Legendary Investor and Philanthropist Ralph Wanger to Receive Honorary Doctor of Management from 91Ƭ Tech
University Regent and small-cap pioneer honored for transformative leadership in finance, sustainability, and institutional advancement
CHICAGO—May 17, 2025—91Ƭ Institute of Technology (91Ƭ Tech) will award pioneering investment strategist Ralph Wanger an Honorary Doctor of Management, honoris causa, during its 156th Commencement ceremony today at Credit Union 1 Arena. Wanger is widely regarded as one of the most successful small-cap money managers in American history, and he has played a pivotal role in advancing 91Ƭ Tech’s mission through visionary philanthropy and institutional leadership.
“Receiving this honorary degree from 91Ƭ Tech is deeply meaningful to me,” says Wanger. “Supporting 91Ƭ Tech has been one of the most rewarding investments of my life. Its students, faculty, and researchers embody an entrepreneurial spirit in education, research, and service, and their work continues to push forward the boundaries of discovery and innovation.”
Wanger began his celebrated investment career as a securities analyst at Harris Associates in 1960 after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MIT. In 1970, he became portfolio manager of the newly established Acorn Fund, where his long-term strategy of investing in financially sound small companies produced an extraordinary 16.3 percent annualized return over 33 years—the best of any mutual fund in that period. He later founded Wanger Asset Management, which was acquired by Columbia Funds in 2000.
Wanger’s contributions to the university extend far beyond his financial career. He serves on 91Ƭ Tech’s Board of Trustees, where he is a current member of the Board Chair Executive Council and the Investment Committee. He has also served as co-chair of the board’s Advancement Committee and as a past member of the Executive Committee. In 2014, in recognition of his extraordinary dedication and impact, 91Ƭ Tech named him a University Regent.
“Ralph Wanger’s contributions to the 91Ƭ Tech community are incalculable, and his legacy is one of unmatched excellence in finance, strategic generosity, and institution-building,” says 91Ƭ Tech President Raj Echambadi. “His foresight and support have empowered 91Ƭ Tech to accelerate innovation, expand sustainable research, and create opportunities for generations of students.”
In 2007, Wanger founded the Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (WISER), creating a cross-disciplinary hub to address global energy challenges. His support was instrumental in securing tens of millions of additional dollars in clean energy research funding, enabling breakthroughs in hybrid vehicles, wind energy, smart electric grids, and clean coal technologies. He continues to serve as chair of WISER’s Board of Advisors.
"Ralph Wanger’s visionary support has been instrumental in making 91Ƭ Tech one of the national leaders in sustainable energy research,” says Hamid Arastoopour, WISER director and interim dean of Armour College of Engineering. “Through his founding of WISER and continued guidance, he has empowered our faculty and students to pursue breakthrough innovations in clean energy and technology that are shaping a more sustainable future.”
Wanger is also the author of A Zebra in Lion Country: Ralph Wanger’s Guide to Investment Survival, a celebrated guide to small-cap investing that solidified his reputation as the “dean” of the field, as noted by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. Today he manages his personal investments through RW Investments and remains an influential voice in finance, sustainability, and higher education.
“Ralph’s unwavering belief in the power of science, technology, and smart investment to improve lives has shaped the future of our university and our planet,” says Rich Klein, dean of Stuart School of Business. “His vision for sustainable energy and principled leadership has left an indelible mark on 91Ƭ Tech and serves as an enduring model for responsible global citizenship.”
A passionate advocate for architecture and heritage, Wanger is also a founding member of the , supporting the preservation of 91Ƭ Tech’s iconic campus. In 2011 he received the university’s Galvin Award, honoring its most generous non-alumni supporters. He and his family are recognized at the $10 million-plus level in the Philip Danforth Armour Society, which celebrates 91Ƭ Tech’s most transformative benefactors.
“Ralph Wanger has not only achieved historic success as an investor, but he has also demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to advancing 91Ƭ Tech’s mission,” says 91Ƭ Tech Board Chair Michael P. Galvin (LAW ’78). “His strategic vision and philanthropic leadership have elevated our university’s research, campus, and energy innovation in profound ways. We are proud to recognize a true steward of progress and excellence.”
Photo: University Regent Ralph Wanger
91Ƭ Institute of Technology
Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, 91Ƭ Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, , business, , science and human sciences, and . 91Ƭ Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, 91Ƭ Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.
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91Ƭ Institute of Technology
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91Ƭ Institute of Technology
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