Welcome to the Stevens Center for Sustainability Launch Event
Join us to celebrate the launch of our center and recognize our inaugural PSEG Summer Undergraduate Research Scholars.
Friday, January 17, 2025 - 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
University Center Complex, TechFlex Auditorium
Find out how the center is supporting the energy and sustainability research pillar at Stevens.
Hear from our panel on Sustainability in Environmental Justice Communities.
Celebrate the students who participated in our summer pre-college programs sponsored by PSEG Foundation.
Meet our PSEG undergraduate researchers and their faculty mentors at our networking reception, as they showcase their research.
Our Partners
Agenda
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | REGISTRATION OPENS + LUNCH |
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | WELCOME REMARKS Dibs Sarkar, Founding Director, Stevens Center for Sustainability Ed Synakowski, Vice Provost for Research and Innovation |
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | PANEL ON SUSTAINABILITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE With: Angela Ortiz, Director of ESG Strategy, PSEG Dominique Lueckenhoff, Executive Vice-President For Corporate Affairs, EHS & Sustainability, Hugo Neu Corporation Jalen Cabrera, Bloomberg Philanthropies Nicole Hewitt-Cabral, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Newark |
2:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. | RESEARCH PROGRAM EXPERIENCE Abbie Tejeda, Student, Pre-college Program Cora Scolaro, senior, Naval Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology |
2:40 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | POSTER SESSION AND RECEPTION The Stevens Center for Sustainability provided seven awards to the PSEG Summer undergraduate scholars and faculty mentors, to support interdisciplinary projects focused on sustainability, environmental justice and social equity. Funding for the research was provided by PSEG Foundation. |
About Our Panelists
Angela Ortiz, Ph.D., Director Of ESG Strategy, PSEG
Angela has been working for Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) since 2008, she is currently the Director of ESG & Sustainability and leads the development and implementation of the Sustainability, ESG, and Climate Strategies at a corporate level.
Angela has broad technical knowledge of ESG climate change, Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Policy and Energy.
Angela is a certified project manager and holds international certifications on CSR and Sustainability. Besides her experience in the private sector, she has done work for different NGO’s, academic institutions, and multilateral organizations in the US and Latin America.
She received a Master’s degree from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and has a Master’s degree in Capital Markets and International Business and a Bachelor’s in Finance from the Externado University in Bogota, Colombia. She serves as a board member at NJ Audubon has a daughter and lives in Staten Island NY.
Dominique Lueckenhoff, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, EHS & Sustainability, Hugo Neu Corporation
Dominique Lueckenhoff is the Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Environment, Health, Safety (EHS) & Sustainability at Hugo Neu Corporation, where she leads environmental improvement activities, along with initiatives in corporate sustainability, climate resilience, workforce development and green business growth. She directs the development of green technologies and renewable energy opportunities at Kearny Point, an eco-friendly industrial campus and national model for sustainable redevelopment and community regeneration.
With over 30 years of experience and accomplishments in public policy, environmental health, and sustainability, Dominique is a recognized thought leader and innovator. During her distinguished career at the U.S. EPA, she created the Community-Based Public Private Partnerships (CBP3) initiative, which fosters green infrastructure solutions, job creation, and economic equity in underserved and environmental justice communities. She continues this work as Chair of the National Municipal Stormwater Association’s (NMSA) CBP3 Center of Excellence, collaborating with communities across the country to implement sustainable stormwater management and infrastructure projects.
Dominique has led groundbreaking research on biochar-biotechnology to address legacy pollutants such as lead and PCBs and emerging contaminants like PFAS. She actively supports the Stevens Institute of Technology’s Environmental Engineering Sustainability Management Program and serves on the board of its Schaefer School of Engineering and Science. Her leadership extends to roles with EarthEcho International, the American Sustainable Business Network’s Clean Water Campaign, and Rutgers University’s MACH Stakeholder Advisory Panel on climate risk management.
As president of Ecochar Environmental Solutions, she spearheads scalable decarbonization technologies for soil and water remediation. Dominique is also a member of Chief, a national network for women executives. With degrees in Microbiology, Biophysics, and Chemistry, she blends a robust scientific foundation with entrepreneurial vision to advance innovative, environmental and climate-smart solutions.
Jalen Cabrera, Bloomberg Philanthropies
Jalen is a recent graduate of Rutgers University New Brunswick, receiving a degree in Environmental Planning and Green Technologies. He currently works in two positions - as an Environmental Justice Coordinator for the Department of Environmental Protection, as well as an Urban Planning Fellow for Bloomberg Philanthropies.
As an Environmental Justice Coordinator, Jalen works to create environmental equity in communities across NJ. As an Urban Planning Fellow, he works directly with the City of Newark’s Office of Sustainability to help develop a more sustainable city by assisting the progress of sustainable projects that are in place.
He would like to focus on supporting further development of green infrastructures. As an environmental planner, his wish is to have a career that impacts the development of communities for the better of the environment and health of the public.
Besides work, Jalen likes to take care of plants as well as visiting botanical gardens and arboretums to appreciate their beauty. He also loves running, playing basketball, and chess.
Nicole Hewitt-Cabral, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Newark
Nicole is the Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Newark. She has over 20 years of experience in the US and abroad, designing and implementing innovative and impactful community-led strategies that build community, advance sustainability, and elevate the voices and power of the historically excluded.
Nicole is also the founder and CEO of Community Action Strategies LLC, a black woman-owned community-building consulting firm and has held positions with Public Agenda, the Institute for Sustainable Communities, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York University, the Peace Corps and the White House.
Nicole holds an MPA degree in International Public and Nonprofit Policy and Management from New York University, and a BA degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Hood College.
Poster Presentations
With generous support from the PSEG Foundation, the Stevens Center for Sustainability awards seven undergraduate scholars and their faculty mentors the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research in sustainability and environmental justice. This 10-week summer research program integrates research, innovation, student learning, and community engagement to address environmental challenges in New Jersey.
Below are the projects from 2024:
In-pipe Hydropower
Project name
In-pipe Hydropower
Description
This research explored the feasibility of using water turbines in place of pressure valves in pressurized pipe systems to convert wasted energy into electricity. Several existing patents that describe various approaches to converting in-pipe pressure to electricity were reviewed, to identify alternate approaches to capturing energy. Prototypes were designed and scaled up for production via 3D printing.
Team member(s)
Harrison Hinojosa – Senior, Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology
Advisor(s)
Dr. Chang-Hwan Choi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Methods Through Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Project name
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Methods Through Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Their Socioeconomic Implications
Description
The objective of this study was to examine the socioeconomic implications of Carbon Dioxide Removal and Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, emphasizing how these technologies are perceived by various communities, their impact on institutions, and the potential benefits and challenges they present.
Team member(s)
Babajide Gbadamosi, sophomore, Computer Engineering, Duke University (formerly at Stevens)
Advisor(s)
Dr. Mohammad Ilbeigi, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology
Exploring Synergies Between NJ Regional Resilience Adaptation Action Plans
Project name
Exploring Synergies Between New Jersey Regional Resilience Adaptation Action Plans (RRAAP), Engineering Students Capstone Projects, and Environmental Justice and Equity
Description
Research was focused on determining to what extent the actions outlined in the Resilient NJ Regional Resilience and Adaptation Action Plans facilitate engineering students in aiding environmental justice communities through senior design, capstone, or thesis projects. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), was used as a metric for communities’ need for environmental justice.
Team member(s)
Cora Scolaro, senior, Naval Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology
Advisor(s)
Dr. Jon Miller, Senior Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology
Enhancing the Resilience of Communities by Addressing Environmental...
Project name
Enhancing the Resilience of Communities by Addressing Environmental Challenges in Public Lakes
Description
The project included identification of major pollutant sources such as phosphorus and microplastics, and the development of targeted management practices to mitigate these issues. The ARez framework was applied to assess community resilience, highlighting areas of strength and vulnerability, and guiding policy recommendations.
Team member(s)
Mark Achkar, sophomore, Biology, George Washington University
Advisor(s)
Dr. Michel Boufadel, Distinguished Professor and Director at Center for Natural Resources, NJIT
Developing a Green Map to Highlight Local Businesses in Newark
Project name
Developing a Green Map to Highlight Local Businesses in Newark
Description
The objective of the project was to examine and document a method for constructing a “green map”, highlighting small and local businesses and organizations in Newark using Geographic Information System (GIS)-based tools.
Team member(s)
Ayanna Snowden, sophomore, Environmental Studies, Yale University
Advisor(s)
Dr. Prabhakar Shrestha, Assistant Director of Sustainability, NJIT
Analytical Study of the Challenges Faced by NJ Underprivileged Communities
Project name
An Analytical Study of the Challenges Faced by Underprivileged Communities in New Jersey: Insights from Social Media Expressions
Description
By analyzing social media and news article content from general online sources using large language models, this team used sentiment analysis to identify negative-toned articles in more than 350 communities. By identifying and analyzing these issues, the research provides valuable insights that can help guide policymakers, community leaders, and social organizations in making informed decisions and intervention procedures for socially negative behavior.
Team member(s)
Tina Nosrati, Junior, Computer Science, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Advisor(s)
Dr. Arion Cheong, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Stevens Institute of Technology
Achieving Environmental Equity: An Analysis of NJ Environmental Justice Law
Project name
Achieving Environmental Equity: An Analysis of New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law
Description
This research examined the effects on overburdened communities (OBCs) of New Jersey’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Law, passed in 2020 and implemented in 2023, which requires permit applicants for eight types of facilities “to consider the relative environmental and public health stressors affecting the host overburdened community and seek, in the first instance, to avoid a disproportionate impact”. The project used data from NJ DEP to examine the levels of 20 stressors in OBCs and non-OBCs before and after the passage of the EJ law to determine if the law was effective in reducing stressors on OBCs.
Team member(s)
Aamir Jamil, Sophomore, Government and Philosophy, with a minor in Spanish, Georgetown University
Advisor(s)
Dr. Enrique Nuñez, Professor of Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey
About The Stevens Center for Sustainability
Greener, Cleaner — and Smarter
The Stevens Center for Sustainability aims to provide a collaborative, cross-disciplinary platform for researchers to solve critical problems faced by humanity, particularly within communities overburdened by climate change's effects.