Michael A. Álvarez has been building bridges between industry, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector across the Bay Area and beyond for more than two decades. A seasoned executive and strategist, he has founded and directed centers for external relations, strategic partnerships, biomedical training, and workforce development at leading institutions including UCSF, Stanford, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. He also served as the inaugural Executive Director for Columbia University’s San Francisco site and as Director of Corporate Relations for UC Santa Cruz Extension in Silicon Valley.

Earlier in his career, Álvarez was a management consultant with Andersen Consulting in New York, advising global biomedical and pharmaceutical corporations on organizational transformation and change management. Beyond his institutional leadership, he has chaired and served on nonprofit boards advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, global health, and educational access for Latino communities.

Widely sought for his expertise in STEM education, technology commercialization, and workforce development, Álvarez has authored and reviewed numerous publications in prominent media outlets. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Psychology from Boston College, along with executive certificates from UC Berkeley, Harvard Business School, and the University of Washington.

In his newly established role as Executive Director of External Relations & Strategic Partnerships at Notre Dame de Namur University, Álvarez works with senior leadership to advance institutional priorities, expand NDNU’s strategic alliances, and strengthen the university’s regional and global presence.