Lindsay Jade Feinstein
Lindsay Jade Feinstein is a Class of 2026 student majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP), Plan II Honors, and Management Information Systems. Lindsay Jade is from Dallas, Texas. Currently on campus, she is involved in Texas Debate, Philanthropy Investment Team, and PlanTutoring. In her free time, Lindsay Jade enjoys reading and listening to music.
Debate has been one of the biggest parts of Lindsay Jade’s college experience. While she started debate back in high school, she only joined the Texas Debate team during her sophomore year. Lindsay Jade participates in Policy Debate, a highly research-intensive two-on-two competition. While this has been a time-consuming commitment, it is also incredibly fulfilling to see her in-depth research pay off in competitions. Additionally, Policy Debate is particularly intellectually stimulating for her, as it involves evaluating the cost and benefit of policies that are often too unrealistic for actual political implementation. This year, for example, she is exploring the best policy solutions for managing U.S. nuclear weapons. Ultimately, Lindsay Jade expresses that she stays in debate for the community. Traveling to various tournaments has also allowed Lindsay Jade to strengthen her connections on the team and reconnect with peers from other universities.
Many fun debate stories occur outside of competitions, including many planned social activities. However, Lindsay Jade’s favorite debate memory involves a spontaneous, humorous moment on a flight to her first tournament. While frantically typing and researching a sensitive topic for her competition, a lady next to her glanced at her screen concerningly, prompting Lindsay Jade to assure her by saying, “This is for debate!”
Thanks to her hard work and the team’s mentorship, Lindsay Jade has reached many successes in her specific competition, including winning the Mid-America Championship alongside her partner. The Texas Debate team has also achieved a significant milestone by reaching the octa-finals of the national championship.
Lindsay Jade’s biggest takeaway through debate is the confidence she gained. Initially soft-spoken and hesitant to share her ideas, the competitive spirit of debate motivated her to become more assertive and speak her mind. Finding a community of smart and talented women in the debate community was incredibly helpful for Lindsay Jade, providing mutual support and encouragement. Now, she also gives back to the debate community by coaching high school students, which is very empowering as she helps new, talented women enter the debate arena and build their confidence.
Besides Debate, another highlight of Lindsay Jade’s college journey is the Philanthropy Investment Team (PIT). Initially joining PIT as a freshman Junior Analyst, she has recently been selected as the President for the 2024-2025 school year. Lindsay Jade considers PIT to be one of the most unique and impactful student organizations an undergraduate student can be a part of, as she gets the opportunity to allocate over $100,000 in charitable donations. With the support of Undergraduate Securities Investment Team (USIT) alumni, she directly influences how the money is used, making a significant impact. This experience has been eye-opening, making her realize the extent of her ability to make a positive change, even early in her career. Through PIT, Lindsay has gained valuable finance skills and built strong relationships with USIT alumni and fellow PIT members. She is immensely grateful for this opportunity, which has become a defining part of her college experience.
Besides her extracurricular involvements, Lindsay Jade has also greatly enjoyed her academic endeavors at UT. She finds the combination of Canifield BHP and Plan II to be a perfect balance for her interests and academic goals. Canfield BHP supports her passion for business, while the diverse curriculum of Plan II supplements her interest in law. Through McCombs, she has taken advantage of two enriching study abroad opportunities, participating in a marketing Maymester program in Berlin last year and currently studying Business Law program in Edinburgh. In Plan II, she meets friends from various disciplines ranging from neuroscience to government. This diversity allows her to connect with some of the most passionate and intelligent people across the university, enriching her academic experience with a variety of perspectives. Together, these programs offer the ideal mix of career preparation and intellectual exploration.
While Lindsay Jade is not yet set on a specific future career path, she wants to focus on doing something impactful. Currently, she is looking into pursuing consulting, and in the long term, she hopes to study law. Regardless of her ultimate journey, she appreciates how her majors and extracurriculars have prepared her to explore her interests in an interdisciplinary way.