Armando Benitez is the 2026 recipient of the Joon S. Moon International Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes former international students who have gone on to make outstanding contributions or demonstrate leadership in their fields, communities or organizations.

“What made the transition possible for me was the extraordinary community at Michigan State,” said Benitez, who came to MSU from Colombia to pursue his master’s and doctoral degrees in physics, with specializations in experimental high-energy physics.

“From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and supported. Faculty, fellow students and the broader campus community helped me navigate everything from research and academics to simply learning how to build a life in a new place.”

During his time as a student, Benitez met another Spartan — Catherine Ferrari, an international student from Canada studying law as part of a dual program with the University of Ottawa. The two connected immediately and would regularly take walks throughout campus. The Children’s Garden was among their favorite spots, and it was there that Benitez proposed one wintery ​​day.

“MSU quickly became my home away from home. I formed friendships with people from all over the world, many of whom remain close friends today,” Benitez said. “Michigan State is therefore special to me in many ways. It shaped my academic journey, it gave me a community that felt like family, and it is also the place where I met the person who changed my life.”

Following Catherine’s graduation, she spent a year living in Chicago while Benitez conducted doctoral research at Fermilab as part of his Ph.D. program.

After more than a decade working as a physicist and data scientist with institutions including the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, York University, and Paytm Labs, Benitez transitioned into finance, joining BMO Capital Markets.

At BMO, he initially worked on the ETF trading desk before moving into technology and quantitative roles, eventually leading Quantitative Engineering. In this role, he oversaw the development of pricing, risk and market data platforms across asset classes and built teams focused on machine learning, analytics and advanced engineering.

Eight years later, Benitez became chief data and analytics officer and head of AI for Capital Markets at BMO Capital Markets. He leads the firm’s AI and data strategy, overseeing AI engineering, data science and governance teams while deploying AI across sales, trading, research, investment banking, corporate banking and client analytics. His organization focuses on building production AI platforms, modernizing data infrastructure, and developing advanced analytics systems that support core capital markets businesses.

Beyond his professional work, Benitez has remained deeply committed to the Toronto Spartans Alumni Club. In 2023, he and his wife Catherine became co-presidents. Catherine passed away the following year.

“Catherine had an extraordinary spirit. She cared deeply about serving others and was naturally curious about the world,” said Benitez.

​​“We saw the role as an opportunity not only to bring Spartans together socially but also to help the network grow and thrive in a city like Toronto. It is an incredible place for collaboration with industry leaders, universities and professionals across many fields, many of whom share Spartan roots.”

Benitez has continued his work with the Toronto Spartans. Last September, dozens of ​alumni from across Ontario came together to meet during an alumni event in Toronto. The dinner featured presentations by MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, Michigan’s former Governor James Blanchard, Vice Provost and International Studies and Programs Dean Titus Awokuse and VP for Advancement Kim Tobin.

There’s no doubt Benitez is largely responsible for making the event the huge success that it was. From planning the event to the moving speech he delivered, Benitez achieved what he said he would do: carry on Catherine’s legacy.

“Catherine loved the Spartan community and believed strongly in the power of people coming together. I look forward to continuing to grow the Toronto Spartan network and strengthening those connections for many years to come,” Benitez said.