2025 Fee Award Recipient - Jorge Smith (né Rivera Reyes) ’15
Jorge Smith (né Rivera Reyes) ’15
Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Award
Receiving the Harold R. Fee 1920 Alumni Achievement Award is very much a “full-circle” moment for Jorge Smith ’15. Smith was one of the first three Stevens students recruited directly from high schools in Puerto Rico. “I remember receiving a call from the university to make sure I submitted my application,” he recalls. “That was all the confirmation I needed to know that, at Stevens, I wouldn’t be just a number.”
Smith was making progress toward his career while still a student, with internships at the global business consulting firm Protiviti. By the time he graduated, he joined the company as a senior technology consultant. Smith advanced through jobs at EY and ADT before taking on the role of Governance & Compliance Senior Analyst at JM Family Enterprises. In 2022 the company promoted him to manager of IT Governance, Risk and Compliance. Three years later, the company tapped Smith to steer the company through an upcoming regulatory compliance certification as their information security compliance manager.
“I am in charge of overseeing a brand-new compliance program for our organization,” he explains. “After 10 years in the field, I am very excited to be using my subject matter expertise and to be guiding my company through this rigorous compliance program. This program will significantly elevate our company's revenue through expedited customer on-boarding. My degree in Business and Technology made this possible. I understand what the company needs from a business standpoint and am able to communicate about the technology when navigating the intricacies of regulatory security compliance.”
Smith’s above-and-beyond involvement with Stevens also began during his student years. As an admissions interviewer, he helped welcome and guide the next generation of Stevens students. His induction into the Khoda Senior Honor Society further encouraged him to stay closely connected to Stevens. “There were several dozen alumni in attendance and the celebration went all night,” he says. “It was my first introduction into ways that alumni stay involved with Stevens after graduation.”
“As a freshman, I was a very shy and reserved kid. Five years later, I got to present the class gift for my class at our Commencement,” Smith recollects. “What a journey!”
Soon after graduation, Smith joined the Stevens Alumni Association (SAA)'s Class Leadership Committee, a role he has fulfilled since 2018. “One of my first tasks was to conduct a class officer contact information audit, which revealed significant issues with our ability to keep alumni contact information up-to-date,” he says. “After that, I became involved with the Awards Selection Subcommittee, where I held the role of Subcommittee vice-chair from 2019 to 2023. As vice-chair, I oversaw the selection of recipients for the Harold R. Fee 1920 Award, as well as the Outstanding Teacher Award. I instituted a process to reach out to several stakeholders in order to source potential nominations. This included outreach to departments at Stevens, prior Fee Award recipients, class officers and more. It was important to me to ensure that volunteers of any capacity were eligible for the recognition, as volunteering for the SAA is critical for its continued success.”
His years of work to recognize other alumni makes his own Fee Award extra special. He is also particularly grateful to share this year’s Fee Award with former classmate ShaQ Thomas ’15. “ShaQ has been a phenomenal and consistent volunteer,” he notes. “The Fee Award is meant to encourage alumni to continue giving back to the SAA (and thereby the university) through volunteerism. It takes a village to make the SAA happen, and this award is shared by that very village. It is an honor to be part of such an amazing group of recipients!”
Smith appreciates how important it is for students to prioritize academics, but he also hopes they find ways to get involved with the Stevens community. “Looking back, it was exactly the kind of exposure I needed,” he says. “Thanks to my vibrant extra-curricular life at Stevens, I am now a successful business executive and indoor cycling coach. Growth happens when you expose yourself to uncomfortable situations – Stevens is the perfect place to do just that. Take a leap and trust the process! It will all be worth it in the end.”
He also encourages his fellow alumni to stay in touch with fellow Stevens graduates. “I have witnessed Stevens alumni coming together for one another in times of need, and to celebrate each other through life's milestones,” Smith says. “I cannot imagine my life today without my fellow Stevens alumni by my side, whether for a get-together or trip, concerts, or – of course - alumni events! Being connected to the SAA and Stevens allows me to practice gratitude for my college years and to continue building a strong Stevens community.”