Stillman Students’ Trek to India Made Possible by One Alum’s Generosity

The world is full of fascinating destinations awaiting exploration by people who want to experience other cultures. At Seton Hall University, we work to make this a reality for our students.

Many students aspire to travel to far-off lands to broaden their understanding of the world and better prepare for interacting with others with different backgrounds and perspectives. For some, any international travel during college would be their first time leaving the U.S. With this in mind, Seton Hall’s Stillman School of Business regularly offers business-focused international travel experiences during the spring break period.

However, with international travel becoming increasingly expensive, many students have difficulty funding such a trip. This is where Robert C. Troccoli, M.B.A. ’76, stepped in – as he has many times in the past. Hearing of the Doing Business in India travel abroad program, Troccoli generously donated $1,500 to each qualifying student last spring to offset costs. The award was dubbed The Robert C. Troccoli Study Abroad Award.

Participating students visited one of the oldest functioning universities in India – Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya – located in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. They also hiked the Garhwal peaks of the Himalayas and returned from Rishikesh to Haridwar for some whitewater rafting.

“Haridwar and Rishikesh stirred my soul – the spiritual energy there is profoundly moving,” said Leontine Marie Celine Diene, an M.B.A. student originally from Senegal, who is pursuing concentrations in management and marketing. “The Ganges River was my favorite place during the trip.”

The Ganges River made an impression on quite a few of the students. “We began our day walking along the Ganges at sunrise,” said Nicholas Kimble, a May 2025 graduate of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations. “The stillness and idleness made me remember that fuller lives are not lives with ‘stuff’ in them, but with purpose.”

The students considered the trip to India a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “The atmosphere was serene, yet vibrant, as we passed local residents engaging in their daily rituals – one of which was bathing in the sacred waters of the river,” said Isabella Duran, a senior political science major.

“Apparently, because the river is considered sacred, people go in to bless themselves,” added Evelyn Bishop, a junior majoring in quantitative economics and econometrics. “We got to see what local people do. It was the best day ever!”

For nearly all participants, it was their first time visiting India and, for some, it was their first experience traveling overseas.

“I deeply enjoyed exploring India and learning about the economic system and culture throughout the country,” said Renné Ngaruiya, a sophomore studying entrepreneurship. She also wrote a personal recap of the trip, read more here.

This most recent donation to Seton Hall’s travel abroad program to India was just one of many ways Troccoli has helped Stillman students over the years – providing scholarship awards to encourage students to excel in areas such as business policy, managing knowledge workers, and technology and innovation. Troccoli also has presented cash awards and attended numerous awards ceremonies to encourage award winners and Stillman students as a whole.

Troccoli’s history of giving back to his alma mater began almost immediately after he earned his M.B.A. in finance from the Stillman School in 1976. He was then hired by KPMG LLP (formerly Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.).

A native of New Jersey, Troccoli retired from KPMG in 2010 after 39 years of service – most recently serving as a Global Lead Partner in the firm’s New York City-based Private Equity Group. Since retiring, Troccoli has lectured on coaching, mentoring and leadership, while also spending time gardening, playing golf and snowshoeing. In celebration of his retirement from KPMG, Troccoli completed a solo 118-mile walk from Denver to Vail, raising more than $75,000 for the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado. Troccoli and his wife, Joan, now reside in Maine.

Dean Joyce Strawser emphasized the significant impact that Robert Troccoli’s support has had over the years in recognizing excellence and helping to fund transformational experiences like study abroad. She noted, “The students and faculty of the Stillman School have been fortunate to have Mr. Troccoli as an active alumnus and benefactor for many decades and will always hold his generosity in high regard.”

The “Doing Business in India” class is scheduled to run again in Spring 2026, and we encourage all Seton Hall students – graduate an undergraduate – to participate. Visit this site for more information on Spring 2026 international travel courses. 

Categories: Alumni, Business, Education, Nation and World, Research