Menu
UMass alumni are making a difference in the Massachusetts House and Senate. Following recent elections, 19 alumni will hold a public office in 2015, serving constituents across the Bay State. Five of these legislators are newly elected and will serve their first full two-year term. Here is a glance at these civil servants with roots at UMass Amherst. 
 
Rep. Christine Barber ’03 MPA, D-Somerville
Barber received her master’s degree in public policy and administration from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Prior to running for office, she worked as a senior policy analyst at Community Catalyst, a national nonprofit advocacy group working to improve the U.S. health care system. Barber is newly elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Rep. Linda Dean Campbell ’79, D-Methuen
A graduate of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Campbell studied history and was also the first female commander of her ROTC unit at UMass Amherst. She went on to serve six years in the U.S. Army, followed by two additional years as a paratrooper and intelligence officer. She is the vice chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws, among other committee assignments. Campbell has served as a state representative since 2007.
Rep. Evandro Carvalho ’04, D-Dorchester
Born in Cape Verde, Carvalho immigrated to Dorchester as a teenager. He earned a scholarship to UMass Amherst, where he studied sociology at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Carvalho was formerly an assistant district attorney prosecuting gun crimes before being elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for his first term.
Rep. Mark J. Cusack ’07, D-Braintree
A political science major at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Cusack is now the vice-chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. He also serves on the Joint Committee on Revenue and the Joint Committee on Transportation. He has served in Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2011.
Rep. Michael Day ’96, D-Stoneham
A dual major in history and political science at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Day went on to earn a law degree and as a trial lawyer and special assistant district attorney in Middlesex County. In 2012, he co-founded a law firm, Torres, Scammon & Day, LLP. Day is newly elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Rep. Marjorie C. Decker ’94, D-Cambridge
Decker was the first in her family to graduate from high school and go on to attend college. She graduated with honors from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, studying social thought and political economy. She serves on the Joint Committees for Financial Services, Health Care Financing and Housing. Decker has served as a state representative since 2013.
Sen. Eileen Donoghue ’76, D-Lowell
A graduate of the Bachelor’s Degree with Individualized Concentration in law and Spanish, Donoghue is the chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses and vice chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, among other committee assignments. She was first elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 2010.
Rep. John V. Fernandes ’74, D-Milford
Fernandes graduated from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences with a degree in political science. He is currently serving as vice-chair of the Joint Committee on Financial Services and also serves on the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development and the Joint Committee on Transportation. Fernandes was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2007.
Rep. Carole Fiola ’82, D-Fall River
After graduating from the Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration, Fiola worked as a realtor and served as an elected member of the Governor's Council. She serves on the Joint Committees on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Public Service and Economic Development & Emerging Technologies. Fiola became state representative during a special election in 2013 and was recently was re-elected to her first full two-year term.
Rep. Paul K. Frost ’93, R-Auburn
A history major from the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Frost is a member of the Joint Committee on Election Laws, the Joint Committee on Rules and the House Committee on Rules. He served as an Auburn Town Meeting Member after graduating from college and was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1997.
Rep. Carlos Gonzalez ’03, D-Springfield
Having studied at UMass Amherst, Gonzalez is the founder and CEO the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, based in Springfield. Prior to this role, he was the CEO of Nueva Esperanza, Inc., a community development agency, a legislative aide in the Springfield Mayor’s Office, and general manager of WSPR 1270 Spanish Radio. Gonzalez is a newly elected member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Rep. Kate Hogan ’88, D-Stow
A graduate of University Without Walls, Hogan is the vice-chair of the House Committee on Rules and the Joint Committee on Rules, and serves on both the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses and the Joint Committee on Revenue. She has served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2009.
Rep. Stephen Kulik ’97, D-Worthington
Kulik, who attended the University Without Walls, is co-chair of the Legislative Small Town and Rural Caucus and he serves as vice-chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Kulik was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1993.
Rep. Paul W. Mark ’08 MS, D-Peru
A graduate student, Mark studied labor relations at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He is currently the vice-chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education and serves on the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. He has served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2011.
Sen. Marc R. Pacheco ’73, D-Taunton
Having studied turfgrass management at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Pacheco is the chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, and vice chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, among other committee assignments. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1988 and to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1992.
Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg ’77, D-Amherst, Senate Majority Leader
Rosenberg earned a bachelor’s degree in community development & arts management. During his undergraduate career, Rosenberg became the founding director of the Arts Extension Service and the director of the Community Development and Human Service Programs in the Division of Continuing Education. As a senator, he is the chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules and chair of the Joint Committee on Rules. He was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1991.
Rep. Ellen Story, Honorary Alumna, D-Amherst
Story was bestowed the Alumni Association Distinguished Honorary Alumni Award in 1998. Her career in public service began as an Amherst Town Meeting member. She currently serves on the Joint Committee on Rules and the House Committee on Rules. Story was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1992.
Rep. Benjamin Swan ’77 MEd, D-Springfield
The recipient of a master’s degree in education from the College of Education, Swan is the vice-chair of the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight. He also serves on the Joint Committees for Elder Affairs and Public Service. Swan has served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 1994.
Rep. Joseph F. Wagner ’84, D-Chicopee
A student of sport management at the Isenberg School of Management for a period, Wagner is currently the chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies and serves on both the House Committee on Rules and Joint Committee on Rules. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1991.