Michael Guglielmo ’17 M.Eng. ’17 is Making Sure Stevens Students Feel Right at Home

Michael Guglielmo ’17 M.Eng. ’17 comes from a family of engineers. “It seemed pretty certain that I would land somewhere in the engineering field,” he says, noting his own affinity for taking things apart, analyzing them and putting them back together again.

Guglielmo considered attending Stevens after he met an alumnus who works on the management team for the Lincoln Tunnel.

He weighed the advantages. “Castle Point’s proximity to New York City was important to me,” he says. “Stevens also offered me the opportunity to run track.”

Guglielmo quickly traded track for the Ultimate Frisbee Club Team – helping the team to a conference championship in 2016 – and proceeded to engineer his curriculum to accomplish as much as possible. In just four years, he completed two degrees and a minor course of study, while participating in the American Society of Engineering Management, Stevens Investment Club and Epsilon Mu Eta. He also interned at URS Corporation, Deloitte and MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and worked as a football advisor for Finish First Fantasy Advisors LLC.

One particular class, however, would have an enormous impact on the trajectory of his career. “In my sophomore year, I took a graduate level course,” he explains. “I was only 19, in a class of students who were well into their 20s, and already on their career track. Our assignment was to come up with ways to increase housing availability for Stevens students. We considered everything from building new towers to bringing back the S.S. Stevens, a decommissioned U.S. Navy ship that served as a floating dorm in the 1970s.”

Of all the strategies analyzed by Guglielmo and his classmates, leased housing stood out. The idea stayed with him even when he embarked on his first career role as a reporting analyst at PLM Trailer Leasing.

“I was in my first full-time position, and I wanted to invest, so I started researching,” he says. “One of the books I studied had a section on real estate investing, and that interested me. I decided to learn as much as possible about it, from real estate law to construction.”

“I hadn’t forgotten about the housing needs at Stevens and the idea for Hudson Dorms began to form,” Guglielmo continues. “As part of my research, I analyzed the company I was working for to understand what goes into a successful enterprise and then set out to learn what I needed to know about each department. I knew it was important to have a plan to provide for each of these areas if I was going to start my own company.”

Hudson Dorms, founded in 2019, addresses students’ need for campus-adjacent housing, as well as parents’ concerns about security for their children. “We have an interior designer who optimizes the apartment layouts to ensure the best experience for our students,” he says. “From professional cleaning services to artwork, our units are thoughtfully crafted to provide peace and comfort so that students can focus more fully on their coursework and career plans.”

Guglielmo points to Stevens’ emphasis on problem solving and systems integration as supporting factors in his ability to expand Hudson Dorms to 13 facilities in just over five years. “The professors and advisors inspired us to challenge conventional wisdom and to analyze situations without prejudice,” he says. “We were encouraged to think outside the box and learn all we could to support a novel idea. This has been a fundamental pillar in my thought process as I created and grew Hudson Dorms.”

Guglielmo’s approach includes an emphasis on building long-lasting relationships with property owners throughout Hoboken, with residence life professionals at Stevens and with students. “I am in regular contact with Stevens, and they have been very supportive,” he says. “We have the same goal in mind – to provide good housing for every student.”

“I love that my work keeps me in contact with Stevens students,” he adds. “I attend events whenever possible, and I visit six or seven times a year as a guest speaker. I think it is a powerful thing for students to meet and hear from successful alumni. It helps them envision their future. In my case, it also helps them to see the entrepreneurship route as attainable. I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur, but I saw an opportunity and seized it. Students can learn from that.”

Guglielmo encourages students to enjoy their time at Stevens as well. “Everyone at Stevens is smart. Get out and get involved. You will make memories and connections that will last well beyond your college years.”

As for Hudson Dorms, Guglielmo is just getting started. “I want to be the best provider of student housing in the U.S.,” he says. “Every city will be a new challenge, but I am building a good foundation for the company to grow.”

Guglielmo and his team are preparing for the upcoming semester. “We make sure that move-in day is special, and that everyone feels welcome,” he says, adding that he also wears a t-shirt for all the incoming students to sign. “It has become something of a tradition. In addition, there will be food and games, as well as information and resources. Our residents become part of a community.”