The first time Andy Alcindor ’04 (information management and technology) jumped out of a plane in 2009, he didn’t expect the experience to transform his life. “It felt so freeing—like a huge release,” he recalled. “Nothing seemed scary anymore, and taking chances suddenly felt worth it.”
Like uprooting his life in New York and moving to San Diego without having a job lined up. “I had considered other cities before—but I was always waiting to apply and secure a job first,” Alcindor said. “So in 2012, I just quit, packed my car, and drove. Skydiving showed me that when you take big risks, you can win big rewards. A lot of doors opened unexpectedly.”
Today, Alcindor has spent 21 years in the eDiscovery field—digital forensics data processing and evidence document management in legal cases – and is now entering his seventh year with leading intellectual property firm Fish and Richardson P.C., most recently serving as an eDiscovery analyst.
The journey, he emphasizes, wasn’t always smooth.
Born in Boston and raised in Brooklyn as the son of Haitian immigrants, Alcindor chose Syracuse University to venture beyond home. He began in the College of Engineering and Computer Science but quickly struggled with the demands of programming. His GPA faltered to the point of academic probation. “I was about to drop out,” he said.
But his parents’ unwavering belief in education grounded him. “My mom calmed me down and had the foresight to show me what was important,” Alcindor said. “She encouraged me to finish the semester.”
He took that advice—and pivoted. Embracing his curiosity about technology and people, Alcindor shifted his coursework to the iSchool, finishing with Dean’s list honors. “As soon as I started the transition, it felt like a natural fit,” he said.
Support found him in multiple places—the Kalabash Dance Troupe, the Black and Latinx Information Science and Technology Society (BLISTS), and especially CSTEP, a state-sponsored program supporting underrepresented students in science and professional fields. “Seeing faces like mine in tech was huge,” he said. “Using the program’s student support services helped me get my act together so I could graduate.”
After returning to New York, Alcindor “did the job thing for a while.” His career really took off in 2006 after an old colleague rang him up to return him into the eDiscovery industry. “I’ve been doing it since,” said Alcindor, who has worked across service bureaus, general practice, securities litigation, and intellectual property.
When he arrived in San Diego in 2012, Alcindor didn’t just rebuild a career—he sought out community. “One of the first things I did was connect with the Syracuse Alumni Club of San Diego,” he said. Many members became close friends, and by 2014 he was serving as treasurer and informal club ambassador. “It kept me rooted while growing in a new place.”
From his West Coast home base, Alcindor continues to embrace adventure, whether exploring the evolving world of eDiscovery, cheering for the New York Mets (he’s co-founder of the San Diego Mets Fans Club) or traveling the world. “In life and in career, you can’t stay stagnant,” he said. If skydiving taught him anything, it’s that growth comes from leaping.