Since he became president of Rowan University in 2012, Ali Houshmand has been pushing the idea of creating a hub for excellence in healthcare delivery, education and research. Many people thought he was describing the impossible. However, since then, the university has established the Cooper Medical School, the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and created a partnership with Virtua Health.
Rowan University, founded in 1923, has evolved from a teacher preparation college to a public research institution ranked among the top 100 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Today, Rowan University offers a diverse range of degrees, from bachelor’s through doctoral degrees and professional certificates to 22,000 students.
“Within just two years, far sooner than expected, the college exceeded many of our early goals,” said Houshmand. “We’ve successfully brought together two of southern New Jersey’s best-known and trusted organizations to achieve something greater than either of our institutions could do on our own.”
Together, Houshmand said the college is preparing to meet regional and national demands for health professions education, patient care and research. “There is a critical need for well-prepared doctors, nurses, scientists, biomedical engineers and allied health professionals,” he said. “We’re also deeply invested in expanding our research efforts to discover new treatments, therapies, devices and diagnostic tests that will change the practice of medicine.”
According to Houshmand, a Hall of Fame Titan 100 inductee, Rowan University is a different institution than it was just a decade ago. “There is a culture now of being unafraid to challenge norms, and people have embraced the idea that everybody has an opportunity to grow and transform,” he said. “They’ve seen it and they’ve been an instrumental part of it.”
As a leader, Houshmand said he hopes to leave a legacy that ensures a commitment to student access and affordability. “As a state institution, we have the obligation to provide access, affordability and quality education to everybody,” he said. “We are, to a great extent, a blue-collar type of institution and many of our students come from families that are hard-working.”
He also wants his legacy to show that he is a good citizen. “Having been born in Iran and later moving to the United States, I understand the privilege it is to live in this country and the responsibilities that come with becoming a citizen,” said Houshmand. “A naturalized citizen, I want to have been known as someone who contributed more to this country than I have benefited.”
