George Engdahl obtained his undergraduate degree in history from Cal Lutheran in 1965 and was an early Kingsmen football player.

While obtaining his undergraduate degree in history at California Lutheran University, Engdahl had set his sights on becoming a professor. After completing his master's degree in European history at California State University - Northridge, he received an instructor appointment at Cal Lutheran.

"I was working on my Ph.D. at UCLA," says Engdahl, "teaching history and serving as the head freshman football coach for Cal Lutheran, when the university went through a major financial crisis."

That crisis led Engdahl to work in Cal Lutheran's development office. "I had no intention of staying in development," he says. "I wanted to help the college meet its financial needs."  Bitten by the development bug however, he found his true passion. "I put my Ph.D. on hold and began making asks for a living."

He has had many successful assignments in capital campaigning for Augustana College, the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, the Chicago Symphony, Columbus Cabrini Medical Center, the Newberry Library, the University of Denver, the Parkland Foundation and even returned to Cal Lutheran at one point as the Senior Vice President of University Advancement to execute CLU's successful  $80 million comprehensive capital campaign.

George is not only "a self-proclaimed jock of the first order", but will always be considered "a true Kingsmen!"