Alumnus continues legacy
above: Professor Roger Feinstein stands with students following a meeting of the Political Science Club in the 1980s.
Political Science Department Chair Elizabeth Bussiere recalls that her former colleague “was a rigorous grader, but that reflected his belief that faculty best served our predominantly working-class students by holding them to very high standards.”
The son of Portuguese immigrants who completed no more than fourth grade, Carvalho received little academic guidance prior to UMass Boston. But a fertile mind and the inspiration of Professor Feinstein cultivated in him a passionate interest in both urban and environmental politics. “I went from having not a clue about college to doing an independent study on urban economics as a senior,” he says.
Feinstein was also the catalyst for Carvalho’s pursuit of graduate study. After earning an MBA from the University of Alabama, he joined Jefferies & Company, Inc., an investment bank and institutional securities firm in Atlanta, where he is now managing director.
When his beloved mentor passed away in fall 2007, Carvalho decided to keep his wise influence alive through joining the Chancellor’s Council. Carvalho’s gift supports scholarships for undergraduates studying political science, the types of students Roger Feinstein so richly influenced over his decades of service.
“When you encounter someone like Roger Feinstein, you know how lucky you are,” Carvalho says. “My gift, in small measure, gives back.”
