As a student at the College, the "corporate killer" has immersed himself in the community. Wallace, an economics and psychology double major, has served as AAS treasurer, president of the outing club, creator of the Amherst College Pre-Business Seminar (ACPBS) and in countless other positions that have enabled him to improve the experiences of fellow students and community members at the College.
"I really love this place and I really want to see it be the best that it can be," Wallace said.
Campus Involvement
Wallace's community involvement began when he matriculated to Amherst as a member of the class of 2004. His desire to become involved in campus activities was apparent immediately. "He was active and he wanted to be doing things," said Casey Kimball '04, one of Wallace's first-year roommates.
Because of his love of the outdoors, Wallace immediately became involved in the outing club. In high school, Wallace hiked the trails and mountains of his native California.
He also participated as a leader of the Marine County Search and Rescue unit where he gained experience organizing and leading training events and developing the annual budget.
As a member of the outing club, Wallace's love of nature and his sense of humor were very visible and appreciated by club members. "He always made our meetings more enjoyable with his playful antics," said outing club treasurer Alexander Maas '06.
However, Wallace's true gift was his ability to perform directorial duties flawlessly. "Paris liked being outside … but where he stood out was his knack for the administrative," said Christian McClellan '06, a member of the outing club executive board. "When he leaves there will be enough people to keep leading trips, and there will still be interest in the outdoors, but the club will be hindered by a lack of administrative guidance."
Maas agreed. "His knowledge of the school, the student government, physical plant and the various deans has helped the outing club organize exciting trips for the student body, thus fulfilling our stated mission," he said.
During his term as AAS treasurer, Wallace sought to make many improvements to the student government's appropriations system. "I joined the AAS as treasurer because I knew there were several improvements that could be made," he said.
Under Wallace's administration, check requests were put out every week and a web site was created where people can get online forms and access the weekly updated budget. He also enforced office hours when students could come in and meet with himself or any other member of the budgetary committee (BC). "Before, you never knew what was going on," said Wallace. "It was really political and closed-door. I tried to add as much transparency as possible."
Former AAS senator Gloria Monfrini '07, who served with Wallace on the BC, commented that Wallace's objectivity was noteworthy. "[Wallace] was fair and did not let his personal interests come into deliberations on the BC," she said.
According to AAS faculty advisor Assistant Dean of Students Samuel Haynes, Wallace has instituted a number of essential changes. "I think Paris has brought about a new beginning for the treasury of the student government ... one that is effective and working in the best sense for the student body," said Haynes.
Haynes met with Wallace weekly to discuss budgetary issues. "I'm always captivated by the way he likes to do things and equally by his dedication and motivation," said Haynes. "I admire his need to serve the community ... and make things better."
Haynes believes that while Wallace's policies may not last, some of the changes he has made will.
Executive Experiences
Wallace's knack for administrative duties was evident even before he arrived at the College.
At 16 years of age, he started an Internet retail Web site with a childhood friend in San Anselmo, Calif. "One day we made the realization that we could do a lot better than the people we were working for ... so we started our own internet biking service," Wallace said. "We sold a lot of Timbuk2 bike messenger bags."
The company ultimately grossed a total of approximately $35,000.
"The reason why we were so successful is because we had no inventory," Wallace said. "People would order from us and we'd order from the company and mark it up 10 percent."
MAStorage Extraordinaire
Wallace has applied the knowledge he learned from his first business endeavor to his position as CEO and owner of MAStorage Inc., a student-run summer storage company.
The company boasts a devoted staff and an attractive Web site (www.MAStorage.com) that includes an extensive FAQ section and a link created especially for parents interested in organizing the summer storage of their child's school necessities.
Under Wallace's leadership, MAStorage has expanded business to two other campuses in the area. "We recommend a number of storage companies," said Dean of Residential Life Charri Boykin-East. "MAStorage is a wonderful resource that we can refer students to use."
Boykin-East also explained that during his time here, Wallace and the other students involved in the company have made MAStorage a more attractive storage option for students. "Paris has made MAStorage much more visible on campus," she said. "It has served students well."
According to Wallace, the company is always willing to help students who cannot afford to pay its storage prices. "We're here to help the students out," Wallace said.
Helping students has been one of Wallace's primary goals throughout his time here. According to Boykin-East, Wallace, as a student member of the College Council, was one of the students who showed a real interest and dedication to the cause of improving the theme housing system. "He came up with deliberate recommendations for how to improve the theme house selection process and flow of information," she said.
As a result of Paris's recommendations, a theme house Web site was created. Boykin-East noted that the recommendations have provided for more accountability in the theme house system. "He is always looking for a more efficient way of doing something," she said. "I have a lot of respect for him. He will succeed at anything he puts his mind to."
Sharing his knowledge
One of Wallace's most successful projects is the annual week-long business seminar he organized and founded. The ACPBS occurs during Interterm. Since its inception two years ago, the program has hosted 90 presenters, 25 companies and 300 students from seven different colleges.
"That the program has ... established itself as a permanent institution on campus, has garnered the full support of the College administration, has established working relationships with other nationally recognized business programs … and has consistently received top reviews from student participants … speaks directly to and provides undeniable empirical proof of Paris's ability and his absolute commitment to success," said Joseph Maliekel '06, Wallace's successor as seminar director.
If Wallace sees something inefficient, he works to make it better. He created the ACPBS as a means to aid students interested in the business profession.
"In an economy like we have now, businesses are going to pick someone who has skills over someone who has no skills," Wallace said earlier this year. "At Amherst, you learn how to learn, but unfortunately you can leave Amherst wanting to be in investment banking and not even knowing what a stock really is. I wanted at least to be able to show up anywhere and kind of know what I was talking about."
Participants were required to submit a resume and essay. "I wanted people to take it seriously," said Wallace. As a result of his work on the seminar he was presented with an 'Outstanding Leadership Award' by the College for service to the greater five-college Community.
He believes the seminar has the most potential of any of the projects in which he has been involved. "I like to think big," he said. "I think it is going to be huge. I think it is going to be the pre-eminent program like it in the Northeast."
Maliekel described Wallace's motivation to organize and participate in events that benefit students. "Paris is engaged in the ever-continuing struggle to prove himself beyond his previous success, however great that success might be," he said. "For where most see incredible achievement, Paris sees only room for improvement."
Administrators are also quick to praise Wallace's extensive work on the seminar. "Paris has done an incredibly impressive job of bringing together our alumni, students and faculty, particularly in the Interterm, but also beyond," said President Anthony Marx. "We are in his debt for those efforts and for the example he has set for others and for the College."
Wallace is thankful for the support and resources that were available that allowed him to chase his ideas. "If you prove, or even if you don't prove that you can do something ... the resources are there," he said. "You just need to be able to put the work in and do it well."
Next year, Wallace will remain at the College as a green dean for the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs. "There's a natural getting older … recognizing who I want to be, what's important, and what I want to do," he said. "[Last] summer I decided that the corporate life was not for me. I changed my priorities around big time. [The position on-campus] is going to allow me to continue with MAStorage and to continue the seminar."
Wallace hopes to attend business school following his year as green dean.