Couple Provides for the Next Generation of Management Students

Matt ’86 MBA and Ellen Feldman Will Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Kellogg with a Bequest

Northwestern University and the Kellogg School of Management have been an important part of Matt ’86 MBA and Ellen Feldman’s lives over the years. Matt graduated from Kellogg’s Evening and Weekend MBA Program, then called The Managers’ Program, where he developed lasting friendships with school faculty such as Don Jacobs, who served as dean from 1975 to 2001. Ellen retired from Northwestern’s Office for Research in 2017 after 15 years, having served in several different roles—most recently as senior director of research center administration.

The Feldmans, who are loyal Wildcats fans and football season ticket holders, have been generous donors to Kellogg for many years. Their strong bond with the University inspired them to provide for Kellogg through a generous bequest in their estate.

Matt enjoyed Kellogg’s part-time program because it allowed him to apply his education to his career. “I was able to get context in real time, to learn something, and then experiment in the workplace,” he says, adding that the Kellogg network is “incredibly strong and incredibly accessible.”

Matt also values the range of skills he gained at Kellogg, including soft skills. “I learned early and kept with me throughout my career the importance of playing different parts of a team—not always will you lead it,” he noted. “It’s important to understand how to play different roles, how to form teams, and to value all of the team members.”

Matt served as president and CEO of Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago from 2008 until his retirement in 2020. He is a life member of Kellogg’s Global Advisory Board and a past chair of the Kellogg Alumni Council, plus he also participated in the Kellogg Inclusion Coalition.

The Feldmans’ contributions to Kellogg are extensive. Ellen has volunteered with Kellogg’s Golub Capital Board Fellows Program, a 20-month initiative connecting Kellogg students to nonprofits. “It’s rewarding being with students,” says Ellen, who was a board member liaison for the Golub Fellows. Meanwhile, Matt has guest-taught classes at Kellogg for 25 years, including in the Golub Fellows program.

Estate Gift Benefits DEI Scholarships

Their broad engagement over the years led the Feldmans to make a bequest in support of scholarships at Kellogg. Bequests—often made through a will or trust—are an effective way to have a significant impact at Northwestern. They can be structured to support the University overall, or to target a particular school or program.

The Feldmans’ scholarship focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)—an area the couple has pledged to advance in their retirement through endeavors in their community, higher education, and beyond. The Feldman Family Scholarship Fund at Kellogg is one such pursuit. Once created, the scholarship will help Kellogg achieve its goals of enrolling a more diverse student population. “We give to Kellogg because we believe in its capacity to achieve its mission and the importance of supporting that,” Matt says.

Of their decision to make the bequest, Ellen explains, “It’s a commitment for the future and an extension of what we’ve done.”

Support What Matters to You

The Feldmans chose to support an initiative that was meaningful to them through a gift in their estate plan. To learn how you can make an impact, contact Northwestern Gift Planning at 800-826-6709 or giftplanning@northwestern.edu.