Nanjing, China – New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) has turned to one of its own to serve as the first associate director of alumni and employer relations at its Nanjing, China campus.

As he moves from Long Island, N.Y., to NYIT-Nanjing's new Office of Career Services and Alumni Affairs, Tony Lei Tong (M.S. '09) will build corporate contacts and assist students with graduate school applications, internships, and job placements. He will also serve as a career resource for NYIT alumni living in China. Drawing from extensive contacts at U.S. and Chinese businesses, he will build a network of NYIT alumni and hold events in China to connect students and alumni.

"I am pleased to join the NYIT faculty and staff who were very helpful when I was a student," said Tong. "Returning to China to work for my alma mater is exciting. My ultimate career goal has always been to connect China and the United States in some way."

Tong will work closely with Keh Kwek, newly appointed associate dean of NYIT-Nanjing, as well as John Hyde, dean of career services, and Joseph Fortine, director of alumni relations, who are based in New York. NYIT-Nanjing's Office of Career Services and Alumni Affairs is charged with bringing added value to NYIT alumni in China, while offering internship, job, and networking opportunities for alumni and students.

Born and raised in the Shandong Province of China, Tong's human resources acumen includes a deep understanding of Chinese employment and business relations. As a graduate student, he attended NYIT's campuses in Manhattan and Old Westbury. He served as a graduate assistant in the Office of Human Resources, volunteered as an international student ambassador, and held leadership positions in the student chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

"Tony will coach current students on specific skills needed for employment and will share his unique insights on business opportunities within China and between China and the United States," said Hyde. "He will help bridge the gap after graduation, helping students and alumni understand that NYIT can assist at any point in their careers through its networked community."

Most recently, Tong was a benefits analyst for the human resources department at National Grid, where he was responsible for analyzing and recommending trends for increasing customer satisfaction, managing health and wellness carriers' reconciliation projects, and generating performance reports. He also interned at Zhen-O, an importing and exporting company in Shanghai, China. Proficient in written and oral English and Mandarin, Tong received a dual master's degree in human resource management and labor relations from NYIT and in international economy and trade at Tongji University in China. He also received a bachelor's degree in computer science from Shandong University of Science and Technology in China.

"Tony's world-class academic credentials, culturally rich background, and support and understanding of NYIT makes him uniquely qualified to connect students and alumni in China and globally," said Fortine.

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About NYIT

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions; management; and osteopathic medicine. A non-profit independent, private institution of higher education, NYIT has 15,000 students attending campuses on Long Island and Manhattan, online, and at its global campuses. NYIT sponsors 11 NCAA Division II programs and one Division I team.

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Briana Samuels
Communications Specialist
516.686.1354