Hudson County Community College’s Dr. Clive Li Nominated for AACC’s Faculty Member of the Year Award

April 4, 2024

Dr. Li is recognized for his efforts to make science fun and accessible for HCCC students.

April 4, 2024, Jersey City, NJ – Whether it’s building a hydroponic mushroom farm for the culinary program, developing novel innovations like biodegradable golf tees made from pistachio nuts, or building model rockets used in national competition, HCCC Engineering Science Professor Dr. Clive Li consistently finds new ways to make scientific innovation both fun and accessible for Hudson County Community College (HCCC) STEM students. Now, he is being recognized for these efforts on a national level as a finalist for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Faculty Member of the Year Award of Excellence.

The Faculty Member of the Year Award acknowledges an individual who continuously seeks to integrate evidence-based strategies into the classroom and is highly engaged in college committees and organizations dedicated to student success. The Faculty Member of the Year has stellar student evaluations for his courses and participates in external student and community activities.

Dr. Li teaches courses at the College, including Manufacturing Processes; Materials Science; College Chemistry I; Statics and Dynamics; Pre-calculus; Engineering Physics I; College Physics I; College Physics II; Engineering Physics III; and Introduction to Physical Science. His popularity with students is demonstrated by the consistently high evaluation scores he receives and the speed at which his classes fill up.

Dr. Li supports students and helps them succeed both in the classroom and beyond. His mentees include a 2021 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholar currently attending Princeton University, as well as two National Science Foundation program participants. Dr. Li recently led a group of four HCCC students whose research project placed third at the Northern New Jersey Alliance Bridges to Baccalaureate’s (NNJ-B2B) STEM Conference at Rutgers University.

As a member of the College’s President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and as an advisory board member of a partnership of five Hispanic Serving Institutions committed to helping 900+ minority students transfer to baccalaureate STEM programs, Dr. Li cares deeply about expanding access to the STEM field to all who are interested, especially students from traditionally underrepresented groups. Dr. Li co-wrote a grant for female students to conduct research at the College and participates in technology symposia for high school girls interested in pursuing STEM education.

Dr. Li’s previous awards include the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award and 2023 Dale Parnell Faculty Distinction from the American Association of Community Colleges.

Prior to his time at HCCC, Dr. Li was a research scientist at Amco Polymers. His current research is on biodegradable polymer composites and antimicrobial polymer composites. His recent scientific research and publications affiliated with HCCC examine whether the argon plasma “Grafting-From” approach can be used for the modification of nanoparticle systems.

Dr. Li holds a B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stony Brook University. Patents for his inventions include the Biodegradable Diaper, Eggshell Bio-composite Materials, and Wearable Aromatic Devices.

Dr. Li is one of a record seven HCCC faculty and staff members nominated for an AACC Award of Excellence, the most of any college in the country. HCCC President Dr. Chris Reber stated, “We are enormously proud of Dr. Li. He is emblematic of the talented and accomplished faculty we have here at HCCC. But even more importantly, he cares deeply about helping students tap into their passions and find success both inside the classroom and beyond.”

Dr. Li commented, “I’d like to thank Dr. Burl Yearwood, Dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and President Reber for their support. Being nominated for the Faculty Member of the Year Award is an immense honor, but there is no greater reward than mentoring students and seeing them continue their scientific studies at the baccalaureate level and beyond.”