He Left a University in Peru and Found His True Path at PCCC

Carlos Nunez was in the fourth year of a five-year program at the National University of Education  (Enrique Guzman y Valle La Cantutan) in Peru, when he received an unexpected opportunity to come to the United States.

“Coming to America is something I always wanted to do,” said Carlos. Though he was preparing to become a teacher of physics and math and had only one more year to graduation, Carlos decided to leave the university and follow his American Dream.

That was the beginning of a success story that took Carlos to PCCC, where he received an associate’s degree in Business Administration in 2022;  to Rutgers University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting last July; and to a new job which he will begin this month as a tax consultant with the renowned accounting firm Deloitte.

When Carlos arrived in the U.S.  in 2012, he lived in Long Island and began learning English. But when Hurricane Sandy struck that year, causing significant damage in Long Island, Carlos was one of the many who left the area.

He moved to Paterson and landed a job in Clifton as a line cook for Zinburger, which was, at the time, a growing chain of hip, new burger restaurants.“My boss noticed I was responsible and willing to learn,” said Carlos, so as the popular company opened more locations, Carlos was sent to train staff and help launch the new restaurants.  

Promoted to sous chef and then to executive chef, Carlos appeared to have a promising future with Zinburger until the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted life again in 2020. The restaurant industry was hit hard, and Carlos  was among those laid off. “That’s when I decided to return to college,” he said. Taking the advice of locals, he came to PCCC. “I’m so glad I did,” he says.

In addition to his culinary and management talents, Carlos also has a knack for numbers, so he chose to pursue the program in Business Administration: Accounting /Management/Marketing.  “I really enjoyed my classes. Professor (Khloud) Kourani gave me very strong preparation in accounting.”  

That preparation served Carlos well when he graduated and transferred into a bachelor’s degree program at Rutgers University.  “They really push you at Rutgers,” Carlos said.  “I’ll never forget my finals in Tax 1 and Tax 2, but I felt well prepared for them.”

Carlos was able to attend Rutgers through the Garden State Guarantee, a state program that makes a college degree more accessible and affordable to qualifying students.   “I paid almost no tuition,” said Carlos. “I really appreciated that.”

While attending college full-time, Carlos also worked full-time, holding down management positions at Amazon and, at one point, as a substitute teacher for elementary and middle school grades.

In his senior year at Rutgers, Carlos was recruited by Deloitte for an internship with the company.  He interned as a tax consultant from January to March 2024 and performed so well that he was offered the position full time.

Now studying to take the CPA exam, Carlos is looking forward to starting his new job at Deloitte, and he is very grateful for the experience at PCCC that helped to bring him this far.  “I sometimes have tears in my eyes when I pass the campus in Paterson, thinking about how this all began for me here.”

A believer in giving back, Carlos has participated at the College in events for students who are interested in a business career, serving with other alumni on a panel where he answered student questions and talked about his PCCC experience.

As someone who was once unsure of how to choose a college, Carlos offers this recommendation to others: “The excellent professors at PCCC will give you a great foundation for any university you want to go to from here. Also, the environment is positive. People here are very fair and treat you well.”

By Linda Telesco