UMass Amherst

Steven Alden

Major: Accounting

Hometown: Charlton, Massachusetts


"My greatest discovery about UMass has been the faculty. They're both passionate and energetic. They strive to make what they teach relevant to today's world," says Steve Alden. "When I first came here, I did not expect that some of my good friends at the university would be professors, but this is certainly the case."

"My first year at UMass was memorable because of the personal, social and academic development with which it was packed. I lived in an honors learning community, and this core group of students became a second family, making the transition to dorm life easy and manageable."

"As a business major, I think Commonwealth College is helping me to become a better professional. It has certainly diversified my view of the world and led me to take classes in which I wouldn't have enrolled otherwise, classes that challenged me to evaluate why things are the way they are."

Over winter break, Steve traveled with the Isenberg School of Management's annual two-week program to Ghana, Africa, that combines international experience and community service. Steve helped train local business people in business and computing skills. Selected as one of 120 students nationwide to attend KPMG's Fast Forward Leadership Conference in California, Steve is also a teaching assistant in the Finance department and accepted a summer internship in Boston.

"UMass's resources provide activities for all interests," concludes Steve, "and create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else."