Stevens President Dr. Nariman Farvardin Selected for the 2024 Ellis Island Medal of Honor

Hoboken, N.J., April 17, 2024 – Dr. Nariman Farvardin, president of Stevens Institute of Technology, has been selected as a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for 2024. Presented since 1986, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor is one of the nation’s most prestigious awards. Farvardin was recognized for strengthening the stature of and increasing enrollment at Stevens, especially among women and minorities, expanding educational opportunities that will have generational impacts, as well as his technological prowess, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation.

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is awarded annually and celebrates inspiring Americans who are selflessly working for the betterment of the U.S. and its citizens. Dr. Farvardin joins a distinguished cohort of 2024 honorees, including renowned figures such as Princeton University president Christopher Eisgruber, New York Stock Exchange chair Sharon Bowen and Craig’s List founder and philanthropist Craig Newmark.

Since becoming president of Stevens in 2011, Dr. Farvardin has led the transformation of Stevens, including growth and improvement across key university metrics, from applications and enrollment to the academic profile of students and value of research awards. Under his leadership, Stevens adopted an ambitious strategic plan that paved the way for the university to become a nationally recognized, globally respected technological university. Through his efforts, Stevens invested more than $500 million in a state-of-the-art campus, including an iconic university center, a technology-powered academic building, renovations of 100% of classrooms, new student spaces and more. Moreover, he has made student success the most important metric of progress. As a result of this focus, in 2023, Stevens was named a “High Flyer” by Bloomberg Philanthropies’ American Talent Initiative for its innovative programs for low-income students.

“Nariman Farvardin exemplifies the core values that have permeated Stevens under his leadership: integrity, discipline and an unrelenting commitment to excellence,” said Dr. Stephen T. Boswell, Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Stevens. “Under his leadership, Stevens has prioritized student success, ensuring that graduates are prepared with the skills they need not only to succeed in the future, but to lead. This prestigious honor is a testament to Dr. Farvardin's extraordinary contributions to Stevens and to higher education and society.”

“I am deeply honored to be selected as an Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient, along with so many other deserving members of the 2024 cohort, and I’m immensely grateful to the United States of America for giving me the opportunity to build a life, experience the joy of a family, pursue my career passions and contribute to the success of future generations. My experience as an immigrant has shaped my personal and professional journey, giving me the opportunity to overcome challenges through resilience, perseverance and hard work,” said Dr. Farvardin. “I am proud of the progress we have made at Stevens in increasing access to a world-class STEM education for talented and deserving students. These students have the opportunity and the obligation to make the world a better place, and I am grateful to play a role in giving them the tools they need to contribute to this important goal.”

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 18, at Ellis Island’s Great Hall, symbolizing the gateway to opportunity for millions of immigrants to the United States. The event will bring together distinguished honorees, dignitaries, and leaders from various fields to celebrate the recipients' remarkable achievements and contributions to American society.

For more information about the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the list of 2024 recipients, please visit eihonors.org/2024eimoh.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology is a premier, private research university in Hoboken, New Jersey, overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Since our founding in 1870, technological innovation and entrepreneurship have been the hallmark of Stevens’ education and research. Within the university’s schools, Stevens prepares its more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students for an increasingly complex and technology-centric world. Our exceptional students collaborate closely with world-class faculty in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment, readying them to fuel the innovation economy. Academic and research programs spanning finance, computing, engineering and the arts expand the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront the most challenging problems of our time. Stevens is consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in ROI and career services and is in the top 1% nationally of colleges with the highest-paid graduates.

AboutThe Ellis Island Honors Society

The Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) is a distinguished organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving the American immigrant experience. Named after the historic Ellis Island, which served as the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States, EIHS honors the legacy, contributions, and resilience of immigrants who have enriched the fabric of American society.

Established with a profound commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the pursuit of excellence, EIHS recognizes individuals whose achievements exemplify the values of hard work, perseverance, and cultural enrichment that characterize the immigrant journey.

Stevens Media Contact
Kara Panzer
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