Dr. Donald H. Sebastian, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) attended The University as a presidential candidate on January 29.
“I have never met a group of people that all have great things to say about their school,” stated Sebastian about the University students.
Roksana Rahman, freshman biology major, asked Sebastian what originally attracted him to the University. Sebastian explained that he would love to be a part of a university that is already at a high academic role that has excellent facilities and an even better student body.
The students found that Sebastian has a lot of great ideas to bring to the University such as groups for graduates and a peer group. Sebastian explained that the groups for graduates program would help graduating students find jobs. Another program he’d be interested in bringing to the University is a peer group for students. The group is to assist students that are more than capable of achieving good grades but lack dedication in school work and tend to socially isolate themselves.
Sebastian expressed his interest in attending University campus activities. “I would love to attend on campus activities,” Sebastian said. He explained that not only will attending activities be great for himself, but also for his family.
He plans to do as much as he can with the time he has. Sebastian believes that student activities are a “fundamental element of what you [the students] are here for.” Sebastian thinks it’s amazing how the doors are open for all student activities for everyone to feel welcome.
One student questioned him on Greek housing on campus, which Sebastian believes is a good idea. “I can’t make promises that I can deliver, but it could be a possibility if space permitted.”
Sebastian compared the Greek life at NJIT to Monmouth’s Greek life. NJIT has a special area dedicated to Greek housing, which makes it less of a disturbance to adults living in the area.
The overall impression of Sebastian was very laid-back and goal oriented. Since joining NJIT in 1995 he had to jump over many obstacles and build up the school’s reputation, which he plans to achieve at the University if awarded the position. He was enthusiastic about funding for academics and extra-curricular development activities that could bring new technologies into the classroom.
As the Senior Vice President for Research and Development at NJIT, Sebastian is responsible for the academic affairs across all six colleges as well the academic research enterprise, developing partnerships with industry and managing governmental affairs, intellectual property development, business incubation, commercialization and contract projects across the technology spectrum. Sebastian was inducted in the New Jersey High-Tech Hall of Fame in 2006.
Sebastian received his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology and graduated as the valedictorian of his 1974 class. In 1975, Sebastian received his Master’s in Engineering and in 1977, he received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.
Sebastian is currently in the academic lead developing The Newark Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which was recently awarded a state grant of 50 million dollars. Sebastian is working to build and equip a 100,000 square foot facility connecting clinical practice using adult stem cell therapies basic research with industrial partners.
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