A Portrait of the Tycoon: John Rogers Print
Written by Phillip Jackson   
Tuesday, 15 May 2018 00:00

 

 

John Rogers' parents were prominent people.  His father, John W. Rogers Sr. was a judge for the Juvenile Court bench in the U.S.  His mother, Jewel Lafontant could have been the first African-American female judge in the U.S. Supreme Court.  She became the first female deputy solicitor general in America.  Rogers' passion for investing began at age 12, when his father began buying him stocks as Christmas and birthday gifts. His interest in equities grew at Princeton University, where he majored in economics, and over the two-plus years he worked as a stockbroker for William Blair & Company, LLC. In 1983, John Rogers founded Ariel Investments to employ a patient, value strategy in small and medium-size companies.

He is a member of the board of directors of Exelon, McDonald's and The New York Times Company. He also serves as trustee to the University of Chicago, Rush University Medical Center and is a life trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Nationally, John Rogers is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a director of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. In 2008, he was awarded Princeton University's highest honor, the Woodrow Wilson Award, presented each year to the alumnus whose career embodies a commitment to national service.

Following the election of President Barack Obama, John Rogers served as co-chair for the Presidential Inaugural Committee 2009, and more recently, he joined the Barack Obama Foundation's Board of Directors. In 2013, John was featured alongside legendary investors Warren Buffett, Sir John Templeton and Benjamin Graham in the distinguished book: The World's 99 Greatest Investors by Magnus Angenfelt. John Rogers received an AB in economics from Princeton University, where he was also captain of the varsity basketball team.

[Editor's update]:  In Chicago, Mr.  Phillip Jackson will organize an event (entitled The Black Star Project's Public Policy and Economic Empowerment Luncheon Series #6) on May 16th 2018 where Mr.  Rogers, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Ariel Investments will be invited.  The main topic will be about building generational Black wealth.

Ariel Investments' official website:  https://www.arielinvestments.com.

 

 

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About the author of this bio:  Phillip Jackson is the founder and executive director of The Black Star Project in Chicago.  This organization is a philanthropic entity intented to encourage and support young people in academic development through community and parental involvement.  Jackson is an American politician who worked in human services at the Chicago Office of Management and Budget (1994) before being part of the Chicago Public Schools as director of intergovernmental affairs in 1995 (where he has also served as chief of education) and the Chicago Housing Authority (which has an annual budget of over $881 million) as CEO in 1999. Jackson has been active with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, operating as CEO.  Jackson is the recipient of a Chicago Cares "Power of One" Leadership Award and the 2003 Illinois Fatherhood Initiative's Father of the Year.  Recently, he was honored as an Education Champion of Change for America by The White House.  Moreover, he received these distinctions:  Champion of Social Justice by the Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy, Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Monarch Man of the Year in Education by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, etc.  Jackson is a graduate of Roosevelt University and National Louis University. He received a BA in philosophy and a certificate in education, respectively.