Brookdale Alum Kevin Alwell: Leaning Into AI

When Kevin Alwell was deciding where to begin college, he faced a choice familiar to many students: go away to a four-year university or take a more affordable path closer to home.

He chose Brookdale Community College.

At the time, watching friends head off to universities while he lived at home, worked full time, and commuted to class sometimes made Alwell wonder whether he was missing out. Today, the 2014 Brookdale graduate sees that decision very differently.

Those choices helped position him for a career that eventually took him from Brookdale to Rutgers University, software engineering, GitHub and, today, OpenAI, where he leads applied AI engineering for financial services.

“There were times when it felt like I was doing it in hard mode,” Alwell said. “I want folks to feel encouraged by some of the hard choices that they’re making now and how that will set them up later.”

A College Decision That Paid Off

Growing up in Holmdel and attending St. John Vianney High School, Alwell knew Brookdale was close to home and had a strong reputation. What ultimately helped make the decision clear was the combination of quality and affordability.

“I realized the cost-to-quality ratio was super high,” he said. “I’m getting a good education at a great cost.”

Alwell initially considered going away to college. His mother had even begun buying supplies for his dorm room when he reconsidered. The prospect of substantial student debt concerned him, and Brookdale would allow him to continue working while earning his degree.

He worked full-time managing a GNC and took three years to complete his associate degree. He readily shares this detail because his journey wasn’t about following a perfect timeline.

“I was not necessarily an extraordinary student,” he said. “I think I found my way.”

Along the way, faculty helped make Brookdale memorable. He recalls public speaking courses and accounting professor Charles Mencel in particular. Years later, Alwell encountered Mencel at a restaurant while dining with his family and introduced himself as a former student. When the bill arrived, he discovered his former professor had quietly paid it.

For Alwell, the gesture reflected what he remembered about Brookdale: faculty members who cared about their students and remained invested in seeing them succeed.

At the Forefront of a Changing Industry

Alwell’s interest in technology developed into a career in software engineering and, ultimately, artificial intelligence. Today, his work focuses on helping major financial institutions use AI, including strengthening cybersecurity and solving complex business challenges.

One of the most exciting parts of his career, he said, is having a front-row seat as new capabilities emerge. He describes those experiences as moments of “lightning in a bottle,” when technology suddenly makes something possible that wasn’t possible before.

“It’s just a thrill to be able to work with this tech, solve hard problems and have fun along the way,” he said.

That rapid pace of change also shapes the advice he gives students.

Students Should “Lean In” to AI

For students wondering what artificial intelligence will mean for their careers, Alwell’s advice is straightforward: learn it, experiment with it, and understand how it can make you better at whatever field you choose.

He describes AI as a “multiplier,” a technology that can increase both the amount of work someone can accomplish and the depth at which they can explore a subject or solve a problem.

“Companies want to hire people who have grown up with the technology,” he said. “It’s something that should be leaned into.”

That does not mean accepting everything AI produces without question. Students still need to think critically about the information and results it provides.

For Alwell, curiosity and continuous learning will be increasingly valuable. “Everything is moving at light speed,” he said, comparing the transformation to the arrival of the internet and digital age, but on a much more compressed timeline.

His advice: keep testing new tools, understand what they can and cannot do, and find ways to apply them to real problems.

Hard Skills Open the Door. Soft Skills Raise the Ceiling.

Technology alone, however, is not Alwell’s formula for career success.

A marketable hard skill. Whether coding, accounting, finance, nursing, or another profession, it can help a graduate get a foot in the door. But technical knowledge is only part of what determines how far someone can go.

“You get in the door with your hard skills, and then your soft skills allow you to be very effective over time,” Alwell said.

Building authentic relationships, communicating effectively, and learning how to work with others can ultimately “raise the ceiling” on a career, he said. It connects back to his Brookdale experience, where courses such as public speaking helped develop skills that became increasingly important as his career progressed.

The Payoff of Playing the Long Game

Asked what he is most proud of when he looks back at his journey, Alwell points to what education has made possible beyond a job title.

“The thing I’m most proud of is what my education has unlocked for me in terms of my quality of life,” he said.

Those professional opportunities helped him build the personal life he values today with his wife and their three young sons.

That perspective is why he encourages Brookdale students not to measure their progress against someone else’s. Working while attending community college, commuting from home, or taking longer than two years to complete an associate degree does not mean a student is falling behind.

Alwell also hopes to give back. He has expressed interest in returning to Brookdale to speak with students about technology, AI, and career opportunities, and to mentor students at pivotal points in their educational or professional journeys.

His message reflects the path he took to build valuable skills, cultivate relationships, stay curious, embrace emerging technology, and recognize that choices that may feel difficult today can pay off for years to come.