatt - Assistant Professor
- Yan Sun - Assistant Professor
- Sarah Blanset - Senior University Lecturer
- Tino Hofmann - Associate Professor
- Sijie Yu - Assistant Professor
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.
New Permanent University Lecturers
I am equally pleased to acknowledge the following instructional staff who joined us in the Spring 2025 semester.
Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science:- Kevin Parmelee - Senior University Lecturer
- Crystal Hamai - University Lecturer
- Sener Alptekin - University Lecturer
- Rachid Bouayad - University Lecturer
- Amy Flax - University Lecturer
- Changshi Zhou - University Lecturer
As we begin the new semester, I want to thank all of our faculty, staff, and students for your continued hard work and dedication. Your commitment makes a tremendous difference, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the months ahead.
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 September 3, 2025
Dear HCSLA Community,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Spring 2025 semester! While the semester is already underway, I hope you have had a smooth start and are settling into the new year. As we embark on another exciting chapter together, I would like to share some important updates and developments within the College:
New Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
I am pleased to announce that the HCSLA Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education position has been transitioned to a full-time role. Dr. Bruce Bukiet served in this position in a part-time capacity for almost 20 years, making a significant impact. Under his leadership, Dr. Bukiet championed academic excellence and advocated for undergraduate students. His deep connection with students has strengthened our bonds with them and fostered a culture of academic and personal growth. Dr. Bukiet will continue as a Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, where he will undoubtedly continue to inspire, guide, and support our students.
Dr. Bhavani Balasubramanian has now assumed this role in a full-time capacity. She has been with NJIT for 15 years and has excelled in the Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science. As the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies, she led curricular changes and developed new experiential learning courses, expanding student research and internship opportunities. She has also worked closely with faculty to support evidence-based, inclusive, and innovative teaching methods. I look forward to the unique opportunities ahead for our undergraduate students, and I invite you to join me in officially welcoming Dr. Balasubramanian and expressing our gratitude to Dr. Bukiet.
Associate Dean for Graduate Education & Research
I am equally pleased to announce that the HCSLA Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research position has also transitioned to a full-time role. Dr. Linda Cummings, who has served in this role in a part-time capacity for the past nine years, will continue on in a full-time capacity.
Dr. Cummings' service to our College has been exceptional. She possesses a deep understanding of HCSLA’s graduate programs, academic processes, and policies and has played a crucial role in collaborating with graduate program directors to identify growth areas and develop new offerings. She is also highly active in research and faculty mentorship, with extensive experience coordinating internal proposal competitions.
In her full-time role, Dr. Cummings will have the opportunity to fully realize the many important functions of this position. What she has accomplished in a part-time capacity is remarkable, and I look forward to seeing what she will achieve with a full-time focus. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Cummings.
College Strategic Plan and Implementation
The publication of the NJIT Strategic Plan 2030 presents an opportunity to envision HCSLA’s future as we develop an HCSLA 2030 Implementation Plan in service of the University's broader mission. However, it is also essential to recognize our achievements over the past five years.
The HCSLA 2020–2025 Strategic Plan set forth numerous goals. While too many to list in full, here are some key accomplishments:
- 15% increase in undergraduate enrollment
- 45% increase in master's enrollment
- 5% increase in Ph.D. enrollment
- 30% increase in undergraduate female enrollment
- 13% increase in graduate female enrollment
- 3% increase in female tenure/tenure-track (T/TT) faculty representation
- 6% increase in underrepresented minority (URM) T/TT faculty representation
- 5% increase in URM undergraduate student representation
- 20% increase in URM graduate student representation
- 200%+ increase in HCSLA research funding since FY20
- 110+ HCSLA interdisciplinary grant proposal submissions since FY21
HCSLA continues to promote and excel in interdisciplinary research. Many of our faculty members have been named fellows and distinguished lecturers of prestigious professional societies, including the American Academy of Inventors, American Astronomical Society, American Chemical Society, Cullman Fellowship, Davis Center Fellowship, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Oceanic Engineering Society, and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Building on the expertise and guidance of our faculty and alumni, we have expanded our academic offerings and enhanced opportunities for our students. Key achievements include:
New Degree Programs:
- BS and PhD in Data Science (joining the previously developed MS in Data Science, all in collaboration with YWCC)
- BS in Psychology
- MS in Biology of Health
- PSM in Cell and Gene Therapy Science
In addition, our BS Forensic Science program earned full accreditation from the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).
Student Support & Recognition:
- 11 new endowed scholarships
- College naming through a major endowed gift
Campus Enhancements:
- Renovation of instructional and research laboratories, lecture halls, and office spaces
- Research & Experiential Learning
- Home to two NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs
HCSLA continues to strengthen our partnerships with the community, state, and industry, providing expertise and assistance where needed. Collaborations like the Newark Math Success Initiative (MSI)—a joint effort between HCSLA, the Center for Pre-College Programs (CPCP), the City of Newark Mayor’s Office, and the Newark Board of Education—demonstrate our commitment to educational outreach. Our STEM for Success (S4S) program broadens participation in STEM, particularly among underrepresented groups, fostering community engagement and expanding access to STEM education.
HCSLA also remains engaged with the performing arts community through initiatives like the Theatre Arts and Technology (THAT) program, the Newark Playwrights Festival, the Short Film Festival, and various workshops.
These accomplishments are a testament to our dedicated faculty, staff, and students.
As we move into the future, it is important to keep the HCSLA Vision in mind: "To continue to be recognized as a preeminent college where research, teaching, and service to the community are innovative and conducted with the highest levels of creativity and excellence; that has a local and global impact on society; that is integrated in the process of economic development; that is engaged in society; that emphasizes and creatively integrates interdisciplinarity in all these activities; and that ultimately becomes a beacon for other institutions."
Together, we will make this semester both 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 January 30, 2025
Dear HCSLA 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
- Guillermo Jimenez-Aleman - Assistant Professor
- Mary Mitchell - Assistant Professor
- Michael Laudenbach - Assistant Professor
- Andrew Burnside - University Lecturer
- Laura Devorah Dickerman - University Lecturer
- Kuan Lin Pan - Instructor of Chinese Mandarin Language & Culture
- Michelle Cirillo - Professor
- Amir Sagiv - Assistant Professor
- Chenlu Shi - Assistant Professor
- Xinyu Zhao - Assistant Professor
- Trang Bui - Senior University Lecturer
- 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.
- Yuanwei Zhang was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure.
- Rebekah Rutkoff was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure.
- Casey Diekman was promoted to Full Professor.
- Roy Goodman was promoted to Full Professor.
- 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
- Trevor Del Castillo - Assistant Professor
- Gregory Edens - University Lecturer
- Patrick Depaolo - University Lecturer
- Kevin Koh - University Lecturer
- Eugene Snyder - Assistant Professor
- Drew Ciccolo - University Lecturer
- Andres Crespo-Solis - University Lecturer
- Griselle Gonzalez-Ledezma - University Lecturer
- 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
- Omowunmi Sadik - Elected Fellow of the American Chemical Society
- Neil Maher - The Shelby Cullom Davis Center for Historical Studies Fellowship
- 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
- 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
- Teal Arcadi - University Lecturer
- Julia Hyland-Bruno - Assistant Professor
- Yao Sun - Assistant Professor
- Emily Edwards - University Lecturer
- Chong Jin - Assistant Professor
- Thi-Phong Nguyen - Assistant Professor
- Kristina Wicke - Assistant Professor
- Michal Ryduchowski - Professor of Practice
- 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
- Mengyan Li - Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors
- Neil Maher - New York Public Library Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers Fellowship
- Burt Kimmelman - New Jersey College English Association Steven J. Rosen Mentor Award
- Eliza Michalopoulou - Distinguished Lecturer by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Oceanic Engineering Society
- 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