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Meet our diverse alumni

Our 17 colleges offer distinct and diverse options for students of color. Those who choose our schools tend to do well. We have the highest graduation rate in the state for ethnic students and we award nearly one-quarter of the bachelor’s degrees they earn. | More diversity facts

Read the stories about the alumni featured in our 2007-08 ad campaign to find out about their experiences and paths to success. You can also view brief profiles of other successful alumni. Our colleges are more accessible and affordable than you might think and can be a great choice.

Alumni featured in our ads:

Ivan Carter

Ivan Carter '97, St. Olaf College

Sports Writer Ivan Carter Lives His Dream in Washington, D.C.

Heather Hamption

Heather Hamption '06, College of Saint Benedict

A Policy Maker in the Making

Tootie Martin

Tootie Martin, 04, Concordia University, St. Paul

Belief in Himself and Others Gives Tootie Martin a Great Start

Chau Pham

Chau Pham '03, University of St. Thomas

From Barbecue Sauce to Diversity Training: Chau Pham Outlines Her Path to Success

Carolyn Sandberg

Carolyn Sandberg, Macalester College and Hamline University

The Art of the Samurai and Exploring the Mississippi: Carolyn Sandberg Reflects on her College Adventures

Xeing Thor

Xeing Thor '07, Concordia University, St. Paul

Numbers guy travels the state as an auditor

Ma Lee Vang

Ma Lee Vang '07, Gustavus Adolphus College

Recent Graduate Ignores Corporate Paycheck and Finds Fulfillment Helping Immigrants and Refugees 


Profiles of other successful alumni

  • Ruth Baires Raihle, College of St. Catherine, current job: Diversity Programs Manager, Mayo Medical School/Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education
  • Alfred Coleman, University of St. Thomas, current job: Corporate Counsel, RSM McGladrey, Inc.
  • Maria Garza-Cienfuegos, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, current job: Director for International and Diversity Admission, St. Mary's University
  • Ann Iijima, Carleton College, current job: Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, William Mitchell College of Law
  • Clarence Jones — Concordia University, St. Paul, current job: Community Outreach Director, Southside Community Health Services
  • Debra Jones, Augsburg College, current job: Contract Manager,
    Honeywell International, Inc.
  • Victoria Karpeh, College of St. Catherine, current job: Case Manager
  • Troy Matson, Hamline University, current job: Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, Student Paths
  • Kimberly Therres, College of Saint Benedict, current job: Volunteer Coordinator, YWCA, Minneapolis
  • Diane Tran, College of St. Scholastica, current job: Community Organizer, Dakota County Smoke-Free Communities Partnership
  • Vik Uppal, University of St. Thomas, current job: President,
    Uppal Enterprises
  • Charles Williams, University of St. Thomas, current job: District Court Referee, Family Court, Second Judicial District
Augsburg College
  • Located in Minneapolis with abundant opportunities to gain experience both inside and outside the classroom.
  • National recognition for an effective first-year program and for combining learning with service.
  • Top majors are business, science, teaching
  • A diverse community of 3,000 students
Bethany Lutheran College
  • Located in Mankato overlooking the Minnesota River Valley
  • A community of 540 students -- most live on campus
  • Popular majors include business administration, communication, psychology, and elementary education
  • Focus is on a solid, Christian education
Bethel University
  • Located on a residential, wooded campus in a Twin Cities suburb
  • Enrolls 5,600 students in 100 undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs
  • Integrates faith, learning and the translation of Christian belief into global service
  • 20 international programs; top 3 percent ranking of students who study in foreign countries
Carleton College
  • Residential campus in the small community of Northfield
  • Ranked one of the country's top liberal arts colleges
  • Noted for its bright and talented students and strong faculty
  • Enrollment of 2,000 students of diverse backgrounds
College of Saint Benedict
  • Together with Saint John's -- 3,800 undergraduate students have many opportunities
  • Located on 3,200 acres of woods and lakes west of St. Cloud
  • A focus on globalism includes an extensive international study program
  • A commitment to experiential learning, research and internships
College of St. Catherine
  • Largest and most comprehensive Catholic college for women in the U.S.
  • Beautiful campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis
  • Committed to meeting the educational needs of women of all ages; offers liberal arts, healthcare and professional programs in traditional and weekend formats
  • Serves 5,000 students
College of St. Scholastica
  • Main campus in Duluth; also in St. Paul, St. Cloud, Brainerd
  • Undergraduate and graduate programs in traditional, accelerated and online formats
  • Top majors: Health information management, management, education, nursing
  • 3,200 students; 1,940 undergraduates on Duluth campus
  • U.S. News ranking in top tier of Midwestern universities
Concordia College
  • Located in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area that includes 20,000+ college students
  • Serves more than 2,700 students
  • Top programs include the sciences, education and music
  • Recipient of NAFSA Simon Award for Campus Internationalization
  • Home of world-renowned Concordia Language Villages
Concordia University
  • Located in the St. Paul metro area
  • Serves 1,500 undergraduate and 300 graduate students of all ages and backgrounds
  • Top majors include Christian education, business and teacher education
  • A laptop university with 24/7 Web access
Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Oldest Lutheran college in Minnesota; Swedish heritage; home of the Nobel Conference
  • Beautiful residential campus located in St. Peter, overlooking the Minnesota River Valley
  • Prepares 2,500 undergraduates for lives of leadership, service and lifelong learning
  • Recognized science, writing, music, athletics, study-abroad, and service-learning programs
Hamline University
  • Ranked first in Minnesota among comprehensive universities according to U.S. News
  • 4,400 undergraduate, graduate, and law students
  • Located in residential neighborhood of St. Paul
  • Intimate environment of small classes and personal attention along with the opportunities of a comprehensive university
Macalester College
  • 1,900 undergraduates come from every state and 90 countries
  • Located in a friendly St. Paul neighborhood
  • Emphasis on global perspectives; more than half study abroad
  • Produced many Fulbright and Rhodes scholars
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
  • 700 students; 14 majors in fine arts, media and design
  • Located next to the Children's Theater and Minneapolis Institute of Arts
  • Studio-based and business-oriented programs; BFA, BS and MFA degrees
  • Only art and design school to be named a Best Midwestern College by Princeton Review
Saint John's University
  • Together with Saint Benedict -- 3,800 undergraduate students have many opportunities
  • Located on 3,200 acres of woods and lakes west of St. Cloud.
  • A focus on globalism includes an extensive international study program
  • A commitment to experiential learning, research, internships
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Values-based, results-oriented education in the Catholic, Lasallian tradition
  • Outstanding environment for learning, living and recreation
  • 400-acre Winona campus in the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley
  • 1,300 traditional undergraduates, with 4,100 graduate and professional students at other locations
St. Olaf College
  • Environmentally aware, 300-acre residential campus in historic Northfield
  • 3,000 students; top majors are music, mathematics and the sciences
  • Nation's top liberal arts college for study abroad
  • College of the Lutheran church -- where conversations about faith are part of daily life
University of St. Thomas
  • Minnesota's largest private university with 10,500 students (5,500 undergraduates)
  • 95 undergraduate majors
  • Main campuses located in a stately St. Paul neighborhood and in downtown Minneapolis (other campuses in Owatonna, Minn. and Rome, Italy)

Our Community Initiative works to increase campus diversity