Robert Van Houten
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert W. Van Houten (1905-19??, class of 1930) was the 4th President of New Jersey Institute of Technology
(NJIT) from 1947 until 1970.
, New Jersey
in 1924. He studied at Newark College of Engineering (NCE which is the old name of New Jersey Institute of Technology
) from 1926 and graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering
in 1930 with highest academic honors.
. It was there where he found his love for teaching.
While pursuing for his BS degree at NCE, he also worked and gained valuable engineering experience during the summers in the engineer's office at Irvington
, New Jersey, and later with A. C. Widsor Construction Co., H. R. Goeller, Inc., and Wallace and Tiernan Company in Belleville
.
Allan R. Cullimore
, the 3rd President of NCE, saw something in Robert and offered him an Instructorship in Mathematics during his senior year with small pay and no promises.
Robert served successively at Newark College of Engineering as an Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant to the President, Assistant Dean, Dean, Acting President, President before retiring as President Emeritus in 1970.
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. It is often also referred to as Newark College of Engineering ....
(NJIT) from 1947 until 1970.
Education
Robert graduated from the New Jersey Normal School of NewarkNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1924. He studied at Newark College of Engineering (NCE which is the old name of New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. It is often also referred to as Newark College of Engineering ....
) from 1926 and graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
in 1930 with highest academic honors.
Career
After graduating from high school in 1924, Robert taught for two years in the public schools of Essex Fells and RoselandRoseland
Roseland may refer to:* Roseland , the 1977 Merchant Ivory film* Roseland, a musical collaboration between Tyler Bates and Azam Ali.* Roseland NYC Live, a live album and DVD by Portishead* Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall, United Kingdom...
. It was there where he found his love for teaching.
While pursuing for his BS degree at NCE, he also worked and gained valuable engineering experience during the summers in the engineer's office at Irvington
Irvington
- Places :United States :* Irvington, Alabama, an unincorporated community in Mobile County, Alabama* Irvington, Illinois, a village in Washington County, Illinois...
, New Jersey, and later with A. C. Widsor Construction Co., H. R. Goeller, Inc., and Wallace and Tiernan Company in Belleville
Belleville
-Places in North America:Canada*Belleville, Nova Scotia*Belleville, OntarioUnited States of America*Belleville, Arkansas*Belleville, California*Belleville, Illinois, the largest US city named Belleville**Belleville -Places in North America:Canada*Belleville, Nova Scotia*Belleville, OntarioUnited...
.
Allan R. Cullimore
Allan Cullimore
Allan R. Cullimore was the 3rd President of New Jersey Institute of Technology from 1920 until 1947.Cullimore was a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology....
, the 3rd President of NCE, saw something in Robert and offered him an Instructorship in Mathematics during his senior year with small pay and no promises.
Robert served successively at Newark College of Engineering as an Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant to the President, Assistant Dean, Dean, Acting President, President before retiring as President Emeritus in 1970.
Notable accomplishments as President of NJIT from 1947 till 1970
- Responsible the state-approved construction for Cullimore Hall (1958), reconstruction of Weston Hall (1960) and constructions of several other buildings including Tiernan Hall (1966).
- Awarded the first PhDPHDPHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree in 1964. - Started the Computer ScienceComputer scienceComputer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
Department in 1969.
Notable Appointments Held
- Vice-chairman of the American Council on EducationAmerican Council on EducationThe American Council on Education is a United States organization, established in 1918, comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations....
. - President of the Association of Urban Universities.
- President of the New Jersey Association of Colleges and Universities.
- President of the American Society for Engineering EducationAmerican Society for Engineering EducationThe American Society for Engineering Education is a non-profit member association, founded in 1893, dedicated to promoting and improving engineering and engineering technology education....
(ASEE). - Chairman of the New Jersey Education Association.
- Chairman of the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of AmericaThe Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. - Chairman of the New Jersey State Commission on Civil Rights.
- Director of the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company.
Honors and Awards
- Highest Academic Honors of his graduating class (BSCE) in 1930.
- Newark College of Engineering 's Allan R. Cullimore Medal (1971).
Honorary Degrees Received
- Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree by Stevens Institute of TechnologyStevens Institute of TechnologyStevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
(1955). - Honorary Doctor of Science degree by Rider College (Rider University)Rider UniversityRider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
(1956). - Honorary Doctor of Science degree by Clarkson College of Technology (Clarkson University) (1956).
- Honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Newark State College (Kean College) (1961).
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Seton Hall UniversitySeton Hall UniversitySeton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
(1966). - Honorary Doctor of Engineering by Newark College of Engineering (New Jersey Institute of Technology) (1970).