NJIT Sets Up Scholar Athlete for Analyst Role at BNY Mellon

Volleyball has enabled NJIT’s Mason-William Matos to represent the Dominican Republic, see the world and express himself with joy.

As a teenager, he played on Dominican Republic national teams, making him a seasoned setter for the Highlanders when he arrived in 2019. Four years later, the mathematical sciences major from the Class of 2023 is poised to join BNY Mellon in New York as a risk and compliance analyst.

Internships, Matos said, were essential to getting to this point, as were some core classes and the advice of a helpful professor. And yes, the thrill of athletic competition. In an interview, the standout from NJIT’s College of Science and Liberal Arts discusses his college years and the road ahead.

What will you do as a risk and compliance analyst? 
I will be placed on four different teams — with each placement lasting six months — to help identify and evaluate risk that the organization will likely face and develop ideas to control or mitigate risks and liabilities through quantitative and qualitative analysis. I’ll focus primarily on the five key areas within BNYM's risk management framework: operational, market, credit, liquidity and strategic risk. At the end of the two-year program, I’ll be placed on one of the four teams. 

How key were your internships at Prudential Financial, Novitium Energy and Franklin Templeton to landing this job?
They were essential. Each position gave me a look into the corporate world and showed me where I could carve my niche. Moreover, the projects that I was assigned to work on at each company taught me something new and gave me an opportunity to leverage my strong math skills to problem solve. Lastly, the internships provided me with stories and experiences to speak about when interviewing at BNYM. 

What do you love about volleyball?
That it has allowed me to travel around the world and experience new countries through a unique lens, and to fully express myself. As a member of the national team, I have been granted the yearly pleasure to travel across the globe — to Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Tunisia, Brazil, Panama and Germany — and compete against the highest level of athletics within my sport since I was 17 years old.

What has that travel meant to you?
It has been a blessing. Immersing myself within the towns and cultures of the people, away from tourist traps and fancy hotels, is the unique perspective that I get as an athlete. Staying in local hotels where only authentic food is served, communicating with people who want to learn everything about what we are doing and living the life few others are able to has taught me gratitude in its truest form — this is all thanks to volleyball.

What about expressing yourself?
When I compete on the court, I can act as my most authentic self, and there are few feelings that can rival uncensored (yet sportsman-like) expression of emotion. Volleyball is my happy place, my peace throughout a chaotic day. 

What does making the Dominican Republic Senior National Team mean to you?
It was an honor. Growing up as a youth volleyball player, I idolized the professional players. I knew all of their metrics, statistics and team history — you name it, I knew it. More than the metrics, though, I idolized that they represented their nations on the highest level of international athletics. Competing against those men on that level was a dream that I strived for growing up, because no other team event compares to wearing a country's flag on your chest, having your family name on your back and laying it all on the line for the glory of sport.

Best piece of advice from a professor?
From Professor Michal Ryduchowski, who helped prepare me for interviews with BNYM. He told me to bring technical knowledge, outstanding questions and a great attitude. 

Your favorite class?
It’s a tie: Mathematics of Finance I with Sirag Mahmood and International Financial Management with Pete Domasky. What made both classes for me was the outstanding work of each professor. 

Biggest surprise about NJIT?
How well-known and respected it is outside of the tristate area. As a New Jersey native, I have always heard about NJIT and what is going on, but as I extend my network, I have come to realize that people all around the USA know and admire the work that is done here.