NJIT Celebrates Innovation and Excellence at 2024 Alumni Achievement Awards

A cornerstone of NJIT's annual Homecoming Weekend, the Alumni Achievement Awards recognize alumni whose professional and personal achievements stand as a testament to the values instilled at NJIT. The 2024 awardees include pioneers in green technology, public health, architecture and entrepreneurship.

Collectively, they represent NJIT's dedication to driving progress across industries through innovation, community service and thought leadership. Their contributions are felt locally and globally, as they solve pressing challenges in environmental sustainability, public health, food safety and technological advancement.

Joshi is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in forensic psychiatry, serving as a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He completed his medical training with the U.S. Air Force, where he evaluated the Fort Hood mass shooter.

During his 12-year military career, Joshi earned multiple commendations and has become a renowned educator, with national teaching awards and over 100 publications. His work spans treating mentally ill inmates and conducting forensic evaluations. He remains an influential figure in psychiatric education and forensic evaluation.

Kurkjian has dedicated his career to environmental consulting, focusing on reducing public health risks. He holds an M.S. from NJIT and a Ph.D. in Environmental Geochemistry from UC Berkeley. As founder of Environmental Strategies International and a program manager at Tetra Tech Inc., Kurkjian has managed global projects improving water resources, air quality, and hazardous waste management.

His expertise is sought by nonprofits, government agencies, and international organizations. A passionate advocate for environmental science, he lectures worldwide on sustainability and public health.

Riley is the president of Total Quality & Sustainability Management LLC, offering expertise in food safety and corporate responsibility. He previously led sustainability at Hostess Brands and held executive roles at Kraft and Kellogg.

With over 30 years of experience, Riley's leadership has advanced ESG strategies and innovative food safety solutions across the global food industry. He currently serves on the Institute of Food Technologists Board of Directors and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, actively promoting sustainable practices.

Founder and principal architect of Zampolin & Associates, Zampolin has over 40 years of experience in custom residential and commercial design. Licensed in 15 states, his projects range from multifamily homes to office buildings, earning recognition from organizations like the NJ Builders Association.

Zampolin is also dedicated to nurturing future architects, sponsoring a scholarship and providing internships through NJIT's Design Showcase. His firm's work has been featured in major publications, making Zampolin a prominent figure in the architecture community.

Zhao is the COO of Princeton NuEnergy, recognized as one of America's top GreenTech companies. Leading in clean technology innovation, his work focuses on Lithium-ion battery recycling, significantly reducing carbon emissions and recycling costs.

Zhao has raised over $56 million and established key partnerships with EV companies to strengthen domestic battery supply chains. A former senior manager at Panasonic, he also promotes STEM education and community engagement through internships and lectures.

Dr. Mittal, a gastroenterology fellow at Rutgers, is dedicated to reducing healthcare disparities through community service and research. With over 30 peer-reviewed publications, Mittal's work has impacted Newark's public health system.

His volunteer efforts, including mentoring EMTs and teaching CPR, demonstrate his deep commitment to service. A passionate explorer, Mittal is also known for his curiosity and love for travel.

Geller is a professor and chair of NJIT's Data Science Department and a pioneer in medical informatics. He co-founded the Structural Analysis of Biomedical Ontologies Center and has been a co-principal investigator on multiple NIH and NSF grants totaling over $2.5 million.

Geller's research has made significant contributions to cybersecurity and medical terminology systems, and his efforts in increasing diversity in computing have been recognized across NJIT.

The Alumni Achievement Award Celebration takes place Oct. 18, 6-9 p.m. in the Weston Hall Gallery, and registration is required. To learn about the honorees and the event, visit https://www.njit.edu/development/homecoming_alumni-achievement-awards.

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