Honors College
Leadership Through Global Awareness, Scholarship & Community Engagement
The New York Tech Honors College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council.
About
Honors College students gain additional experience in interdisciplinary, real-world problem-solving using a collaborative and project-based approach with the guidance of dedicated faculty. Honors college students have dedicated workspaces, resources, and faculty mentors to enable a rich learning community. Students will engage in exciting extra-curricular and co-curricular activities that will complement their academic lives and offer the opportunity for intellectual, personal, and social growth.
New York Tech is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Northeast Regional Honors Council, which provide students with additional opportunities for growth, learning, new experiences, and collaboration.
Mission
The New York Tech Honors College inspires students who are curious and passionate to engage with and address today’s local and global challenges. Through participation in interdisciplinary, collaborative, project-based learning that extends beyond the requirements of their academic majors, students will have the opportunity to pursue their intellectual passions and play an integral role in New York Tech’s vibrant learning community.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at New York Tech
New York Tech recognizes the strength that stems from a diversity of perspectives, values, ideas, backgrounds, styles, approaches, experiences, and beliefs. Please learn more about our commitment to providing an inclusive teaching, learning, and working environment.
Building a Better World
In addition to their major course of study, Honors College students engage in project-based learning, working in transdisciplinary teams to address complex problems drawn from the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
How to Apply
The ideal Honors College student is curious, passionate, and highly motivated. We are interested not only in your past accomplishments but also in your future potential. We value students who have shown strong academic achievement and leadership or have taken an active role in community engagement.
Students applying to New York Tech directly from high school may apply to the Honors College as part of the undergraduate admissions process.
Requirements
- Apply for admission to New York Tech.
- Qualifying students will receive access to the Honors College application through their Admissions Portal.
- The Honors College application will include a personal statement:
- Choose one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that is especially meaningful to you. Identify the goal and briefly explain its purpose and global significance. Then describe why it resonates with you personally, drawing on your experiences, academic interests, leadership roles, community engagement, or future goals.
- Your statement may be submitted as a written essay (300–350 words) or a video (3–3.5 minutes). or podcast (3–3.5 minutes).
- SAT/ACT scores are only required if required for admission to the student’s academic program.
Important Dates for Fall 2027 Entry
- Honors College Application Deadline: February 13, 2027
- Notification of Decision: March 13, 2027
- Honors College Response Form and Tuition Deposit Deadline: May 1, 2027
Students transferring to New York Tech from another college or university may be considered for admission to the Honors College.
Requirements
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
- One letter of recommendation
- The Honors College application will include a personal statement:
- Choose one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that is especially meaningful to you. Identify the goal and briefly explain its purpose and global significance. Then describe why it resonates with you personally, drawing on your experiences, academic interests, leadership roles, community engagement, or future goals.
- Your statement may be submitted as a written essay (300–350 words) or a video (3–3.5 minutes). or podcast (3–3.5 minutes).
How to Apply
Eligible transfer students will receive information about applying to the Honors College through their New York Tech Admissions Portal and admissions communications.
Important Dates for Fall 2026 Entry
- Information Session: June 23, 2026, at 12 p.m.
- Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
- Commitment Deadline: July 15, 2026
Admission is competitive, and space is limited.
Students who have completed at least one semester at New York Tech and earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher may be considered for admission to the Honors College.
Requirements
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
- The Honors College application will include a personal statement:
- Choose one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that is especially meaningful to you. Identify the goal and briefly explain its purpose and global significance. Then describe why it resonates with you personally, drawing on your experiences, academic interests, leadership roles, community engagement, or future goals.
- Your statement may be submitted as a written essay (300–350 words) or a video (3–3.5 minutes). or podcast (3–3.5 minutes).
How to Apply
Eligible students will receive an invitation to apply to the Honors College.
Additional Information
- Applications are reviewed on a space-available basis.
- Application deadlines and decision timelines are communicated directly to eligible students.
- Admission requirements and deadlines may vary based on available openings.
For additional information, please contact the Honors College at newyorktechhonors@nyit.edu.
Honors College students will work in teams with students from other majors across New York Tech. Students will:
- Complete three one-credit seminar courses focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals; these courses will replace one general education seminar course.
- Complete a final project in the 4th year, which will be showcased in a culminating Honors Conference.
- Participate in community-building activities, events, and lectures.
Because of the significant role student housing plays in the life/work community of the Honors College, students are encouraged to live in student housing in New York City or on Long Island. Honors College students are offered priority housing.
Please email us at newyorktechhonors@nyit.edu with any questions.
Meet the Team
Sheri E. Kelleher
Assistant Provost
New York Tech Honors College Co-director
Email: skellehe@nyit.edu
Sheri E. Kelleher joined New York Institute of Technology in 2004. While working in the Office of Academic Affairs, she designed and piloted a New Faculty Mentoring Program and the Mentors Institute with the Center for Teaching and Learning; coordinated faculty hires, onboarding, and personnel actions; and managed faculty events, networking sessions, and accreditation visits. She then went on to serve as the founding assistant dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Education for the 2016–2017 academic year, where she established advisory board members and operating and budget processes and procedures and identified non-tuition revenue sources.
Eleni Nikitopoulos
Associate Professor
New York Tech Honors College Co-director
Email: enikitop@nyit.edu
Eleni Nikitopoulos earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in behavioral biology from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She was a postdoctoral science fellow at Columbia University, where she received intensive training in teaching and developing science curricula for college undergraduates. She also completed a research postdoc at Columbia investigating cooperation and collective action in non-human primates. She is currently a member of the New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology and NYU’s Center for the Study of Human Origins.
Jessica Triola
Academic Program Manager
New York Tech Honors College
Email: jtriola@nyit.edu
Jessica Triola holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Stony Brook University and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Adelphi University. She began her career in higher education at New York Tech in 2015, serving as an administrative specialist and admissions coordinator. Jessica later expanded her experience as a project manager at Columbia University. Now, as the Academic Program Manager in the Office of Academic Affairs at New York Tech, she plays a key role in the strategic planning and management of academic programs. Jessica is currently involved in managing several key initiatives, including Honors College, CourseLeaf, the Big Bold Challenge, and the Know Your Students project.
Robert J. Koenig, Ed. D
Academic Affairs Director
New York Tech Debra A. Vogel Transcendence Program & Honors College
Email: rkoenig@nyit.edu
As an Associate Dean at New York Tech, Koenig was on the administrative team that assisted the college in receiving AACSB accreditation. He has established international educational programs and partnerships in Australia, Romania, France, Switzerland, Vancouver, B.C., South Korea, and China. He has presented research papers at conferences domestically and internationally, including speaking engagements at United States Military Academy West Point. He has been featured on nationwide television, radio talk shows and cited in numerous newspapers and journals. As a former professional chef and businessman, Koenig served as chef at the 1985 Inauguration of President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. Bush; General Manager/Executive Chef at The Old Original Bookbinders, Philadelphia, Pa. and other fine venues.
Debra A. Vogel (A.A.S. ’85)
Sponsor, New York Tech Honors College
New York Tech Board of Trustees
We gratefully acknowledge Debra A. Vogel, Sponsor of the New York Tech Honors College, for her generous support and ongoing commitment to student excellence.
Enrichment Activities
