Dr. Nariman Farvardin became Stevens Institute of Technology’s seventh president in July 2011,
ushering in an era of unprecedented growth and innovation. Now the longest-serving president at a private college in New Jersey, Farvardin led Stevens through a remarkable renaissance, elevating the institution to national and global prominence. Following the successful conclusion of the 10- year strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create., Farvardin launched a subsequent vision in 2022, Stevens 2032: Inspired by Humanity, Powered by Technology, charting an ambitious course for the university’s future.

Under Farvardin’s leadership, Stevens achieved significant milestones, including a 294% increase in undergraduate applications, a 62% rise in enrollment and a 160-point increase in the median student SAT score. The university made substantial progress in diversity, with notable increases in women and students from underrepresented racial backgrounds. The graduation rate climbed to 90%, with 96.4% of graduates securing employment or entering graduate school within six months. Stevens also experienced remarkable growth in its academic and research capabilities, with a 59% increase in full-time faculty and a 199% increase in externally sponsored researchawards.

Financial metrics have improved significantly, including a 119% increase in operating revenue and a 164% increase in endowment size. The successful completion of the $200 million Power of Stevens fundraising campaign further underscores this progress. Stevens invested $500 million in comprehensive campus improvements, including the iconic University Center Complex, which opened in 2022.

Farvardin initiated several transformational academic initiatives, including the SUCCESS core curriculum launching in fall 2024, designed to “future-proof” students’ education. He oversaw the creation of the College of Professional Education and the transformation of the School of Technology Management into an AACSB-accredited School of Business. New research centers established under his leadership include the Center for Research toward Advancing Financial Technologies (CRAFT), the New Jersey Fintech Accelerator at Stevens Institute of Technology (NJFAST), the Stevens Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Center for Sustainability.

Farvardin champions programs to nurture student talent and entrepreneurship, including iSTEM@Stevens, Launchpad, the Innovation Expo, the Clark Scholars program, the Pinnacle Scholars program and Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science). The ACES program, which increases STEM educational opportunities for underserved students, won the New Jersey Business and Industry Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2020. Stevens’ upward trajectory garnered numerous accolades, including Great Place To Work Certification™ in 2023 and 2024, and STARS Gold ratings for sustainability initiatives. Under Farvardin’s tenure, Stevens rose to No. 76 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges rankings, a 12-position increase in a decade. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Rankings placed Stevens at No. 36 nationally, while The Princeton Review ranked it No. 12 for Best Career Placement and included it among its Best 390 Colleges. Farvardin’s leadership is widely recognized. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He received the Carnegie Academic Leadership Award in 2017 and has been consistently named to ROI-NJ’s Top 10 Higher Education Influencers and Power lists. An accomplished researcher, Farvardin holds seven U.S. patents and has co-authored more than 150 technical papers. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Prior to joining Stevens, Farvardin served as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Maryland.

A native of Tehran, Iran, Farvardin earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1979, 1980 and 1983, respectively.