Ali Houshmand’s nearly two-decade career at Rowan has been defined by aggressive expansion tied to workforce development, affordability and regional impact. Rowan has completed $1.8 billion in university related construction projects, with an additional $1.3 billion planned over the next five years, reshaping its campuses and research capacity. The university also has partnered with community colleges across the state to develop nearly 50 cost saving 3+1 and 2+2 bachelor’s degree programs, lowering the total price of a four-year degree to roughly $30,000.
That growth philosophy is now reaching a new scale.
Rowan recently announced it is launching a $690 million West Campus Development Project in Gloucester County, a 220 acre expansion designed to position South Jersey as a hub for health care, advanced manufacturing and applied research. The multiphase initiative pairs an intergenerational Wellness Village — focused on health, longevity and livinglearning models — with a 350,000 square-foot Center for Manufacturing Innovation linking workforce training, applied research and private sector R&D. University officials project the project will generate more than 5,000 jobs and $14.3 million in annual tax revenue.
“What we are proposing is transformational in scope and impact,” Houshmand has said, describing a vision that extends well beyond Rowan’s boundaries to drive regional economic growth.
During his presidency, Rowan has more than doubled its enrollment and climbed in national rankings, placing among the top 100 public research institutions in the country. It has raised $362.9 million in new gifts and pledges since 2011 — cementing its evolution from a regional teaching institution into a powerful economic and innovation engine for New Jersey.
For all this and more, Houshmand assumes the No. 1 spot among four-year presidents in the 2026 BINJE’s Best: Higher Education rankings.
