Trailblazers, innovators and mentors—four remarkable Huskies will make history as the first inductees into the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) Hall of Fame: Romualdas “Rom” Kasuba, Promod Vohra, Joe Sener and Divya Behl.
Their paths to the Hall of Fame on November 14th (details below) reflect CEET’s evolution, from its founding 40 years ago to its early-stage growth to the college’s expanding impact across engineering fields worldwide.
As CEET’s founding dean, Kasuba was instrumental in guiding the college from its formative years through its growth into a regionally and nationally recognized leader in engineering education.
He was instrumental in lobbying legislators to obtain funding to build the Engineering Building in 1995. He retired in 2003 after 17 years of service.
Among his career accomplishments, he spent 10 years in aerospace and manufacturing industries where he worked on such projects as Saturn IV, Lunar Excursion Module, and auxiliary power systems for unmanned space flights. Before coming to NIU, he was director of the engineering doctorate program, chair of the mechanical engineering department and professor at Cleveland State University.
Even after retiring from NIU, he remained active in advancing global engineering standards—continuing his research on international licensing and accreditation practices across Europe. In 2006, he and his NIU colleagues earned a Diamond Award from the UNESCO International Engineering Education Center in recognition of their contributions.
Kasuba passed away in 2019, but his impact continues.
From his nomination letter, written by CEET Senior Associate Dean Mansour Tahernezhadi:
“Dean Kasuba’s legacy lives on in the laboratories he helped envision, the graduates whose lives were shaped under his tenure, and the enduring culture of excellence and inclusion that he nurtured from the very beginning. His influence is embedded in the DNA of CEET, and the college’s success today is a direct reflection of his foundational leadership.”
The first graduate student in CEET’s history—he earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering in 1988—Vohra received his Ed.D. in Instructional Technology from NIU in 1993. Thereafter, he moved up the ranks: from instructor to assistant, associate and then full professor before succeeding Kasuba in 2003, first as acting dean and eventually as dean, a post he held until 2016.
His accomplishments included expanding CEET’s regional footprint by establishing a satellite college in Rockford with Rock Valley College. Over the past nine years, he’s been active in philanthropy and business in a variety of roles.
From his nomination letter, written by his son, Neil Vohra:
“During his 12 years as Dean, Dr. Vohra raised the bar for CEET by forging over 200 partnerships with industry and community colleges, consistently achieving nearly 100% placement for graduates, and launching innovative initiatives such as WE Matter, Diversity with Competence, Engineers in Residence, and STEM pathways to broaden access and inclusion in engineering.”
A non-traditional student who enrolled at CEET in his late 30s—in the midst of an already-thriving professional career—Sener held executive leadership roles at ICU Medical, Pfizer, and Baxter International, among others.
He has also been a CEET adjunct faculty member, received CEET’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2007, and will be receiving an honorary doctorate degree from NIU in December, among other laurels.
Sener has also served as a tireless ambassador for not only CEET, but NIU overall, including as president of the NIU Alumni Association. His current roles include serving on the NIU Foundation Board of Directors.
From one of Sener’s nomination letters, written by fellow CEET alum Joel Brock:
“Joseph has made profound contributions to the fields of engineering, quality management and medical device innovation. His work has improved patient safety, shaped regulatory compliance frameworks and advanced product development processes across some of the most respected organizations in the healthcare and manufacturing industries….
From pioneering work in nuclear engineering early in his career to executive leadership and consulting excellence today, Joseph’s journey is marked by innovation, integrity, and impact.”
By far the youngest of Hall of Fame inductees, Behl earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 2005 and her master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering in 2008. Her 20-year career in manufacturing has encompassed retail, logistics, automotive, aerospace and now, as CEO of PMA Friction Products, a niche industry of manufacturing specialized friction products.
The daughter of fellow Hall of Fame inductee Promod Vohra, Behl has also been active in a variety of volunteer efforts on behalf of CEET and NIU over the years.
In remarks at a Homecoming event when her selection was first announced, Behl praised NIU’s focus on serving students: “The thing about Northern that always stands out and is incredible is that the students are always in the front and they’re always first.”
From Behl’s nomination letter, written by Federico Mariano Sciammarella, a former CEET associate professor and director of the Illinois Manufacturing Institute:
“As Vice President and General Manager at Woodward, Inc., she demonstrated remarkable innovation and strategic oversight in the aerospace sector. Her unwavering commitment to mentorship and community engagement, exemplified through her active involvement with NIU and the Society of Women Engineers, highlights her dedication to fostering the next generation of engineers.”
The inaugural class will be inducted on Friday, November 14th, as part of the Innovation Showcase being held at Kasuba Auditorium in the Engineering Building. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m., with remarks from each inductee or inductee representative; the event is free and open to the public.
Their induction comes in conjunction with CEET’s 40th anniversary. CEET has over 14,000 graduates across a range of disciplines. Currently, there are four departments (mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and engineering technology) and two programs (mechatronics engineering and biomedical engineering).
A five-member committee led by CEET Dean Dave Grewell and composed of representatives from staff, faculty, students and alumni made the selections.
“We’re very proud of this inaugural class and are grateful for all the nominations that included other very worthy individuals,” Grewell said. “We look forward to this becoming a strong annual tradition that shines a light on the outstanding men and women who have been instrumental in moving our college forward.”
Established in 2025, the CEET Hall of Fame recognizes and honors outstanding alumni, faculty and staff who have made significant contributions to their fields, the college and society. For more information and to make a nomination for next year’s class, please visit our Hall of Fame page.
