Title: Dean (Retired)
Company: University of South Alabama
Location: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
David L. Feinstein, PhD, retired dean of University of South Alabama, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in academia.
With six decades of experience to his credit, Dr. Feinstein has established a distinguished career in education, specializing in administration and curriculum design, with a focus on mathematics and computer sciences. He currently excels as a professor at the School of Computing at the University of South Alabama, a role he has held since his retirement in 2010. Prior to this, he was the dean of the School of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of South Alabama from 1999 to 2010 and associate dean from 1998 to 1999. Additionally, he was the chairman of the School of Computer and Information Sciences at the same institution from 1980 to 1998.
Dr. Feinstein’s earlier roles include professor of mathematics and computer science at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls from 1971 to 1980, where he also held served as the coordinator of computer science, director of academic computing, and director of the Western Wisconsin Academic Computing Consortium between 1975 and 1980. He began his professional journey as an applied mathematician at Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory from 1967 to 1971. The Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory was a prominent research and development organization specializing in aeronautics and related fields. It was established in 1946 as a result of a collaboration between Cornell University and the United States government.
Laying a solid foundation for his future success, Dr. Feinstein pursued a degree at Brown University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in physics, cum laude, in 1963. He went on to earn a Master of Science in engineering science from Stanford University in 1964, followed by a PhD in mechanical engineering from the same institution in 1967.
In his roles at the University of South Alabama, Dr. Feinstein not only taught computer science but also led a distinctive computing school offering degrees in various areas. His extensive global travel allowed him to significantly impact his program and the international community. Furthermore, he made substantial contributions to the agency responsible for certifying engineering and computing programs worldwide, which he notes as a highlight of his career.
Additionally, Dr. Feinstein and his wife have shown considerable generosity to the university, including pledges for scholarships and the naming of rooms within the university’s facilities. Their donations include the Wei and David Feinstein Scholarship in CIS, the Wei and David Feinstein Scholarship for a Rising Sophomore, and a $10,000 pledge for the naming rights to the ACM Student Society Gathering Room in Shelby Hall, which supports the Computing Excellence Fund.
Dr. Feinstein attributes his success to his early involvement in computing during the 1960s when he was among the pioneers who transformed it into a vital component of modern life. Throughout his career, he held prominent positions at the local and international levels and was highly regarded in the computing industry. Throughout his career, he has learned the value of humility and the importance of continuous learning. In advising future professionals, he emphasizes the necessity of always expanding one’s knowledge.
Dr. Feinstein also takes great pride in his family. His daughter is set to graduate from the University of California, Davis, becoming the third in the family to earn a medical degree. Among his other children, one is an attorney, and the other is a computer scientist. Additionally, he and his two sons are Eagle Scouts with the Boy Scouts of America.
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