Alumni Happenings: Fall 2023

MBA Reunion Weekend

MBA alumni and friends celebrated their reunion this May with a weekend of reconnecting and reminiscing. On Friday, keynote speaker Annie Young-Scrivner, ’03 MBA, CEO of Wella Company, inspired the audience with a presentation on leadership that highlighted successes of her classmates from the Carlson Executive MBA program.

Saturday, attendees heard a memorable presentation on transformational leadership from Roxie Wen, ’02 MBA, CFO at Invitae Corp., and presentations from favorite faculty. The celebration closed out with campus tours and a reception    
at Huntington Bank Stadium. Success for the two-day event isn’t possible without the many alumni reunion committee volunteers giving of their time and talent—thank you!

Scholarship Reception

Nearly 150 benefactors and scholars came together to meet, mingle, and network at the largest scholarship reception to date. The room at McNamara Alumni Center was filled with laughter, stories of transformative Carlson School experiences from both alumni and current students, and heartwarming expressions of gratitude. Philanthropic support accounts for more than $6.5 million in scholarship funding annually.

1st Tuesday with Lili Hall

Lili Hall, CEO of Minneapolis–based creative agency KNOCK, led an inspiring 1st Tuesday Speaker Series in June. Hall shared her story as a woman, person of color, and business owner, overcoming cancer while still leading her company, and becoming an advocate and mentor for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Hall works closely with the Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship to give back to the community that served her as she grew her business.

Alumni & GOLD Boards

Carlson School Alumni Board and Gophers of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board held joint meetings this spring for the first time ever. Board members were able to meet each other in person—many for the first time. Volunteers completing their terms were honored the evening before at a celebratory dinner. Thank you, volunteers, for your service to the Carlson School!

Congratulations, Class of 2023!

We celebrated Class of 2023 graduates this spring and welcomed a new class of alumni into the Carlson School alumni network with various events and festivities. For the first time, the University of Minnesota held University-wide commencement ceremonies and stage crossing events. The Carlson School gave the traditional alumni mug as a graduation gift, graduates from Carlson School China and Vienna Executive MBA and the Medical Industry MBA-China programs traveled to campus to celebrate, and more.

Welcome to the alumni family, Class of 2023!

Community Events: Juneteenth and Twin Cities Pride

Thanks to partnership through the University of Minnesota community, the Carlson School was involved in both the University’s Juneteenth Celebration and Twin Cities Pride. The Carlson School’s Center for Inclusive Excellence was a sponsor of the second annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 17, which began with a commemorative march and was followed by a community festival.

The next weekend, volunteers from Carlson Alumni Pride gave their time at the University of Minnesota booth at the Twin Cities Pride festival. 

Learn more about Carlson Alumni Pride

Carlson School Across the Country—And Beyond!

The Carlson School is coming your way! Last month, John Hartmann, ’84 BSB, and his wife, Beth Hartmann, hosted an alumni event in Chicago headlined by Dean Jamie Prenkert, and we’re just getting started. Meet Dean Prenkert and connect with Carlson School alumni in your area at the following upcoming events:

• November 7 – Seattle
• November 9 – San Francisco
• November 13 – New York City