For most of his career, Christopher W. Alwine has had an eye toward the future; after all, it’s his job. Whether in his office at Vanguard, where he’s the head of Global Credit Team, or as a member of the Fox School of Business Board of Visitors, Mr. Alwine has a lengthy history of planning by using the best information available. It all started in the 1980s for Mr. Alwine. At the time, he remembers that Temple’s marketing campaign was, “I could have gone anywhere, I chose Temple.”

Mr. Alwine credits that campaign, scholarship money, and the positive experiences his father and sister had at Temple, with bringing him from the suburbs to Broad and Montgomery. As a student, Mr. Alwine found work at a brokerage firm three days a week when he wasn’t taking classes. “This was back in the 80s, before internships were common,” he said. “I was 19, and I’d take the subway to Center City, work a few hours, and come back to campus.” Early on at Vanguard, Mr. Alwine came to believe in the power of being prepared: “Luck follows the prepared. This means building your skills and seeking out opportunities to advance.” At the beginning of his 25-year career in investment services, Mr. Alwine looked for advancement opportunities by trying to over-deliver when he worked on special projects. By age 24, he was getting calls from John (“Jack”) Bogle, Vanguard founder, and had positioned himself as ready and willing for future opportunities. With his background in investment, Mr. Alwine says he is often asked about how to achieve respectable returns without too much risk: “Patience and long-term perspectives, to produce strong long term results,” he said. “You want to be responsible about the level of risk taking.” In his role on the Board of Visitors at the Fox School, Mr. Alwine is currently pushing to recruit more women and younger members to the Council. He also wants to establish a business ethics panel with MBA students and is passionate about developing the leaders of tomorrow. Hours aren’t the only thing Mr. Alwine and his wife Jeanette are contributing to Temple. “ I like to give back,” he said. He and Jeanette have a goal of funding impactful scholarships to those students with high academic potential and financial need who live in the Philadelphia region. He continues to make annual contributions to the Jeanette & Christopher Alwine Endowed Honors Scholarship to help deserving students achieve their potential to live productive and happy lives. As for current Temple students, Mr. Alwine emphasizes the importance of internships and focusing on good grades to increase the chances of securing a highly competitive employer. “Ultimately you’re aligned with where you intern,” he said. “It’s a tryout, and students are being evaluated,” he said. Internships are great opportunities to build relationships and skills and to impress potential employers.

Temple University Degree
Bachelor of Business Administration ’90, Fox School of Business

Title & Company
Principal, Global Credit Team, The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Temple University Awards & Affiliatons

• Board of Visitors, Fox School of Business
• Generational Leader
• Commencement Speaker, Fox School of Business, 2011