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BY LISA TORBIC ASSOCIATE EDITOR
DEGREES OF STEVENS
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VERY SPRING BRINGS MEMORABLE EVENTS TO A STUDENT’S LIFE, WITH FINAL PAPERS COMING DUE AND PREPARATIONS FOR COMMENCEMENT OCCURRING. BUT THIS YEAR’S COMMENCE-
MENT BROUGHT ONE STUDENT TO A MEMORABLE PLACE THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE WILL VISIT: A SIXTH COLLEGE DEGREE FROM ONE UNIVERSITY. This past May, Luis Ortega put the final touches on his Ph. D. dissertation in Finance Engineering, which he presented days before commencement. It was his sixth degree from Stevens. In the midst of preparing for his dissertation, he was also prepping for a new job, which he started in June. And weeks before the end of the semester, his wife gave birth to twin daughters, Lucia and Amelia, making him a first-time parent. “There are times when I feel like my head is going to explode because I’m so busy,’’ he said, just days before commencement. “But I will never forget this period in my life.’’ Indeed. This native of Ecuador, who came to the United States when he was ready to begin his undergraduate education, added his Ph.D. to an already impressive list of degrees, including a B.E. in electrical engineering; an M.S. in computer science; an M.S. in management planning; an M.S. in financial engineering and an M.B.A. in technology management. His Ph.D. is in the field of financial engineering. His thesis is titled, “A Neuro-Wavelet Model for the Short-Term Forecasting of HighFrequency Financial Time Series of Stock Returns.’’ Six degrees from Stevens? “What can I say?
I want to study and learn all I can,’’ he said this past May, while picking up his cap and gown on campus. He came to the United States after finishing high school in Ecuador, wanting to attend Stevens, and experience the American culture, he
Luis Ortega ’85, M.S. ’89, M.S. ’91, M.S. ’09, M.B.A. ’09, obtained his sixth degree from Stevens in May 2013, his Ph.D.
working in the telecommunications field, with Verizon Wireless and with The World Bank. “I was a good planner,’’ he said with a quick smile. But he credits good friends, and of course, his wife Veronica, with their support during this time. He laughs heartily when asked if he is independently wealthy. He started a new job with Goldman Sachs on Wall Street in New York in June, working as an associate in the model risk group. “I can’t say too much about it,’’ as he gestures with a finger to his lips, but he will be doing something with the stock market. Leaving Stevens will be hard, he admits, as
“ THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I FEEL LIKE MY HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE BECAUSE I’M SO BUSY. BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS PERIOD IN MY LIFE.” —LUIS ORTEGA
said. He joined a fraternity (Delta Tau Delta), played varsity soccer and always studied. “Academics came first,’’ he said of his undergraduate days, which he described as exciting and fun. But he considered the non-academics part of a student’s life as another chance to learn, as figuring out how to schedule priorities is an important skill to master. As a student, “I wanted to experience the whole package: academics, sports, a fraternity.’’ And gaining knowledge was a constant in everything he did, even when not in the classroom. “My Delt brothers taught me how to fit in, what to eat, life skills,’’ he said. Ortega saved money for his education while
he’s spent a good chunk of his time on campus. And he cherishes the friends he’s made here, including some fraternity brothers he’s known almost 20 years. He pointed out several members of the Stevens community (Dean Charles Suffel, ffel, former Vice President Joseph Moeller ff ’67 and Coach Nick Mykulak) who have made an impact on him while a student. Having the experience of being a Stevens undergraduate and then a Stevens graduate student has shown him some differences fferences between ff the two. “Of course, you have to read more as a graduate student,’’ he said. “My advice to graduate students is to get more involved, experience the Stevens culture, ’’ he said.
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