Stevens Institute of Technology Announces Emilio A. Fernandez as 2025 Commencement Speaker

Hoboken, N.J., April 9, 2025 – Stevens Institute of Technology is pleased to announce that renowned entrepreneur, innovator and emeritus trustee Emilio A. Fernandez will deliver the commencement address at the university's 153rd Commencement exercises on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey.

A visionary in technological innovation and strong advocate for education, Mr. Fernandez brings decades of experience as a successful entrepreneur, inventor and philanthropist to inspire the Class of 2025 as they embark on their post-graduate journeys.

"Emilio A. Fernandez is an extraordinary innovator, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose dedication to Stevens and to technological innovation exemplifies the values we aim to instill in our graduates," said Stevens President Nariman Farvardin. "His remarkable career journey from student entrepreneur to industry leader and his commitment to nurturing young talent through programs like iSTEM will surely inspire our graduates as they prepare to make their own impact on the world."

Mr. Fernandez's impressive career began while he was still an undergraduate at the University of Maryland, where he co-founded Pulse Electronics to design electronic railway monitors and control systems. The company was later acquired by Fortune 500 company Wabtec, where he served as vice chair, evolving it into the world's largest provider of train safety and productivity technologies.

An accomplished inventor, Mr. Fernandez holds 27 patents across diverse applications. His patent in the IT field defining e-reading devices such as the Kindle became the most cited U.S. patent. His entrepreneurial spirit has led to the founding of numerous technology companies focused on medical devices, residential energy-efficiency systems, and other innovations. He currently serves as managing director of Pulse Capital, an early-stage private fund investing primarily in technology companies.

Mr. Fernandez's connection to Stevens runs deep. He served six years as a trustee and chaired the Research Enterprise and Technology Commercialization Committee before being elected an emeritus trustee in December 2021. His passion for nurturing innovative talent led to the development and endowment of iSTEM, a program at Stevens that supports creative students in developing innovative solutions to real-world problems. The success of this program has inspired an expansion, with similar universities adopting the model, with Stevens serving as the hub of an expanding network.

In 2019, Stevens recognized Mr. Fernandez with the Friend of Stevens Award at its annual Awards Gala, acknowledging his significant contributions to the university and its mission.

Beyond his work with Stevens, Mr. Fernandez has served on numerous cultural, academic, and corporate boards, including the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, the Foundation for a Creative America and the Hispanic Business College Fund. He has also chaired the George Washington University Hospital board.

The 153rd Commencement ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, with a severe weather date of Thursday, May 22, 2025. The venue offers ample seating and parking to accommodate all graduates and their guests.

"I am deeply honored to address the Class of 2025 at Stevens Institute of Technology's commencement ceremony," said Fernandez. "Throughout my career, I have witnessed firsthand how technological innovation can transform industries and improve lives. I look forward to sharing insights from my journey with these talented graduates as they begin their own paths of discovery and impact."

Forty-four states, and forty-four countries (including the U.S.) are represented in this class. The most popular majors among the graduating class are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Business and Technology.

For more information about the commencement ceremony, including accessibility accommodations, please visit stevens.edu/commencement or email commencement@stevens.edu.

About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, New Jersey. Since our founding in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark of Stevens’ education and research. Within the university’s three schools and one college, more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate closely with faculty in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment. Academic and research programs spanning business, computing, engineering, the arts and other disciplines actively advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront our most pressing global challenges. The university continues to be consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in career services, post-graduation salaries of alumni and return on tuition investment.

Stevens Media Contact
Kara Panzer
Director of Public and Media Relations
Division of University Relations
845-475-4594
kpanzer@stevens.edu