NJIT Scholar, Intern and Volleyball Captain Pursues Master's in Finance at Baruch
Alessandro Negri’s road to business came through volleyball.
When he arrived at New Jersey Institute of Technology in January 2022, he planned to major in biology. But two teammates on the volleyball team, Joseph Kennedy and Martin de Chavarria, shared their textbooks on finance and economics and Negri was intrigued.
“I quickly became fascinated by how finance connects to real-world issues. It gave me the framework to understand the bigger picture,” said Negri, a member of NJIT’s Class of 2025 who switched to study business with a concentration in finance and now will pursue a master’s in finance at Baruch College. “I discovered a passion that has shaped the rest of my college career.”
Indeed, his studies naturally led him to join the NJIT Investment Fund, a student group that researches and invests in stocks, with profits funding student scholarships. De Chavarria introduced him to that as well, also during his first year. By his senior year, he had become the group’s president.
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Fruits of networking
Networking was also key to an internship at The Edge Group, where he was an equity research analyst during his junior and senior years.
Oya Tukel, dean of his school at NJIT, the Martin Tuchman School of Management, invited Edge Group Founder Jim Osman to address members of the Investment Fund and “after seeing our work and hearing my insights, he offered me a role,” Negri said.
Negri, who’s from Reggio Emilia, Italy, also assumed a leadership role on the volleyball team, becoming captain in his final year. Head Coach Danny Goncalves was instrumental in his development.
“He helped me grow mentally as a player, pushed me to lead and encouraged me to embrace pressure and responsibility,” said Negri, whose position was outside hitter. “My proudest moment was playing in the conference final against Princeton during my freshman year. Competing at that level so early was unforgettable.”
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Global community
Beyond big matches, though, Negril will remember his teammates, who not only sparked his academic pursuits but made him feel at home in University Heights.
“What I’ve loved most isn’t just the sport itself but the people I’ve met through it,” said Negri, who started playing at 14. “My closest friends come from different countries and walks of life, and volleyball brought us together. It has given me a global community that I’m truly grateful for.”
Negri, who completed his bachelors in seven semesters and hopes to earn his master’s in a year, is also interviewing for equity research analyst roles in New York City, with an eye toward both working and studying at the same time.
Coach Goncalves would be proud. As would two big mentors: Senior University Lecturer William Tamke and Associate Professor Michael Ehrlich.
“Balancing both will be demanding,” Negri said, “but I’m excited for the challenge and what’s next.”
