Alumni Business Fellowship Program

Funded by an endowment established by Charles Lofgren Sr. ’27 in 1984.

The Lofgren Vision

After many years of observing young people in business careers, Charles Lofgren ’27 became concerned that the pressures to perform within the confines of corporate junior- and middle-management roles can lead to a narrowing of vision, knowledge and perspective — even among graduates of fine liberal arts colleges. He believed, as do most other observers, that real progress in solving our economic and political problems, on both a national and world scale, can only be achieved if more of our business leaders develop and maintain broad perspectives and knowledge of the world economy and political system, and understand the way the corporate organization affects productivity.

In 1984, Mr. Lofgren, therefore, endowed a fellowship program at Carleton College designed to encourage Carleton alumni with established commitments to a career in business to seek a broadening mid-career educational experience to increase their potential for impact. Typically this can be achieved by a certain kind of M.B.A. program — one focused on basic courses in the disciplines relevant to business and the political economy — but other programs of business-related study can be proposed.

Shortly after creating this program at Carleton, Mr. Lofgren died quite unexpectedly.  Carleton is committed to the opportunity he occasioned to be of continued service to its alumni; the college celebrates the way in which Mr. Lofgren’s philanthropy continues to impact the Carleton community.