Two New Jersey Institute of Technology leaders — Oya Tukel, dean of the Martin Tuchman School of Management, and Atam Dhawan, chief strategic innovation officer and senior vice provost for research — have been named to the 2026 NJBIZ Education Power List.
The annual list recognizes educators and administrators who have attracted attention for their professional accomplishments and public service. Honorees are selected by the NJBIZ editorial staff based on its reporting, recommendations from readers and input from experts.
Tukel was recognized for leading the transformation of MTSM into a growing, technology-focused business school. Since becoming dean in 2019, she has expanded the school’s academic offerings, corporate and community partnerships, research centers and learning environments while securing philanthropic support.
Recent initiatives include New Jersey’s first bachelor’s degree combining business and artificial intelligence, which began enrolling students in spring 2026. The program integrates AI into disciplines including finance, marketing, operations and entrepreneurship. MTSM also entered Fortune’s national ranking of full-time MBA programs at No. 62 this year, while Tukel became the first NJIT representative to join the Newark Regional Business Partnership’s board of directors.
“My proudest professional achievement is leading the transformation of NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management into a growing, technology-focused and increasingly recognized business school,” Tukel told NJBIZ.
Dhawan was recognized for decades of work advancing translational research — helping move academic discoveries toward practical applications with societal and economic value. As founder of NJIT’s Center for Translational Research, he has helped develop innovation ecosystems that support startup companies and university-industry partnerships.
That work now includes the New Jersey PFAS Partnership Innovation Consortium, a cross-institutional initiative led by NJIT that brings together universities, government agencies, utilities and industry. The consortium seeks to move technologies for detecting, treating and destroying PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” from research through testing, regulatory validation, commercialization and adoption.
Dhawan told NJBIZ that universities must continue educating future leaders while also working with government, industry and community partners to translate innovation into practice and create broader impact.
