Joel S. Bloom

Joel S. Bloom, President of New Jersey Institute of Technology started his career in industry working as an economist. He subsequently became an educator and administrator for the New York City public schools. Prior to coming to New Jersey, he worked as a research director and instructor at Teacher’s College, Columbia University. In New Jersey, he managed state and federally funded curriculum development and training centers for the state. From 1983 through

1990, Dr. Bloom had served as assistant commissioner in the NJ Department of Education. He was responsible for managing many of the education department’s initiatives: competency testing, curriculum content standards, pre-school programs, establishment of model effective schools, alternative schools, and science and technology academies.

From July 1990 through September of 2011, Dr. Bloom had served as NJIT’s Vice President for Academic and Student Services. He was responsible for nine divisions of the university, including pre-college programs, enrollment management, continuing professional education, career development services, dean of student services, freshman studies, educational opportunity programs, library services, physical education and athletics.

In 1998, Dr. Bloom was appointed as the first Dean of the Albert Dorman Honors College, in addition to his vice president responsibilities. The Honors College currently enrolls over 700 students who come from 15 states and several foreign countries. The combined average SAT score (math and reading) is over 1340 and the honors scholars are in the top 10 percent of high school graduates.

In September 2011, Dr. Bloom was appointed interim President of NJIT, and appointed President January 2012. Under his leadership, the “Warren St. Village,” comprised of a residential Honors College and ten Greek houses was opened September 2013 adding 600 residential students and amenities including a fitness center, restaurant and convenience store. Dr. Bloom’s leadership has also resulted in a fall 2015 enrollment of more than 11,000 students, the hiring of 68 new faculty over the past four years, annual research expenditures of over $100 million, a renewal and new facilities plan of nearly $300 million, a new strategic plan—“2020 Vision,” and the development of a NJIT corporation, the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII). NJII was created as an industry-facing organization to partner with companies, government and other universities for the purpose of economic development. Since its April 2014 inception it has generated grants, contracts and corporate memberships of $15 million.

Dr. Bloom is presently Board Chair of the University Heights Science and Technology Park, Vice Chair of the NJ President’s Council, Vice Chair of NJ’s Edgenet board; and, serves as a member of the Governor’s Council on Innovation, and board member of the Philadelphia Alliance for Minority Participation, La Casa don Pedro, and the APLU Presidents’ Council. Dr. Bloom has most recently been named “Educator of the Year” for 2015 by the New Jersey R&D Council, and been the recipient of other national and state education awards, as well as federal, foundation and corporate grant awards. He has published journal articles and presented papers on organizational development, curriculum development and student assessment.

Dr. Bloom holds a masters degree and a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. He also earned masters and bachelors degrees from Hunter College of the City University, New York City.