If you’ve ever picked up a Tom Ford fragrance or reached for an Aveda haircare product, you’ve already encountered Laszlo Moharita’s work — whether you realized it or not.
Rafael Abreu ’25 (Computer Science) came to the U.S. alone as a high school student from the Dominican Republic because he believed in the American dream: work hard, confront obstacles with grit and determination and create your destiny. He knew it would not be easy. But without risk there is no reward. Thanks to the S-STEM scholarship program and other forms of support he received while at NJIT, he was able to transform his ideas and ingenuity into a new — and better — reality.
Liliana Torres’s architecture has always been about people.
“The way I want my story to be told is through how everything I learned at NJIT continues to translate into my professional life — the values, the sense of responsibility, and the commitment to helping others never stopped at graduation,” she said.
Torres '17, '18 is an undergraduate and graduate alumna of the Hillier College of Architecture and Design (HCAD), as well as a scholar of the Albert Dorman Honors College.
Nefferty Santiago ’95, ’99 still remembers her first days at NJIT as part of the Educational Opportunity Program’s (EOPs) eight-week academic bootcamp, which introduced her to the rigors of academic life.
ROI-NJ recognized deans, administrators, board members, alumni and a director from New Jersey Institute of Technology as the most influential women in business for 2025.
Four of the Highlanders made the top 50 list: Trustee Elisa Charters; Michele Siekerka and Debbie Hart, who both serve on the Board of Directors of NJIT’s New Jersey Innovation Institute; and Becky Button, who serves on the Advisory Board of NJIT’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design.
Growing up in Union City, Shanell Encalada ’26 spoke Spanish at home with her parents, helping them out by translating important documents. She points out that her bilingualism has enhanced her resume and allowed her to gain friendships in the various jobs she’s had. Encalada, a fintech major at the Martin Tuchman School of Management, recently helped establish NJIT’s chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).
Jorge Fresneda, associate professor at the Martin Tuchman School of Management at NJIT, has developed the Consumer Normalcy Scale (CNS), an innovative tool designed to assess how inclusive and dignified shopping experiences are for people from diverse backgrounds and with various characteristics.
This scale captures the essence of “consumer normalcy,” and identifies whether each customer, regardless of characteristics like race, disability or gender, feels genuinely welcomed and respected in the retail environment.
Daniel Vargas ‘15, a systems safety engineer at Nvidia, is at the forefront of one of the most exciting and transformative fields in technology—autonomous vehicles. With a career that began in aerospace and defense, Vargas — who graduated with a degree in electrical engineering — has now transitioned into the tech world, where he ensures that Nvidia’s cutting-edge innovations are safe, reliable and compliant.
The City of Newark, in partnership with the Latino Edification Multicultural Aid Center and the Newark Hispanic Commission, hosted its seventh annual National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and flag raising. The celebration also included an award ceremony, honoring individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions and shown exceptional dedication to supporting and serving the Newark community.
As NJIT celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month for the first time as both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an R1 research university, the moment highlights more than just a designation—it represents the ongoing efforts of student leaders and organizations that work year-round to create a welcoming and thriving campus environment.
The monthlong celebration is the culmination of their relentless dedication to engaging the campus community, fostering belonging, and ensuring that NJIT continues to be a place where every student can succeed.
