NJIT Leaders Recognized Among BINJE’s Best Higher Education Honorees
Several New Jersey Institute of Technology leaders have been recognized in BINJE’s inaugural "BINJE’s Best: Higher Education" honorees list, a statewide package highlighting the people and programs shaping New Jersey’s higher education ecosystem.
Published April 24, BINJE described the recognition as a “first-of-its-kind look” at the state’s higher education sector, with honorees spanning four-year institutions, business schools, STEM and campus leadership. The publication noted that the list was created to recognize a broad range of leaders who contribute to student success, institutional progress and New Jersey’s academic landscape.
NJIT honorees include:
NJIT and President Teik C. Lim — BINJE’s Best Higher Education 2026: 4-year schools
BINJE recognized Lim for sharpening NJIT’s standing as a public tech university with growing national visibility and rising rankings. The publication cited NJIT’s emphasis on applied research, student outcomes and industry partnerships, as well as Lim’s advocacy for broad access, upward mobility for first-generation students and NJIT’s designation as a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Oya Tukel, dean of MTSM — BINJE’s Best Higher Education 2026: Business Schools
Tukel was recognized for leadership of NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management, with BINJE citing a focus on technology-infused business education, applied learning and industry relevance. The publication noted the school’s positioning at the intersection of data, fintech, entrepreneurship and business innovation, along with academic models that connect business and emerging technology, including NJIT’s bachelor’s degree in business with artificial intelligence.
David Bader, director of the Institute for Data Science — BINJE’s Best: Higher Education 2026: STEM
Bader was recognized as one of NJIT’s visible leaders in artificial intelligence and data science. BINJE cited his work helping shape research priorities, public dialogue and workforce-oriented thinking around AI, high-performance computing and emerging technologies. The publication also noted his national recognition in computing history, including his 2025 induction into the MIMMs Museum of Technology and Art Hall of Fame and pioneering work on the first Linux supercomputer.
Kevin Kesselman, chief of the Department of Public Safety — BINJE’s Best Higher Education 2026: Campus Leaders
Kesselman was recognized for leadership in public safety, with BINJE citing an approach that emphasizes relationship-based policing, visible outreach and trust-building with both the NJIT community and Newark residents. The publication also noted NJIT’s public-safety model, which it said values engagement alongside enforcement and actively promotes advancement opportunities for women in policing.
Together, the recognitions reflect NJIT’s presence across several areas highlighted by BINJE, from institutional leadership and business education to STEM research, emerging technology and campus safety.