A Welcome Message From Matt Malatesta
Vice President for Admissions, Financial Aid and Enrollment
I nearly missed out on Union.
Early in my college search, I thought I knew what I wanted. I was focused on some of New England’s best business schools, but not on Union. My oldest brother, Paul, was a senior at Union, so I felt obligated to visit. I arrived on campus more interested in seeing him than in learning about the College. The campus was beautiful, and I liked the community feel, I told my interviewer. But I had decided on business. Union, obviously, would not be the right fit. What I did not know was that I was face-to-face with a perceptive admissions dean with a legendary reputation for gently asking the right questions. She made a strong case for the breadth and balance of Union’s comprehensive offerings simply by asking, “Why not study economics and also take advantage of Union’s strong programs in liberal arts, science and engineering?”
Sold.
I went on to a rewarding time at Union, graduating in 1991 with a degree in managerial economics and later earning a master’s in teaching from Union Graduate College. At Union, I fell in love with my studies, the overall commitment to academic excellence and the close-knit, caring community of students and faculty. Along the way, I also met Maggie, a Union classmate who would become my wife and the mother of our two children. Now, back where my pivotal admissions interview took place, I remain thankful for the dean who pressed me to rethink what I “knew” and to consider Union. And I remember my experience at Union every time I talk with a prospective student.
I join my admissions colleagues at Union in wishing you a successful college search. We look forward to seeing you on campus soon.