The Kellogg Board Fellows Program: A Decade of Opportunity
The following article was originally sourced from the news piece, “On a Mission,” published on Kellogg’s News & Events page.
Three MBAs at the Kellogg School of Management launched the Kellogg Board Fellows Program back in 2003 in order to find opportunities for students to engage in impactful work while they are still students. A decade later, that mission is what makes the Kellogg Board Fellows Program “one of the crown jewels of the school,” According to Daniel Diermeier, IBM Professor of Regulation and Competitive Practice
In honor of the program’s 10th year in existence, program founders, alumni and partner organizations came together to celebrate the history and impact of the highly competitive program. The Kellogg Board Fellows program represents everything that makes Kellogg great,” Diermeier said at the celebration’s open remarks. “It is a student-led initiative that brings together practitioners and academics for direct social impact.”
The Kellogg Board Fellows Program selects 50 full-time Kellogg students annually to serve in (non-voting) board fellowship appointments while contributing to local nonprofit organizations through board service and project work. Statistics also show that a significant percentage of program alumni go on to serve on a board after obtaining their Kellogg MBA.
Focused, advanced board governance coursework is a required during the fellowship— Diermeier notes how this skill set aligns with employer demand. “There is a need for nonprofits to apply business practices in an integrated and innovative way,” he said. “When you talk to nonprofit leaders today, they are looking for the knowledge that our MBA leaders have.”
Donald Haider, Faculty Director of Kellogg Board Fellows, is delighted to usher the program into its next decade. According to Haider, based off feedback he has received from students over the years, many agree “that the fellows program is the reason they came to Kellogg, or that it’s the best thing they did at Kellogg.”
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
