Stevens Indicator - Winter 2014

2015 Stevens Awards

WINTER 2014 — 2015

THE MAGAZINE OF THE STEVENS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

RESERVE YOUR SEAT STEVENS AWARDS GALA MARCH 28, 2015 THE PLAZA HOTEL NEW YORK, NY Join us on Saturday, March 28th for the Third Annual Stevens Awards Gala. The night promises to be a celebration of Stevens as we honor the accomplishments of our alumni and friends.

NEW THIS YEAR Help us keep the celebration going at the Awards Gala After Party from 10:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. Purchase your tickets today!

Visit www.stevens.edu/awardsgala to learn more about the 2015 awardees, ticket prices and sponsorship opportunities.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A MEMORABLE HOUSE

NICE JOB ON ‘GLOBAL’ ISSUE

I’m a 1970 graduate. I noticed a familiar picture in The Indicator on page 6 (Fall 2014 issue). It accompanies an article about the Ruesterholz Center. I’m sending you a couple of photos from my archives of the same house. Back in the late ’60s, our music director, Professor (Bill) Ondrick, used to live there with his family.

The building doesn’t appear to have changed a bit. Unlike me. Thanks for a wonderful magazine.

Just received the Fall 2014 Indicator and must say that it was a great issue. Putting together those many articles relating to Stevens’ influence throughout the world was quite enlightening, but surely was a big task for you and your staff. Just wanted you to know what a great job you are doing. You have surely raised the bar of excellence for The IndicaDifference tor!

FALL 2014

THE MAGAZINE OF THE STEVENS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

MAKING A WORLD OF StevenS alumni & programS influence the global Stage

Charlie Roswell ’70

I thought that the most recent edition (Fall 2014) was one of the best issues. I really appreciated seeing the diversity of our alumni and found the theme very interesting. The relevancy of the issue should also be commended.

Stevens-Indicator-Fall-2014_R3 9-15-14.indd 20

Editor’s Note: Earlier this year, Stevens renovated the interior of the historic Colonial House to house the new Ruesterholz Admissions Center (above), thanks to a generous donation from Virginia and Kevin Ruesterholz, both Class of 1983.

Larry Giannechini ’12

Contributors Paul Karr Stevens Office of Communications & Marketing

Art Direction/Design www.DanFlintDesign.com

Letters to the Editor editor@alumni.stevens.edu

Additional Art Direction/Design Michael Hofmann

Class log submissions alumni-log@stevens.edu

Executive Director Emeritus Anita Lang

Robert Kulish Assistant Athletic Director for Communications & Events

Editor Beth Kissinger bkissing@stevens.edu

Young Soo Yang Stevens Office of Communications & Marketing

Published quarterly by The Stevens Alumni Association, member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. © 2014 Stevens Alumni Association

WINTER 2014–15, VOL. 135, NO. 4 Executive Director Michael Smullen

Associate Editor Lisa Torbic ltorbic@stevens.edu

Indicator Correspondence The Stevens Indicator Stevens Alumni Association Castle Point Hoboken, NJ 07030 Phone: (201) 216-5161 Fax: (201) 216-5374

General SAA inquiries Contact the Alumni Office Phone: (201) 216-5163 Fax: (201) 216-5374 alumni@stevens.edu

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

WINTER 2014 — 2015 1

S p iS ec Su ia e l

Jack Sanborn ’54

9/15/14 4:43 PM

FEATURES WINTER 2014 — 2015

THE MAGAZINE OF THE STEVENS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

THE MAGAZINE OF THE STEVENS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WINTER 2014 — 2015

DEPARTMENTS

14-23 Alumni Building

a Stronger Stevens

Alumni (including the Theta Xi alumni shown below) have always shaped the university. Read about how alumni involvement and generosity have laid a strong foundation and can ensure an even stronger Stevens in the future.

1.......................................... Letters to the Editor 4-5..........................................Presidents’ Corner 6-7...........................................Grist from the Mill 27........................................................SAA Page 34-35.......................... Alumni Business Directory 36 ............................................... Sports Update 37......................................................... Calendar 38............................................................. Clubs 40............................................................. Vitals

8-13 Meet the Awards Gala Honorees

Outstanding members of the Stevens community will be honored on March 28, 2015, at the third annual Stevens Awards Gala, to be held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Read about these extraordinary people who have brought pride to the Stevens name.

24 Homecoming

Hundreds of alumni, family and friends returned to Stevens to watch some games, hear some great music and reconnect with the university.

2 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

28 High-Profile Research Support

Several national, well-known organizations recently recognized Stevens research with their funding support.

31 Good News From Castle Point

Above, from left: The Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame inducted five more alumni members into its very prestigious club this past October. The Edwin A. Stevens Building spire, dedicated to Dr. Leo C. Cunniff ’50, stretches into the Hoboken sky. Stevens’ entry in the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon contest is getting a second chance at life, helping U.S. veterans.

A quick guide to your university’s latest successes in a variety of areas, from rankings to student outcomes to the amazing Class of 2018.

2015 Stevens Awards

WINTER 2014 — 2015

THE MAGAZINE OF THE STEVENS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

32 A Sustainable, Resilient House

Stevens’ entry into the 2015 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon contest, SURE HOUSE, will soon dot the Hoboken waterfront as construction begins in early 2015.

Read how the idea for this sustainable resilient house came about from lessons learned during Superstorm Sandy.

33 Ecohabit Opens to Help U.S. Veterans

On the Cover Alumni support has built a strong foundation at Stevens – through mentoring, scholarship support, volunteerism, philanthropy and in many other ways – and will ensure a stronger university in the future.

Cover Illustration: Michael Hofmann

Stevens-Indicator-winter-2014_v20 12-11-14 PRESS.indd 20

12/11/14 8:08 AM

As Stevens students begin work on their 2015 Solar Decathlon entry, Ecohabit – the university’s 2013 entry in the competition – opened this fall as a veterans center in California.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

WINTER 2014 — 2015 3

PRESIDENTS’ CORNER ALUMNI CONTINUE TO BUILD A STRONGER STEVENS This issue of The Stevens Indicator arrives at your homes in the midst of the holiday season — a season to reflect on years past, to be thankful for our success, and to be proud of our traditions. One of the many traditions of the Stevens Alumni Association has been the continuous publication of The Indicator during the past 130 years. We printed the first Stevens Indicator the same year that the Dow Jones index was created, the year the Washington Monument was completed, and the year The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published.

The history of Stevens and the Stevens Alumni Association is full of traditions and milestones. Through it all, the continuity of Stevens alumni has been the thread that ties it all together. In the center of our campus is likely the best symbol of that tradition: The Torch Bearers, a sculpture representing the passing of knowledge from one generation to another.

As alumni, we also pass along something equally important: our Stevens pride. The campus is filled with reminders of alumni pride, demonstrated through participation and philanthropy. For instance, many campus buildings named for alumni, such as the Wesley J. Howe Center and the Schaefer Athletics Center. There are newer locations as well, such as the Babbio Center for Technology Management, the newly-dedicated Ruesterholz Admissions Center and the Hanlon Financial Systems Lab. The tradition of alumni generosity is also realized through contributions to the Stevens Fund, by sponsoring scholarships and actively donating time and talent. It all contributes to the education of present and future students. In 2014, we established the Stevens Alumni Association Scholarship to recognize the achievements of students who are direct descendants of alumni. Your support of this special scholarship is greatly appreciated.

Stevens pride will be on display this coming year as we mark celebrations, reunions and anniversaries — Delta Phi Epsilon sorority is turning 30; Sigma Nu fraternity will celebrate 115 years; and the Class of

4 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

1965 will celebrate its 50th reunion at Alumni Weekend, which itself has been a tradition for 95 years. And Stevens pride will take center stage at the 2015 Stevens Awards Gala, which will be held on March 28 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. Learn about this year’s distinguished honorees on page 8.

The celebrations, the opportunities to reconnect, they are all part of what we hope to achieve. And your Alumni Association is moving ahead in many other areas, as well.

We are working harder than ever to engage alumni from all classes. Read more about this effort on page 27, which includes information about new class constitutions. And make sure to submit your nominations for Alumni Association officers.

Educating students is the mission of our alma mater. From the minute we alumni walk into the world, diploma in hand, our greatest legacy is supporting that education, and ensuring that Stevens continues to live up to the reputation as a place for superior education that it had when we attended.

That’s why this issue of The Indicator focuses on the impact of alumni on Stevens, both past and present. Whether through buildings, scholarships, volunteerism or financial support, we have always supported our alma mater.

Our legacy is one of remembrance, of pride, and always of support.

Let’s make sure that tradition continues. ❖ Proudly yours, Per aspera ad astra

Thomas Moschello ’63 M.S. ’65 President, Stevens Alumni Association tmoschello@aol.com

PRESIDENTS’ CORNER

GIVING THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO As another stellar year at Stevens comes to a close, the holiday season affords us the opportunity to reflect on the successes of the recent past and to give thanks to those who have made those successes possible. Stevens has met and exceeded a number of important milestones this year, and I am particularly grateful for the tremendous support of our alumni and of the entire Stevens community in advancing the university toward our goals.

With the engagement, dedication and hard work of many members of the Stevens family, we have made great strides in creating a culture of “Excellence In All We Do,” one of the strategic priorities of our 10-year strategic plan. I am both humbled and proud of the many ways our community exhibits excellence every day — from the tremendous response of alumni to increase our giving participation rate by a whopping 9.5 percent in FY14 to our ascent to one of the top universities in the nation in PayScale.com’s mid-career salaries ranking. Stevens is undoubtedly on a steep, upward trajectory.

Further evidence of this includes our remarkable success in student recruitment at both the undergraduate and graduate levels — with applications up by 44 percent and 55 percent over the last three years, respectively — combined with extraordinary increases in the academic profile of newly-enrolled students. This trend toward greater selectivity in undergraduate and graduate admissions fortifies the value of the Stevens degree for our 40,000-plus alumni around the globe.

I’m also delighted that our pursuit of excellence has resulted in major improvements in our physical infrastructure and learning environment, including 13 new or renovated, technology-equipped classrooms; a major renovation to our S.C. Williams Library to increase study space; and, through the inspirational generosity of Virginia ’83 and Kevin Ruesterholz ’83, the elegant, new Ruesterholz Admissions Center in the former Colonial House. These learning spaces and new home to our admissions efforts have had a transformative and catalytic effect on our campus.

Our faculty body is the largest in Stevens history, and we are recruiting faculty from ever-more prestigious institutions each year. Under new leadership, our research has also grown by 109 percent over last year, with a number of new, high-impact, multi-million dollar research awards

from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the National Institutes of Health. Our laser focus on innovation and entrepreneurship as a core competency for all Stevens students has yielded impressive results: a very successful, required freshman entrepreneurship course; new undergraduate start-up companies that have attracted venture capital funding; and new licensing agreements for Stevensdeveloped intellectual property.

As I have met with alumni in the northeast, in Florida, California, and, as of this writing, with a planned trip to visit Korean alumni in December, I continue to be inspired by the stories of excellence and success. In ways big and small, our alumni demonstrate excellence. You are a model for us, and for our students.

I greatly appreciate all that you do. Thank you, as a community of alumni, for your incredible devotion to Stevens over the past year, for your engagement and support in all that we are undertaking to make Stevens a world-class university, and for the generosity of spirit and of financial resources that you are contributing to help your university realize its potential.

Finally, I know for many members of our community, excellence is “the Stevens way.” As we start a new year, I hope that each of you will pause for a moment and celebrate in the successes you’ve helped us to reach. Take pride in all that you have done, in the many ways you’ve helped Stevens, and in the many ways you represent your university so proudly. ❖ Per aspera ad astra,

Nariman Farvardin President, Stevens Institute of Technology president@stevens.edu 201-216-5213

WINTER 2014 — 2015 5

GRIST FROM THE MILL DUCKS GRAB TWO TOP HONORS The College Athletic Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ) recently honored Stevens twice — for having the top male student-athlete and for having the state’s best performing NCAA Division III athletics program. The CAANJ named tennis player Matthew Heinrich as its male student-athlete of the year, for the 2013-2014 season. Heinreich, a mechanical engineering major with a 4.0 G.P.A., qualified for the NCAA Individual Championships and was named an NCAA All-American. Stevens also won the CAANJ Cup for the fourth consecutive year for its overall athletics performance last school year.❖ —Robert Kulish

ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE HONORS FOR ALUMNA

STEVENS’ AGREEMENT WITH NAVY BENEFITS STUDENTS, FACULTY Stevens Institute of Technology and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) entered into an agreement recently, which grants the university’s students and faculty access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology to solve existing and future problems. The five-year Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed by Stevens Provost and University Vice President George Korfiatis and Rear Admiral Mark Darrah, commander of NAWCAD, recognizes the vital role that a science, technology, engineering and mathematics education plays in the future of the United States. The agreement will provide student and faculty research experiences, opportunities to understand and improve upon jointly developed technologies, and a pool of highly qualified candidates for NAWCAD employment. Currently, 230 Stevens alumni work at NAWCAD’s Lakehurst, New Jersey, facility.❖ —Lisa Torbic

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Storymix Media, the video editing company co-founded by Ariane Fisher ’95, recently signed the definitive agreement on a $2.1 million round in September. Storymix enables people to crowdsource their story using company mobile apps to capture photos and video and then direct the video. More good news: Fisher was named one of the “Top 10 Emerging Entrepreneurs’’ by Entrepreneur Magazine and her company’s WeddingMix service was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 100 Brilliant Companies of 2013. ❖

DAGES NAMED CHAIRMAN OF TV ORGANIZATION Charles “Chuck” L. Dages ’70, a former executive vice president of emerging technology at Warner Bros., has been named chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), the organization responsible for the television Emmy Awards. Dages will work with the executive committee and the organization’s board of trustees on all major programming, sponsorship and marketing of the non-profit organization and will also work to secure its mandate of recognizing excellence in the television and media industry. ❖

RECOGNIZING ALUMNI AUTHORS James A. Mitchell ’50 was chosen as a finalist in the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Beyond the Cross: Jesus and Mary Magdalene’s Life in France (Maine Authors Publishing). Mitchell, who has published three other books and enjoyed careers in business and government, cofounded Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton, Rhode Island, with his wife, Lolly. The Stevens Alumni Office is currently collecting books published by alumni and faculty for the Stevens Authors Showcase, a collection with a grand opening scheduled for 2015. Authors can deliver books to the Alumni Office, 9th floor, Howe Center; email alumni@stevens.edu; or call 201-216-5163 for more information.❖

GRIST FROM THE MILL

STEVENS WELCOMES FOURTH SORORITY TO CAMPUS Sigma Delta Tau, a sorority dedicated to democracy and humanity, has joined the Panhellenic community at Stevens, becoming the fourth sorority on campus. SDT executives were at several events on campus this fall and students seem excited about the prospect of a new sisterhood.

SDT hopes to be on-par with its three fellow sororities in regards to their sisterhood membership numbers. This will be SDT’s 103rd chartered chapter, with Stevens designated as the Delta Nu chapter. Thea R. Zunick, associate director of student life at Stevens, said Stevens was interested in adding another sorority because of the university’s growing size and to provide more choices of activities for the female students on campus.

Thirty percent of the 799 new students starting in the 2014-15 academic year are women – a 21 percent increase in the total number of new female students over the previous year. ❖ —Lisa Torbic

HOBOKEN MUSEUM TO CELEBRATE STEVENS FAMILY The Stevens family — and their contributions to Hoboken, New Jersey and the nation — will be the focus of an exhibition opening at the Hoboken Historical Museum in early 2015.

“The Extraordinary Stevens Family, A New Jersey Legacy: 1763-1911,” detailing the lives of two generations of the family and founders of Stevens Institute of Technology, will open on Jan. 25 and run through July. The exhibition will cover the family’s many achievements, from the planning of the City of Hoboken to the founding of the university to their major contributions in the areas of steam transportation, marine design, railroads, architecture and the America’s Cup. The museum has worked with Stevens researchers and archivists to include many artifacts including patent models, letters, photos and 19th century furniture and personal family items from Castle Stevens, the family’s former home. One special highlight: the Stevens history documentary, “Stevens & Sons: America’s First Family of Engineers,” which was created,

NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING CANCER EXPERT TO SPEAK ON CAMPUS Nobel Prize-winner Dr. Harold Varmus, director of the National Cancer Institute and former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will headline the next installment of the President’s Distinguished Lecture series. The lecture — the fifth lecture in the series, which features prominent thought leaders in science and technology — will be held on Feb. 12 in DeBaun Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. More details were still being determined at press time; please visit stevens.edu/ lecture for future announcements.

Varmus was a co-recipient, along with J. Michael Bishop, of the 1989 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for studies of the genetic basis of cancer. He served as NIH director from 1993 to 1999, after which he became president and chief executive officer of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a position he held until 2010, when he assumed the leadership role at the National Cancer Institute.❖

Richard Reeves ’60, left, and John Dalton ’60 were on campus recently to film a Stevens history documentary project.

produced and funded with help from Stevens alumni. John Dalton ’60 wrote the manuscript and led the project, with renowned presidential biographer Richard Reeves ’60 narrating the video. ❖ —Beth Kissinger To learn more, visit www.hobokenmuseum.org

WINTER 2014 — 2015 7

THE

A W A R D S

S

G A L A

W I L L

C E L E B R A T E

tevens will honor a group of remarkably accomplished alumni and friends at the third annual Stevens Awards Gala, set for Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the historic Plaza Hotel in New York City. These individuals will be honored for their extraordinary success in their professions, for their significant

community and humanitarian service or for their exceptional support of Stevens. And they will join an impressive list of past honorees that includes world-renowned artist Alexander Calder, Class of 1919; Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frederick Reines ’39; and inventor Dean Kamen. The Stevens Awards program dates back to 1937, when the Stevens Alumni Association first bestowed the Stevens Alumni Award, and both the university and the Alumni Association have carried on this proud tradition of honoring Stevens’ best and brightest. The 11-member Stevens Awards Committee—which includes alumni and Stevens faculty and staff—reviewed approximately 300 nominations for this year’s awards. Meet the Stevens Awards honorees for 2015.

JOHN H. TAN ’87 M. ENG. ’89

Outstanding Contribution Award

John H. Tan ’87 M. Eng. ’89 has mentored more than 100 Stevens students in their pursuit to become engineers. A frequent advisor to senior design projects and an enthusiastic

Authority of NY and NJ and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, among others.

cooperative education recruiter, Tan has worked to give Stevens students exposure to the

After 25 years with the Berger Group, Tan ac-

real world of professional engineering since 1999. As a representative of The Louis Berger

cepted an opportunity with Naik Consulting Group

Group, his former employer, he has provided Stevens students with access to career-shaping

PC in April 2014, joining the group as vice president

professional development opportunities. His help was instrumental in establishing the re-

and director of structural design services. There, he

lationship between Stevens and the Berger Group, which facilitated not only mentoring, but

works to support the firm’s overall growth opportu-

funding to support the senior design projects as well.

nities through strategic planning, supervision, QA/

“I like to give back to the next generation of engineers,’’ he said of his 15 years as a mentor to students’ senior design projects. “As an alumnus, I can tell them what a Stevens education can do for them. I want them to experience what a real engineering job is like.’’

QC and client liaison activities. He is continuing his efforts to mentor Stevens students at the Naik Group.

For his work on behalf of students, Tan has been selected to receive the Outstanding

In his career, Tan has been involved with several premier transportation projects

Contribution Award at the Stevens Awards Gala. The award is given to an alumnus/a who

including the award-winning Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge Widening and Rehabilita-

has demonstrated at least one act of significant, recognizable contribution to Stevens. “It’s

tion Project. His experience includes project management, design and project quality

a great honor to be selected. I have the utmost respect for Stevens and what they are trying

assurance for the NJ Department of Transportation, NJ Turnpike Authority, the Port

to do. I am very humbled,’’ he said. v —Lisa Torbic

8 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

O U T S T A N D I N G

ELIZABETH E. BAILEY M.S. ’66 HON. D. ENG. ’00

H O N O R E E S

D istinguished Alumni Award, Academia and Government

Elizabeth E. Bailey M.S. ’66 Hon. D. Eng. ’00 has spent decades in universities as an

She is the embodiment of trailblazing as she earned her Ph.D. in economics at Princeton

economics professor and dean and yet, even now, she’s still excited about the subject.

University, the first female doctoral candidate in economics in that school’s history. In 1977,

“Stevens gave me the mathematical skills I needed to pursue my research. Economics is a

President Jimmy Carter appointed her as the first female commissioner of the Civil Aero-

continually evolving social science. There are constant discoveries to be made and theories

nautics Board, where she played an instrumental role in the deregulation of the U.S. airline

to test,’’ she said.

industry. Previously, from 1960-77, she worked at Bell Laboratories, first as a computer

Bailey, the John C. Hower Professor Emeritus of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania, has focused her research

programmer and later as head of the Economics Research Department. Bailey was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1997.

on economic regulation and deregulation, market structure and corporate

For her work in academia and government, Bailey has been chosen to

governance. Bailey joined Wharton in July 1991 and served as chair of the De-

receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, Academia and Government, at the

partment of Business and Public Policy before retiring in 2010. Prior to Whar-

Stevens Awards Gala. The award is given to an alumnus/a who has made a

ton, she served as a professor and dean of the Graduate School of Industrial

significant impact on their chosen field for a decade or more.

Administration at Carnegie Mellon University. She was a visiting scholar at

After graduating magna cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1960, she

the Yale School of Organization and Management and was a trustee at the

worked at Bell Labs for four years before pursuing her master’s studies at

prestigious Brookings Institution for 26 years.

Stevens. v —Lisa Torbic

GUSTAV H. KOVEN III ’65

D istinguished Alumni Award, Business and F inance

Gus Koven ’65 has spent almost 30 years in the venture capital and corporate development communities. He has held high-level positions with investment firms and has ex-

how to break apart a problem and solve it piece-by-piece, and most importantly: you must do the hard work to get good performance,’’ he said.

tensive knowledge of strategic investments and acquisitions in the technology industries.

Koven’s resume hammers home his impact on the investment world. For 10 years he

Today, he is a founding partner and managing director of Brown Savano Direct Capital

was a partner in a number of Edison Venture Fund partnerships, and prior to that he was the

Partners. In founding the company, Koven also pioneered a new kind of investment fund:

president of Chase Manhattan Capital Corp. and Chase Manhattan Investment Holdings. He

The fund provides partial liquidity and asset diversification to individual shareholders in

was also a founding partner with Smith Defieux Capital Partners. Since 1999, he has served

market-leading venture capital backed private companies. The partial liquidity is provided

on the board of Authentec, a company that was purchased by Apple in 2012.

to company founders, angels, active or departed employees.

For his outstanding career in the field of business, Koven has been se-

This game-changer in the investment world speaks of Stevens with

lected to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, Business and Finance. The

high regard, acknowledging that the rigor of the Stevens course load

Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes a record of impact an alumnus or

was overwhelming but prepared him well for what came next.

alumna has in their chosen field for a decade or more.

“As a college freshman, the school was very competitive and the

He remains nostalgic about Castle Point, a place even more special to

workload was extremely demanding. But it definitely prepared me for

him given his family legacy as three other Koven men are Stevens alumni,

the future and provided disciplines for life: time management skills,

including his father, Gus Koven Jr. ’31. v —Lisa Torbic

WINTER 2014 — 2015 9

THE

MOUSHMI PATEL CULVER ’00

Young Alumni Achievement Award

As she prepared to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu “Festival of

Culver has held increasingly responsible positions with Merck since

Lights,” in October, Moushmi Patel Culver ’00 received two pieces of

joining the company in 2000 as part of a two-year rotational program in

good news that made her holiday even brighter.

which she held engineering and business roles. She has worked in global

Culver had just been promoted by Merck & Co. to the role of associate vice president in the pharmaceutical firm’s corporate

procurement for most of her tenure at the company, eventually leading a global team based in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.

strategy office. Her seventh promotion in 14 years – she had previ-

Most recently, Culver worked directly with the president of Merck’s

ously served as chief of staff in the Merck Manufacturing Division,

manufacturing division, which includes approximately 20,000 employees

helping to coordinate initiatives, metrics and communications for

in more than 25 countries. There, she had the opportunity to visit Merck’s

62 manufacturing and distribution sites worldwide – now sees her

manufacturing sites abroad in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

reporting directly to the Chief Strategy & Business Development Of-

Despite her personal and professional responsibilities – including two young sons with husband Nicholas Culver ’01 — she has made time both

ficer of Merck.

That same week, she was selected to receive Stevens’ Young Alumni Achievement

within and outside Merck to mentor young women and help nurture them as leaders. In 2009, she won Merck’s Global Procurement Senior Vice-President Footprint Award, awarded to one

Award, recognizing her rapid career advancement.

“I’m really excited about it,” Culver says of her promotion — and of the recognition

individual in the organization who has demonstrated leadership and commitment and “has

by her alma mater. As for her new position, “It is a wonderful opportunity that will further

left an indelible mark for others to follow.” Culver says Stevens’ intensive course loads, team

develop my knowledge of all the divisions of Merck as well as my leadership skills.”

projects, opportunities for leadership, and co-op experience all prepared her for success

Culver’s new role will involve responsibility for development of enterprise-level strategy, tracking execution and creating linkages with current and future business plans of divisions, franchises and functions at Merck. She’ll also work closely with leadership to manage

with a company she always dreamed of working for.

“We make medicines that help people,” Culver says. “That’s my motivating factor every day for coming to work.” v —Beth Kissinger

strategy development, assessment and implementation.

RICHARD REEVES ’60 HON. D. ENG. ’87

D istinguished Alumni Award, Arts and H umanities

Historian, teacher, political commentator, award-winning telejournalist: These are just

receive the Distinguished Alumni Award,

a few of the titles Richard Reeves ’60 Hon. D. Eng. ’87 has held since he graduated from

Arts and Humanities. The award is given

Stevens. But of all of these titles, his favorite is simply author.

to an alumnus/a who has made significant

“As an author, the work is all mine,’’ he said. “And as an author, I am allowed time to work out the process and create rather than being glib on television; and teaching has a

impact on a continuing basis to their chosen field for a decade or more.

It doesn’t escape him that he gradu-

tendency to be repetitive.’’

Repeating himself is something Reeves doesn’t like to do. His career is long and varied:

ated from Stevens with a mechanical en-

He’s the author of 20 books (including

gineering degree and has spent more than

a trilogy on Presidents Kennedy, Nixon

50 years in the humanities. He sees the

and Reagan) and he is the current se-

engineering degree as a good start for his career.

REGISTRATION

To read more about the Stevens Awards honorees and to register for the Stevens Awards Gala on March 28, 2015, please visit www.stevens.edu/awardsgala.

nior lecturer at the Annenberg School

“Stevens always brings back pleasurable memories for me. I loved being there. But I

for Communication and Journalism at

knew early on that I was not the best engineer in the world. At Stevens, I learned the meth-

the University of Southern California.

odology of how to isolate the variable, to learn how to work the problem to come to a solution.

His latest tome, Infamy, the story of

And at Stevens I had some of the best humanities professors out there.’’ he said.

the internment of Japanese-Ameri-

Reeves began his career in journalism at age 23 by founding The Phillipsburg Free Press

cans and Japanese during World War

in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He was chief political correspondent for The New York Times

II, comes out in January 2015.

and has won all of television’s major documentary awards: an Emmy for “Lights, Camera…

For his extensive work in the humanities, Reeves was chosen to

10 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

GALA INFO &

Politics;’’ a Columbia-DuPont Award for “Struggle for Birmingham;’’ and a George Foster Peabody Award for “Red Star Over Khyber.’’ v —Lisa Torbic

THOMAS H. SCHOLL

F riend of Stevens Award

As a successful entrepreneur, venture capitalist and technology innovator, Thomas H.

ideas, starting new companies and invent-

Scholl has been friends for decades with some of the best engineers and along the way, he

ing licensable technologies other people are

noticed a number of them attended Stevens. After his friend, Dr. Nariman Farvardin, became

dying to pay for,” he said.

Stevens’ president, Scholl was interviewed by the Stevens Board of Trustees Nominating and

Scholl received a B.A. in philosophy and

Corporate Governance Committee and was asked to join the Board. In 2012, he established

literature and an Honorary Doctor of Letters

the Thomas H. Scholl Lecture Series by Visiting Entrepreneurs, which features notable en-

from Purdue University. He holds patents

trepreneurs and executives whose successful business performance has helped change

relating to software, the Internet and digital

the world for the better. Directly involved in more than 40 startups as founder, chairman,

telephone systems. He serves as Chairman

CEO, board member or investor, Scholl was the perfect benefactor to create and guide the

of the Board of Visitors for the University of

Lecture Series. To date, four lectures have been presented. They are open to all and include

Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engi-

a classroom setting where students and faculty can informally interact with the speaker.

neering. In 2011, Scholl was awarded the

In 2013, Scholl became Chair of the Stevens Board of Trustees Research Enterprise & Technology Commercialization (RETCOM) committee. “This is an exciting committee be-

Venture Capital “Friend of the Entrepreneur’’ award by Washington Business Journal based on nominations from entrepreneurs who know him.

cause it represents a huge growth opportunity for Stevens. Our job is to put Stevens ‘on the

For his commitment and support to Stevens as a non-alumnus, Scholl will receive the

map’ in the areas of basic and applied research, entrepreneurship and technology licens-

Friend of Stevens Award. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated activity

ing. But the personal reward comes in the form of faculty and students generating original

with substantial impact on the university’s mission and reputation. v — Lisa Torbic

ROBERT L. KLEIN ’42 M.S. ’43

Lifetime Service Award

Bob Klein ’42 has played bass clarinet for at least 45 years. He has been singing in the same church choir for 19 years. And he competed in tennis tournaments for nearly 40 years, only declining to participate in tournaments very recently — at the age of 93.

fixed lacrosse sticks and played in a dance band to earn extra money as a student — he appreciates how scholarships can change lives.

His Stevens education opened doors, Klein says, and he later enjoyed a successful ca-

“Once I do something, I seem to do it forever and forever,” he says.

reer as a manufacturing executive, eventually retiring as director and secretary of Morris

One of Klein’s longest-running avocations has been his support of his alma mater, where

Cablevision in New Jersey.

he has made a meaningful impact for decades, from helping to raise money for student scholarships to organizing class reunions to writing his popular Stevens Indicator class log.

For his decades of devotion to Stevens, Klein will receive the Lifetime Service Award at the Stevens Awards Gala this spring.

Stevens has always been a wonderful place, he says, and he feels a great deal of optimism with President Nariman Farvardin now at the helm.

“It’s very gratifying,” he says. “It’s been a wonderful experience being close to Stevens.” v —Beth Kissinger

Reached by phone in Naples, Florida, Klein is thinking of Bill Ehlers. He has just spoken with Ehlers, now living in Arizona, and encouraged him to create a local senior citizens’ club so he’d have some friends to talk to and be with. Klein makes it a habit of calling his remaining classmates regularly, not only to get class log updates but also to offer encouragement or a comforting word. His devotion to his class log is legendary, as he’s been writing the column for more than 30 years. He can’t recall missing a deadline.

His classmates call him “the glue” that has held the Class of 1942 together, deepening friendships long past graduation. Klein has attended nearly every Stevens class reunion since 1947 and, for decades, helped organize “mini-reunions” in Florida. Alumni Weekend 2012 was a shining moment, as Klein and six of his 12 living classmates returned to Stevens to mark their 70th class reunion.

Klein, a longtime, generous supporter of the university, also speaks with pride about the Class of 1942 Scholarship for Stevens students. A scholarship recipient himself — who

WINTER 2014 — 2015 11

THE

JOSEPH J. KAMINSKI ’60

D istinguished Alumni Award, Extraordinary Community or H umanitarian Service

Joseph Kaminski ’60’s philanthropy has been as remark-

The Kaminskis established the Kaminski Family

able and longstanding as his long career in the industrial

Scholarships for Stevens students in 2005. The Kamin-

gas business.

ski Foundation, founded in 2001, also supports a di-

Kaminski once met a young disabled man in Alexandra

verse number of other organizations, as well, from the

Township, South Africa, for instance, at the Itlhokomeleng

Boys and Girls Club of Allentown, Pennsylvania to the

Home for the Aged & Disabled Persons — a “rap Bible sing-

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In South Africa,

er,” Kaminski recalls today with a smile. He gave the man an

the foundation supported clean-water efforts, schools

amplifier and recording equipment, just two of many dona-

and healthcare facilities. Kaminski even helped es-

tions over the years from the Kaminski family to that home.

tablish an employee rock band at his longtime firm

The man and his group later recorded and sold several CD

Air Products & Chemicals; the band’s charity concerts raised more than $1 million for organizations including

albums thanks to that gift.

From South Africa to Stevens, Kaminski and his wife Judith have made a powerful im-

the Special Olympics and the American Heart Association.

pact on the lives of many in need. And for this extraordinary service to others, Kaminski will

Kaminski began his prestigious career with Air Products, a manufacturer of industrial

receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, Extraordinary Community or Humanitarian Service

gases and chemicals, in 1965, rising to vice president of international operations, vice presi-

at the Stevens Awards Gala.

dent of strategic planning and then president of Air Products Europe. He retired in 2000 as

“My wife, Judith, encouraged me to become more engaged in philanthropic work, and the relationships you build with people are very special,” Kaminski says. “To be able to help, watch them grow and develop and make things happen is a tremendous reward.”

GERARD J. FOSCHINI PH.D. ’67

executive vice president and a member of the company’s board of directors.

“You learn that there’s such a need out there,” he says of his family’s charity work. “You reach out to people; you really can help them.” v —Beth Kissinger

D istinguished Alumni Award, Engineering

Gerard Foschini Ph.D. ’67 sees people walking down the

using multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver that

street chatting on smart phones, connecting on wireless de-

were capable of delivering an enormous number of quality chan-

vices– and he can’t help but be amazed.

nels. This “multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO)” theory had an

The Bell Labs telecommunications pioneer began looking

important effect on the development of cellular systems. Foschini

at the ultimate limits of data capacity in wireless communi-

showed that it was possible, using existing technology, to obtain

cations more than 20 years ago. With signals bouncing off

a hefty fraction of the ultimate bit rates possible. Several of his

buildings, and their surroundings, initially he wasn’t optimis-

18 patents deal with innovative wireless MIMO communication

tic about there being an adequate number of quality channels.

techniques.

“In the early stages, we wondered: Is this going to work?”

Foschini joined Bell Labs in 1961 and retired in 2013. He has

he recalls. “I didn’t think this was going to work – but it

taught at Princeton and Rutgers, is a member of the National

works!”

Academy of Engineering and received the Thomas Alva Edison Pat-

For his extraordinary career in telecommunications and his contributions to the science and technology of multipleantenna wireless communications, Foschini will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award – Engineering at the Stevens Awards Gala.

Foschini, a retired Distinguished Inventor in Bell Labs’ Wireless Research Laboratory, spent more than 50 years with Bell and has done extensive research on point-to-point and network communications systems for wired, wireless and optical applications. Notably, with colleague Michael Gans, they showed schemes existed for wireless communications

12 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

ent Award in 2002 and the 2000 Bell Labs Inventor’s Award, among many other distinctions.

Stevens played an important role in his career. Longing to learn more about mathematics and apply it to his research, Foschini left Bell Labs briefly during the mid-1960s to obtain his Ph.D. at Stevens. The quality of instruction was excellent, he recalls, singling out Stevens math professor Larry Wallen as a major influence.

“He’d walk into class with an entire superb lecture in his head,” Foschini says. “I learned by example what a person can do.” v —Beth Kissinger

FRANK FAWZI ’84 M.M.S. ’87

Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. Entrepreneur Award

The development of Frank Fawzi ’84 M.M.S ’87

From 1991 to 2001, Fawzi founded, built and later sold

into a spectacularly successful entrepreneur can be

CommTech Corporation, a leader in the communications soft-

traced to his drive, work ethic and ability to see ahead

ware sector, to ADC, a leading provider of broadband solutions

to trends in his field.

for the telecommunications industry, for $178 million.

But the CEO of the cloud communications firm

Fawzi joined the San Mateo, California, based IntelePeer

IntelePeer also thinks back to Stevens and credits

as CEO in 2007 and has since been its guiding force in the

the research and entrepreneurial experiences of his

company’s drive to become a leading innovator of commu-

student years for helping him along his career path.

nications services and applications. IntelePeer provides on-

“I really believe that adult ambition and adult

demand, cloud-based IP communications and SIP trunking

personality are formed during the college years,”

services for unified communications systems, contact cen-

Fawzi says. “You start to understand what you want

ters, service providers and enterprises.

For his outstanding record as an entrepreneur and inno-

from your career and your life. The culture of an orga-

vator in his field, Fawzi will receive the Charles V. Schaefer,

nization makes a huge difference.”

At Stevens, Fawzi saw the groundwork being laid for his career as an entrepreneur.

Jr. Entrepreneur Award at the Stevens Awards Gala. He embodies the spirit of Stevens en-

Working with several professors, he recalls their early attempts to design, build and imple-

trepreneurship: finding a market need, developing a solution to that need, and being highly

ment software programs – an invaluable experience in building from scratch, he recalls.

successful in the process.

He remembers influential professors such as George Yevick in physics and Larry Levine in math, among others, and praises his rigorous education, including what he calls invaluable exposure to the humanities.

Early in his career, Fawzi worked with AT&T Bell Laboratories and other divisions of

Creating products and services that people use daily continues to challenge and inspire Fawzi.

“It’s always how can you outdo yourself, every single month, every single quarter,” he says. v —Beth Kissinger

AT&T. At AT&T, he was the lead data communications architect on a team responsible for the company being awarded a $1.4 billion contract from the Internal Revenue Service.

ART HARPER ’78

International Achievement Award

Art Harper ’78 is a business leader who has successfully worked globally to bring plastics to the masses in everyday objects, items such as water bottles, appliances, even Apple iPods.

During his long career at General Electric and its divisions,

cant impact on a continuing basis in their chosen field for a decade or more.

Stevens, Harper says, created a solid foundation for his success.

Harper completed two successful global assignments, one in

“Stevens made all the difference in the world to me,’’

Hong Kong for GE Plastics Greater China and another in Belgium

he said. “The foundation of thinking through a problem is

as vice president of global manufacturing for GE Plastics and

critical in any career, not just [in] engineering. At Stevens,

GE Plastics Europe, India, and Africa. At GE Plastics, he served

I was taught how to make life easier for people, how to fix

as a senior vice president and President & CEO of GE Equipment

business problems.’’

Services, a $6.5 billion business, and was responsible for a port-

A strong believer in giving back, Harper is also in-

folio of seven global businesses with operations in approximately

volved with and sits on the boards of several nonprofits,

19 countries. Soon after Harper departed GE after 21 years, he

focused on improving the lives of minority children. In

founded GenNx360 Capital Partners, a private equity firm fo-

2005, Black Enterprise named him one of the “75 Most

cused on investing in industrial and business services companies in the U.S. middle market

Powerful African-Americans in Corporate America,’’ and that same year he received the

with approximately $1.1 billion of capital under management.

Award for Professional Achievement by The 100 Black Men of Stamford, Connecticut.

For his accomplished business career abroad, Harper will receive the Stevens’ International Achievement Award, which is given to an alumnus/a who has demonstrated a signifi-

“I owe my success to others who have sacrificed to help me get where I am today,’’ he says. “(By giving back), I am able to pay it back to the next generation.’’ v —Lisa Torbic

WINTER 2014 — 2015 13

ALUMNI CONTINUE TO SHAPE THEIR 1 Theta

Xi fraternity alumni were honored this past September for their volunteer service and strong support of Stevens and the Alumni Association. 2 The Stevens Clock – a gift of the Classes of 2004 and 2009.

Walk around Castle Point today — or go back in time 100 years ago to the campus — and any visitor will discover the footprints of Stevens alumni. From buildings and beloved landmarks to students whose lives were changed forever by a scholarship or a much-needed mentor, Stevens alumni have had an unequaled impact on the university. They have built a strong foundation, one that — because of its rich variety of support and efforts — will ensure an even stronger Stevens in the future.

The impact of Stevens alumni upon the university starts here, but extends beyond Castle Point — to corporations and research labs where alumni mentor students in top-notch cooperative education and internship opportunities, and to vibrant alumni clubs that stretch from San Francisco to Boston to Beijing, bol-

14 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

stering the Stevens network and fostering fellowship and support for their alma mater.

The Stevens Indicator looks at the alumni impact upon the university and speaks with just a handful of the thousands of alumni who play a vital role in Stevens’ growth as a worldclass university.

RESOLUTIONS 2015

A LM A M ATE R

The Stevens Indicator asked some of our most engaged alumni — plus some faculty and staff members — for

IMPACTING STUDENTS: A LEGACY OF SCHOLARSHIPS Alumni-sponsored scholarships have a long, proud legacy at Stevens. Generations of alumni have generously supported Stevens students almost since the university’s founding, giving students for whom a Stevens education may have been financially out of reach a chance to obtain a quality education and a better shot at a successful career and greater quality of life.

In 2014, the university could count 88 class scholarships, made up of both endowed and term funds, stretching from the Class of 1930 to as recent as the Class of 2013. Generations of students have been able to stay in school, complete their Stevens education and go on to successful careers, thanks to this legacy of alumni generosity.

Justin Rodriguez ’08 calls the scholarship support that he received at Stevens and beyond “life-changing.” But so has the mentoring that he’s received from Joseph Kaminski ’60 and his wife, Judith.

“They have contributed not only their advice and mentoring but also a lot of encouragement as well,” he says. “I am indebted to them.”

Rodriguez, one of seven children and a first generation college student from Staten Island, N.Y., never could have afforded a Stevens education without the Kaminski Family Scholarship, he says. But the Kaminskis’ help continued beyond Stevens, when Rodriguez pondered a career change from engineering to business, and really needed some good advice.

Kaminski offered advice and suggested his other alma mater, the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Kaminski wrote him

their New Year’s resolution on how GETTING INVOLVED IS EASY Stevens alumni have many ways they can be involved with their alma mater.

They can: ❖ Attend or host Stevens alumni events. With more than 75 events annually, there are plenty of ways to reconnect and network. Save the dates of June 5 – 7, 2015, for Alumni Weekend & Reunion Celebrations. ❖ Join an alumni working committee. Greek life, athletics, regional programming—the Stevens Alumni Association has something for everyone. ❖ Mentor current students and young alumni. Share your insights on life after Stevens with students and recent graduates. ❖ Hire Stevens students for full-time positions and internships. Students develop critical-thinking skills necessary to succeed. Put their talents to work in your organization. ❖ Help recruit future Ducks.

Prospective students and their families love to interact with alumni to hear first-hand about the Stevens experience.

For more information, call the Stevens Alumni Office at 201-216-5163 or visit stevens.edu/alumni/volunteer.

they will further support Stevens or its alumni in 2015. Here’s what they had to say.

“Ask each classmate to participate in some alumni activity or giving, to the extent that he is comfortable; work to reactivate the Southeast Florida Alumni Club; establish/ energize a Class of 1956 committee for our 60th reunion; meet recipients of the 1956 Endowed Scholarship and invite them to our Alumni Weekend party; improve my class’s alumni participation rate; attend more alumni events; increase my personal contribution; never miss an Indicator log deadline.”

Alan Lager ’56 Class of ’56 Secretary

“I have a GREAT opportunity to understand what benefits alums are seeking and working with a great team to provide options. I can’t wait for 2015!”

Joelle Hinds-Ware ’93 Member, SAA Benefits Committee

WINTER 2014 — 2015 15

1

Virginia and Kevin Ruesterholz, both Class of ’83, with their daughter, Katie, at the dedication of the Ruesterholz Admissions Center at Stevens this fall. Photo: Jeff Vock 2A look inside the Hanlon Financial Systems Lab, made possible by a gift from John “Sean” J. Hanlon IV ’80.

16 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

a letter of recommendation and later funded much of the full fellowship that he won for the school’s MBA program, Rodriguez says.

Rodriguez now works with Boston Consulting Group in the Washington, D.C., where he serves as a management consultant to CEOs and upper management, helping them solve challenging business problems.

He and Kaminski share yet another bond — both are also alumni of Brooklyn Tech. So Rodriguez didn’t hesitate to drive from D.C. one recent Saturday for lunch with the Kaminskis and Stevens students who have received their scholarship, many also from Brooklyn Tech.

Rodriguez spoke with students about his Stevens and career experiences and, this time, he was the one offering advice.

“Joe has always been there when I needed it,” Rodriguez says. (Read more about Kaminski on p. 12 and Stevens scholarship recipients on p. 22.)

SHAPING OUR CAMPUS: THE STEVENS LANDSCAPE The Stevens physical landscape, of course, is also filled with the influences of its alumni.

From the Stevens Mobile (a gift from worldrenowned artist Alexander Calder, Class of 1919) to the DeBaun Auditorium (benefactors Grace and Ken DeBaun ’49), alumni gifts to their alma mater have created memorable landmarks and buildings dating back decades.

DeBaun and the other facilities funded by alumni are not just locations that engender fond memories among alumni — they are campus hubs that are alive with students and learning. The Babbio Center for Technology Management (named in honor of its benefactor Larry Babbio ’66) Schaefer Athletic Center (a gift from Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. ’36) and the Warren ’42 and Ruth Wells Engineering Design Lab are all more recent buildings and facilities named in honor of Stevens alumni who have recognized the contribution that a Stevens education has had on their successes, and wanted to pay it forward for generations of Stevens students to come.

RESOLUTIONS 2015 “I am excited about a Hoboken Chapter of the SAA! According to our records, there are nearly 600 alumni with Hoboken addresses.

That is a powerful force! We need to engage all Stevens alumni — with bachelor’s and graduate degrees — who live in Hoboken to help Stevens be more visible and influential in Hoboken.”

Beth McGrath Chief of Staff & Director of Community & State Relations Stevens Office of the President

The Ruesterholz Admissions Center, formerly Colonial House, is the most recent addition to the campus. Although the charming Colonial building’s exterior hasn’t changed, the interior has been retrofitted as a modern, elegant, technology-enabled admissions center.

Named for Virginia and Kevin Ruesterholz, both Class of ’83, the building serves as the official welcoming center for prospective students and their parents, with a nod to the past while highlighting its vision toward the future.

“Kevin and I wanted to give something lasting, something that would really have an impact on the student experience, and we arrived at the idea of enhancing the admissions process by funding the admissions center,’’ Virginia says. “The admissions center is the first place an applicant sees … It gives such a positive first impression.’’

In 2012, Stevens Board of Trustees member John “Sean” J. Hanlon IV ’80 presented Stevens with a significant gift to establish the Hanlon Financial Systems Lab, a cornerstone of the Financial Systems Center that is located on the fourth floor of the Babbio Center.

The laboratory closely simulates an actual Wall Street trading room, with Bloomberg terminals, trading desks and tickers. Students prepare for financial services careers, as they learn quantitative finance methods firsthand, performing the same risk management operations as hedge-fund managers, advisors and planners.

“Basic training in this field is not only important, but essential in this day and age.

Stevens has always, and will continue to, understand the marketplace and the skill sets required for our undergraduates to become immediate, valuable contributors to industry,” Hanlon said at the laboratory’s ribbon-cutting.

“This combination of computer science, systems, engineering and investment and finance courses makes our students second to none in terms of education. The Laboratory and the Financial Systems Center will help provide these key skills.”

Today, the lab educates close to 500 students, both undergraduates and graduates, each semester, with more than 20 courses per semester, said Professor George Calhoun, act-

“Enthuse others to get more engaged through financial support, especially when corporate matching funds are available, by providing intern, co-op and full time opportunities for Stevens students, and by being an ambassador for Stevens at area high school college fairs to broaden the pool of qualified students.”

Frank Roberto ’76 Co-Secretary, Class of ’76 Houston Alumni Club Recruiter and mentor

“We’re expecting many exciting developments for the Howe School in the coming year. My resolution is to make sure our graduates are up to date on all our accomplishments — without overwhelming them!”

Dr. Gregory Prastacos Dean, Howe School of Technology Management

WINTER 2014 — 2015 17

1The renovated DeBaun Auditorium was made possible by a major gift from Grace and Ken DeBaun ’49. 2 Larry Giannechini ’12, far right, associate chair of the Edwin A. Stevens Society; Natalia Bilchuk ’10, and a friend enjoy Homecoming 2014.

ing director of the Financial Systems Center which administers The Hanlon Lab. The lab has definitely helped to attract more top students to Stevens, Calhoun said. More importantly, it is improving their educational experience.

“It was a huge step that improved the quality of the curriculum and improved the student experience,” Calhoun said of the lab.

Another recent gift that will impact Stevens’ future for years to come is the university’s largest gift ever from a single living donor — a $10 million donation from Susan and Greg Gianforte ’83, through the Gianforte Family Foundation.

POWERING THE FUTURE: ALUMNI AS MENTORS Beyond the critical scholarship support, beyond the enabling physical infrastructure, alumni play another role in influencing the impact Stevens has on the world. Perhaps no one understands that more than Frank Semcer ’65.

A Stevens trustee and major benefactor, he’s president of MICRO, a manufacturing company in Somerset, New Jersey, that creates tube

18 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

fabrication, metal injection molding and clean room assembly. For several years, MICRO has hosted four to six Stevens students as part of the Stevens cooperative education (co-op) program, which provides real-world, full-time work experiences in alternating semesters with full-time academic study. “(My wife) Mary Jane and I love the school.

We believe Stevens was responsible for our success in industry and by giving back, well, it’s about saying thank you to Stevens for helping me be as successful as I am,’’ he says.

In the Fall 2014 semester, 311 students were working in a co-op sponsored job, with alumni companies strongly represented.

Alumni come to campus to recruit and serve as mentors for the students.

“The co-op experience provides a wonderful curriculum. It’s like the branches of a tree; when you’re on the ground looking up, you see all the branches coming off the trunk,” Semcer says.

“Those branches could be experiences or fields of study or opportunities that contribute to the overall strength of the tree. And in the case of co-ops, it helps to provide a more stable base.’’

RESOLUTIONS 2015 “My eldest son is now a freshman at Stevens so the quality of a Stevens education is more important than ever to me. Although we live in Wisconsin, I plan to come to campus as often as possible to participate in the wide variety of events held there. My lucky classmates will also notice my increased dedication to raising funds for our class endowed scholarship.”

Katy (O’Malley) Coumans ’80 President, Class of ’80

In a similar vein, the Office of Career Development holds career fairs and interview sessions several times a year that always attract alumni recruiters back to Stevens. Whether they’re representing Fortune 500 companies such as ExxonMobil or Morgan Stanley, or exciting tech start-ups right in Hoboken, these alumni seek out the highly qualified Stevens students for positions, because they know the rigor of the preparation and the value a Stevens graduate will bring to their company. A number of alumni return to campus again and again as recruiters and, once Stevens students are on the job, mentor them and help them network.

Generations of alumni have also served as advisers to senior design teams, bringing their expertise and experience to help students create cutting-edge technology that can improve everyday lives and tackle society’s many challenges.

One exciting collaboration this year involves a student team working with Dr. Corina Schoen ’05, an OBGYN specializing in maternal fetal medicine at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. The biomedical engineering

DID YOU KNOW… ❖ The Gatehouse was constructed circa 1835

and is dedicated in honor of E. Russell Sprague ’36. ❖ The tree located on the patio area between

the Schaefer Center and Walker Gym is dedicated in memory of Charles Stewart Mott, Class of 1897, who guided General Motors for more than 50 years.

“Stevens alumni are fantastic! In the new year, I resolve to connect with many more alumni to find out how Stevens shaped them.

In doing so, I hope to strengthen the connection between Stevens and our dedicated alumni. I believe Stevens still has much to offer our alumni and that they are such an important part of our future achievements.”

Melissa Fuest Director of Annual Giving Stevens Office of Development

❖ Walter Kidde, Class of 1897, started the Kid-

de Company, makers of fire extinguishers.

The Kidde Building in the Morton-PeirceKidde Complex is named for him. ❖ Talya Santillan ´99, PE, senior associate

with Kohler Ronan, worked on the renovated Ruesterholz Admissions Center. team, under faculty adviser Dr. Vikki Hazelwood, Ph.D. ’07, is designing a medical device to help prevent preterm birth. Schoen — who is married to Matthew Schoen ’97 and has two young children — organized a conference with the students and several physicians to discuss

“I will continue to support Stevens’ strategic plan in every way to allow it to reach the highest level of excellence — through my on-going work with the Stevens Alumni Association; by promoting the uniqueness of Stevens and its educational programs; by supporting and participating in school events; and through my financial contributions.”

Thomas J. Moschello ’63 President, Stevens Alumni Association

WINTER 2014 — 2015 19

prototype ideas and clinical considerations for designs as well as how this project could apply to patients in the U.S. and abroad.

Schoen has monthly conference calls with the students and also emails them several times a month. This is in addition to her 45-55-hour work week, plus additional patient calls that come with her job.

Schoen had sought a Stevens team for the project. “My educational experiences at Stevens have laid an incredible groundwork for my medical career,” she said. “I wanted to be able to share my experiences with the current biomedical engineering students to hopefully show what they can accomplish through collaborative work and the translational research.”

The students say that Schoen has been help-

ful, available and with both her engineering and medical background — and experience with Senior Design — an invaluable mentor.

“She’s very, very committed to the project,” says student team member Michael McAree ’15.

Many more Stevens alumni are making an impact on the lives of Stevens students and on the university’s quest to further transform itself into a world-class university equipped to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

To learn more about the variety of ways that you can make an impact, see page 15.❖ —Beth Kissinger & Lisa Torbic

1 The steeple of the Edwin A. Stevens building is named in honor of Leo Cunniff ’50. 2Young alumni enjoy a cruise along the Hudson River during Alumni Weekend 2014.

PROFESSOR MARKS 67 YEARS WITH DAVIDSON LAB

S

tevens Professor Dan Savitsky M.S. ’52 may be the only person working at Stevens who knew Ken Davidson, the pioneering professor who launched the original towing tank in 1935 — the first of three towing tanks installed in the Davidson Laboratory.

Davidson was a good man to work for, Savitsky says, with a great passion for his laboratory’s work. At 93, Savitsky has continued this passion in incredible fashion, as he marked 67 years of continuous work with Davidson Laboratory in 2014.

“I like what I do. I seem to be doing things that are useful,” he says, in his plain-spoken way. “It also keeps happy my 53–year-old marriage, since I’m not in my wife’s way all the time.”

Savitsky — who has served under five of Stevens’ seven presidents — is probably the oldest active researcher at Stevens and continues to write papers that are accepted in peer-reviewed journals and symposia.

Although he officially retired in 1994 — after 47 years of teaching and working at the lab, four years as its di-

20 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

rector — he has continued to work as a consultant, usually three days a week.

He occasionally lectures, but much of his time is spent researching and writing journal articles, with an interest in naval architecture as related to the design of high-speed marine vessels.

Savitsky has published more than 70 articles during his career, most recently in the Journal of Ship Production and Design. He is currently preparing a paper for this journal dealing with the hydrodynamic forces imposed on marine craft as they impact waves at high speed. When he was first hired by Dr. Davidson in 1947 as a junior engineer, Savitsky initially focused on the hydrodynamic characteristics of seaplanes and high speed planing craft. His research was primarily funded by the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research.

In 1964, he published a seminal technical paper that developed the so-called “Savitsky Method” for predicting the horsepower requirements for high speed planing boats. It is used universally by naval architects and, to this day, is still the most accepted way to predict power requirements in planing craft while still in the design state. During his years at Davidson, he produced many important designs including landing craft for the U.S. Marine Corps, advanced planing craft for the U.S. Navy, and floats for converting a Lockheed C-130 aircraft to a water-based aircraft. He was a muchadmired teacher, teaching graduate courses in oceanography and highspeed marine craft and seaplanes.

One of his former students, John G. Hoyt III ’76 M. Eng. ’77, praises not only

Savitsky’s gifts as a researcher, but also his dedication to his students, in a 2010 article he wrote about his professor, “On Becoming Savitsky,” in Professional Boat Builder.

“His biography, as I see it, can be summed up by these simple lines of William Wordsworth’s: ‘that best portion of a man’s life; his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love,’” Hoyt writes.

Savitsky and his wife, Mary, a retired professor at New Jersey City University, have three children, two of whom, Jean ’85 and Jim ’88, attended Stevens. The third is Anne, who graduated from Marist College.

Savitsky, the son of Ukrainian immigrants, grew up in the tenements of Manhattan’s Lower East Side where, despite many hardships (including living through the Great Depression), he remembers having a happy life.

He attended college for free at City College of New York and, in addition to his master’s degree from Stevens, earned a Ph.D. in oceanography at NYU.

RESOLUTIONS 2015 “The most important way for me to stay engaged with Stevens is by investing in the relationships that I have built here. I can be a mentor to the friends I have made in student organizations such as the Indian Undergraduate Association and the Stevens Christian Fellowship and attend both alumni and general campus events.”

Samantha George ’14 Member, Stevens Board of Trustees

Savitsky is the recipient of many awards for his research including those from the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, The Royal Institute of Naval Architects (England), and Stevens — including naming of

the university’s recent research vessel, R/V SAVITSKY. As he walks through the laboratory and remembers hulls that he worked on — some mounted on the walls — he recalls some rewarding projects. Mostly, he re-

members his colleagues.

“People make the lab,” Savitsky says. “The lab is just concrete and water in a tank.

“I had a happy group. Somehow, I’m still here.” ❖ —Beth Kissinger

Longtime Stevens Professor Dan Savitsky M.S. ’52 inside the Davidson Laboratory this fall. 

“Currently, I am the Stevens Alumni Association’s first vice president, and I hope to be elected SAA president this spring. I am looking forward to engaging more alumni and having the SAA offer more to alumni, to encourage them to become more involved and work toward our lofty goals.”

Joseph DiPompeo ’98 First Vice President Stevens Alumni Association

“I plan to encourage more alumni to come to wrestling matches and to more athletics social events. Great things will happen when the alumni come back and see what amazing things current students are doing at this awesome school, both on and off the mat.’’

Joe Favia ’13 Stevens Wrestling Head Coach

WINTER 2014 — 2015 21

1 Alumnae

who organized the successful 45th STEP anniversary in 2013 included, from left, Patty Torres ’01, Eileen Parra ’10, Marissa Brock ’99 and Anne Dutreuil ’10. 2The Babbio Center for Technology Management, named for benefactor Larry Babbio ´66. 3Larry Babbio ’66 received the President’s Leadership Award at the 2013 Stevens Awards Gala.

4 Enjoying a past Stevens Metropolitan Club holiday party, seated from left, are Bob Bosse ’50 and Joe Schneider ’46.

Standing are John Hovey ’57, left, with Stevens President Nariman Farvardin. The SMC, which supports student scholarships, has been meeting continuously for about 95 years — longer than any Stevens alumni club.

SCHOLARSHIPS MAKE A POWERFUL IMPACT LUIS ARTOLA ’03 HEARD OF THE RIGOROUS STEVENS EDUCATION AS A BOY; HIS GRANDFATHER, JOSEPH A. ARTOLA, WAS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 1928. LUIS KNEW HIS SUCCESS AS A STEVENS STUDENT WAS A SENSE OF FAMILY PRIDE. So when Artola was awarded the Stevens Alumni Association’s Legacy Scholarship while a student, he knew who to thank.

“I felt like my grandfather was continuing to take care of me even though he was no longer here,’’ he

recalled. But Artola could also thank generations of alumni who have supported this academic merit scholarship, which is awarded to the children or grandchildren of Stevens alumni.

Artola — whose brother Javier ’03 was also a scholarship recipient — is a big believer in scholarship support for good students. “It helps the student worry less about the finances of a private education and allows him or her to concentrate on their studies,’’ he said.

Providing scholarships for promising students in need is one of the most powerful ways that alumni are making an impact at Stevens. From classes to individual alumni to Greek organizations, they have made a Stevens education possible for generations of students.  Robert Acker ’61 and his grandson, Kevin Acker, Class of 2018 (with Kevin’s parents), are both scholarship recipients.

22 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

The Class of 1960 helped make a Stevens education possible for Min Yang ’14 M.S. ’14 through its class scholarship.

Born in China’s Fujian province, Yang came to New York with her family when she was 14, in search of more personal freedom and greater economic opportunities. And she longed to attend Stevens, attracted to its strong biomedical engineering program, small size and location.

Yang faced the prospect of securing part-time jobs on top of her academic workload, incurring loans, and searching for external scholarships in order to pursue her dream. But, the Class of 1960 scholarship, with a few other scholarships, helped her cover tuition. It also helped her to thrive both academically and personally.

“The scholarship allowed me to concentrate on academics and on volunteer work in the Hoboken community,” says Yang, who participated in many student activities, from the Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity to the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.

Yang says that Stevens made a lasting difference in her life, as she now works as a special projects coordinator with the Visiting Nurses Association Health Group in Red Bank, New Jersey.

RESOLUTIONS 2015 “I think alumni are provided a handful of resources with which to stay educated on the impressive progress that our alma matter has been making. I plan to talk to families and colleagues regarding these developments to help improve the prestige of our institute — reminding people that participation through annual giving helps Stevens tremendously, as the percentage of alumni donating any monetary sum is often a key metric in college rating reports.’’

Larry Giannechini ’12 Associate Chair, Edwin A. Stevens Society One person who has made a lasting impression in her life is John Dalton ’60 — a major supporter of Stevens and a scholarship recipient himself who has led efforts to increase the number of student scholarships at the university.

“He’s a great sponsor and mentor of mine,” Yang says. “I want to carry on his legacy by being a dedicated alumna.”

Dalton and his twin brother, the late Ed Dalton, were “two working class kids from Jersey City” who never could have afforded Stevens without a General Motors Scholarship, John says.

Ed Dalton and scholarship recipient Don Merino ’60 went on to lead the effort to establish a Class of 1960 scholarship. And John Dalton recently chaired the effort to raise scholarship funds, as part of Stevens’ successful President’s Initiative for Excellence.

Leading the scholarship effort was a “no-brainer,” Dalton says, given the difference that a scholarship

 Min Yang ’14 won a scholarship funded by the Class of 1960.

made in his life.

At Stevens, scholarships can make a difference in generations of a family.

Robert Acker 61’s father died during his sophomore year at Stevens, and his family couldn’t afford for him to continue. But a scholarship from Stevens saved him from dropping out and helped him lay a foundation for a successful future.

Acker would go on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stevens and spent 35 years in the aerospace business, retiring as senior vice president of Singer/Kernot. He later came out of retirement to become an associate dean with Stevens’ Howe School before retiring for good.

His grandson, Kevin, is a freshman mechanical engineering major who recently won the SAA Legacy Scholarship. Kevin is thankful for the scholarship help and for the meaningful part that a Stevens education has played in several generations of his family.

“It’s like continuing that Acker legacy through Stevens,” he says.

To learn more about how you can support Stevens scholarships, contact Gilian Brannan, Stevens Office of Development, at 201-216-5243, or gilian.brannan@stevens.edu.❖ —Beth Kissinger & Lisa Torbic

“I resolve to catch up with more of our amazingly talented alumni whom I’ve had the privilege of working with over their undergraduate years, to learn where their careers have taken them.”

Lynn Insley Director, Stevens Office of Career Development

“As I reflect on the important work of the Alumni Association, I realize that we faculty are an integral piece of the puzzle. As such, I resolve to always make myself available when help is asked of me, and I will try to be more involved in the Association’s events.”

Steven Gabarro, M.S. ’03 Assistant Teaching Professor Stevens Department of Computer Science Winner, 2014 SAA Outstanding Teacher Award

WINTER 2014 — 2015 23

Fa m i l i a r Fac e s, Fa m i l i a r

Homecom N

early 500 people enjoyed a mild, breezy weekend on campus that included performing arts events, a community barbecue, Stevens athletics games, an all-alumni Oktoberfest, alumni games and much more. Stevens Homecoming, a fall tradition, welcomed back alumni and, running concurrently with Freshman Parents Weekend, also included the families of its newest students. The dynamic of Stevens past and present brought a strong community vibe to Castle Point.

A Friday night highlight was the Athletic Hall of Fame dinner. Five newly inducted members, recognized for their contributions to Stevens’ athletics programs, delivered heartfelt speeches as they entered an elite group of alumni athletes. The newest Hall of Famers are: Charles Collins ’61 (tennis and lacrosse); Patrick Drennan ’85 (lacrosse); Nicholas Miuccio ’99 (fencing); Matthew Cannon ’04 (lacrosse); and Danielle (Dudek) Kaiser ’09 (basketball).

“We were proud to induct such a distinguished list of individuals into the Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame,” said Director of Athletics Russell Rogers. “It was a diverse group with a variety of sport backgrounds and eras represented. The common theme among all of them, however, was the first-class manner in which they represented Stevens as student athletes and have continued to do so in their lives after college.”

The weekend also featured many rich offerings in the performing arts, from the Stevens Jazz Band, to Theta Alpha Phi drama honor society’s performances of “And the World Goes

24 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

20

14

P l ac e s :

1Multi-generational alumni families and current students enjoyed the Legacy Scholarship Breakfast. 2Joan and Ed Sitler, both Class of ’87, enjoyed the barbecue with their children Julianne and Justin, both Stevens students.

3Five alumni entered the Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming this fall. Inducted, from left, were Patrick Drennan ’85 (lacrosse); Matthew Cannon ’04 (lacrosse); Danielle (Dudek) Kaiser ’09 (basketball); Nicholas Miuccio ’99 (fencing); and Charles Collins ’61 (tennis and lacrosse).

WINTER 2014 — 2015 25

PHOTOS: JEFF VOCK

ing 2014

’Round,” as well as a Performing Arts Showcase that featured musicians and the Stevens Choir.

A number of families with multi-generational graduates returned, for the Legacy Scholarship Breakfast, where the Stevens Alumni Association awarded eight merit scholarships to the children and grandchildren of alumni.

At the popular community barbecue, Joan and Ed Sitler, both Class of ’87, enjoyed lunch with their next generation of Stevens graduates: Julianne, a sophomore, and Justin, a freshman.

“Every time we come here, it’s been a gorgeous day,” Joan said with a smile. “Dr. Farvardin lives under a golden cloud! I love the new president. He makes me proud that my children go here. He has such a vision for the school; my pride is ten-fold.” ❖ —Beth Kissinger

26 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

SAA UPDATE

REVIEW YOUR NEW CLASS CONSTITUTION! THE STEVENS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HAS APPROVED A NEW FORMAT FOR CLASS CONSTITUTIONS. ALL CLASS LEADERS AND INTERESTED ALUMNI SHOULD VIEW THE NEW FORMAT AT WWW.STEVENS.EDU/ALUMNI/CLASS-CONSTITUTION

QUICK FACTS The Stevens Alumni Association will celebrate its 139th anniversary in 2015! The first student graduated from Stevens in 1873, marking the start of the SAA. The SAA was officially founded in 1876, six years after the founding of the Institute.

MEETING CALENDAR

Seeking Nominations for 2015 Elections

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The Stevens Alumni Association’s Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for officers and decade representatives for elections with terms beginning on July 1, 2015.

Alumni may either submit suggestions of members willing to serve as officers or decade representatives, or petition to place a person on the ballot. The petition process follows Article VI, Section 3 of the SAA Constitution, which states that petitions for officers be signed by at least 50 active members, and that a petition for decade representatives or graduate school representatives be signed by at least 25 active members. Make your nomination by February 2, 2015 at www.stevens.edu/alumni/nominate.

PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

GET INVOLVED Attend Business Meetings

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

The SAA hosts seven business meetings a year in the Howe Center on the Stevens campus. Members of the Stevens administration are invited to provide updates about Stevens’ progress. SAA committees provide status reports about programs and services throughout the year. And new strategic initiatives are announced for input and involvement. Read meeting minutes, volunteer, and participate as an alumni leader. Visit www.stevens.edu/ alumni/saa-meeting to RSVP today!

FEBRUARY 9, 2015 Executive Committee APRIL 13, 2015 Executive Committee MAY 11, 2015 Annual, Executive Committee, and Council JUNE 26, 2015 Executive Committee & Volunteer Thank You

MEETING MINUTES Read minutes of SAA meetings at stevens.edu/alumni/ meeting-minutes

BENEFITS SPOTLIGHT

Join Committees

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Join one of the SAA committees to provide guidance on our programs and services!

PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

Activities Benefits Regional Clubs

Affinity Networks Classes Scholarship

 SAA Awards  Student Engagement  Graduates of the Last Decade

Visit www.stevens.edu/alumni/leadership to see a full list of committees with descriptions, and to volunteer.

Being a member of the SAA entitles you to use the S.C. Williams Library to search its database, check out books on location and sign up for library tours.

Follow us on social media

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Visit www.stevens.edu/alumni/social to see a full list of our presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. From class reunions to regional clubs, Stevens alumni are more connected than ever before.

PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

The Stevens Indicator

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Provided free of charge as a benefit to all alumni, The Stevens Indicator has been the Institute’s primary source for alumni news for more than 130 years. Submit a class log, suggest an alumni profile, or send in a letter to the editor at www.stevens.edu/alumni/ submitnews

PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

LinkedIn Alumni Network Join more than 30,000 Stevens alumni on LinkedIn to build your network, expand your professional knowledge, and benefit from the incredible success of fellow alumni.

Visit stevens.edu/alumni/linkedin to join today!

WINTER 2014 — 2015 27

grant central NATIONAL & REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS ACKNOWLEDGE STEVENS’ RESEARCH EXCELLENCE WITH NEW AWARDS, SUPPORT

S

tevens researchers are developing exciting innovations with far-reaching impact. They have produced new means of synthesizing penicillin, new acoustic-imaging technologies for surveying harbors and oceans, and pathbreaking wireless and network IT, among countless other creative solutions, patented devices and technologies.

28  THE STEVENS INDICATOR

Funding and research organizations are taking notice. A string of recent high-profile National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) awards, as well as a new contract with the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey (PANYNJ), will support Stevens innovation and initiative in diverse research projects over the next five years with more than $12 million in total funding.

FORECASTING FLOODS In September, Stevens received a five-year, $6.6 million grant from PANYNJ to improve preparedness and resiliency at critical Port Authority infrastructure sites through an innovative observation and forecast system that provides accurate information on the potential risk and magnitude of overland flooding prior to and during significant storm events.

The resulting integrated flood observation and forecast system will extend the NY/NJ Harbor (NYHOPS) coastal monitoring system and Stevens Storm Surge Warning System, both previously developed at Stevens to better equip New York and New Jersey to forecast and prepare for storm impacts. The award also includes the purchase of a Hewlett-Packard scalable supercomputer that will reside in the new Hyperscale Supercomputer Center, presently under construction, as well as purchase and installation of 26 new sensors deployed in New York Harbor.

The sensors will measure water levels, temperature and salinity every six minutes and transmit data in real time to the Stevens supercomputer. Communication of forecasts to the public will be a key aspect of the research, said Stevens professor Alan Blumberg, director of the Davidson Laboratory and principal investigator for the initiative. The new system will create dynamic, web-based informational materials that relate real-time and forecasted flood levels to local flood benchmarks.

The research will be conducted within Stevens’ newly-formed Center for Coastal Resilience and Urban Xcellence (CRUX).

ENGINEERING TREATMENTS FOR CANCER, OSTEOPOROSIS NIH will fund an exciting collaborative Stevens project to study mechanisms, models, therapies and medication strategies related to multiple myeloma (MM), an incurable blood cancer.

Stevens will team up with Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), one of New Jersey’s top-ranked hospitals, in the investiThe Stevens-developed Storm Surge Warning System records and depicts rising floodwaters at the southern tip of Manhattan during the height of Superstorm Sandy on October 29-30, 2012. 

gation to develop microfluidic technologies to reconstruct MM tumors in vitro from tumor cells harvested from patients. This innovative “tumor engineering” approach will help researchers develop future diagnostic testing of personalized therapeutics for MM patients, evaluate new drugs and therapies, and study the mechanisms responsible for drug resistance and relapse associated with the disease. The effort will be led by Woo Lee, principal investigator for the project and a Stevens professor of chemical engineering and materials science.

Stevens’ proprietary arrays of microfluidic cultures can also be used to create models and study therapies to treat cancers of the breast, prostate, lungs and other solid tumors that metastasize to bones.

The NIH award to Lee follows on the heels of previous NIH funding to his lab to investigate similar technologies and models that will be used to help devise enhanced treatments for osteoporosis, a debilitating condition that afflicts 200 million worldwide.

 Susan Metz, senior research associate and director of diversity and inclusion at Stevens, has received NSF funding to provide students with access to a spatial skills curriculum, to help improve retention in technical fields.

ect INSuRE, a research partnership among ten Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research, the National Security Agency (NSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal agencies.

DIALING UP DIVERSITY Stevens senior research associate and director of diversity and inclusion Susan Metz will serve as principal investigator on a three-year NSF project to incorporate mobile learning opportunities with a tested spatial skills curriculum to improve student retention in technical fields. The project will build upon work Metz has previously carried out under Engage Engineering, a six-year NSF grant-funded project to extend spatial visualization skills assessment and training, among other research-based re-

“Projects and awards like these signal that research is on the rise at Stevens.”

—Mo Dehghani, Stevens Vice Provost of Research

SHAPING SECURITY The NSF also chose to reward a number of significant Stevens research efforts with funding over the summer of 2014.

Computer science professor Susanne Wetzel will serve as principal investigator for a project to continue Stevens’ participation in the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service (SFS) program that prepares cybersecurity professionals to enter the government workforce.

The award, granted to a four-member Stevens faculty team, will support scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing cybersecurity-focused degree programs at Stevens; graduates from the CyberCorps program have previously joined government entities including the FBI, MITRE, the Federal Reserve and Sandia National Laboratories. The award also provides funding for Stevens’ faculty and students to participate in the NSF-funded proj-

tention strategies, into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

Strong spatial-visualization skills, particularly the ability to visualize in three dimensions, are linked to success in STEM careers.

Significant disparities exist among women, underrepresented minorities and lower socioeconomic groups in spatial-skills test performance, most evident in mental rotation, an important skill in engineering. Poor performance on spatial-visualization tasks can directly affect perceptions of self-efficacy and GPA in courses such as engineering graphics, calculus, chemistry and computer science.

Metz’s award will enable greater access by students to a spatial skills training curriculum developed by collaborating researchers at Michigan Tech that can lead to marked improvements in retention of the skills.

WINTER 2014 — 2015 29

 Collaborating on an NIH-funded project to study treatments for multiple myeloma, front row from left, are Stevens Ph.D. student Wenting Zhang and Jenny Zilberberg, Ph.D., Hackensack University Medical Center. Back row, from left, are Dr. David Siegel, HUMC; and from Stevens, Professor Woo Lee and Professor Peter Tolias

INSPIRATION WITH THE CROWD Stevens researchers Jeffrey Nickerson, a Howe School professor and director of the Center for Decision Technologies, and industry professor John Nastasi, director of the Product-Architecture and Engineering program, have received an NSF award to support their joint project proposal “Collective Design through Remixing.”

The project is centered around three-dimensional online printing communities, and will enable “makers” (expert amateur designers) to innovate, share, modify, combine and print designs or components that will be used to construct shelters after natural disasters.

Nickerson and Nastasi will bring makers together with professional engineers, architects and fabricators through a forthcoming innovation competition, in which participants will design direct-print components that can rapidly deploy shelters and other temporary structures during emergencies.

The competition will be juried by an advisory panel of makers, professional designers and emergency-aid organizations. The Stevens researchers aim to develop new technologies that aid the sharing and innovation process while also sparking fresh collaborations among professional designers, fabricators and makers — groups that rarely work side-by-side in online settings.

Nickerson also received a second NSF award for collaborative research to be performed with MIT Sloan School of Management. The MIT/ Stevens team will focus on ways of organizing online communities to solve large-scale social problems. The organizational forms to be studied are examples of open innovation, a process through which crowds and members of online communities are encouraged to share, modify and combine each other’s ideas in the service of collective goals.

30 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

SUPPORTING DRIVER SAFETY Yingying Chen, a research expert in wireless networks and smartphone applications, has received two new NSF awards to serve as principal investigator on projects in smartphone application privacy leakage and driver safety while using mobile devices. The privacy project will address growing privacy concerns by detecting, modeling and visualizing the personal data that “leaks” from smartphone apps in real time. It will also touch upon the personal, psychological and social factors and consequences related to privacy leakage.

Chen’s driver-safety research will expand upon and refine her previous work toward the development of a “guardian angel” system in drivers’ smartphones that can intervene and prevent distracting texting and other behaviors that contribute to some of the nation’s 30,000 annual traffic fatalities.

Chen will collaborate with Rutgers University’s Wireless Information Network Laboratory (WINLAB), Florida State University and

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, among other parties, during performance of the two research projects.

“Projects and awards like these signal that research is on the rise at Stevens,” noted Mo Dehghani, Stevens Vice Provost of Research.

“Not only are we receiving increasing national attention and financial support for our research program, but the work of our faculty and students is creating solutions, products and breakthroughs with local, regional, national and global impact.” ❖ —Paul Karr

 Stevens researchers working on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey contract to improve preparedness and resiliency at Port Authority infrastructure sites, from left, are Professors Alan Blumberg, Nickitas Georgas Ph.D. ’10 and Tom Herrington ’89 M. Eng. ’92 Ph.D. ’97.

GOOD NEWS FROM STEVENS

STEVENS: STRONG ACADEMICS, STEADY GROWTH, STELLAR OUTCOMES Stevens has experienced some remarkable successes in the past year, from outstanding national rankings in a variety of areas to increased student enrollment and impressive student outcomes to the debut of its most academically talented freshman class in the school’s history. Here are just some recent statistics and facts that reflect a university that is truly on the rise. *data as of 10/15/2014, increases reflect three-year growth

Class Of 2018 The largest and most academically talented freshman class in Stevens history SAT Range: 1260-1410 (critical reading and math, middle 50%)

Unprecedented Graduate Enrollment Growth Prospective student interest is stronger than ever Graduate enrollment: 3,233

Strong Outcomes and Retention Rates 96% Freshman retention rate 78% of the Class of 2014 secured outcomes before graduation

Focused on Full-Time Faculty +30 New faculty in fall 2014 +10% Full-time faculty: 289 +15% Tenure/tenure-track faculty

44% 28% 19%

5,190 Applications 795 New Students 2,892 Undergraduate Enrollment

55% 44% 61%

5,187 Applications 1,236 New Students 2,008 Full-Time Graduate Students

Fundraising Affinity Abounds in FY14 Gifts & pledges +383% Winner of the 2014 CASE Award for most improved fundraising program

National Recognition for Excellence

7

58

#

#

Top 10 Engineering Colleges

Best Colleges

August 2014

15

#

For Best Career Services The Best 379 Colleges, 2015 edition

Ranked for educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes

5

6

Increase

in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the Top 100 National Universities

12

#

#

For Return On Investment

For Mid-Career Salaries

2014 College ROI Report

2014-2015 College Salary Report

WINTER 2014 2014 — — 2015 2015 31 31 WINTER

SURE HOUSE Aims To Create A Sustainable,

W

hen Superstorm Sandy struck many New Jersey towns in the fall of 2012, creating havoc and destruction for millions, the students and faculty at Stevens were paying attention, not only to the storm but also to how homes were crumbling under the depth of Sandy’s force.

With memories of Sandy still fresh, Stevens recently unveiled plans for their entry house in the 2015 U.S. Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon competition. Giant-sized posters hung in the Griffith Building at a campus kick-off event, detailing the plans for SURE HOUSE – a sustainable, resilient home for coastal communities.

32 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

Elaborate renderings of the house from all angles and at different times of the day and year gave viewers a sense of how the house would perform under variable and extreme conditions. Literally underfoot were the markings of a blueprint on the ground, displaying the location of each room within the house.

SURE HOUSE is an entirely student-led project with more than 50 students across several disciplines encompassing the team. John Nastasi, lead faculty for the Solar Decathlon project and director of Stevens’ Product-Architecture & Engineering program, says the team is up to the challenge of completing the house within a year’s time. Students will build

the home on Stevens’ property on the Hoboken waterfront. The competition will be held Oct. 8-18, 2015, in Irvine, California.

The 2015 entry holds special meaning for the team members because many hail from New Jersey shore towns. Chris Steffens, a faculty member on the project, points out that because of their hometown status, the students have a personal stake in making the house a success.

Stevens sophomore and Solar Decathlon team member Sarah Gleason calls Ocean Township, New Jersey, home.

“As a Jersey Shore native, this house really hits home for me. This past summer has been

ECOHABIT BECOMES NEW HOME FOR STUDENT VETS AT CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY In the true spirit of recycling, Ecohabit, Stevens’ entry in the 2013 U.S Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, has been granted a new life as a new Veterans Center at the California State University San Marcos (CSUSM).

Approximately 60 interdisciplinary students built the structure for the California-held competition. After the competition ended, the team donated the house to CSUSM in support of that university’s significant veteran population.

More than 1,000 of the 13,000 students at CSUSM are veterans, the highest per capita of any other California State University.

“It is an honor for us at Stevens to be able to place the Ecohabit home on the campus of Cal State San Marcos for returning veterans,” said John Nastasi, Stevens’ lead faculty for the Solar Decathlon.

The nearly 1,000-square-foot Veterans Center replaces a smaller facility which opened in 2008. Featuring an office, conference room, kitchen, lounge and event space, the Center is a place where military-affiliated students can receive support to achieve their academic goals. Staff will assist students with admissions, access their GI benefits, register for courses and find campus resources.

“Today is about keeping our promise,” Michael Bruno, dean of the Schaefer School of Engineering at Stevens. “We promised our students that their house would find a home — and that that home would be meaningful, providing a benefit to as many people as possible. And now we are also keeping a promise to our veteran students who need and deserve all of the support that they can get as they make that transition from military service to student success.

This house keeps that promise.” ❖ — Young Soo Yang

Resilient Home For Coastal Areas very rewarding hard work,” says Gleason. “I have learned invaluable skills and gained an incredible amount of knowledge about green building, construction, solar-powered homes and flood-proofing.”

“We are designing a home that not only leaves the homeowners without an electric bill, but a house that can withstand a storm, potentially protecting a community from disaster,” says John Wright, who is working toward his master’s in materials science.

John Colaneri, Hoboken resident and cohost of HGTV’s Kitchen Cousins with his cousin Anthony Carino, was also in attendance at the kick-off event. He was interested

in the composition of the SURE HOUSE, saying the project can have an impact in ways that don’t require building an entire house. There are many features of the SURE HOUSE that average homeowners can incorporate into existing homes, he explains.

Bob Matthies, the mayor of The Borough of Seaside Park in New Jersey, peered intently at the plans, including detailed infographics about the SURE HOUSE’s architecture, heating and cooling system, flood proofing and energy usage. He is closely tracking the home’s progress as he is already thinking of its application in his hometown.❖ —Young Soo Yang

1 Students busy at work on the plans for SURE HOUSE. 2 Students led a discussion with members of the public this past summer about SURE HOUSE’s design and energy-saving capabilities.

3 Officials from California State University San Marcos and Stevens get ready to unveil the new Veterans Center in September. Stevens donated its entry into the U.S. Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon, Ecohabit, to the school after the competition ended.

For more about SURE HOUSE, visit www.surehouse.org

WINTER 2014 — 2015 33

BEACH PHOTO COPYRIGHT: JANKA3147 / 123RF STOCK PHOTO

GRIST FROM THE MILL

ALUMNI BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Since 1951

Store Hours: 7:00 am – 4:30 pm

34 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

Store Hours: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm

Store Hours: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm

ALUMNI BUSINESS DIRECTORY

WINTER 2014 — 2015 35

SPORTS UPDATE GENERATIONS TAKE TO FIELD, POOL AT HOMECOMING

F

ive athletics teams welcomed back alumni from coast to coast for some friendly alumni-versus-student games during Homecoming this fall. Always competitive, but certainly friendly, the games were as exciting as ever.

Men’s and women’s swimming welcomed 30 alumni from as far as California, Texas and North Carolina. Men’s lacrosse saw some 47 alumni show up, representing classes from the 1970s to 2014, including an alumnus from Minnesota. The baseball alumni game attracted 22 alumni players, ranging from the Class of ’69 to the Class of 2014.

And women’s lacrosse also saw a fine turnout, with about 15 alumnae journeying as far as Maryland and Pennsylvania to make an 8 a.m. Saturday game at DeBaun Field. Meghan Collins ’13 traveled from Pittsburgh to Hoboken for the event. “We’ve always been so close; I have to see them again,” she said of her teammates. How did she feel at half time? “I feel old!” she said. ❖ — Beth Kissinger

1 Women’s lacrosse alumnae take a break during their game against the student team during Homecoming. 2 The popular men’s lacrosse alumni game saw some 47 alumni take to DeBaun Field. 3 Players from the Class of ’69 through the Class of 2014 competed in the alumni baseball game. 4 Some 30 women and men alumni swimmers returned for the Homecoming meet. 5 Women’s lacrosse alumnae and players gather after the game.

36 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

JAN 23 F R I DAY

Annual Cricket Hill Brewery Social stevens.edu/alumni/events

FEB 9 FEB12 MONDAY

SAA Executive Committee meeting

THURSDAY President’s Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Dr. Harold Varmus, director of the National Cancer Institute stevens.edu/lecture

MARCH

17-19 TUESDAY–THURSDAY

FEB 28

13th Annual Conference on Systems Engineering Research stevens.edu/cser2015

SATURDAY STEP Conference and Alumni Reunion stepalumniclub@gmail.com

MARCH

28

SATURDAY Stevens Awards Gala stevens.edu/awardsgala

CALENDAR OF EVENTS WINTER 2014 — 2015 37

STEVENS CLUBS STEVENS METROPOLITAN CLUB This club may be small in numbers, but the members are big at volunteering time, talent and treasure to Stevens, the Alumni Association, and to one another. If you like lunch, visit with us. Our meetings are usually on the fourth Thursday at “local” restaurants, such as Marinero Grill, The Ivy Inn, and Segovia, at which a leisurely meal is enjoyed with good fellowship. The club mourns the loss of longtime members Charlie Mosher ’46 and Steve Mallard ’48. But we are pleased that Ed Pittaluga ’45 is happy (and warm) at his new Florida home, Fred Guggenheim ’39 is well, Ed Wittke ’45 now resides in Delaware and Fred Berenbroick ’59 enjoys his residency at the Oradell Rehab Center. The club looks forward to a great season of luncheon meetings and to welcoming you, in our endeavors to support Stevens, our Alumni Association, and one another. ❖ —By Don Daume ’67

Bob Fiocco ’58, left, and Joe Schneider ’46 enjoyed a Stevens Metropolitan Club luncheon this past summer.

WCPR ALUMNI DAY WCPR held its annual Alumni Day in August and enjoyed a barbecue outside of Jacobus Hall, as well as its usual camaraderie down in the station. Music was played, of course, and alumni heard an update on how the station has been doing.

YANKEE STADIUM TOUR The Stevens Alumni Association sponsored a tour of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, during September 2014. Discounted tickets were available to the first 35 alumni to respond.

STEVENS MARYLAND ALUMNI CLUB  The Stevens Maryland Alumni Club returned to Camden Yards to cheer on the Baltimore Orioles as they faced the New York Yankees one night in September. In addition to watching one of Derek Jeter’s final games as a Yankee, the alumni ate unlimited hot dogs, salad, nachos and other select menu items. It was a family-friendly event, as kids were welcome.

38 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

STEVENS CLUBS

SAA BREWERY TOUR

WASHINGTON, D.C., G.O.L.D.

The Stevens Alumni Association recently hosted a tour of the New Jersey Beer Co. in North Bergen, New Jersey, for its alumni. The group toured the brewery, learned about the beer crafting process and, of course, sampled many varieties.

The Stevens Washington D.C. Graduates of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) Alumni Club hosted a soccer match between the D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union in Washington, D.C., in September. Before the game, the club met in its own tent in the parking lot.

AT THE JERSEY SHORE

STEVENS HOUSTON CLUB

The Stevens Alumni Association hosted an evening of summer fun and light fare at the daddy O hotel at the Jersey Shore in New Jersey.

A variety of alumni classes turned out for a recent gathering of the Stevens Alumni Houston Club.

WINTER 2014 — 2015 39

VITALS MARRIAGES Thomas Day Ph.D.’07 to Dr. Guizhen JinDay, on Aug. 30, 2014.

OBITUARIES R.A. Le Massena ’36.................... 10/1/12 A.B. Galvanoni ’39.......................... 9/1/14 J.H. Drucker ’41............................... 2014 C.F. Mengers.................................. 9/9/14 J.E. Nankivell ’43.......................... 11/2/12 E. Fitzwater ’44............................ 6/24/14 A. F. McCormack, Jr....................10/17/14 C.W. Mosher ’46............................. 6/7/14 J. Bebbington ’47......................... 4/12/14 F.T. Sherman ’49............................. 8/3/14 R.J. Sullivan ’49.......................... 12/10/13 G.H. Blair ’50............................. 12/28/13 J.H. Chislow ’51............................ 3/18/14 V.A. Kulik ’51.................................1/17/14 R.F. Mattlage ’51........................ 11/20/13

B.W. Carpenter ’64..................... 11/14/12

FACULTY/STAFF

J.P. Spindler ’51........................... 3/20/14

T.J. Glagola ’67.............................. 8/5/14

M.E. Prof. A.T. Chang................... 9/24/14

J.R. Stange ’51............................. 7/16/14

V.J. Livanos ’77.............................. 8/9/14

R.C. Watson ’51............................ 8/26/14 J.H. Carskadon ’52......................... 7/6/14

GRADUATE SCHOOL

R.E. Dietz ’52............................... 7/30/14

E.L. Schork M.S. ’50................... 10/11/14

J.W. Kelsall ’52............................... 7/7/14

R.G. Popovici M.S. ’60.................... 8/3/14

D.E. Martin ’53............................. 1/30/14

N.S. Wolf M.S. ’60 Ph.D. ’67........... 9/4/14

R.L. Schulze ’53.........................Unknown

L. Souzis M.S. ’64 Ph.D. ’73......... 8/30/14

R. Hayes ’54................................ 8/14/14

C.A. Fishman M.M.S. ’74............ 12/24/11

W.W. Pruss ’57............................... 2/1/13

A.T. Chang Hon. M.Eng. ’86.......... 9/24/14

M.A. Balik ’63.............................. 9/20/13

K.M. DeFerrari Hon. B.Eng. ’14..... 10/8/14

Editor’s Note: The Stevens Indicator also publishes edited obituaries for undergraduate alumni whose families and friends submit them for the Class Logs section. It may take several issues for an obituary to appear, due to high volume.

SAVE THE DATE ALUMNI WEEKEND 2015 JUNE 5-7 stevens.edu/alumniweekend 40 THE STEVENS INDICATOR

MAKE THE DECISION TODAY to CREATE A BETTER TOMORROW “I am very appreciative of the Lawrence G. Kaufman Scholarship because it allows me to focus on my work, rather than worry about financial issues. This is a huge pressure that is relieved by this scholarship, and with it, I can continue to study at Stevens Institute of Technology and accomplish my dreams of becoming an engineer and making a difference in the world.”

– Aroona Boodram ’17

D

r. Lawrence G. Kaufman attended Stevens with the help of

STEVENS

Legacy SOCIET Y

scholarships, earning three chemistry degrees and launching a

career as a highly successful research chemist. Now he is giving back with outright support and a scholarship fund that will be endowed by his estate. The Lawrence G. Kaufman Term Scholarship provides financial support to a current undergraduate, while the Lawrence G. Kaufman Endowed Scholarship will eventually provide longer-term support.

“

My education was the most important part of my life.

Now current and future students are being helped financially. And I feel pretty good about making that kind of contribution.”

– Dr. Lawrence Kaufman ’66 ’68 ’71

Support current and future students by planning your legacy today.

Your gift will prepare our next generation of leaders, thinkers and doers and inspire answers to tomorrow’s biggest challenges.

Online:

stevens.giftplans.org

Michael Governor Director of Planned Giving

(201) 216-8967 michael.governor@stevens.edu

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