Michael Alvarez ’23 (Accounting) transferred out of SUNY New Paltz during the pandemic with a 1.98 GPA. And then he came back. 

What does a university do to support a student who struggles with the initial transition? How can we help them overcome the doubts and obstacles that line the road to success? How can you convince a student to persist, or in this case, actually come back and give it another try? 

For Alvarez, the difference was in New Paltz’s people: the community and the social life that he didn’t know he’d miss so much when he transferred out, and he didn’t feel in the same way during his brief stint at CUNY before his return to the Hudson Valley.   

“It was just class, then home,” said Alvarez. “I realized how much I missed being in New Paltz, so I transferred back.” 

That decision marked a major turning point that reshaped not only his college experience, but his life beyond it. Alvarez returned to campus in fall 2022, graduated in May 2023 and has since advanced to a position at the “Big Four” accounting firm Deloitte.  

His turnaround is an impressive story of resilience and determination, shining a light on some surprising answers to the questions of what a university can do to help more students succeed.  

A second go

Alvarez, born and raised in the Bronx, picked accounting as his major soon after he watched the movie "The Accountant.” “I figured it was a safe bet, a solid career,” he said. But he struggled with both academic and financial challenges during his first semester at New Paltz, which left him feeling unsure about his path. 

After transferring out and then back, Alvarez tried a new approach. He doubled down on his studies – “I was working hard, getting top grades in my classes” – and secured on-campus employment as a Resident Assistant to help keep his personal budget balanced.  

“Being an RA helped me tremendously,” he said. “It gave me housing, a meal plan, and a way to stay at New Paltz.” 

Through his own efforts, Alvarez saw significant progress in his journey to a degree and a career in accounting. But he still faced challenges, particularly financially. He wasn’t sure where to turn until a random encounter created an opportunity for a new level of support.

A chance meeting 

One day, while waiting for the elevator, Alvarez met a man who asked how things were going. “I just opened up,” Michael said. “I told him I wasn’t sure how I was going to afford the semester and that it might be my last semester at New Paltz because of tuition costs. I didn’t even realize he was President Wheeler.” 

That moment sparked a mentorship that would help carry him through the rest of college and beyond. 

“President Wheeler listened,” said Alvarez. “He told me to follow up with him. I did, and he did what he could to help. He connected me to scholarships and endowment support I didn’t even know existed. From that day forward, he became a real mentor.” 

The two stayed in touch throughout Alvarez’s college career. President Wheeler recommended him for his first internship at the Advertising Checking Bureau, giving him the opportunity to boost his resume in necessary ways for his career path. “Whenever I saw him, we’d stop and talk. Sometimes I’d go to his office for advice, not just about college, but about life and the transition into the real world.” 

Since his appointment in 2022, SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler has made consistent student outreach a hallmark of his approach to leadership. He offers student office hours once a month, inviting students to sit with him, ask questions and share their thoughts on life at the University – with no topics off the table.  

"[Michael] was getting unenrolled as a junior with a 3.0 because he couldn't afford school," said President Wheeler, recalling his work with Alvarez. "So, we connected him with one of our international alumni, who told us about an internship that his company had available. He got a paid internship and was able to finance his undergraduate degree and graduate. He wrote me this year that he got his second accounting job at Deloitte. I get chills thinking about it." 

The SUNY New Paltz community staying connected is a part of the picture. "Alumni are a resource to our students today," said Wheeler.

But it's the kind of people who make up that community that make a difference.

"Stopping and asking him, 'How are you doing?' makes a difference," said Wheeler. "The humanity of our student body, the humanity of our administrators, our provost, people in facilities who say hello to our students every day, they make a difference. It is important for us as a campus community to recognize and keep that in mind."

A progression of excellence 

While Alvarez didn’t plan to talk to the President on the day they met, he hopes his story helps other New Paltz students take advantage of opportunities to connect with campus leaders and potential mentors. His story provides ample evidence that reaching out and opening up can make all the difference in achieving your goals.  

“Mentor is an understatement,” said Alvarez. “He always makes time to talk. Not everyone realizes how valuable it is that students have access to him. That openness, that willingness to listen, makes a huge difference.” 

After his first talk with President Wheeler, Alvarez applied for and was later awarded scholarships (which he didn’t know existed prior to their chat) including: David Ira Weiss '77 and Janet Weiss '77 Accounting, School of Business Leadership and Diversity Scholarship and was supported by the SUNY New Paltz General Scholarship in 2022-2023. 

“Joining NABA was huge for me,” he said. “It opened doors and gave me a community.” 

At a NABA conference in New Orleans, Alvarez approached recruiters with confidence, even without any interviews lined up. “I just started talking to people,” he said. “I ended up getting three interviews on the spot, with J.P. Morgan, Deloitte, and Andersen Tax, and I got offers from all three.” 

Those wins helped him tap into a new sense of confidence and focus. Alvarez’s grades improved dramatically from there, working his way up to a 3.6 GPA and Magna Cum Laude status at graduation. 

Paying it forward 

Now thriving at Deloitte, Alvarez continues to look ahead. He’s completing his Enrolled Agent certification and preparing to sit for the CPA exam, with an MBA on the horizon. 

Through it all, he’s stayed connected to President Wheeler.  

“Two weeks before graduation, I saw President Wheeler and told him I got my cap and gown," said Alvarez. "When I walked across the stage on the day of graduation, he stood up from his seat and shook my hand. I’ll never forget that. It meant the world to me, because I knew how far I’d come.” 

Alvarez often shares advice with other students who may be struggling. “If you’re having a hard time with your major, don’t give up,” he said. “It’s worth it. I almost walked away from accounting, but I stuck with it, and it changed my life.” 

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