News Release

U.S. Air Force selects NJIT president Bloom for Civic Leader Program

Grant and Award Announcement

New Jersey Institute of Technology

NJIT President Joel S. Bloom has been selected for the Air Force Chief of Staff's civic leader program. Bloom, who is one of only a few national university presidents ever requested to serve in such a role, joins about 30 business and civic leaders from across the nation.

"I am honored by this opportunity to serve with such a distinguished group of advisers," President Bloom said. "NJIT has a great history with the Air Force, having started our Air Force ROTC program in 1949 and having many alumni in service."

NJIT distinguished alumni with long service to the Air Force include Manuel Garrido '65, George Olson '77 and Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski '78, who is the third woman in Air Force history to receive a fourth star and who leads the Air Force Materiel Command.

The Air Force Civic Leader Program is an Air Staff-level program whose membership is comprised of respected business and community leaders. The Air Force civic leaders are unpaid advisors, key communicators and advocates for Air Force issues. They provide ideas, programmatic and base reviews, and feedback to advise the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff and Air Force senior leaders about how missions can best be accomplished and about public attitudes. Bloom will soon be traveling to air force bases in the United States and Europe. The program also benefits NJIT by offering visibility, access to Air Force R&D and engagement of civic and business leaders from across the nation.

In selecting Bloom, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Air Force chief of staff, called him "a steadfast friend and loyal supporter" while noting the importance of the program, which meets at least three times per year. "One of my priorities as the Chief of Staff is to strengthen the partnership between our communities, their leaders, and senior Air Force leadership," Welsh wrote. "I will rely on your experience, knowledge, and candor when asking for ideas and feedback on ways we can be better neighbors, support our Airmen and their families, and serve the nation."

Bloom, who became NJIT's president in 201l, is spearheading the growth of the university, currently achieving a student enrollment of more than 11,300 students, hiring nearly 100 additional faculty, a $300 million campus transformation of new facilities such as the Life Sciences and Engineering Building, the Wellness and Event Center, the Science Park parking facility and renovations to the Central King Building. Under his leadership, the admissions standards have risen, research funding has improved to more than $110 million, the university's reputation as a top research and polytechnic university has grown and the New Jersey Innovation Institute was created as a prime entry for business and government partners as well as to help increase NJIT's already substantial economic impact of over $1.7 billion.

Bloom started his career in industry working as an economist. He subsequently became an educator and administrator for the New York City public schools. Before coming to New Jersey, he worked as a research director and instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University. From 1983 through 1990, Bloom served as assistant commissioner in the New Jersey Department of Education for the Division of General Academic Education.

Since joining NJIT in July 1990, Bloom has served the university in many capacities and in 1996, was promoted to vice president for academic and student services. Bloom was appointed as the first dean of the Albert Dorman Honors College in 1998, in addition to his vice president responsibilities.

Bloom is presently chair of the Science Park Board, treasurer of the NJ President's Council and treasurer of the NJEDge.Net Board. In addition, he serves as a member of the following boards: the Newark Alliance, Philadelphia Alliance for Minority Participation, La Casa de Don Pedro, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Presidents Council. Bloom has been the recipient of many national and state education awards, as well as federal, foundation and corporate grant awards. He was most recently named "Educator of the Year" by the Research & Development Council of New Jersey.

Bloom holds a master's degree and a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. He also earned master's and bachelor's degrees from Hunter College of the City University, New York City.

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About NJIT

One of the nation's leading public technological universities, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a top-tier research university that prepares students to become leaders in the technology-dependent economy of the 21st century. NJIT's multidisciplinary curriculum and computing-intensive approach to education provide technological proficiency, business acumen and leadership skills. With an enrollment of more than 11,300 graduate and undergraduate students, NJIT offers small-campus intimacy with the resources of a major public research university. NJIT is a global leader in such fields as solar research, nanotechnology, resilient design, tissue engineering and cybersecurity, in addition to others. NJIT ranks fifth among U.S. polytechnic universities in research expenditures, topping $110 million, and is among the top 1 percent of public colleges and universities in return on educational investment, according to http://www.Payscale.com.


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