NYU Alumni Connect

January 15, 2016 

Quemuel “Q” Arroyo (CAS ’12) is serving his fourth year on the Board, where he’s on the NYUAA Recent Alumni & Student Programs Committee and the Fundraising Committee.

The NYU Alumni Association (NYUAA) represents all NYU alumni, from every NYU school and department—a community nearly half-a-million strong. The diverse and active NYUAA Board of Directors is made up of alumni volunteers who steer the Association in their mission to engage and support alumni.  

Quemuel “Q” Arroyo (CAS ’12) is serving his fourth year on the Board, where he’s on the NYUAA Recent Alumni & Student Programs Committee and the Fundraising Committee. Having stayed an engaged alumnus since graduating with his bachelor’s degree in Urban Design Studies in 2012, Arroyo has also been involved with the 1831 Fund, Young Alumni Leadership Circle (YALC), and Recent Alumni Network (RAN). While a student at NYU, he received the Higher Education Opportunities Program (HEOP) Service Award, the College of Arts and Science School Spirit Award, and the Presidential Service Award from John Sexton. Arroyo is a Policy Analyst at the New York City Department of Transportation, and previously worked at Morgan Stanley.

What is your favorite:

  • Food? Caio e Pepe. It’s a very simple pasta dish but when it’s made right, it’s incredible!
  • Book? It’s hard to say I have a favorite book. I love to read anything by Junot Diaz, he’s certainly my favorite author. I’m currently reading Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari (STERN ’04) and I’m really enjoying it. I highly recommend it!
  • TV Show and/or Movie? That’s easy, Game of Thrones and Look Who’s Talking.
  • Song and/or Musical Artist? Song: Crush by Dave Matthews; Artist: Sting.
  • Way to spend a Saturday? I like Saturdays. I get to unwind and just be. I like to start by swimming at the McBurney Y, and then have a caramel macchiato or dirty chai while I call my mom and dad; those two calls alone can take hours. I meet some friends for a long brunch, somewhere in the Village, and then go to the Angelika, IFC, or Film Forum for a movie. If I can find a belay buddy, I’ll then head to Brooklyn Boulders for an evening of rock climbing. That usually ends at a barbecue joint with IPAs in hand.
  • Place to travel? I’m a certified scuba diver so warm, clear blue waters with lots of sea-life get priority. Venice, Italy has a special place in my heart. It’s real-life magic!
  • Place on the NYU campus? In the winter months, it’s the seventh floor students’ club lounge. It’s a happening place! And that view of the park and Fifth Avenue is unparalleled. Spring and summer-time is best enjoyed at the courtyard of the Law School. There are a few tables by a small falling water wall. You can hear the water running and birds chirping around you. It’s my urban oasis.

What is your favorite memory from your time at NYU?

My favorite memory from my time at NYU was volunteering at the NYU Rusk Rehabilitation’s pediatric unit, where I once lived for ten months. My Gentleman of Quality (GQ) brothers would join me to spend time with the inpatients there. We laughed and enjoyed our Thursday evenings with the kids.

Why do you give back to NYU?

I arrived at NYU on June 30, 2008. I arrived in a yellow cab coming from NYU Rusk where I’d lived for close to a year. I arrived at Hayden Hall scared to death about life outside of Rusk. Ten months earlier, I had endured a spinal cord injury while mountain biking in Vermont. At NYU I found an abundance of communities welcoming me into their circle. I encountered challenges that made me grow, and a family that has never let me down. I give back because I got so much during my time on campus.