Fintech Major Leads NJIT Chapter Founding of National Latino Professional Association
Growing up in Union City, Shanell Encalada ’26 spoke Spanish at home with her parents, helping them out by translating important documents. She points out that her bilingualism has enhanced her resume and allowed her to gain friendships in the various jobs she’s had. Encalada, a fintech major at the Martin Tuchman School of Management, recently helped establish NJIT’s chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).
“I wanted to give back the mentorship to other people because it's always easy to get lost, especially in a new environment when it comes to school or starting an internship,” said Encalada. “I really hope to help out more first-generation students, and not only first-generation, sometimes even second- or third-generations, they can still get confused in the process, or at least need a Latin community to form a bond with. So that's why I also wanted ALPFA to be implemented for everybody.”
Although Encalada wanted to major in computer science, she recalls an open house visit that convinced her to major in fintech after chatting with Dean Oya Tukel. One of the reasons she picked fintech was that she would still be able to do coding, something she had been doing since she was a kid.
“I really liked coding when I was little, like creating some little video games in my free time. I also liked playing video games, so I like to see how it was made and different coding languages,” she added. “I also wanted to do business and finance because when I was little, I wanted to learn about financial literacy since my parents are not really familiar with that.
“So I took it upon myself to learn about Roth IRAs, high-yield savings accounts and what to invest in, so that combination made me really interested in majoring in fintech.”
NJIT has provided Encalada with a lot of opportunities. In her sophomore year, she won the Avanade STEM Scholarship, which not only provided her with financial security but of much needed guidance.
“We got a mentor who works at Avanade, or someone that works in New York, that they can guide us with any stuff we need help with, like for applying to internships, getting referrals to intern at Avanade or giving us guidance on how to message your professor or manager,” said Encalada. “[My manager] has been helping me a lot when it comes to asking for my internship to be extended. She helped me form that email and how to run ALPFA.”
“I met Shanell in 2023 when she took MGMT 116 and later OM 375, and from the start, she stood out as a dedicated and engaged student,” said university lecturer at MTSM, Olena Rudna. “She has an incredible way of approaching challenges with a positive mindset, always eager to learn and find solutions. Her analytical skills are top-notch, and she has a natural ability to break down complex concepts, making class discussions more insightful. Beyond academics, Shanell is a fantastic team player, always willing to support her peers and contribute to a collaborative learning environment. What really makes her special, though, is her kindness and enthusiasm—she brings such great energy to the classroom and makes it a better place for everyone.”
She already has a full-time offer post graduation
Encalada currently interns at Wedbush Securities and is part of its operations team. She deals with financial advisors, telling them what stocks are approved and denied to be sold. She also sets up their accounts for their clients. It's an internship she got during the summer of 2024 and was able to get it extended for the fall and spring. She works remotely and already has a full-time offer post graduation.
With clubs like the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Hispanic Association of Computing College Students (HACCS), Encalada believed that the business school could also have a club catered specifically for Hispanic students that are business or finance majors.
“Everybody was on board with it since NJIT had been trying to establish ALPFA a long time ago, but they needed a student to represent it,” said Encalada. “So I was glad to be that student and get it initiated here at NJIT.”
ALPFA's NJIT chapter adviser is Angela Arroyo, an NJIT alumna who currently is an adjunct professor at the Ying Wu College of Computing. She’s also an ALPFA NJ Board Member.
“Shanell's passion for bringing this chapter to NJIT is truly admirable, and I’m incredibly proud of all that she and the team have accomplished so far,” said Arroyo. “She is a bright and driven student leader who not only brings her own great ideas to the table but has also created an environment where everyone who is involved feels heard and valued. It’s been inspiring to witness the growth of this chapter since it is something I personally would have loved to be a part of during my time as a student. I have no doubt that this chapter will have a lasting impact and provide invaluable support to NJIT students.”
ALPFA's NJIT chapter already has more than 20 members, and it will likely keep growing. Recently, NJIT got designated as a Hispanic-serving institution. Over 25% of the student population identifies as Hispanic, and for the first time in an incoming class, Hispanic enrollment has eclipsed the 500-person mark.
“I feel like now, it's really helpful to get organizations like HACCS, SHPE or ALPFA implemented,” said Encalada. “Everybody, with different backgrounds, you learn a lot about different cultures and food, and we're still bonded from being Latino. We have a connection.”
