Michael V. Paulin

Mike graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in international business and economics. He is one of seventeen family members who have graduated from USC over the past 90 years. Shortly after graduation, Mike served as the Fraternity Affairs Advisor for the University. Professionally, he pioneered the vacation rental experience and partnered with Peter Ueberroth, businessman and former MLB Commissioner and former Olympic Organizing Committee President, to develop Hawaii’s Colony Hotels into the largest resort condominium management company of its day. He went on to establish the Aqua Hotel chain with innovative hotels and resort condos throughout Hawaii.

For many years he served on the Board of the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association and later as its chairman, traveling the world advocating sustainable tourism in speeches and lectures. He has first-hand experience in adventure travel having completed dozens of treks, safaris, and cycling experiences across Europe, Asia, Africa, and throughout the Americas. Most recently, Mike was out scouting adventure travel for several months in the Philippines and Nepal including revisits to Nepal’s Mustang, Annapurna, and Everest regions.

Since 2002, with the exclusion of years required to rotate from the board, Mike has served on the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation (KAOEF) Board of Trustees. He is a longtime member of the KAOEF’s Building and Grounds Committee, responsible for oversight of the care of Mulberry Hill, serving as chairman today. Additionally, he has served on the KAOEF Brotherhood Relief Grant Committee, which has been instrumental in providing support to active members who have faced extremely difficult circumstances. He is a member of the Loyal Order and since 2014, he has been a member of the Crimson & Gold Society. Additionally, he is a member of the 1865 Trust, the KAOEF’s planned giving program. He is a champion for Kappa Alpha Order, particularly at the University of Southern California where he has also spearheaded improved fraternity/university relations. For decades, he has rallied alumni to support the former chapter house, the new chapter, and the Order and KAOEF.

Mike and his wife Aida reside near Aspen, Colorado in the town of Carbondale which Outside Magazine has honored as one of the “Best Places to Live.”