Colloquium Series

2:30pm - 4:00pm | IDS2, Martinson Honors Residence Hall

AI Readiness: Aligning With Real Applications of AI

Speaker: Jyothi Priya Penukonda, AI Architect & Product Solution Engineer, Marketsmith Inc.

This workshop introduces scholars to the practical and strategic applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern organizations. Rather than focusing on technical tools or coding, this session emphasizes how AI is used to solve business challenges, enhance decision-making, and drive measurable value. Scholars will learn how organizations identify, implement, and evaluate AI initiatives, understand the concept of AI readiness, and explore how professionals across disciplines can align their careers with this evolving landscape.

Jyothi is an AI Architect and Product Solution Engineer at Marketsmith Inc. currently designing and building AI solutions and frameworks at the intersection of business consulting, marketing analytics, and product development. Her work focuses on translating complex data and AI capabilities into scalable, real-world products that support better decision-making. She has led and contributed to multiple end-to-end AI implementations, including data modeling, feature engineering, model integration, and product design, and is actively involved in driving AI infusion initiatives across the organization. Jyothi brings a strong technology consulting background from her work at Oracle, where she focused on cloud architecture, system integrations, automation, and enterprise consulting. She is also a proud NJIT alumna and enjoys sharing practical perspectives on applying AI in the industry.

ADHC / MTSM Co-sponsored Colloquium

11:30am - 1:00pm | NJIT Campus Center Atrium

The Youngest of the 21: Collective Liberation and the Black Panther Legacy

Speaker: Jamal Joseph; Professor of Professional Practice in Film at Columbia University, Executive Artistic Director of the New Heritage Theatre, Former member and spokesman for the Black Panther Party

Join us for an inspiring and powerful conversation with Jamal Joseph, acclaimed writer, director, activist, and professor at Columbia University, whose life story bridges revolutionary history, artistic expression, and intergenerational justice work. In this Black Speaker Series event, Joseph will reflect on the power of youth activism and his experiences as a young political organizer, while also exploring the enduring relevance of the “rainbow coalition”—a multiracial, cross-community alliance committed to collective liberation. Through stories from his life, his activism, and his creative work, Joseph will challenge us to imagine what it means to struggle together for justice, dignity, and freedom for all people.

Jamal Joseph is a writer, director, and professor at Columbia University who is known for his history as a member of the Black Panther Party and his subsequent career in film and theater. After a prison sentence (the youngest member of the Panther 21 at the time) in the 1980s for harboring fugitive Black Panthers, he earned college degrees and later became a respected filmmaker and educator. Joseph has written screenplays, directed films, founded the IMPACT Repertory Theatre, and co-authored the book Panther Baby about his life. Joseph was a fellow activist with Afeni Shakur, and he became the godfather to her son, Tupac Shakur. Today, Joseph is involved in projects that honor Afeni's legacy, with Joseph serving as an executive producer on the FX docuseries "Dear Mama" and a planned Afeni Shakur biopic.

This honors colloquium is offered in partnership with NJIT’s Office of Inclusive Excellence as part of the Black History Month Speaker Series.

Leadership & Civic Engagement Colloquium

2:30pm - 4:00pm | Weston Gallery (HCAD)

Engaging with Community for Social Impact, Urban Planning, and Redevelopment

Speakers: Sherri-Ann Butterfield, Damon Rich / Jae Shin, Dr. Jessica Miller, Dr. Sarah Heck

In this engaging colloquium, speakers will address how they engage with communities through their distinct practices in the arts, urban design, and brownfield clean up. Sherri-Ann Butterfield of NJPAC will speak to creating social impact through the arts and how NJPAC leverages the arts to make positive changes in health, education, community development and civic engagement. HECTOR (Damon Rich / Jae Shin) will address how they plan collaboratively to empower communities. Drs. Jessica Miller and Sarah Heck will consider how the Center for Community Systems uses technical assistance and educational forums to help communities and individual residents make informed decisions throughout the brownfield redevelopment lifecycle.

ADHC / HCAD Co-sponsored Colloquium

Leadership & Civic Engagement Colloquium

11:30am - 1:00pm | IDS1, Martinson Honors Residence Hall

Speaker: Stephen Pemberton, Ph.D.; Chair, NJIT Federated Department of History

Life Support: The Case for Medical Humanities in Higher Education

As times have changed over the past half century, as medicine and health care have sought to improve, so has the practice and value of the medical humanities. This honors colloquium explains how the medical and health humanities emerged in U.S. higher education over the last six decades, how the enterprise covers a wide and diverse field of concerns, and why humanities perspectives are well-suited to navigating the ever-evolving challenges of contemporary medicine and health care. This colloquium also makes a case for the enduring value of the medical humanities for both undergraduate and health professional education. It does so by addressing the question of what the medical humanities are and what they are good for. The talk is designed for any student who is curious about medicine, health care, and/or aspiring to be a health or medical professional.

Dr. Pemberton is a historian of medicine, disease, and health with expertise in United States history and the history and sociology of science. His research and teaching is also informed by his training in philosophy and his engagements with medical humanities scholarship and health policy debates. He is author of The Bleeding Disease: Hemophilia and the Unintended Consequences of Medical Progress (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011) and co-author of The Troubled Dream of Genetic Medicine: Ethnicity and Innovation in Tay-Sachs, Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell Disease (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006). His current research project is ‘Bleeding Disorder: What Hemophilia Experiences Reveal about Biocapitalism and Health Advocacy.’ Dr. Pemberton’s education includes Ph.D. ; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; History ; 2001; M.A. ; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; History ; 1997; M.A. ; University of Memphis ; Philosophy ; 1992; and B.A. ; Trinity University ; Philosophy ; 1990.

ADHC / HCSLA Co-sponsored Colloquium

Medical Humanities Colloquium

2:30pm - 4:00pm | Cullimore Lecture Hall #1

"It's Different For Girls" - A Film by Billie JD Porter

Panelists: Kristie Damell, Gareth Edel, Theresa Hunt

More than 60 years after the female birth control pill was first approved, there is still no federally sanctioned equivalent for men. It’s Different for Girls investigates why the burden of contraception has remained so lopsided for decades. The film follows scientists and advocates in the United States who are fighting to bring male contraceptive methods to the market. Through a mix of personal narrative and investigative journalism, director Billie JD Porter explores the intersection of medical science, ingrained misogyny, and the pharmaceutical industry’s reluctance to disrupt the status quo. Following the screening, a moderated panel discussion will delve deeper into the film's provocations. This segment aims to transition from the "what" of the documentary to the "how" of social change, and broaden the conversation into larger themes of the intersection of gender in society and medicine.

Meet the Panelists:
Kristie Damell, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Access & Title IX Coordinator: With a deep focus on equity and institutional compliance, Kristie brings an essential lens to the conversation regarding gender-based discrimination and bodily autonomy. Her expertise in Title IX and institutional access provides a framework for understanding how reproductive health overlaps with educational equity and the protection of individual rights within the university setting.

Gareth Edel, University Lecturer, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences: Gareth specializes in the sociology of science and medicine. His work often explores how technology and medical research are shaped by societal values. He will provide context on the history of medical innovation, examining why certain contraceptive technologies are prioritized over others and the socio-technical barriers that keep male contraceptives off the shelves.

Theresa Hunt, Senior University Lecturer, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences: A specialist in gender studies and social justice, Theresa explores the intersectional impacts of reproductive policy. She will lead the discussion on the cultural expectations of "responsibility," the history of the women’s health movement, and how the gender gap in contraception reinforces broader societal power dynamics.

ADHC / HCSLA Co-sponsored Colloquium

Medical Humanities Colloquium

11:30am - 1:00pm | Agile Strategy Lab (CKB)

Murray Center for Women in Technology Honors Colloquium

Women With STEAM (WWS) Colloquium

2:30am - 4:00pm | Agile Strategy Lab (CKB)

Honors first-year scholars will present their proposals for addressing sustainability and increasing biodiversity in Newark’s Branch Brook Park.

Join us to support the scholars, learn about our proposed efforts and see which winning team’s proposal will be selected.

Leadership & Civic Engagement Colloquium

2:30pm - 4:00pm | IDS2, Martinson Honors Residence Hall

Honors Colloquium on Entrepreneurship with Dick Sweeney and Aine O'Dwyer, PE

Women With STEAM (WWS) Colloquium

9:00am - 10:00am | NJIT Wellness and Event Center (WEC) Arena

AI Exploration Day- Shaping the Future: AI, Technology, and Society

Keynote, "From Disruption to Opportunity: Embracing the AI Revolution" by Dr. Ethan Mollick

Ethan Mollick is the Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar and Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies the effects of artificial intelligence on work, entrepreneurship, and education. His academic research has been published in leading journals, and his work on AI is widely applied, leading him to be named one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence. Ethan also writes to a wider audience about AI, including in his book, Co-Intelligence, a New York Times bestseller.

In addition to his research and teaching, Ethan is the Co-Director of the Generative AI Labs at Wharton, which build prototypes and conduct research to discover how AI can help humans thrive while mitigating risks. Prior to his time in academia, Ethan co-founded a startup company, and he advises numerous organizations.

Mollick received his PhD and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

Registration is required through the AI Exploration Day website. Ticket quantities are limited. 

ADHC / YWCC Co-sponsored Colloquium

3:30pm - 4:30pm | NJIT Wellness and Event Center (WEC) Arena

AI Exploration Day- Shaping the Future: AI, Technology, and Society 

Panel Discussion: "AI in Industry and Society"

Cap off AI Exploration Day with a powerful closing panel moderated by Dr. David Bader, Distinguished Professor at NJIT. Representatives from Amazon AWS (Mary Strain, AI and Machine Learning Strategy Leader), Cisco (Hangxin Lu, AI Solutions Engineer), Dell (Kevin Coulter, Solutions Principal and Field CTO for AI Solutions), and Google (Charles Elliot, Head of Industry Architects) will discuss how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we work, communicate, and innovate. Together, they’ll explore AI’s growing impact on business, technology, and society — and what the future may hold.

David A. Bader is a Distinguished Professor and founder of the Department of Data Science in the Ying Wu College of Computing and Director of the Institute for Data Science at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Prior to this, he served as founding Professor and Chair of the School of Computational Science and Engineering, College of Computing, at Georgia Institute of Technology. Bader is an elected Board Member of the Computing Research Association (CRA). He is a Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, AAAS, and SIAM; a recipient of the IEEE Sidney Fernbach Award; the 2022 Innovation Hall of Fame inductee of the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering; a 2025 inductee of the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art’s Hall of Fame; and the 2025 recipient of the Heatherington Award for Technological Innovation. The Computer History Museum recognizes Bader for developing the first Linux-based supercomputer which became the predominant architecture for all major supercomputers in the world. In 2025, HPCwire named Bader as one of its “35 Legends”.

Registration is required through the AI Exploration Day website. Ticket quantities are limited. 

ADHC / YWCC Co-sponsored Colloquium

11:30am - 1:00pm | Agile Strategy Lab (CKB)

Leveraging AI/ML to Cheaply Enable Real-time or Near Real-time Simulations in Computational Physics

Speaker: Dr. Steven Rodriguez, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

This honors colloquium will go over the state-of-the art on how to leverage AI/ML to enable real-time or near real-time simulations in computational physics. Special focus will be given on how recent algorithmic advances in reduced-order modeling are bringing the power and capabilities of supercomputers to smaller devices like laptops, tablets, and even phones. A discussion will be given on how these advances are paving the way for more robust and reliable analyses within the context of optimization, uncertainty quantification, and control. Relevant examples relating to computational fluid dynamics and additive manufacturing (3D printing) will be presented.

Dr. Steven Rodriguez is a computational and applied mathematician at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). His primary research fields are on methods development for computational physics and reduced-order modeling. He is also the lead developer of NRL’s SoPHMORe, a smoothed particle hydrodynamics and meshless reduced-order modeling in-house code. His work spans a wide range of applications including meshless optics, turbulence, hypersonics, magneto-hydrodynamics, multiphase and free-surface flows, and elasto-plastic simulations. Before NRL, Dr. Rodriguez has held positions at NASA, NASA JPL, and the University of Washington as a visiting scientist. He was also recently awarded the SIAM MSEC early career award and the prestigious DOD LUCI research grant.

ADHC / NCE Co-sponsored Colloquium

2:30pm - 4:00pm | Campus Center Atrium

Passing the Torch: Networking Roundtable

Albert Dorman Honors College scholars and alumni will connect in this interactive networking roundtable event.

Women With STEAM (WWS) Colloquium

11:30am - 1:00pm | Campus Center Ballroom A

Digital Humanities Colloquium and Showcase

10:00am - 12:00pm | Bus transportation from Martinson Honors Residence Hall

Study Tour: The Branch Brook Park Alliance Historic & Horticulture Walking Tour 

The Branch Brook Park Alliance Historic & Horticulture Walking Tour is a guided walk through Essex County Branch Brook Park that interprets the park’s historic design and landscape significance while spotlighting key horticultural features along the route—most notably the renowned collection of Japanese flowering cherry blossom trees. The experience is structured as approximately a 45-minute walk (about 60 minutes total including gathering and wrap-up), with guides sharing context on how the park was planned and developed, pointing out notable vistas and built elements, and offering seasonal insight into the trees and plantings that make Essex County Branch Brook Park home to the nation’s largest and most varied collection of cherry blossoms.

Leadership & Civic Engagement Colloquium

2:30pm - 4:00pm | IDS2, Martinson Honors Residence Hall

Speaker: Dr. Joel S. Bloom, President Emeritus of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)

Leadership & Civic Engagement Colloquium

7:00pm - 10:00pm | Jim Wise Theatre, Kupfrian Hall (NJIT)

Curtains - spring musical and talkback

Set in 1959 Boston and featuring a clever "show-within-a-show" structure and a classic score by Kander and Ebb, the story balances a comedic murder mystery with a satirical love letter to the world of theatre. As the murders are solved and the curtain falls on love and redemption, we are reminded of the ultimate truth in theatre: the show must—and will—go on!

Ticket purchase required.

11:30am - 1:00pm | GITC 1400

Engineering Safer Workplaces: Careers in Occupational Safety and Health

Speaker: Joe Schwed; Head of Health, Safety and Well-Being; Ferrovial Construction

Occupational safety and health is an essential and rapidly evolving field at the intersection of engineering, human health, and organizational performance. In this seminar, NJIT alumnus Joe Schwed, Head of Health, Safety, and Well-Being at Ferrovial Construction, will share insights from his work on major projects such as the World Trade Center, Hudson Yards, and JFK Airport. Students will learn how safety professionals analyze risk, influence design, and collaborate across disciplines to protect workers and improve operational outcomes. This session introduces a meaningful, high-impact, and often overlooked career path.

Joe Schwed is a senior Safety, Health, and Environmental leader with over 30 years of experience across construction, transportation, research, and global industrial operations. He is Head of Health, Safety, and Wellbeing for Ferrovial at the New Terminal One project at JFK Airport. Joe graduated from NJIT with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering and MS degrees in Occupational Safety and Health Engineering and Environmental Science. Joe has taught graduate construction safety for more than 15 years at Columbia University and Stevens Institute of Technology. As an industry leader and award recipient, he is dedicated to mentoring future safety professionals.

ADHC / NCE Co-sponsored Colloquium

2:30pm - 4:00pm | Van Houten Library, 2nd Floor (CAB 2032 - "Faculty Commons")

A Century of Invention: The Westons, Newark, and NJIT

Speaker: Matthew Brown, NJIT Archivist and Digital Initiatives Librarian

For nearly a century the Westons and the Weston Electrical Instrument Company were inventing and innovating in Newark. But who were they, where were they located, and how do they connect to NJIT? Matthew Brown, NJIT's Archivist and Digital Initiatives Librarian, will discuss the careers of Edward Weston, his son Edward Faraday Weston and the impact of the company that they led, the Weston Electrical Instrument Company, had on NJIT, Newark and the world at large.

Matthew Brown is NJITs Archivist and Digital Initiatives Librarian, where he collects information related to the history of NJIT, NCE and the Newark Technical School as well as institutions and individuals related to industry in Newark. He also leads a small group that digitizes material, such as theses and dissertations, yearbooks and course catalogs to make available on our institutional repository "Digital Commons @ NJIT". Matt has been with the Robert W. Van Houten Library for more than 20 years and received his MLIS from the Rutgers School of Communication and Information.

ADHC / NCE Co-sponsored Colloquium

11:30am - 1:00pm | Agile Strategy Lab (CKB)

Fellowships for International Experiences and Research

Join us as we honor this year’s prestigious fellowship recipients. Hear from current and former students about why and how to apply for prestigious fellowships that help you to travel internationally and gain research experience. They will share tips about the process and how it has helped them to think through and write about their goals.

Global Studies Colloquium

12:00pm - 5:00pm | Bus transportation from Martinson Honors Residence Hall

Study Tour: Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC) - Raphael: Sublime Poetry exhibition

Join fellow scholars for a self-guided tour of this historic exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Read more here: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/raphael-sublime-poetry

Global Studies Colloquium

11:30am - 1:00pm | Campus Center Ballroom A

Honors Interdisciplinary Research Forum (HIRF)

Scholars from ENGL102 Honors, STS 205 Honors, ENTR 210 Honors and ENGR 493 Honors will discuss their research and projects. Engage with scholars as they showcase their digital posters and cast your vote for the top presentations. This forum will be highly interactive and an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas while learning about an array of research taking place across campus.