Honorary Doctorates
Honorary Doctorates will be recognized at the Undergraduate Commencement at the Prudential Center on May, 17, 2024.
Honorary Doctorate Recipients
Marjorie A. Perry
Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa
Elizabeth "Liz" Garcia, '73
Doctor of Science, honoris causa
Alex Khowaylo, '63
Doctor of Science, honoris causa
Marjorie A. Perry, MBA '05, an esteemed alumna of NJIT and President/CEO of MZM Construction, will deliver the keynote address at the undergraduate ceremony on May 17 at the Prudential Center. Perry, who earned her MBA from NJIT, has been an integral part of the university's community for over a decade. Notably, Perry made history as the first woman and African American to chair the Foundation Board of Directors in 2018, showcasing her dedication and leadership within the institution. Her contributions of time, talent, and resources have greatly enriched the NJIT community.
Perry will also be the commencement speaker for the May, 17, 2024 Undergraduate ceremony at the Prudential Center.
Elizabeth “Liz” Garcia, PE, MSChE '73 received her master’s in chemical engineering while working at Exxon Research and Engineering. She began her career as a design engineer, serving global roles in both planning, design and start up of refineries and plants, as well as leading several risk management programs. Her work yielded improved chemical plant processes and six published technical papers.
She joined Infineum USA LP in 1999. During her tenure at Infineum, in addition to her engineering responsibilities, she led the development, coordination and implementation of government, community and media relations programs, as well as managing its philanthropist contributions budget. She worked with industry and business advocacy groups and legislators in the development of more effective laws and regulations for the chemical industry. Liz retired in 2011 as manager of public affairs at Infineum, but her volunteer activities continue today.
Liz served on NJIT’s Board of Trustees from 2005 until 2020. Upon her retirement, she was named a Trustee Emerita. She received the Newark College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus/a Award in 2002 and the Alumni Achievement Award in 1996.
Alex Khowaylo, BSME ’63 is a mechanical engineering graduate and NJIT Hall of Fame soccer player. He was a member of the team that won the NAIA National Championship in 1961. Alex has also received the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2010.
He started his career in 1968 with Howmedica, an orthopedic implant manufacturer, as an entry level project engineer and progressed to manufacturing engineering manager. Alex soon became a serial entrepreneur. He co-founded and sold four orthopedic implant companies. His first company, Meditec, Inc., was acquired by 3M; his second company, Osteonics, specialized in hip-joint replacements and was acquired by Stryker Corporation in 1979; his third company, Implex Corp. introduced new hip and knee implant designs combined with a newly-developed biomaterial that allowed bone fixation to the implants and was acquired by Zimmer Holdings in 2004; and the fourth company, Pipeline Biomedical Holdings, was formed in 2007. Alex currently serves as chairman of the Board of Acuitive Technologies