BSU alumnus Mike Roberge to deliver 2024 commencement address

From his beginnings at Bemidji State University through his journey to the pinnacle of the financial world, Mike Roberge has dedicated his life to making an impact. On May 3, the CEO of Boston-based MFS Investment Services will deliver a commencement address to BSU and Northwest Technical College graduates as the 40th recipient of BSU’s Distinguished Minnesotan award.

“In selecting Mike Roberge as our Distinguished Minnesotan, we honor not only his remarkable career achievements but also his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on society,” BSU and NTC President John L. Hoffman said. “Mike is a perfect example of the BSU story – he came from a small farm community and used the education he earned at Bemidji State to open doors.

“He has worked his way up to now lead one of the world’s most-successful investment firms, and he uses his success to make a difference in the world. Mike is a dedicated philanthropist and friend to the university and to our students, and he has worked tirelessly in support of cancer research and ending homelessness among children in the Boston area.”

First presented in 1981, the Distinguished Minnesotan award acknowledges the contributions of current or former residents of the state who have performed exemplary service to the people of Minnesota or the United States.

Roberge has served MFS Investment Management as chair and chief executive officer since 2017. In December 2023, he announced his intent to retire as CEO and assume the role of executive chair beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

As chair and CEO, Roberge sets strategic priorities and leads a team responsible for the firm’s investment, distribution, finance, human resources, legal and technology functions. He is a member of the firm’s management committee and is also chair of the MFS Board of Directors.

Roberge joined MFS in 1996 as a credit analyst in the firm’s municipal fixed-income group. He later held a variety of roles including portfolio manager, chief investment officer for U.S. investments, co-director of global research, senior vice president and associate director of Fixed Income Research, president, chief investment officer and co-CEO.

Before joining MFS, he was a municipal credit analyst and portfolio manager for the Colonial Group and a credit analyst with Moody’s Investors Service.

In addition to his work directing MFS – which, as of November 2023, managed nearly $580 billion in assets – Roberge also has been involved in numerous professional and nonprofit organizations. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Society Boston. He is also the vice chair of the board of Horizons for Homeless Children, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated exclusively to helping young children overcome the trauma and stress associated with homelessness.

Roberge has been closely involved with BSU Alumni & Foundation activities. He served as chair of the national steering committee for BSU’s Imagine Tomorrow campaign, which surpassed its goal and raised more than $36.5 million from 2011-16 to support the university and its students. More than 5,600 donors contributed to Imagine Tomorrow – including Roberge himself, with a $1 million gift. More than 1,400 Imagine Tomorrow donors had not previously contributed to the university.

Roberge and his wife, Tracy, have also given $100,000 to support 10 scholarship endowments managed by BSU Alumni & Foundation – the Thor and Melissa Carlsrud Endowment Fund; the Blaine Jarvis Scholarship Fund; the Richard W. Tanner Memorial Scholarship Endowment; the Dr. John Backes Football Scholarship; the National Renewable Solutions Scholarship Endowment; the Mark Lisa Goal Robber Scholarship Endowment; the Rich and Meredith Kehoe Women’s Hockey Scholarship; the Randy and Marlene Bowen Education Scholarship; and the Alpha Nu Omega Scholarship.

Roberge also earned Outstanding Alumni honors from the BSU Alumni & Foundation in 2011. He graduated from Bemidji State University in 1990 with degrees in accounting and business administration and earned his MBA at Hofstra University in 1992.

Roberge will address graduates as the commencement speaker for BSU and NTC at Bemidji’s Sanford Center on May 3. All three commencement ceremonies – two for BSU and one for NTC – will also be streamed online.