The Berkeley Business Excellence Program

Berkeley Business Excellence Program header image

The Michael J. Berkeley ’85 Business Excellence Program is designed to offer support and career advancement opportunities to students from groups under-represented at the PCSB. Building on PC’s founding purpose to enroll immigrants, the Berkeley Program aims to further the professional development and educational excellence of PCSB students and is open to all business students.

The Berkeley Program

The Berkeley Program supports students in classroom studies, the pursuit of competitive internships, and the launching of desired careers with the following opportunities:

  • guest speakers
  • workshops
  • career & job search advising
  • alumni networking
  • connecting with local business & community leaders

Main subject of photo is a Black student sitting in a classroom

Topics covered in these sessions will include advice from recruiters, resume-writing best practices, interviewing & communications skill-building, and development of soft skills, such as public speaking, project management, and leadership development.


  • Mentorship and support from a community of peers, alumni, faculty, and staff
  • Personalized advising & mentoring.
  • Pre-registration for PCSB courses.
  • Access to financial support for academic and professional opportunities.
  • Programs about career pathways.
  • Skill developing workshops.
  • Invitation to networking events featuring upper-class students, faculty, administrators, and PC alumni

2023 Application

The application for the 2023-24 cohort of Berkeley Scholars is now closed.

Meet the Berkeley Scholars

2022-23 Berkeley Scholars Cohort
  • Natasha Biah, marketing
  • Aaron Diaz, accountancy
  • Dariana Gonzalez, marketing
  • Lenyandra Lopes, marketing
  • Elijah Osagie, finance
  • Jaden Perryman, management
  • Roseline Tavarez Cepeda, finance
  • Penelope Tejada, accountancy and management
  • Jimmy Zhao, marketing

Learn more about the 2022-23 Berkeley Scholars Cohort.

2021-22 Berkeley Scholars Cohort
  • Max Aicardi, finance
  • Valerie Cruz, marketing
  • Diego Garcia, finance and psychology
  • Rachel Medeiros, marketing and sociology
  • Santiago Molina, finance

Learn more about the inaugural cohort of Berkeley Scholars.

About Michael J. Berkeley ’85

Photo of Michael J Berkeley

Michael Berkeley embodied many qualities that endeared him to countless individuals throughout his life. He was born in New Rochelle, NY, attended Iona Preparatory School and graduated from Providence College in 1985 with a BS in Finance. At PC, Mike was an MLK Scholar, walked onto the men’s basketball team, and set his sights on a career on Wall Street. He earned an MBA from Columbia Business School and interned at Salomon Brothers. Mike then joined Merrill Lynch’s sales and trading program. That same year, he met his wife, Lourdes Perez, who would become the love of his life. They later went on to have two sons. After several years spent honing his expertise, Mike founded his own firm, The Berkeley Group, focusing on securities brokerage, private equity investments and various golf course development projects. Golfing was near and dear to Mike. He started caddying at 12 and was the first recipient of Winged Foot’s Gene Hayden Outstanding Caddy Award. As his success grew, Mike became one of the very early black members of Winged Foot; something that was not lost on him in terms of significance. Mike tragically lost his life on September 11, 2001. His office was located on the 79th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center.

Learn more about Michael Berkeley ’85 and the creation of the Michael J. Berkeley ’85 Business Excellence Program in this Providence College news story.

PCSB Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives