UMN Carlson School of Management

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UMN Carlson School of Management

The business school at the University of Minnesota. Established in 1919 and based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St.
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Paul, the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota is a recognized leader in business education and research. Its focus on experiential learning, international education, and maintaining strong ties to the business community exemplify the school’s commitment to excellence. The Carlson School offers 13 degree programs for more than 5,000 current students. An alumni body of nearly

60,000 contributes to the success of businesses and communities in 100+ countries and all 50 states.

09/01/2026

Only 1️⃣ week left until the Connecting Carlson building project finishes! Before students return next week, the last preparations include:
• bringing in furniture
• hanging new artwork
• installing the media wall
• adding new signage
• completing final touch-ups

—🧱—

The $40M Connecting Carlson building project was fully funded through generous philanthropy and transformed 70,000 square feet of the school.

08/31/2026

Layoffs can slow down career paths in the short term, but they can also prompt long-term acceleration. For Ching Lin, '23 MHRIR, the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations gave him that spark after a pandemic-era layoff nixed his previous position.

“I felt a little stagnant with my career,” he recalls. “I was looking for more advancement opportunities, new challenges and, perhaps, even a leadership role, and I just didn’t end up having those opportunities.”

Lin began the MHRIR program and immediately felt himself being challenged and developing. A people analytics elective became one of his favorites, taught by a professor he admired so much that he signed up for the class solely based on her involvement. Among other skills, he learned how to recast recruiting and retention data as visualizations that help business leaders understand challenges, make informed decisions, and communicate their goals and objectives.

“Her classes were so hard,” he says, “but I just loved them. I felt like I got so much out of every single session, [and the skills I learned were] incredibly valuable in building my reputation.” Lin landed a job at 3M while pursuing his degree and moved into a management role not long after graduating in 2023.

08/28/2026

We're of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities' unmatched 175-year legacy! 💛🌻

To honor this milestone, here are 10 key moments from the history of the University and then the business school, amidst 175 years of excellence and innovation from our institution:

♥️ 1851:
MN Territorial Legislature and Gov. Alexander Ramsey charter the University of Minnesota (seven years before Minnesota becomes a state in 1858).

♥️ 1873, 1875, 1882, 1888:
The years of the first male, female, African-American, and doctoral graduates, respectively.

💛 1919:
The business school is formed, with less than 100 students accepted to enroll.

💛 1954:
E. Jerome McCarthy, originator of the "four P's of marketing," graduates with his MBA.

💛 1968:
The school starts the first academic program devoted to Management Information Systems (MIS).

💛 1986:
The school is named for Curtis L. Carlson after a $25M gift.

💛 1998:
The school's programs move from five buildings to one as it finishes construction.

💛 2008:
The school expands into a new undergraduate facility: Herbert Hanson Jr. Hall.

💛 2026:
The $40M Connecting Carlson building renovation finishes, and renames the school's flagship building: Marilyn C. Nelson Hall.

Today, the University drives student success, workforce development and economic impact across Minnesota, powered by exceptional people, bold innovation and a commitment to public service. Here's to another 175 years!

08/27/2026

Over 35,000 students applied to 200 summer internships at L'Oréal — and this Carlson undergraduate was among those chosen. Ian Swedlund, '27 BSB, spent the summer in NYC as a marketing operations intern for L'Oréal, focused on La Roche-Posay.

Initially, these stats intimidated Swedlund. "Imposter syndrome is so real," he reflects. "I felt like I wasn't supposed to be where I was, since I didn’t see myself as 'the best of the best.' To change my self-perception, it took a lot of reworking how I see myself and pushing myself to prove I deserved to be here. To future interns, I recommend cementing yourself in the fact that you worked hard to get to where you are today!"

Ian spent the summer developing a marketing strategy for a high-priority product launch, using skills he started developing as a marketing engagement executive at The Minnesota Daily (MN Daily), the University of Minnesota's student newsroom. Once completed, his summer project involved market analysis, consumer insights and activation strategies that included retail, digital and social media marketing.

"I was focused on a three-star launch, the highest priority product type with the biggest budget," he says. "I felt overwhelmed at times, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me grow my skills, and taught me how to be comfortable asking others for assistance."

08/25/2026

Only 2️⃣ weeks left until the Connecting Carlson building project finishes!

Major transformations occurred by the project’s midpoint, including work on:
• Glaser Family Experiential Learning Suite — a 5,600-square-foot home for the Funds, Ventures, Brand, and Consulting Enterprises on the first floor.
• The John & Annette Whaley Auditorium, which was outfitted with new video screens and seating platforms that foster collaboration.
• The Srilata Zaheer Experiential Learning Lab, which has become a learning and research hub for the Carlson Analytics Lab.
• The Glenn & Kay Hasse Atrium, which provides more common spaces for the Carlson community to gather, including new integration with the auditorium.

—🧱—

The $40M Connecting Carlson building project was fully funded through generous philanthropy and transformed 70,000 square feet of the school.

08/24/2026

The first thing isn't always the right thing, as Alicia Gutierrez, '17 MHRIR, knows well. Her career — spent at giants like 3M, Meta, Cargill and currently Medtronic — wouldn't have been possible without using her Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations to pivot.

Fresh out of college, Gutierrez joined a Twin Cities consulting firm and put her accounting degree to work, first as an auditor and then as a compensation analyst. Neither job felt like a perfect fit, however. When the company asked her to assist with some recruiting efforts, she jumped at the chance.

“I found that I really enjoy interacting with others,” she says. Talking with candidates about their professional paths, she says, “felt very much like it was my passion.” The realization sent her looking for a formal way into HR, and Carlson’s reputation and convenient location made the decision fairly straightforward.

Although leaving her consulting job years ago to attend school full-time was a financial risk, in hindsight it was definitely the right move, she says: “My career has taken off so much from my degree. I’ve made so many connections, and it’s opened so many doors for me career-wise,” including referrals from fellow alumni that led directly to new roles.

08/20/2026

Summer internships can be udderly legen-dairy. For Julia Connly, '27 MBA, working as a marketing intern at Land O'Lakes, Inc. left her with an unforgettable experience of their business model, industry, and culture.

"Land O’Lakes is a cooperative, and this business model appealed to me because of how it supports the community," Connly says, when asked what interested her about the opportunity. "I also have a big appreciation for the food industry and wanted to learn more about dairy marketing. The culture at Land O’Lakes is incredibly welcoming, so I felt at home with the team right away."

Other than confirming that "Land O'Lakes butter is the best," Connly spent the summer working toward a final presentation, during which she made various recommendations based on her data analysis.

To students pursuing future internships, Connly suggests making networking a priority. "I recommend really taking the time to get to know several people from the company. This is what helped me identify Land O’Lakes as the place for me. It is really important to end up in a workplace that both aligns with your values and supports your goals, and taking the time to ask the right questions is definitely worth it."

08/19/2026

Over 130 middle school students participated in the Business Innovation Academy, an immersive week of business education. Through the support of PNC Bank, the camp is entirely free to students, including all meals, gear and transportation, removing barriers to participation.

"Oftentimes this is their first exposure to the idea of business education, as well as being their first time on a college campus,” said Jeff Williams, Carlson’s coordinator for pathway initiatives and community partnerships. “We really look to make it engaging and impactful for them."

Throughout the week of learning, students participate in a case competition, explore campus, meet current college students, and expand their idea of what higher ed can look like. This year, PNC Bank designed the case, challenging students to create a debit card for teens. In their final presentations, they analyzed the market, shared their SWOT analysis, and presented a unique solution to the problem to a panel of judges from Carlson and PNC.

“At school, I never had a chance to learn about business,” said Eva, a camper. “I’m glad that I had this opportunity and I think other kids should take advantage of it.

08/18/2026

Only 3️⃣ weeks left until the Connecting Carlson building project finishes!

During the early construction phases, almost 3,600 square feet were added to the first floor as workers infilled part of the first floor's opening, built a new walkway, and extended the second floor, creating a full path around the atrium. These changes were part of preparations for a new switchback staircase connecting the lower, first, and second levels.

—🧱—

The $40M Connecting Carlson building project was fully funded through generous philanthropy, and transformed 70,000 square feet of the school.

08/17/2026

As a former student body president of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Jael Kerandi, ’21 BSB, started earning leadership experience even before becoming a finance manager at Microsoft. Known for her powerful University-wide advocacy after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Kerandi began her career at Microsoft, working in Seattle and South Africa. She remains connected to her Minnesota Carlson community, serving on the GOLD (Gophers of the Last Decade) Board and the University of Minnesota Black Alumni Network Board (UMNBAN). Here are her lessons since graduation:

1. Time is a construct, so rely on your own timeline.

Once you graduate, life quickly becomes your oyster. While the empowerment is exciting, it can leave you feeling lost. Instead of wondering, “Am I behind?” pause and celebrate the many exciting updates from peers. Then chase the opportunity you aren’t ready for. Work abroad for a year. Take a year off. Find a new passion. Whatever it may be, do it on your own time. Dream, and dream audaciously. Life’s most cherished moments await you and are rarely on schedule.

2. Gain perspective far from where you are.

Working as an expatriate in Johannesburg reshaped me in unimaginable ways. I gained a deeper understanding of the economic landscape, the remnant impacts of apartheid, and the engulfing feeling of watching a match inside FNB Stadium in Soweto. I found joy in simple pleasures: an afternoon in Limpopo or the buzz of the Sunday market. Life’s greatest riches were caught in laughter, singing at church, and even at the gym. While traveling may not be your chosen exploration, pull yourself away from comfort toward a new perspective. At times, growth calls for distance.
3. If you want to go far, go together.

Excited to kickstart my post-graduate life in Seattle, I couldn’t shake the feeling of loneliness. Without a “default” community, I quickly learned I needed to build my own. I made connections locally through GroupMe, volunteering with organizations like Rising Voices, and by starting Gophers @ Microsoft. I remained connected to home through UMNBAN and with my national peers interested in changing the world. I learned community lives across time zones, right next door, and within our differences. Our strengths lie in our shared humanity. Community wasn’t limited to where I physically was, it was where I wanted to be.

4. Don’t quit, but know when to change course.

Life’s achievements are usually at the end of a path filled with a trail of many errors and the one thing that worked. We all have that one thing that took quite a few tries. There is no one-size-fits-all. The next time you hit a wall and can’t find a clear path, look for the messy one and prove yourself wrong (or right!).

5. Beat your mind to it.

Evolving is not simply the product of learning new skills or getting a promotion. It involves trying the things you deeply fear. Put yourself in rejection’s path, even though it feels uncomfortable. In the midst of “rejection,” you may find purpose or a network that will lead you to your next opportunity. Most importantly, walk away with the unrelenting belief that your efforts are enough. Refuse to allow your thoughts to paralyze your actions. It’s never too late to reinvent yourself, and there’s only one person who can hold you back.

Address

321 19th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN
55455

Telephone

+18776256468

Website

http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/

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