Finance, Info Tech and Friendships: Steve Severin Found a Wealth at UAlbany

New York City-based now with American Express, Steve Severin ’08 found his chosen path to success and career preparation at UAlbany, as well as many opportunities to give back.

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 18, 2014) -- Steve Severin ’08 began developing modern business skills long before entering the workforce. “I had a keen interest in both finance and technology even in high school,” said Severin, now a senior technology auditor with American Express in its New York City headquarters.

“I wanted to find a career that would allow me to merge these fields and my strengths. When I was doing research on different universities I found that UAlbany had a great business program in different concentrations. I could see that a dual degree of finance and information technology management at UAlbany was the route to go.”

Learn and view more about Steve Severin and other outstanding UAlbany alumni on the Outcomes Video Page.

As he worked toward his dual degree, Severin discovered the advantages of a diverse campus and supportive mentors. “One of the best things about UAlbany is how easy it is to connect with other students and faculty,” he said. “I have a core group of friends who I call to this day, and I’m still in touch with faculty.

“In addition, the extracurricular activities at UAlbany really helped me to unwind. I had a great time following the basketball team—all the way to the NCAA Tournament.”

Out of class activities not only provided relaxation, they furnished Severin with a means of giving back to the Albany community. He joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region in 2006, and became its president a year later. In 2007, he also took part in the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program.

As graduation neared, UAlbany’s Career Services arranged introductions and interviews for him with Deloitte and other major firms. He was hired by Deloitte after graduation and rose to the position of senior consultant. He remembers how Career Services did a superb job of positioning and preparing him for that Deloitte interview.

Severin also credits the lessons learned inside and outside the classroom at UAlbany with easing his transition in 2012 from Deloitte to American Express, where he tests and evaluates such IT application controls as application security, business managed changes, and interface controls.

“I look at where I am today and I know that I owe so much of my success to UAlbany,” said Severin. “I graduated with a great job offer largely because of my University experiences and connections. And I’m still benefiting from those connections.

“UAlbany combined a competitive tuition with an excellent success rate of graduate job placement. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”

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