An Interview with Dr. Harold Raveche
A distinguished researcher and administrator in the field of education, Dr. Harold Raveche served 22 years as the sixth President of the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Dr. Raveche holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry and Statistical Mechanics from the University of California, San Diego. He agreed to sit down with us and answer a few questions about his work and educational background.
Q: Dr. Raveche, thank you for taking the time to answer a few quick questions about your work and education experience. Can you start by talking a little bit about your most recent position?
A: Thank you for having me. In 1988, I accepted an offer to become the President of the Stevens Institute of Technology. I had a lot of big ideas heading into the position, and I made a point to build the team work with univwersity leaders, faculty and alumni to see them through to completion. On a broad level, I worked with administrative and academic leadership to spearhead the development of new graduate programs in engineering, science, and technology management. I also wanted to establish Stevens as a premier research institution, which involved the construction of the Center for Environmental Systems, the Maritime Systems Laboratory, the Design and Manufacturing Institute, the New Jersey Center for MicroChemical Systems, and the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education.
Q: The Stevens Institute of Technology has grown significantly over the past two decades. As the President of Stevens, what did you do to nurture that growth?
A: Over the past 23 years, the total population of undergraduates enrolled at Stevens doubled and graduate students nearly tripled. Stevens now offers one of the largest online graduate education programs in the nation, enabling it to reach students like never before. In recent years, I have emphasized the value of overseas graduate education by establishing dual degree programs with universities in Singapore, Taiwan, China, India, Korea, Malaysia, and elsewhere. On a more foundational level, I led a pair of capital campaigns to increase support for scholarships, academic and athletic programs, student life, research initiatives, and the construction of new facilities.
Q: Where did you work before joining the Stevens administrative team?
A: Before coming to Stevens, I spent three years as the Dean of Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where I oversaw the school’s Science Initiatives Program. I also encouraged members of the academic faculty to conduct interdisciplinary research with the School of Engineering and contributed to a number of federal agency reports. Prior to joining RPI, I spent several years as a research chemist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and became Founding Chief of the Thermophysics Division.
Dr. Hal Raveche 