2011 Distinguished Service Citation

There are those alumni, attitudes, and attributes that are sometimes classified as being quintessentially “Beloitish.” William Fitzgerald is an individual who wears that label well. As a student, Bill was a varsity basketball player and Blaisdell resident assistant, a programmer for WBCR, and one of the founders of Belmark Associates. He was also a decorated double major who graduated magna cum laude with degrees in psychology and economics and management.

Shortly after graduating from Beloit, Bill entered the University of Chicago, where he earned his M.B.A. before joining Nuveen in 1988 as a portfolio manager. In 2000, he became Nuveen’s Chief Investment Officer, managing over $65 billion in assets. More recently, Bill co-founded Global Infrastructure Asset Management, where he handles bonds for private commercial infrastructure projects.

Yet even as Bill has led and built teams and businesses in a demanding industry, he has balanced those responsibilities with a drive and desire to support students—answering a call he first heard while enrolled at Beloit. He has a long record of tutoring children, and currently sits on the board at Ariel, a non-profit organization offering unique educational opportunities for inner-city youth on Chicago’s south side.

Beloit College is another major beneficiary of Bill’s time, talent, and enthusiasm. In addition to serving for 11 years on the college’s board of trustees, he co-chaired efforts to initiate the Upton Programs, and helped lead a five-year drive that raised $4 million to further endow the program and support the economics department. Students and alumni have benefited directly from Bill’s help through his participation in Econ Day, the Beloit Career Network, the Classic. Daring. Life-Changing. Campaign leadership team, and the President’s Regional Advisory Council. He has contributed to multiple scholarship funds and established along with his wife a scholarship in honor of his late father. But just as importantly, he has been a loud and long-time advocate for supporting the college through donations aimed at supporting student scholarships.

In all his work, Bill is both advocate and adviser, a driver and supporter. A very rare, and very Beloitish, skill set, to be sure. With appreciation for his leadership and kindness, the Beloit College Alumni Association is proud to confer upon William Fitzgerald its highest award, the Distinguished Service Citation.