Stevens’ partnership with Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale continues to produce outstanding results for its students
Maryan Shepetyuk decided crossing the Atlantic Ocean was his best chance to cross the Hudson River.
The 2024 graduate of Stevens’ master’s program in finance recently started as an equity execution analyst in the Global Banking and Markets division at Goldman Sachs’ New York City offices. His duties include interacting with traders, clients and internal teams to ensure accurate settlement, reconciliation and lifecycle management of equity trades for the world’s leading equity franchise. He is responsible for monitoring trade breaks, managing cash and stock positions, and helping resolve issues.
Maryan is the latest graduate of the dual degree program between the Stevens School of Business and Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale (UPO) to make the short trip from Hoboken to Goldman Sachs. Gabriele Petagine, a 2023 graduate with his master’s in finance, is a settlement analyst in the Global Banking and Markets division, and 2024 graduate Ahmed Ouerghemi is a project coordinator in the Controllers Division of Goldman Sachs, collaborating with colleagues and other businesses around the world.
“UPO has been exceptional so far in terms of placement of their students,” said Stefano Bonini, associate professor of finance and the Stevens School of Business and director of international partnerships. “Other universities with which we have dual-degree agreements have been also similarly successful, and that is a testimony to the fact that these agreements work. We get good students, and we can place them.”
“The Italian system strengthened my analytical thinking and theoretical understanding, while the U.S. education emphasized practical problem-solving, communication and adaptability,” Maryan explained. “This combination helped me quickly adjust to a fast-paced and global environment like the one at Goldman Sachs, where I collaborate daily with people from other parts of the United States, as well as Europe, Asia and South America. Employers, especially Goldman Sachs, value candidates who can bridge different ways of thinking, and this dual background has definitely opened more doors and made me more effective in a global role.”
“This partnership really brings in the best of both worlds,” he continued. “Beyond academics, studying in two countries also pushes you to grow personally, adapt quickly and think globally — all characteristics that are incredibly valuable in today’s job market.”
Maryan’s achievements were not system-oriented alone. He made the decision to take advantage of the opportunity and utilize the academic and professional resources his time at UPO and Stevens afforded, including Stevens’ faculty full of former industry professionals and the school’s Corporate Outreach and Professional Advancement Office (COPA).
“I saw the partnership as an opportunity to broaden my knowledge and grow not only as a student, but also as a person,” he said. “The international structure of the program offered exposure to different academic approaches, diverse perspectives and a more global view of finance, which was exactly what I was looking for. Coming from Europe, I found the job search process in the U.S. quite different, especially when it came to resume formatting, networking and the way students transition from school to the professional world. Having a resource like COPA was invaluable. They guided me through every step of the process by teaching me the best practices for resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation and professional networking.”
“I was pleased to discover that Stevens has a strong reputation within the financial district, which made it easier to connect with professionals at firms like Goldman Sachs. Some of my professors even introduced me to individuals at the firm, including senior-level professionals, which was important in helping me understand what a company like GS looks for in candidates and how to better align my preparation with those expectations.”
A Mutually Beneficial Relationship
The partnership with UPO was the second in what has become an extensive network of agreements between Stevens and European schools. It began when Bonini reached out to one of his best friends who taught at UPO, Vincenzo Capizzi, to work out a “Finance Week” program where students would stay on the Stevens campus and experience all the school had to offer, both academically and culturally.
“The partnership is a result of an intense and long-established collaboration with Stefano Bonini,” said Capizzi, a full professor of banking and finance at UPO. “The initial vision was to create reciprocal research and learning opportunities to scholars and students from both institutions. UPO desired to pursue an oversea internationalization strategy and leveraged on the close relationship with Stefano, (former dean) Gregory Prastacos and professor Emmanuel Hatzakis.”
Since that initial conversation, Stevens has welcomed more than 150 UPO students for Finance Week programming, signed the dual-degree partnership, organized two joint conferences and published several joint research papers.
“This collaboration has benefitted our students and school in several ways,” Capizzi said. “It provides an avenue for international growth, the chance to network with international faculty, the ability to utilize Stevens’ facilities and enhanced job opportunities.”
“At UPO, I was taught by professors with outstanding academic backgrounds and published research in finance, which helped me develop a strong theoretical understanding of financial theory,” Shepetyuk said. “At Stevens, the focus shifted toward a more hands-on, applied approach, with access to industry tools like Bloomberg terminals and data analysis platforms. This mix creates a complementary experience that few other programs can offer.”
It’s not just the students who benefit. Their perspectives and global outlook bring new perspectives and ways of thinking into the classroom, enriching their peers and instructors experience.
“These students bring strong quantitative and analytical skills, a solid grounding in European business and financial contexts, and a global outlook that enriches classroom discussions,” Hatzakis, the director of the Stevens master’s programs in finance and financial engineering, said. “Their perspectives and collaborative spirit add meaningful depth to the Stevens community both academically and culturally. Teaching students from the UPO partnership has been deeply rewarding. Their international perspectives, strong academic preparation and intellectual curiosity have enriched classroom dialogue and encouraged me to approach material with a more global and multifaceted lens."
A Framework for Success
UPO’s week on the Stevens campus evolving into a dual-degree partnership has become a model for many of the current agreements with European universities.
“The summer programs such as Bloomberg Finance Week are almost always conduits to developing dual degree agreements,” Bonini said. “The model is now very tested. We start off light and do something actionable that brings value to both sides. We can provide a significant educational experience because of our facilities, like the Hanlon Financial Systems Center, and our proximity to New York City, and when that is done, almost all of them morphed into dual degrees. It's a natural progression.”
After arriving at Stevens, Bonini, a native of Italy with connections all throughout Europe, quickly identified the need to expand the school’s geographical footprint and attract students from different parts of the globe.
“I thought it was a good opportunity for European students to get exposure to the American system, and for us to get access to high quality, very motivated students, which is something that we want to have in terms of placement.” Bonini said. “We are tapping into a demographic that has a strong motivation to come. Cost is a big factor for any international student, and these dual-degree programs help reduce the cost for European students that are used to universities that are nearly free or definitely much less expensive. By taking some of the credits from their home institutions and reducing the academic program to essentially nine months, it’s much less of a burden.”
A better price tag is just one part of the equation. Stevens’ dual-degrees create value based on a number of factors, including the complementary curriculum, Stevens’ facilities and location just minutes from the financial capital of the world, and the cultural competency gained from studying in different parts of the world.
“Our location is essential,” Bonini said. “We have the best view of the city. We are incredibly connected. Hoboken is a safe community, and the campus is effectively the only true college campus that exists in the immediate New York City area. We are industry connected, and we have a fantastic faculty.”
“It's a magnet for people,” he continued. “We have all the facilities students need to be successful. We have athletic and recreation facilities. We have dorm facilities. We have lab facilities. We have classroom facilities. We have library facilities. We have everything that you can possibly need to attract the best of the best.”
Bonini believes these international partnerships can play a key role in helping bolster the Stevens School of Business’ reputation and continue the momentum the school has created in less than 15 years as a business school.
“Even though we have developed quickly, there are still a lot of opportunities out there for us to grow,” he said. “This is one of the reasons we hosted the SFS Cavalcade. We want to get on everyone’s radar and show them that it's not just nice and pretty. There are also brains in here that will have a significant impact at the academic level. Exposure like this has interesting side effects, and people start talking about it. I think it's a massive opportunity.”
