Honors College 25th Anniversary Celebrates Past, Looks to the Future

In the first of a series of events honoring its 25th anniversary, the Albert Dorman Honors College at NJIT held a live, online celebration. Reflecting on the anniversary of the college that he endowed, NJIT alumnus Albert Dorman revisited his remarks from its inauguration, and they are as relevant today as they were in 1995 — perhaps even more so.

“I said to these brilliant, young students, ‘Learn to manage controversy so that it may lead to consensus. Learn to meld strongly held differing opinions into an action plan for the common good. Recognize our differences, but emphasize our similarities. Pay homage to our different beginnings but concentrate on our potential common ending,’’’ said Dorman ’45, ’99 HON.

In 1995, Dorman also challenged students to “make it a lifelong duty to help define and achieve important social as well as scientific goals and to help inform an unscientific segment of the body politic.”    

Looking back on those words today, Dorman said, “I’m proud to say that almost all of these students and graduates have followed those remarks.” He added that “particularly in these days, where the country is so divided, it’s so important for us to find common goals, to reach common aims that are good for all.”

Those who connected to the celebration included current students, professors, administrators, board members, alumni and generous benefactors such as Dorman, who, with his wife, Joan, also endowed two faculty fellowships. Through a virtual tour of the college’s building by students, videos and the words of Dean Louis I. Hamilton and NJIT President Joel S. Bloom — the founding dean of the college — the event captured what students and alumni love about the institution and the people behind it. 

Dorman, Bloom and Hamilton noted the contributions of many others over the years, including the founder of the preceding Honors Program, Richard Sher, and previous and current members of the Honors College Board of Visitors like former Chairs Stephen Cordes ’72, Paul Kastner ’73 and Dick Sweeney ’82, ’18 HON, Chair Richard Schatzberg ’93 and Vice Chair Mike Smith ’95. 

Students shared their favorite classes and projects and Bloom and Hamilton reflected on the past and the future, with all expressing admiration and gratitude for Dorman, who earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at NJIT at the age of 19 and rose to become founding chairman and CEO of the global engineering firm AECOM. In between, he served in the Army Corps of Engineers and as the civil engineer of record on the design and construction of Disneyland.

Generations of students  

Another milestone came in 1984, when Dorman carried a torch for the U.S. Olympic team in the relay leading to the opening of the Olympics in Los Angeles. That torch is now displayed in a glass case on the second floor of the college and symbolizes the generations of students — some 3,500 in all — who have passed through its doors to become leaders in myriad industries, as the college encompasses all academic disciplines.

When asked about their most memorable experiences, the current students cited courses that taught them how to use 3D modeling, start a publication and speak publicly and community service projects that enabled them to create a garden in Newark, teach their passions to middle school and high school students and crochet hats, scarves and blankets for local shelters. Prem Naik ’21 described his gardening experience as an “interesting way to get our feet wet” and Elizabeth Kowalchuk ’23 noted that efforts like crocheting can reflect your talents without becoming a chore. As she put it, “It’s doing something that you’re good at.”

The building tour focused on common areas, such as lobbies, labs and lounges where students can converge to tackle school work or simply share a meal, watch a movie or play a grand piano, at least before the coronavirus forced them to limit their face-to-face interaction and embrace online alternatives.

Human capital 

Indeed, making personal connections is as core to ADHC today as it was before its building opened in 1995. Back then, Bloom was dean of a program that included personal touches such as dinners at his home and annual camping retreats for first-year students that alumni still cherish and bond over. He said it was all about developing human capital — something that Dorman also touted.

“What we’re trying to build here at NJIT and in the Honors College and in our Educational Opportunity Program is the human capital. And the way you engage people is by personal relationships,” Bloom explained. “So, while we’re all currently becoming incredibly skilled at anything that is virtual — and we have virtual reality, we have AI and we soon will have 5G — at the end of the day, to build an effective organization, to build an effective learning organization, to build an effective honors college or an Educational Opportunity Program, takes human engagement. And very often it takes face-to-face human engagement.”

Hamilton described the college as a place that offers a rich, creative and “profound” education that connects the dots between technical expertise and liberal arts and serves society by addressing its most critical issues. And today, that’s home to about 700 students, including 139 who arrived this fall. Collectively, they’ll deliver 40,000 hours of community service during the 2020-21 academic year. 

While participants in the event could only connect virtually, their sentiments were real and heartfelt. This was particularly evident during a closing toast to the Dormans, which included video messages from their children and grandchildren, who expressed their pride and love for them. It was a tender, loving moment worthy of celebration.