Stevens Institute of Technology has received a $1.45 million grant from the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) Foundation to further develop sustainability programming at the university and educate a pipeline of new graduates prepared to address threats to sustainable development. The grant is the culmination of a long and fruitful partnership between the organizations and reflects a mutual dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability.  

“This is more than a financial contribution; it is an investment in our shared vision for a sustainable future,” says Stevens President Nariman Farvardin. “The programs funded by this grant promise to enrich the academic journey of our students and empower them to tackle the pressing environmental issues of our time.” 

The Stevens-PSEG partnership began in 2003, when the foundation made a gift to create the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE). Since then, PSEG has provided Stevens with over $4.8 million in grants, including this new grant that will enhance Stevens’ educational and research capabilities in resilience and sustainability, and enable the creation of the Stevens Center for Sustainability (SCS). 

“With this generous gift and the continued support of the PSEG Foundation, we are thrilled to establish this new Center as a transdisciplinary hub for developing innovative solutions to complex sustainability problems,” says Dibs Sarkar, a professor of environmental engineering and the founding director of the Sustainability Management Graduate Program, who will helm the SCS. “By integrating principles of environmental justice into our environmental, social and business sustainability research, we aim to create a more inclusive and equitable future, where the benefits of a sustainable society can be shared by all.”  

The three-year grant will provide up to 58 scholarships for pre-college scholars in the Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science) program. Twenty undergraduate students will receive research support starting their sophomore year, working closely with faculty mentors on interdisciplinary projects with a focus on sustainability and environmental justice. Four doctoral scholarships will support research that addresses environmental and energy challenges faced by overburdened communities, with an emphasis on including students from underserved backgrounds.  

Stevens Vice Provost for Research and Innovation Ed Synakowski highlighted Stevens’ long-standing commitment to sustainability, saying, “Stevens faculty and leadership are committed to research with impact and purpose. This extraordinary grant is precisely aligned with this commitment. It will allow us to redouble our efforts in this highly impactful realm of energy and sustainability, one of the six foundational research pillars at Stevens.”  

“Supporting and encouraging partnerships that build a clean energy future is one of our priorities, and this new grant builds upon the many successes the PSEG Foundation and Stevens have had,” says Zeeshan Sheikh, PSEG senior vice president, chief information and digital officer, and Stevens President’s Leadership Council member. “Stevens’ excellence in advancing technological progress and its commitment to ensuring New Jersey communities are incorporated into research and other student opportunities make it an important collaborator in this mission.”  

“Opening opportunities to more New Jersey students and strengthening our pipeline of future workers are critical components of a thoughtful energy transition,” says Rick Thigpen, PSEG senior vice president, Corporate Citizenship. “I’m eager to see the results that come from the exciting work on sustainability that the faculty and students at this new center will be focused on.” 

— Kara Panzer