Binghamton University EOP to celebrate 50 years of turning lives around

​Steven Gonzalez ’98 doesn’t know what life would’ve been like without the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). He’s certain that without it, he wouldn’t have come to Binghamton.

“In high school, I lived in various foster homes, which led to an unstable environment and a weak support system. As a result, my grades were good, but not great.” Thanks to EOP, he had a great academic career, including law school and an MBA. Now he’s at Goldman Sachs in New York, leading compliance teams as a managing director.

Gonzalez is one of the many success stories for EOP, which celebrates its 50th anniversary at Homecoming. Reunion events will be held Oct. 5–7, and all EOP alumni are encouraged to come back to campus.

“EOP assessed my personal situation, recognized my potential and gave me a chance to achieve my ultimate goals,” Gonzalez says. “This opportunity allowed me to grow as a student and a person; I’ve become more confident. Most people with similar backgrounds are not afforded the same opportunity. Without EOP, there is a possibility I’d never have become a lawyer or worked at Goldman Sachs, let alone gotten promoted to managing director. I am forever grateful to Binghamton and EOP.”

Arlene Barnard ’90 credits EOP and her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, with helping her succeed in the School of Management and develop leadership skills. Barnard is controller at the Modern Language Association of America.

“I grew up in a single-parent household, and the resources weren’t there for me to attend college,” she says. “EOP gave me a leg up. We were a group of students who needed a little extra support, but we endured the same coursework as everyone else.” Barnard plans to return to Binghamton for the 50th anniversary celebration and says the entire University should take pride in the occasion.

“EOP is an important part of Binghamton and, unfortunately, it’s not always seen that way,” she says. “People outside the program don’t always see the value of it. We’ve turned out doctors, lawyers, judges, principals and many other accomplished professionals. The fact that it has been around for 50 years speaks to how important EOP is.”