A commitment to service: Carlos Paret ’96

As a high school student, Carlos Paret '96 learned about business, entrepreneurship, and personal finance in classes offered by Junior Achievement. His experience with the nonprofit was so positive that Paret volunteered weekly with JA of Chicago and then JA of Philadelphia after graduating from Aurora University, teaching teens basic economics.

"Having such a positive experience and seeing the impact on students of teaching these simple concepts inspired me to find other ways to volunteer," he said.

Back in Chicago, he volunteered with the community-based health clinic Heartland Human Care Services, joining its board, and with The Cradle, an Evanston, Illinois-based adoption agency, before moving to Southern California. "I was transplanted to a market where I knew no one, and I wanted a way to meet people," he explained. "My volunteerism took off."

Paret, who earned his MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, joined AU President Susana Rivera-Mills' Advisory Council of External Relations last fall. He hopes Edwards Lifesciences, where he is director of U.S. medical affairs, can partner with the university to expose students to the wide variety of careers in medical technology.

"With volunteering, it's really about the relationships," said Paret. "I get to give, and the more I give, I'm also receiving. Volunteerism is a playground to work on skills you want to build too. It makes you more productive and better when you're back at your desk."

Making an impact is a big part of his day job at Edwards Lifesciences, a leader in the medical device industry. His team leads physician training on how to implant Edwards' transcatheter heart valves - in part using a new virtual reality tool - so they can train other physicians.

Volunteering across a variety of organizations has been essential to learning skills he's applied to new opportunities. "Through volunteering, the people you meet and the experiences you have will exceed your expectations," said Paret. "Some of the people I've met along the way have become lifelong friends. It's really wonderful to be around people who care."

This story is an excerpt from the spring/summer 2026 issue of Aurora University Magazine. Read the full story online about five alumni who are turning purpose into action and creating a meaningful impact in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.