Leadership

John’s volunteer experience with Stevens began a decade ago when he sponsored a study abroad project involving water supply in Central America. This experience triggered a renewed engagement that led to John joining Stevens’ Board of Trustees where he serves as Chair of the Alumni and Development Committee and a member of the Executive, Audit and Risk, and RETCOM Committees. He also co-chaired the Power of Stevens campaign.

A few years ago, the Board of Trustees nominated John to be their representative to the Stevens Alumni Association (SAA). Serving the SAA, John joined the newly formed Recent Alumni and Current Students (RACS) Committee to help launch this important initiative. In addition, he led an Alumni Insights Task Force to analyze learnings from an alumni survey, and led an Ad Astra Ambassador group focused on growing alumni participation. John also convened the Young Alumni Trustees Group to build yet another network to improve alumni engagement and assist with the Power of Stevens Campaign.

John is eager to give back by continuing the strong momentum build in recent years by the SAA leadership as the SAA’s next president. To that end, it was recently decided as part of the University’s establishment of the next 10-year strategic plan that the Alumni Engagement leadership working jointly with alumni leaders would develop a single implementation plan. Quoting John, “With the establishment of a joint strategic plan, we should be able to accelerate our progress delivering ever increasing levels of engagement.”

The University and alumni working together to establish valuable programming for all alumni will be key. “Programs related to networking, mentoring, industry groups, and life-long learning are all part of the equation,” he says. “A natural outcome of increased engagement will result in increased giving participation that is so very important to sustaining our alma mater.”

“Stevens for Life” is John’s aspirational vision.

Michael Cahill graduated from Stevens in 2015, receiving a B.E. in chemical engineering and M.E. in systems engineering. He is currently the Internal Security Audit Lead at Collibra, a data governance software provider. During his time at Stevens, Michael held numerous leadership positions in SROs including president and fellowship chair of Gear & Triangle, president of the Stevens Dramatic Society, senator in the SGA, and founder of the Quackappella, A Cappella Group. After graduation, Michael served as a Young Alumni Trustee on the Stevens Board of Trustees, and as the first chair of the Class Leadership Committee under the Constitution and Bylaws in June 2018. Currently, he’s the sitting president of the Stevens Dramatic Society Alumni Affinity Club (DSAAC), a director on the SAA Board, and president of the Class of 2015.

Dawn M. Madak graduated from Stevens in 1989, receiving a B.E. in electrical engineering. Very active as an undergrad, her involvement as an alumna has energetically continued. Dawn has served as secretary for the Class of 1989 (and written over 150 Indicator updates of her classmates), chairperson for all Class of 1989 Reunion Committees, president of the Maryland Alumni Club, a Decade Representative and a member of the Committee on the Advancement of Women at Stevens. In 1999, she was presented with the Harold R. Fee Award for her dedication and service to Stevens and the SAA. Another highlight of her service to Stevens was as an Alumni Trustee on the Stevens Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2006. In her professional life, Dawn built a successful sales career first at Acterna (acquired by JDSU) then at Ciena Corp., pioneer of WDM optical communications systems. Ciena engineered an enabling technology that opened up existing fiber capacity for early 90s bandwidth hungry applications such as high-speed fiber optics to the home, video-on-demand and the internet. Dawn would like to see the SAA engage and sustain a lifelong and worldwide community of alumni, and future alumni through opportunities for meaningful engagement aimed at increasing awareness, pride, participation, volunteer involvement, and philanthropic commitment to Stevens. “As an alumna who has experienced a diverse, professional career along with a variety of SAA leadership roles, I hope to help guide the SAA to engage with alumni in an authentic, entertaining and value-added way.”

Martha (Patty) Torres graduated in 2001, receiving a B.E. in chemical engineering and a minor in biomedical engineering. She is a supply chain and procurement professional who is currently an Executive Director, Corp Srvs and Global P&O Ops Indirect Procurement at Novartis. As a student, Torres was a Cadet Leader of the Air Force ROTC. She was vice president of the Khoda Honor Society, vice president of the Gear & Triangle Honor Society, and a senator of the Student Government Association. She was also active with the Stevens chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, serving as president and vice president. Today, Torres serves as Director-at-Large of the SAA, and she is involved with the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP) Alumni Group. Torres is a Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Award recipient. “I give because I was that student who was overwhelmed with the high cost of my college loans,” Torres tells us. “As a single parent, my mother worked hard to support me and my brother. To lessen the burden on her I took it upon myself to pay for my education. This was a heavy load for a 17-year-old to have and I understand the struggle. That is why my goal is to help the incoming classes.”

Megan K. Stevens is the Assistant Vice President for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement at Stevens and the Executive Director and Executive Secretary of the Stevens Alumni Association. A seasoned advancement professional, she has almost 20 years of experience in higher education strategic planning, volunteer engagement, and network activation. She and her team of nine direct the alumni engagement and annual giving opportunities for over 54,000 Stevens alumni. Prior to Stevens, Megan was the Senior Director of Regional and Affinity Strategy in the office of Development and Alumni Relations at Lehigh University for eight years, where she managed a team of seven that collectively produced all of Lehigh’s region and interest-based programming for its 85,000-strong alumni community and she served as a specialist in international alumni relations. Before her time at Lehigh, Megan was the Assistant Executive Director of Mortar Board, a national honor society for college seniors. She has a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor’s degree in History, also from The Ohio State University.

Cristian Collado graduated from Stevens in 2019, receiving a B.E. in electrical engineering. Cristian is currently working within Johnson & Johnson’s Technology Services division as an intelligent automation specialist. During his time at Stevens, Cristian worked vastly to improve the student experience at the university by involving himself in a variety of forward facing student organizations on campus. Most notable of those involvements included his work as President of the Gear & Triangle Leadership Honor Society, where he initiated a week long Spirit Week at Stevens, coined “Duck Days”, in partnership with the Office Student Life and, most recently, University Events. During his term as President, Cristian also led structural changes within the Society that enhanced the student experience on campus by providing more student-centric programming centered on the principles of Leadership, Honor and Spirit. Additionally, Cristian has been a part of the Student Government Association as Head of the Founder’s Day Ball, an annual celebration of the university’s founding and one of the most highly anticipated student events of the year. Among these involvements, Mr.Collado has also worked as a Resident Assistant, served as a brother of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, was involved as a member of STEP, worked as a student worker in Diversity Education and aided in the preliminary efforts to introduce an Intercultural Center to campus. For his service to his university, he was recognized as the 2018 Student Leader of the Year and more recently, received the 2019 Ada & Edwin “Doc” Farrell Memorial Award. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Cristian completed four Cooperative Education terms with companies that included the likes of a Realty Operations Office in NYC, working at an Exxon Mobil Facility and the company that would ultimately hire him as a full time employee. Cristian currently serves the Stevens Alumni Association as Chair of the Recent Alumni and Current Students Committee.

Katherine (Freed) Matos graduated in 2008 with a B.E. in biomedical engineering and a B.A. in history, minor in gender and cultural studies. During her time at Stevens, Kate was active in Alpha Phi Omega; co-chaired the Boken Festival; founded two student organizations, Stevens Law Society and Stevens Political Awareness Committee; was resident assistant for the Lore-El Center; wrote for The Stute; was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the Gear & Triangle Society, and Khoda; received the Technogenesis Prize with her senior design team; and was goalie for the inaugural season of Stevens field hockey.

Kate served as an Alumni Trustee on the Stevens Board of Trustees from 2008 - 2010, and she currently leads the Pacific Northwest Alumni Club with her husband, Jonathan Matos ’08. Kate received her Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall Law and practices healthcare compliance law for a pharmaceutical company. Kate remains active in her community as a Rotarian.

Ian Mullican graduated from Stevens in 2008 with a B.E. in chemical engineering. While at Stevens, Ian played for the varsity tennis team (2004-2007), captaining the team for his final two years of eligibility (2006-2007). Upon graduation Ian moved to D.C. to work as a patent examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office. In 2016, he started his own patent search company, Foundit LLC, in Alexandria, Virginia. He has volunteered his time as an Ad Astra Ambassador to increase engagement with Stevens alumni who graduated in the 2000s. Ian also currently serves on the Nominations Committee of the SAA, helping to locate and interview candidates who want to spend more of their time helping the Stevens family. “I loved my time at Stevens! Not only did Stevens provide me with the educational foundation to succeed in my career, but it also introduced me to the most wonderful people who share the Stevens spirit,” he says. “I’m motivated to keep nurturing that spirit, and rekindling it in those alum who have fallen out of touch.”

Eric Noll graduated from Stevens in 2013 with a B. E. in biomedical engineering and a M.S. in project management. Professionally, Eric is a Customer Success Manager at Veracode in the SaaS application security space. Upon becoming a member of the Stevens Alumni Association, Eric was immediately involved as a Class Officer as a Fund Captain. In addition, Eric took on the position of president of the Sigma Nu Alumni Association and continues to be heavily involved in both capacities. In 2018, Eric joined the efforts of the SAA Class Leadership Committee, connecting with alumni to identify and nominate individuals to take on Class Officer positions. In 2021, he accepted the appointment of serving as Chair of the Committee. Working with a vast number of alumni and helping others find a way to give back to Stevens as a place that gave them so much drives Eric in his efforts working with the SAA. As a student, Eric held various positions as a brother of Sigma Nu, an E-Board member of Gear & Triangle, vice president of Order of Omega, a member of the Honor Board, and a member of Khoda.

Frank Roberto graduated from Stevens in 1976, receiving a B.E. in mechanical engineering. He joined Exxon Chemical Company in their Florham Park, New Jersey facility following graduation. Through a variety of engineering and technology assignments in the U.S. and Europe, he focused on energy and utility systems, including key roles in the development of several cogeneration projects and the global energy management system. Roberto retired in 2021 as a manager in the project development division of ExxonMobil’s Global Projects Company, located in the company’s Spring, Texas offices. Roberto supported new project development, as well as existing operations worldwide, across the company. As a student, Roberto served as president of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and editor-in-chief of The Stute. As an alumnus, he serves as a Director-at-Large of the Stevens Alumni Association Board of Directors and serves as a member of the Engagement and Executive Committees as well as the Stevens Alumni Club chair in Houston, Texas. In the latter role, Roberto spearheads many gatherings and communications for this large alumni population. He has additionally served for many years as class secretary for the Class of 1976. In addition, Roberto serves on the Board of Advisors for the Schaefer School of Engineering and Science. Roberto is instrumental advocate of the Stevens-ExxonMobil Recruiting Program, which has brought more than 100 Stevens interns/co-ops and full-time hires to the company since 2010. Over the years, he has also hosted President Farvardin and members of the faculty and staff during their visits to the area. “I volunteer to give back to help current students,” Roberto says. “Volunteering for the SAA helps strengthen the university, engage and connect alumni, and, hopefully, encourage alumni to give back to Stevens.”

Bruce Blondina graduated from Stevens in 1973, receiving a B.E. in metallurgy/material science. As a student, he was president of the Student Council, president of the Inter Dormitory Council, a member of the Honor Board, and a member of Khoda. Following graduation, Bruce served as a Young Alumni Trustee on the Stevens Board of Trustees (1973-1975). Bruce’s professional life included technology program management and consulting for the design and implementation of large-scale global technology projects for international financial institutions. Bruce is an active SAA volunteer, serving as the fund captain for the Class of 1973 and chairperson of the SAA Development Subcommittee. Previously, with the SAA he served on the Ad Hoc Reserve Fund Committee and the SAA Committee on Student Affairs. Bruce’s most recent project with the Young Alumni Trustees developed a Best Practices document for alumni engagement. Bruce is particularly passionate about giving back to his community, served on the Randolph Parks Committee for ten years, two as its chairman. He was a founder of a volunteer group called “the Cyberteers”, which built and operated a computer lab for over two decades for residents of the Morris View Healthcare Center. Bruce presently serves on the Board of Directors with the Canal Society of New Jersey.

Jeffrey A. Capone graduated from Stevens in 1991 with a B.E. in computer engineering and in 1995 with an M.S. in telecommunications management. As a student, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Khoda, Co-Operative Education, Student Council, and held the positions of co-captain of the Baseball Team, treasurer of the Student Review Board, and chair of the Freshmen Class Orientation Committee. In his professional life, Jeff is an associate director at Merck & Co., Inc.

In recognition of the positive impact of those who helped him, Jeff enthusiastically promotes the “pay it forward” philosophy. Jeff began his involvement with the SAA in 2013, volunteering as a decade representative. He currently serves as a Director-at-Large, as well as a member of the Nominations Committee and the Class Leadership Committee and President for the Class of 1991. Previously, Jeff served as Second Vice President, and on the SAA Executive Committee. In 2016, Jeff was presented with the Harold R. Fee Award for his dedication and service to our Alumni Association and alma mater.

Gerald (Gerry) Crispin graduated from Stevens in 1969 with a B.E. in chemical engineering and an MMS in applied psychology in 1972, then continued through 1975 on his ABD (All But Dissertation) before joining Johnson & Johnson as a Industrial Psychologist in their HR function. Gerry founded CareerXroads in 1996 – a professional community of hundreds of talent acquisition and talent management leaders responsible for high volumes of hiring for their multinational employers who share best practices around recruiting. He is passionate about how technology impacts the hiring process and how employers create experiences that impact the candidate experience. He has been a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) for 40 years and served on their Board of Trustees in 1998 as well as numerous other roles. He also founded the Association for Talent Acquisition Professionals (ATAPglobal.org) in 2015 and the TalentBoard in 2010, an organization researching candidate experience globally. Over the past 50 years, Crispin has held various class leadership and fundraising committee roles. In 1989-90, he served as president of the Stevens Alumni Association and as a member of the Stevens Board of Trustees. In 2010, he served as a member of the search committee for the next president of Stevens. During three recessions, Crispin met monthly with out of work Stevens alumni. He has counseled several hundred Stevens graduates over the years and continues to do so. As a student, Crispin served as editor-in-chief of The Stute, as president of the Student Journalism Society, and as a member of Student Council. He lettered as a manager in baseball, soccer and lacrosse and was rush chairman for Delta Tau Delta. “I volunteer because giving back is a critical part of who I am,” Crispin says. “My Stevens experience as a young adult was formative and I am forever grateful.”

John Dalton graduated from Stevens in 1960, receiving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He then pursued an MBA in finance from the Stuart School of Management at Illinois Institute of Technology. John held several leadership positions as an undergraduate at Stevens, including managing editor of The Stute, chair of the 1960 Link editorial board, president of the Newman Club and was a member of honors societies including Gear & Triangle and Pi Delta Epsilon. In the SAA, John currently serves as a member of the Class Leadership Committee, 1960 Class President, and previously served as SAA Treasurer. He was awarded the Harold R. Fee Alumni Achievement Award in 1980 and the Stevens Alumni Award in 2013. John has volunteered with the Development Office over the past 40 years in class annual giving. A member of the University’s Historical Preservation Committee, John wrote and produced “Stevens & Sons: America’s First Family of Engineers” and “Tales from Castle Stevens.” He is Editor of the Three Minute Read, the twice monthly newsletter of the Healing American Healthcare Coalition and coauthor of the recently published “Healing American Healthcare: Lessons from the Pandemic.”

Edward (Ed) Eichhorn graduated from Stevens in 1969, receiving a B.E. in chemical engineering. He subsequently attended Fairleigh Dickinson University earning an MBA in industrial management in 1977. As president of Medilink Consulting Group LLC, Eichhorn advises medical societies and commercial clients on strategic planning issues. He is co-author of Healing American Healthcare: A Plan to Provide Quality Care for All, While Saving $1 Trillion a Year. Eichhorn’s second healthcare book, co-authored with John Dalton class of 1960, presents pandemic healthcare issues. It will be published in December 2021. Ed is class secretary for the Class of 1969. He was SAA president from 2006-2008 and served as the Stevens Vice President for Development from 2010-2014. He has served as an annual fund class caller for the Class of 1969 from 1970-1992 and has also served as his class reunion co-chair several times. He was awarded the Harold R. Fee Award in 1984. He spoke at the Old Guard Luncheon in 2019 and was a School of Business Heath Lecturer in 2020 on issues in healthcare. As a student, Eichhorn served as president of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity; president of the Varsity S Club; played varsity basketball; was a member of the Interfraternity Council and the Student Council; and served as associate editor of The Stute. He was also active with Pi Delta Epsilon and Gear & Triangle. Ed was elected to Khoda as an alumnus. He supports educational issues in healthcare and the library’s efforts to maintain the history of Stevens.

Owen P. Jappen graduated from Stevens in 2013, receiving a B.E. and M.E. in chemical engineering. Upon graduation, he served as a Young Alumni Trustee on the Stevens Board of Trustees (2013-2015). In his professional life, Owen is the Director of Chemical Products and Technology at The American Chemistry Council. Owen is passionate about building awareness of Stevens’ history and promoting the work of the Samuel C. William Library Archives. He also actively advocates for a robust alumni network among graduates of the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department, leveraging the annual AIChE conference as a recruiting event, where he also served as Young Professionals Committee Chair of the Institute. Owen is an active volunteer, currently serving as vice president for the Class of 2013 and as a member of the SAA Recent Alumni and Current Student Committee. Previously, he has participated as a Decade Representative, on the Ad Hoc Reserve Fund Committee, and as a member of the Constitution Committee. In 2018, Owen was presented with the Harold R. Fee Award for his dedication to service to Stevens and the SAA. As a student, Owen held numerous leadership positions including SGA Senator, Committee Chair, Speaker of the Senate, president of the AIChE Student Chapter, and vice president of Khoda.

M. Cristina Martinez graduated from Stevens in 1994, receiving a B.E. in civil engineering and a M.E. in civil engineering in 1996. She is the Business Development Director for Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, where she uses her engineering expertise to support client needs and to build successful industry relationships. As a student, Martinez was captain of the Women’s Volleyball team, club team co-founder and captain of the Women’s Basketball team, manager of the Men’s Volleyball team and an active sister of Delta Phi Epsilon. She was a panelist at the 2021 Stevens LeadHership Conference, a panelist at Stevens 2020 virtual family day and an alumni guest at a 2019 campus event sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers. She volunteered to be part of the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP) 40th anniversary organizing committee and served on the SAA Reserve Fund Ad Hoc Committee in 2019-2020. Martinez was a Stevens Young Alumnae Award recipient in 2014 and a Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Award recipient in 2019. She has served as a mentor and is now president of the board of directors of the ACE Mentor Program of New Jersey and is also on the board of Leadership Newark. She is also active with Professional Women in Construction and Women Builders Council organizations. “I volunteer because I care about the future of Stevens,” she says. “By lending my voice and perspective, I hope to help shape the opportunities for future students and alumni.”

Lisa Mascolo graduated from Stevens in 1982 and returned to campus ten years ago to join the Board of Trustees. Since then, she has been active in fundraising and has worked with Professor Wei Zheng on leadership initiatives. She is currently working with a small group of Trustees and Dean Prastacos to develop and fund the Inclusive Leadership program for the School of Business. Lisa supports the Lore-El Center and the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation. She is a past chair of the HR Committee of the Board and currently serves on the HR, Nomination and Governance, and Alumni and Development committees.

Professionally, Lisa served 4 years as Managing Director of IBM’s US Public Service GBS business unit where she and her team drove growth in sales, revenue, income, and employee engagement. Prior to IBM, Lisa coached senior leaders and provided business strategy consulting services as the Founder & CEO of Listen Learn Lead. She served as the CEO of Optimos, a small federal systems contractor from 2011-2013.

Lisa spent almost 30 years with Accenture and was a key leader when the organization was a private professional services firm and a Fortune 500 public company. She serves on the EWAAB Board of Trustees, on the MedStar Washington Hospital Center board. She is a member of the Aarete Advisory Board. Previously she served on the St. Albans School of Public Service Board of Governors, the Grace Episcopal Day School Board of Governors as Chair of the Advancement Committee and as Director on the Board of Dress for Success DC.

Jonathan Matos graduated from Stevens in 2008, receiving a B.E. in engineering management. In 2010, he earned an M.S. in operations management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is Director, Program Management, for the commercial spaceflight company Blue Origin and is an active pilot in the Puget Sound area. As a student, Jonathan was involved in a variety of Stevens activities, including serving as vice president of the Student Government Association, treasurer of the Ethnic Student Council and vice president of Phi Sigma Kappa. He was active with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Gear & Triangle Honor Society, and the Khoda Senior Honor Society. He also volunteered as a Stevens telethon caller and a tour guide for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. He remains involved with his fraternity, and is working with his spouse, Katherine (also Class of 2008) to start a Pacific Northwest Alumni Club. Jonathan received the Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Award in 2013, and he has been class president of the Class of 2008 since his graduation from Stevens. “I feel pride in the education and learning I received at Stevens,” he says. “I hope I can encourage others to give back to Stevens, but also to inspire the students attending Stevens now. I hope they see the support they receive from the alumni and are inspired to continue the traditions.”

Lauren Mayer graduated from Stevens in 2012, receiving a B.E. in biomedical engineering. She participated broadly in student organizations as a student at Stevens, volunteering her time as an Orientation Leader, peer mentor and STEP Big Brother/Sister. Lauren held leadership positions including the president of the National Society of Black Engineers, secretary of the Stevens Italian Club, and public relations chair for Delta Phi Epsilon. In the SAA, Lauren has served on the GOLD Alumni Committee, the HUE Committee, while currently serving as the Class of 2012 Fund Captain. For her dedication and service to the SAA and Stevens, Lauren received the 2022 Harold R. Fee Alumni Achievement Award. Lauren is currently employed at New York Life and is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers and Junior League of Montclair-Newark.

John McDonnell graduated from Stevens in 1972, receiving a B.E. in electrical engineering. Over the course of his career in the semiconductor and compressor industry, he held sales management positions at TLSI, Oki Optical Components, Oki Semiconductor America, Hitachi, and Atlas Copco Airpower. His last position was as Regional Sales Manager for Varta Microbattery, from which he retired in 2013. Since retirement, John has devoted considerable energy to his alma mater. He currently serves as Director-at-Large of the Stevens Alumni Association (SAA). In addition, John serves as the SAA North Jersey Regional Leader, coordinating and hosting events such as the State of the Stevens Series with President Farvardin and festive occasions like wine tastings and holiday parties. Serving as vice president of the Class of 1972, was actively engaged in planning their 50th Reunion, celebrated in 2022. For his unwavering service and commitment to SAA and our alma mater, John was presented the 2022 Stevens Alumni Award by the SAA Board of Directors. He and his wife, Barbara, recently joined the Stevens Legacy Society by including a gift in their will to help grow the university’s endowment. “I desire to enhance the benefits of SAA engagement by making alumni confident that Stevens considers them full members of the school family,” John says. “I am passionate about helping restore Stevens as one of America’s preeminent technical schools.”

Wayne Monsees graduated from Stevens in 1971 with a Bachelor of Engineering majoring in Electrical Engineering, in 1972 with a Master of Engineering – Electrical majoring in electro-mathematics, and in 1978 with a Master of Management Science majoring in economics. In his professional career, he worked in the common carrier industry (RCA Global, RCA Americom and Western Union) and in the aerospace industry (RCA Astro Electronics, GE Astro Space, Martin Marietta Astro Space, Lockheed Martin Astro Space and L3 Communications Systems – East) where his focus was on satellite communications for commercial use as well as supporting agencies of the Federal government in the military use of commercial space, transformational communication architecture studies and the application of information assurance technologies. As a Program Manager he directed the manufacture, test and delivery of three commercial direct broadcast satellites, digital recorders for EOS and TIROS earth resource satellites and communications elements for Space Station. Wayne is particularly passionate about supporting the Stevens Honor System, the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series, and the Systems Engineering department, with a focus on Space Systems Engineering. He is an active volunteer, currently serving as a member of the SAA Board of Directors (2022 to date) and chair of the Central New Jersey Alumni Club (2011 to date). Previously, Wayne served as treasurer of the SAA (2014 to 2022), on the Alumni and Student Committee (1973 – 1983, chairperson 1976-1983), as a Class Agent and telethon caller (70’s), 70’s Decade Representative (2008 – 2012), as the Alumni Representative to the Honor Board (2009 – 2012), on the Alumni Day Committee, on the Awards Committee (2008 – 2016, chairperson 2012-2016), Stevens Awards Committee (2014 – 2017, chairman 2014), the Stevens Hall of Achievement Committee (2016), and the Strategic Plan Development Committee (2011 – 2012). In 1981, Wayne was presented with the Harold R. Fee Award for his dedication and service to Stevens and the SAA. As a student, was highly active in the IEEE Student Branch and the IEEE Metropolitan Student Council, holding multiple leadership positions in both throughout his years at Stevens, served on the Inter-Dormitory Council (Junior year), played inter-class lacrosse (Freshman year) and was also a member of the Association for Computing Machinery, the Radio Club, and the Camera Club.

Alex C. Sacharoff graduated from Stevens in 1979, receiving a B.S. in physics. Following graduation, he received his Ph.D. in applied physics from Harvard, which propelled him into a career as a senior scientist in the medical device industry. In his professional life, he led an engineering team that helped to pioneer the first refractive eye surgery laser approved in the United States of America and is the holder of six U.S. patents. Alex is particularly passionate about building an active alumni community in Central Florida and expanding the number of women in science and engineering disciplines. He is proud of the progress being made at Stevens to institute programs that support undergraduates coming from under-represented communities. Alex is an active volunteer, serving in a leadership role within the Stevens Central Florida Alumni Club and as an Ad Astra Ambassador. He began service on the Class Leadership Committee in 2019. Beyond Stevens, Alex has been a Rotary Club member for over ten years. He currently serves as Rotary District 6980 Foundation Chair, overseeing charitable giving as well as local and international Rotary grant work for 48 Rotary clubs in the Central Florida area. As a student, Alex was a member of the Glee Club led by the late Professor Ondrick.

Jean Savitsky graduated from Stevens in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in SP&M/Industrial Management. Since graduating from Stevens, Jean has participated in undergraduate career development panel discussions, undergraduate mentorship programs, and on-campus recruitment activities. In addition, she has supported several Solar Decathlon projects, providing financial resources and professional expertise. Jean believes that it is important for alumni to “show up” and provide personal and professional expertise. She hopes that her participation serves as an example for other alumni to get involved. “I would like the SAA to have a broader reach to engage a larger group of alumni to get involved with the school and with each other,” she says. “Being an alumna of two other universities has given me the opportunity to experience the type of outreach and alumni engagement opportunities that are possible.” “One of the universities I graduated from has successfully utilized Zoom and webinars during to engage a broader alumni community; another coordinates a women’s focused LinkedIn Group that I find to be professional and social and really productive and engaging,” Jean continues. “It might be beneficial to partner with one of the university clubs in NYC to allow Stevens to share their facilities. With the expansion of remote work now, having a place to go that is not your office, where you can meet clients, associates, fellow alumni, etc., would be welcome.”

Rachele Smith Grasso graduated from Stevens in 1981, receiving a B.E. in mechanical engineering. She is a senior project manager at Buckeye Partners, LP, one of the largest independent liquid petroleum products pipeline operators in the U.S. in terms of volumes delivered. She currently serves as Project Manager for Buckeye’s NJ solar projects. During her years as a Stevens student, Rachele served as the first woman president of the Stevens Student Section of ASME. She was also a fraternity little sister, volunteered as a tutor, a high school panelist and summer student mentor, and played the lead role in her senior year musical, My Fair Lady.

In the years since graduation, she helped develop the Stevens Parents’ Council and held the first Attending Students/Parents get-together in her home. She and her husband regularly attended meetings of the Council. Rachele and her daughter volunteered their time to man the Alumni/Current Student table at Accepted Students Day, and she has been an active alum of the Stevens Dramatic Society. Rachele navigated COVID-19 climate to help make scholarship determinations as well. Rachele, who served as chair of the Class of 1981 40th Reunion Committee, has been a member of the Edwin A. Stevens Society for several years and regularly attends lectures, concerts, plays, and Lore El Center events. “I believe that volunteering and donating are both vital to the success of Stevens but in different ways,” she says. “I donate because there are students much less fortunate than I was who can only afford to attend Stevens through grants, scholarships, etc. Volunteering allows for a more personal connection to Stevens, to the current students and to our alumni. It allows me to reach out and share my talents and experiences while at the same time, it enriches my life!”

ShaQuill Thomas graduated from Stevens in 2015 with a B.E. in computer engineering, and in 2021 with an M.E. in systems engineering. He is a Senior Security Analyst for iCIMS, an enterprise recruiting software platform. As a student, Thomas served as president of the Stevens chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (2012-2014); president of the Black Student Union (2014-2015); vice president of IEEE (2012-2013); and vice president of the Phi Beta Lambda Business Club (2012-2013). He was active with the Gear & Triangle Honor Society and was a brother of Alpha Phi Omega. He also volunteered his time as a 2014 orientation leader, a campus tour guide, and an undergraduate admissions ambassador. Thomas continues to serve his alma mater as Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP) Alumni Club president and an Ad Astra Ambassador. “I give so much of my time and energy volunteering as a Stevens alum because Stevens has opened so many doors and opportunities for me,” he says. “I’m passionate about supporting all things relating to improving the engagement of students and alumni throughout the Stevens community. I believe the heart and soul of Stevens are the activities that can bring together individuals and groups for a purpose or for entertainment.”

Frank Vastano graduated from Stevens in 1973, receiving a B.S. in mathematics/physics. He retired from Merck in 2011, and then became a Program Management Consultant for Tata Consultancy Services, retiring for good in 2016. He is also a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (2009) and a former member of the Project Management Institute. As an undergraduate, Vastano was nominated for the Danforth Fellowship as an Outstanding Mathematics Student. He was a member of the Khoda Senior Honor Society, the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering and Science Honor Society, and Gear & Triangle. He served as vice chairman of the Stevens Student Review Board, and was asked to be an Upper Class Mentor to Lenore Schupak, the first female to graduate from Stevens, during his junior and senior years at Stevens. He has been the Alumni Class President of the Class of 1973 since 1973 and has organized several milestone class reunions and worked to establish the Class of ’73 Endowed Scholarship, which is funded at over $650,000. He initiated, developed, and maintains the Class of ’73 Campaign Plan & Strategy Document, and created the initial draft of the new Stevens Reunion website. He currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee, a member of the Engagement Committee, a member of the Enablement Sub-Committee, and is the Co-Leader of the SAA IT Professionals Affinity Group as well. His professional career grew from his IT professional skills, but over time, he became known for his leadership. In 2019, the author of a book on leadership asked Frank to write the Forward to the next edition of her book. He did so with great pride, and the publication of the Second Edition of Updraft: The Aerodynamics of Great Leadership was published in January, 2020. “My passion for supporting Stevens is not limited to any departments, groups, projects or initiatives,” he says. “Whatever I can do, with whatever experiences or skills I have, that can contribute to the growth and success of Stevens, would be worthwhile.”

Charles Buscarino is a recognized leader in the design and implementation of integrated smart building systems and has over 35 years of experience in the development of technology solutions in real estate projects. He founded The Clarient Group (TCG) in 2002 to focus on the holistic implementation of technology solutions for projects of all types with a focus on how technology can be leveraged to enhance the lives of occupants and property owners. Under his leadership, the firm has developed innovative solutions for more than 100 clients and 60 million square feet of properties, including many well-known signature projects. The firm's visionary work includes headquarters, higher education, experimental entertainment/retail, healthcare, etc. for a variety of world class clients seeking to maximize their strategic and operational goals. Mr. Buscarino holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology. Upon graduating Stevens, he joined Hazeltine Corporation as a digital design engineer supporting the development of a Microwave Landing System (MLS) for the FAA. Mr. Buscarino later moved to Cosentini Associates to create and head the firm's Information Technologies Division. Under his direction, the division grew to become a strategic component of the firms' professional services offering technology consulting and design solutions to clients worldwide. Mr. Buscarino previously served as an Alumni Trustee on the Stevens Board of Trustees. He currently serves on the Stevens Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board, RealComm's IBcon Advisory Council and has served on InfoComm's Integrated Buildings Task Force. He has spoken at numerous industry events for leading organizations in the design, real estate, and technology fields.

Karen Carolonza is a proven public relations and communications professional with global experience in the healthcare, chemical, and TV news industries. Ms. Carolonza is one of the founding partners of Green Room Communications, building strategic teams to meet the critical and evolving needs of her pharmaceutical, medical technology, and biotech clients, including the C-suite and their executive leadership teams. Green Room has spent the last 12 years providing corporate and brand communications, media relations, advocacy relations, creative services, and contract staffing to global healthcare companies. Before starting Green Room, Ms. Carolonza was head of worldwide public relations of BD (Becton Dickinson & Company) and was responsible for the creation of the first-ever global public relations department. She and her team developed programs in support of key businesses, including HIV/AIDS, TB, diabetes, influenza, healthcare-associated infections, ophthalmology, and other global health issues. During her time at BD, Ms. Carolonza liaised with UNICEF/UNAIDS to announce the Clinton Foundation's move to cut prices on AIDS tests. She also served as a volunteer on the CDC Foundation to advocate for Health Protection Goals. Prior to joining BD, Ms. Carolonza was responsible for leading public relations teams and programs at the Pharmacia Corporation (now Pfizer) supporting the Hospital Products and Oncology businesses. Ms. Carolonza also served as communications lead at DuPont-Merck as part of the launch team for the first once-daily HIV medicine. She has additional expertise in corporate issues management, including Exxon Chemical Company where she was hired away from TV news to help manage the Valdez crisis. Ms. Carolonza spent the first part of her career as an NBC affiliate television news reporter in the Midwest and in cable news on the East Coast, reporting on the key healthcare and political issues. Ms. Carolonza sits on several nonprofit boards, including Soft Bones: The U.S. Hypophosphatasia Foundation; national cancer respite organization Mary's Place by the Sea; and the international foundation to stop sexual violence Together for Girls. She has been recognized as a Leading Woman Entrepreneur in New Jersey and in 2014 was among the top 25 in the state. In 2016, she was awarded Bravo's SmartCEO Award. In 2019, she was chosen by NJ Biz as a Leading Mom Entrepreneur. Ms. Carolonza is a 1992 graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Paulina Georgousos is a current undergraduate student at Stevens studying chemical biology. She is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre professional health honor society and the secretary of the Stevens health professions club. She aspires to attend dental school after receiving her undergraduate degree. On campus she is also involved in various other activities. She is the Vice President of Operations of the Student Government Association and was previously their public relations chair. She is a member of the varsity field hockey team where she serves as the Top of the V representative and a member of mental health and fitness committee. She was a peer leader, participates in gear and triangle, and performs research on campus. She is in the process of bringing a internationally recognized organization (Best Buddies) to Stevens. This aims to create opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Paulina is passionate about providing valuable insight to the SAA because of her diverse involvement on campus. With this, she can bridge the gap between student and alumni engagement.

Kaitlin Gili graduated from Stevens in 2020, receiving a B.S. in physics. She graduated with high honors, while participating in multiple activities on campus. She served as the president of the Society of Physics Students, a Global Ambassador for the study abroad department, and as a Peer Mentor and Peer Leader for incoming students. Additionally, she engaged in full-time research throughout the year in the Physics department and in the summertime at various institutions – including Los Alamos National Laboratory, Zapata Computing, IBMQ Tokyo, and Oxford University.

While at Stevens, she co-founded the 501(c)(3) Encouraging Women Across All Borders (EWAAB), an organization who’s mission is to ensure that all young women and non-binary students have access to the mentorship and tools to succeed in their respective fields. She served as the CEO of EWAAB for 2 years, and now serves as Chair of the Board, supporting the current full-time employed CEO.

Post Stevens, she recently started her Ph.D. at the University of Oxford in the field of quantum information and computing with a full fellowship from the U.S. Army Research Office. Alongside her Ph.D., Kaitlin sits on Stevens Board of Trustees as a Young Alumni Trustee, participates in alumni engagement, mentorship and speaker activities, and acts as a scientific consultant for Zapata Computing.

In addition, she enjoys hiking, cliff and bungee jumping, kickboxing, and traveling.

Hermes González-Bello graduated from Stevens in 1989 with a B.E. in engineering management, and in 1995 with an M.S. in management planning. He retired from Danaher Corporation in September 2021 after a successful career spanning 17 years. At Danaher, Hermes held various senior management roles, most recently as President of HACH in Loveland, Colorado. Previous roles at Danaher included President, Pall Industrial in Port Washington, NY, President Aquafine Corporation & HACH Environmental in Valencia, CA and Vice President & General Manager of Danaher Water Quality Group, Latin America. Earlier in his career, Hermes spent 15 years at Emerson in the Process Automation and Instrumentation groups. Hermes is a present and past member of various company and industry associations and boards such as founding member of Danaher’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, Executive Sponsor of Danaher’s LatinX Associates Resource Group, Danaher’s Latin America Board, the US Department of Commerce Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC), Rocky Mountain Export Council and the Stevens Institute of Technology President’s Council. Hermes is an alum of the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP) where he also served as tutor & mentor of incoming STEP classes. Additionally, during his time at Stevens, Hermes served as treasurer, vp and president of the Latin American Association, founder and president of the National Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and founder and president of Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity. Hermes currently serves on the Stevens Board of Trustees as an Alumni Trustee.

Raj graduated from Stevens in 2012 with a Master of Science in Computer Science.

During his time at Stevens, Raj helped redesign and manage the overall Campus Bookstore Website for processing online book and merchandise orders. Raj also served as a Teaching Assistant (TA) to the Dean of Computer Science Department, teaching multiple courses to undergraduate students. He was a core member for IGSA (Graduate Students Association) participating in multiple student diversity events.

Raj is currently working as a Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo Investment Bank division. Overall, he has 13 years of Strategy and Execution experience in Banking, Insurance & Big 4 Management Consulting Firms. He has been an active hiring member at Stevens Career Fair events assisting and advising soon-to-be graduates. Outside of work, he is a core member for Let’s Share a Meal charity organization in Jersey City serving over 50,000 meals across 150+ shelters. He is an avid hiker and coordinates three different hiking groups.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Placing the needs of others before your own is an important step in self discovery. I am excited to join SAA as Director at Large and hope to have an impact on the future opportunities for students and alumni. Together we can build a stronger and diverse Stevens Alumni community,” he says.

Joelle Hinds graduated from Stevens in 1993 with a B.E. in engineering management. Her career path has been fulfilling with ventures in management consulting, leading the implementation of new technologies, entrepreneurial endeavors, and financial services. All opportunities were direct results of her amazing foundation as an engineer. Joelle holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designations and focuses her practice on guiding people through the financial aspects of major life events.

Joelle was a 2008 recipient of the Harold R. Fee Alumni Achievement Award, and she is excited that she can stay involved with Stevens through her role as an Alumni Trustee member of the Stevens Board of Trustees. Joelle continues to find ways to engage with the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP) and support the Lady Ducks Fencing Team – both of which she credits with instilling her with tenacity and a focused work ethic.

Joelle’s other volunteer roles include being a Public Member of the Texas Bar Association Grievance Committee (District 6), serving as the Treasurer of the Young Men’s Service League Rockwall-Heath chapter, and supporting Boy Scouts Troop 314 as the Financial Secretary.

Joelle is the proud mother of daughters Spencer and Braeden, and son Jirden. She currently resides in the Dallas-area (TX) but finds every opportunity to return to New Jersey!

Emily Rose Kovelesky is a Stevens young alumna with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. During her five years at Stevens in the cooperative education program, Emily strove to create inclusive and welcoming spaces on campus through her work with the Lore-El Center for Women's Leadership and in her roles as the President of the Society of Women Engineers and Senior Week Committee Chair. She currently is working as a Dynamics Engineer at Collins Aerospace in Rockford, Illinois. She is excited to continue her passion of cultivating an enriching college experience for students and to be a part of planning Stevens' bright future as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Rainer Martini is an Associate Professor of Physics, and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the Schaefer School of Engineering and Sciences. Dr. Martini is recognized as one of the pioneer and leading experts in mid- and far-infrared technology and its application in the area of communication, spectroscopy, and imaging. He leads the Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy and Communications Laboratory, which focuses on the development of novel optical modulation schemes and their implementation in real world application. His research accomplishments include the first demonstration of the coherent amplification of short – pulse THz radiation, establishing the first stable mid-infrared free-space optical link, the fastest MIR communication link, and a novel broadband imaging process allowing visualization of radiation ranging from 400nm (UV) to the millimeter wave region (100 GHz). His actual research includes also a new non-resonant optical modulation scheme for lasers in the mid- and near- infrared spectral region with the potential of increasing the communication bandwidth drastically. Dr. Martini has received multiple teaching awards and the 2011 Advancement of Innovation Award from the NJIHoF.

Laura Rose was appointed Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement in May 2020 and has more than 20 years of experience as a fundraising executive at two major research universities and at one of the world’s premier museums. She is responsible for Stevens’ ambitious goals, including increasing alumni engagement and continuing to build world-class development and alumni engagement programs.

Prior to joining Stevens, Ms. Rose led teams of fundraisers, served as a major and principal gift fundraiser, worked with alumni and volunteer boards, and academic leadership, and helped to advance multi-billion-dollar capital campaigns. Most recently at the American Museum of Natural History, where she served as Vice President for Development and Membership since 2013, Ms. Rose led individual fundraising efforts including major gifts, planned giving, membership, annual fund, special events, research, and donor relations, as well as corporate fundraising, in support of the Museum's programs, operations, and $380-million building campaign.

Before joining the Museum, Ms. Rose served as Senior Executive Director for Development, Columbia College and Arts & Sciences, where she oversaw College development as part of Columbia’s $6 billion campaign. In that role she secured the College’s capital and annual fund goals, working with alumni and parent volunteer boards, and leading the College’s fundraising team.

Over a 14-year career at the University of Chicago and based in New York, she ascended to positions of increasing responsibility and scope leading teams of major, principal, and leadership annual gift officers during the university’s $2.3 billion capital campaign. She managed the university’s alumni relations and development programs in the northeast, western U.S., Europe, and parts of Asia and oversaw regional offices in London, Palo Alto, New York, Boston and Washington D.C.

Ms. Rose earned a Bachelor of Art in French (cum laude) and a minor in Art History from Wellesley College. She also matriculated at the Sorbonne and Ecole du Louvre during her undergraduate education.

Hailey Tanner graduated from Stevens in 2021, receiving a B.E. in chemical engineering and minor in biochemical engineering. Hailey was a Quality Operations intern at Merck, and partook in multiple research experiences as an undergraduate. She studied behavior of grafted magnetic nanoparticles and thermal stiffening in Pinar Akcora's lab, and neurodegenerative disease pathologies in Johannes Weickenmeier's lab. Some of her extracurriculars included serving as the vice president of Student Interests (VPSI) for the Student Government Association and Peer Leader Coordinator (PLC). As PLC, Hailey led 57 peer leaders through team-bonding and training, and planned orientation. As VPSI, she oversaw over 114 organizations, assisted in establishing many new organizations, and helped religious leaders on campus create a proposal for the Quiet Space. She was also an Academic Support Center tutor, a Senior Week Committee co-chair, and a Commencement Committee member. Other organizations Hailey belonged to at Stevens include Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Honor Society, Gear & Triangle Leadership Honor Society, Women's Club Soccer, and RedShift Creative Publication. Hailey received Rising Leader of the Year in 2019, Student Leader of the Year in 2020, and the Podolsky Award in 2021. Hailey serves on the RACS Committee as the most recent young alumni trustee, and is also VP for the Class of 2021. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University, and continuing her research journey to find unique engineering solutions to the world's most challenging medical and biological issues.

Victoria (Vicky) Velasco graduated from Stevens in 2004, receiving a B.E. in Engineering Management. Vicky is particularly passionate about serving as a Torch Bearer for our alma mater, having been inspired by the generations of alumni volunteers that came before her. Upon graduation, she accepted the torch and continues to keep it burning bright with the hopes of passing it on to a new generation of alumni leaders. Vicky has a sustained 19-year record as an active alumni volunteer. Her first role was as Young Alumni Trustee on the Stevens Board of Trustee (2004-2006). In the years that followed, she served in a number of SAA leadership positions - including President, 1st and 2nd Vice President, Treasurer, and Decade Representative. Vicky has also served as chair of the Young Alumni Committee, Long Range Policy and Planning Committee, Activities Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, and the Executive Committee, as well as being a member of numerous other committees. In 2009, Vicky was presented with the Harold R. Fee Achievement Award for her dedication and service to the Stevens Alumni Association, Stevens, and the alumni community.

Currently, Vicky serves as the Recent Past President Representative on the Association Board. Only the third woman to serve as the President of the SAA, Vicky also has the distinction of being the longest alumni to have been at the helm of the association completing five years (2017-2022). Throughout those years, she worked closely with dozens of alumni volunteers and members of the Stevens Alumni Engagement Team, to coordinate, transition, and implement the new governance structure provided by the major overhaul of the SAA Constitution and Bylaws that went into effect on July 1, 2018. In her new role, she looks forward to contributing to furthering the alignment of the SAA and Stevens in the pursuit of true alumni engagement that brings together the entire community.

As an undergraduate student, Vicky served as editor-in-chief of The Link, president of Omicron Pi Sorority, and was a member of Khoda, Tau Beta Pi, Gear & Triangle, Epsilon Mu Eta, and the Newman Association. Following her time at Stevens, Vicky pursued her passion in education. She currently teaches AP Calculus and Multivariable Calculus at Fair Lawn High School. She earned an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University.