Dr. Robert W. Van Houten (January 31, 1905–January, 1986, class of 1930) was the 4th President of

New Jersey Institute of Technology {{Infobox university , name = {{nowrap, New Jersey Institute of Technology , image = New Jersey IT seal.svg , image_upright = 0.9 , former_names = Newark College of Engineering (1930–1975)Ne ...

(NJIT) from 1947 until 1970.

Personal life

Van Houten was born in Newark, New Jersey to Wilford and Ellen Van Houten. He attended public schools as a child. He would have a wife named Martha and two sons, James W. and Ronald R.

Education

Robert graduated from the ''New Jersey Normal School'' of

Newark Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

in 1924. (New Jersey Normal School is the old name of Kean University) He studied at

Newark College of Engineering {{Infobox university , name = {{nowrap, New Jersey Institute of Technology , image = New Jersey IT seal.svg , image_upright = 0.9 , former_names = Newark College of Engineering (1930–1975)Ne ...

(NCE which is the old name of

) from 1926 earning his masters and graduated with a Phd in

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 public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewa ...

in 1930. He received his degree with highest academic honors and was a member of Beta Alpha Theta local fraternity. When the local became a chapter of Sigma Pi fraternity he was initiated into the national organization.

Career

After graduating from high school in 1924, Robert taught for two years in the public schools of ''Essex Fells'' and Roseland. 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.

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). * Received the first PhD degree from NJIT in 1964. * Started the

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Department in 1969.

Notable Appointments Held

* Vice-chairman of the

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. * President of the ''Association of Urban Universities''. * President of the ''New Jersey Association of Colleges and Universities''. * President of the

American Society for Engineering Education The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) is a non-profit member association, founded in 1893, dedicated to promoting and improving engineering and engineering technology education. The purpose of ASEE is the advancement of education ...

(ASEE). * Chairman of the ''New Jersey Education Association''. * Chairman of the

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. * Chairman of the ''New Jersey State Commission on Civil Rights''. * Director of the

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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 Technology Stevens Institute of Technology is a private research university in Hoboken, New Jersey. Founded in 1870, it is one of the oldest technological universities in the United States and was the first college in America solely dedicated to mechanical ...

(1955). * Honorary Doctor of Science degree by Rider College (Rider University) (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 University Seton Hall University (SHU) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in South Orange, New Jersey. Founded in 1856 by then-Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley and named after his aunt, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Seton Hall is the ...

(1966). * Honorary Doctor of Engineering by Newark College of Engineering (New Jersey Institute of Technology) (1970).

Noteworthy Fact/s

* The NJIT library was named as the ''Van Houten Library'' in honor of him.http://library.njit.edu/ ''NJIT: Welcome to Van Houten Library''

References

''NJIT : Library - Robert Wallace Van Houten Biography''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Houten, Robert New Jersey Institute of Technology New Jersey Institute of Technology faculty New Jersey Institute of Technology alumni 1905 births 1986 deaths