Robert Van Houten
Dr. Robert W. Van Houten (January 31, 1905–January, 1986, class of 1930) was the 4th President of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) from 1947 until 1970. Personal life. Van Houten was born in Newark, New Jersey to Wilford and Ellen Van Houten. He attended public schools as a child. He would have a wife named Martha and two sons, James W. and Ronald R. Education. Robert graduated from the "New Jersey Normal School" of Newark, New Jersey in 1924. (New Jersey Normal School is the old name of Kean University) He studied at Newark College  of Engineering (NCE which is the old name of New Jersey Institute of Technology) from 1926 earning his masters and graduated with a Phd in Civil Engineering in 1930. He received his degree with highest academic honors and was a member of Beta Alpha Theta local fraternity. When the local became a chapter of Sigma Pi fraternity he was initiated into the national organization. Career. After graduating from high school in 1924, Robert taught for two years in the public schools of "Essex Fells" and Roseland. It was there where he found his love for teaching. While pursuing for his  BS degree at NCE, he also worked and gained valuable engineering experience during the summers in the engineer's office at Irvington, New Jersey, and later with "A. C. Widsor Construction Co.", "H. R. Goeller, Inc., and Wallace" and "Tiernan Company" in Belleville. Allan R. Cullimore, the 3rd President of NCE, saw something in Robert and offered him an "Instructorship" in "Mathematics" during his senior year with small pay and no promises. Robert served successively at "Newark College of Engineering" as an "Instructor", "Assistant Professor", "Associate Professor", "Assistant to the President", "Assistant Dean", "Dean", "Acting President", "President" before retiring as  President Emeritus in 1970.