Color Chicago’s Power Leaders Purple

For Chicago’s leaders, purple is the color of choice.

When Chicago magazine’s annual list of “100 Most Powerful Chicagoans” came out recently, nearly 40 percent of those on the list had some sort of connection to Northwestern University. From alumnus Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (#1) to President Morton Schapiro (#54) back to alumnus Groupon CEO Andrew Mason (#100), the list included a host of Northwestern alumni, trustees, and even parents of Northwestern students.

The list is available at Chicago Magazine.

A total of 23 Northwestern alumni are on the list, with Mason, who graduated from the Bienen School of Music in 2003, the most recent grad, and Lester Crown, chairman of Henry Crown and Co., a 1946 graduate of the McCormick School of Engineering, as the most senior of the group. Alumni listed are leaders in finance, government, business, newspaper publishing and the arts.

In addition, nearly 20 members of the list serve on Northwestern’s Board of Trustees, school advisory boards or other University boards. And seven are parents of a current or former Northwestern student. (Some of those listed are in more than one category – both an alumnus and trustee, for example.)

“The quality and scale of representation on this list is an important demonstration of our impact on the Chicago area,” said Bob McQuinn, vice president for alumni relations and development. “You might even think about this impressive collection of Wildcat family members as another way Northwestern is Chicago’s Big Ten team.”