NJIT's Educational Opportunity Program Has a New Director

Written by: Julie Jacobs
Published: Thursday, August 8, 2019
Crystal Smith, EOP's newly appointed director, with now EOP alumnus Ishmael Menns '19
Crystal Smith, EOP's newly appointed director, with now EOP alumnus Ishmael Menns '19 at the program's end-of-year ceremony

Crystal Smith has been appointed director of NJIT’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), effective July 1, 2019. Smith is responsible for EOP’s overall administration and supervision, which involves collaborating and coordinating with many universitywide departments and offices. She also sees to programs under the auspices of EOP, including the Black Engineering Technology Alumni Association, the Minority Engineering Program and the Garden State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation.

Smith started at NJIT in 1997 as a counselor in Student Support Services. She was then recruited to be the sophomore-cohort counselor at EOP, later rising to assistant director in 2000 and associate director in 2008.

In her new role, Smith plans to further build EOP by enhancing the offerings available to students. Toward this end, she looks to implement a life-skills workshop for seniors, send juniors to major professional-society conferences and arrange research opportunities for sophomores.

EOP provides a range of services to more than 700 students annually and takes pride in promoting a supportive, familial environment. “I think it’s about being open and honest and talking with [the students] and [being] inviting. And they feel it. They feel that we’re genuine,” said Smith. “They realize that we’re here for them.

“All of this can’t be done without the staff,” she added. “And they’re very supportive.”