Dr. Ali A. Houshmand, president of Rowan University, has been elected chairman of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation. His appointment was approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and he will take over from Dr. Steven Rose, president of Passaic County Community College, who served as chairman for six years.
“It is an honor to help lead this important organization at a time when students and young adults across New Jersey need pathways to opportunity more than ever,” Houshmand said. “I know firsthand that education can be transformative. The Foundation’s work preparing underserved students for college, careers and lifelong success is not only admirable – it’s essential.”
The New Jersey Chamber Foundation operates programs designed to help high school students in the state explore career options, develop professional skills, and prepare for post-secondary opportunities. The organization also provides training for educators and supports workforce readiness efforts throughout New Jersey.
Houshmand’s background includes being one of ten children raised in Iran by parents who were illiterate but hardworking. He credits education with helping him rise out of poverty and went on to earn advanced degrees in engineering and statistics from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Since becoming president of Rowan University in 2012, Houshmand has focused on expanding access to higher education, improving academic quality, ensuring affordability, and building partnerships that support economic development. Under his leadership, Rowan University has grown its presence through public-private collaborations aimed at aligning educational offerings with workforce needs.
“Dr. Houshmand is a visionary leader whose life story embodies the very purpose of our Foundation,” said Donna Custard, president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “He understands the urgency of our work – to provide students and young adults in underrepresented communities with the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to thrive in college and the workforce.”
“We are grateful to Steve Rose for his steady and thoughtful leadership over the past six years,” Custard added. “He helped steer the Foundation through a time of tremendous growth and change. With Dr. Houshmand now at the helm, we are excited to build on that momentum and expand our reach.”
