Christopher Pinyan ’89 returned to Castle Point to introduce the exciting and rewarding careers offered by the field of photonics. What he discovered, however, is that the benefits of alumni volunteering aren’t limited to a single discipline. Instead, he found that when alumni experience meets student aspirations, the future brims with opportunity.
NAME: Christopher Pinyan
CLASS YEAR AND MAJOR: 1989, Engineering Physics
STEVENS VOLUNTEER ROLES: Thorlabs Mobile Photonics Lab demonstrator; Senior Capstone Project sponsor; career workshop presenter on technical sales as a career path; Admitted Students Day Department of Physics demo table and Q&A session panelist.
How/why did you decide to contribute your time as a Stevens volunteer?
Initially, I saw volunteering at Stevens as an opportunity to introduce students to the world of photonics as a career path. Once I was back on campus and engaging with students I started to think about what kind of guidance and encouragement I could have used when I was in their shoes, so I looked for ways to provide some.
How has volunteering for Stevens impacted you personally?
The growth of the university and the enthusiasm and creativity of today’s students are energizing. The alumni office, faculty and students are very appreciative and that encourages me to look for even more opportunities.
What do you feel is the impact of alumni involvement in the university?
Alumni who share their stories demonstrate new and exciting possibilities for students to consider as they envision their future as Stevens graduates. Students begin to see that they can follow a path to wherever their imagination leads them. Every student-alumni interaction creates a stronger Stevens community.
What would you say to other alumni who were considering volunteering at Stevens?
I think after you have been in your career for a while there is the risk of feeling that your knowledge is commonplace or not that special. To a student, however, your stories and expertise can be a goldmine of ideas and inspiration. Even the smallest nugget can start someone on an amazing professional journey, so do not be afraid to start small! There is a wealth of talent at Stevens. Castle Point is full of energetic, hardworking young adults looking for a way to make their mark in the world – so come back to campus and interact with them! They, and you, will benefit from it.
