Michael Almontaser

Program: Higher Education & Student Affairs, MA
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Awards: 2023-24 Drs. Henry J. and Bonita R. Durand Scholarship

Michael Almontaser is a first year student within the Higher Education & Student Affairs (HESA) master's program.

He is a first generation college student, and attended UB through the Educational Opportunity Program. In April of 2023 he was a recipient of the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence. He received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from UB in May of 2023.

During undergrad, he worked closely with the EOP program at UB, as the populations they serve are the ones that he identifies with and wish to serve through a career in student affairs. As such, his current research interests surround increasing access to higher education amongst students from minority and traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds, primarily doing so through the strengthening of access programs.