In just four years at UMass Lowell, Stephanie Carpenito ’25, ’26 earned her bachelor's and master's degrees while taking advantage of opportunities across nearly every corner of the Manning School of Business.
The North Andover native completed her bachelor's degree in business (with concentrations in marketing and entrepreneurship) in just three years before pursuing a finance-focused MBA through the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program.
“I enjoyed my undergraduate experience so much that it felt natural to stay,” she says. “I wanted to broaden my horizons and learn every area of business that I could.”
That desire to expand her skill set led Carpenito to the Student Managed Fund, where she served as an equity analyst covering the health care sector. Working with a student-run portfolio of more than $300,000, she conducted market research, analyzed companies and helped make investment decisions using the Bloomberg Terminal.
“It was an incredible experience, especially coming from a non-finance background,” she says.
Carpenito also gained hands-on experience through Mill City Consulting, a student-run group that partners with local businesses. As both a consultant and marketing intern, she worked directly with business owners, helping to develop growth strategies, improve outreach efforts and solve real-world challenges.
“That experience changed me,” she says. “We were working with real business owners and creating solutions that actually made an impact.”
Through the Real Estate Network Association and an internship with Project Destined, Carpenito gained exposure to commercial real estate, developed professional skills and built industry connections. And as a member of the UML Sales Team, she earned a second-place finish at the Manning School's 2026 Competitive Sales Challenge against students from across the region.
Outside of school, Carpenito has nurtured her entrepreneurial side through a thriving e-commerce business. She sources and upcycles secondhand clothing on Depop, a social e-commerce company, and generates five-figure annual revenue.
“I treat it like a real business. I'm constantly analyzing what sells, how to price and how to connect with customers,” says Carpenito, whose venture allows her to combine business principles with her interest in sustainability by giving unwanted clothing a second life.
A recipient of the Rist Family Bachelor's to Master's Scholarship, Carpenito served as a student speaker at the Manning School's Celebration of Scholarships, where she reflected on the impact of donor support.
“Donors' support doesn't just shape our present,” she says. “It shapes the trajectory of our futures.”
As a freshly minted Double River Hawk, Carpenito is exploring career opportunities in business and real estate law.
“My experience at UMass Lowell opened so many doors,” she says. “I'm excited to see where it leads.”
“Your grades are important, but your network, your organizations and your hands-on experiences are what really drive the value of going to school. All of my biggest opportunities came from getting involved.”