Macalester Launches Corporate Engagement Program, Opening Doors to Business World – News – News

Macalester College is excited to announce the launch of its Corporate Engagement Program. The new initiative aims to offer businesses and corporations strategic avenues to access top student talent, enhance community impact, increase brand visibility, and collaborate on innovative research initiatives.

“Macalester is now open for business in a way we’ve never been before,” says Erika Schwichtenberg, director of Foundation, Government, and Corporate Relations. “We’re bringing our globally-minded, highly-skilled talent together with one of the nation’s most vibrant philanthropic communities. For organizations seeking to develop future leaders while making meaningful community impact, our program offers unparalleled opportunities in the Twin Cities.”

The comprehensive program provides corporations and organizations with multiple engagement pathways:

• Talent Development: Companies can connect with Macalester’s exceptional students for internships, research positions, and job placements. With students from every state and 103 countries, businesses gain access to diverse perspectives and rigorous critical thinkers ready to contribute from day one.
• Community-Based Partnerships: Organizations can collaborate with Macalester’s established network of community and nonprofit partners to create customized initiatives that align with corporate social responsibility goals. These partnerships leverage Macalester’s deep community connections to maximize impact.
• Corporate Volunteerism: The program facilitates connections between corporate teams and Macalester constituents for specialized volunteer initiatives, helping businesses meet and exceed their community impact objectives through meaningful engagement.
• Increased Visibility: Organizations can enhance brand recognition through strategic sponsorship opportunities, including event sponsorships, team sponsorships, and branded presence on campus.
• Research Collaboration: Businesses can partner with Macalester’s faculty researchers and students to develop innovative approaches to pressing questions, leveraging the college’s academic excellence and interdisciplinary expertise.

“This program represents a significant shift for Macalester,” says Schwichtenberg. “Historically, we’ve pursued a very small number of targeted corporate partnerships, but we’re now embracing these connections with more intention and purpose. We’ve developed this initiative over three years with input from corporate relations experts, students, faculty, campus partners, and private consultants from our corporate community to ensure partnerships authentically reflect our mission and core values while delivering tangible benefits to our business partners.”

The initiative aligns with growing corporate interest in meaningful community engagement and access to diverse talent. With 76 percent of recent Macalester graduates completing internships during their college years and Mac alumni holding C-Suite positions at 18 Fortune 500 companies, the program connects businesses with proven talent.

“We believe that by aligning our missions with forward-thinking corporations, we can amplify impact for both partners while making a positive difference in our community,” adds Schwichtenberg. “These partnerships offer corporations not just access to talent, but a meaningful connection to Macalester’s values of global citizenship and homegrown community engagement.”

Learn more about the Corporate Engagement Program at macalester.edu/corporate-engagement or email [email protected] for more information.