2023 National Conference on Trusteeship: Schedule

This session will emphasize the critical role of the governing board when it comes to developing international goals for colleges and universities. Following the introduction of a practical, hands-on definition of internationalization, we will introduce opportunities for strengthening the institution through international engagement, including greater student learning, enhanced reputation, and increased revenue. Throughout the session, we will emphasize the importance of a written international plan and the central role of the board in its development. We will conclude with an exercise on building brand identity outside the United States, with an emphasis on developing a strong value proposition for international students.

Speakers:
Brad Farnsworth, principal, Fox Hollow Advisory
Gretchen M. Bataille, past president, University of North Texas; former senior vice president, University of North Carolina system and American Council on Education; past member, Drake University Board of Trustees
Ben Waxman, CEO, International Education Advantage (Intead)

Hear strategies and lessons learned from governing boards, presidents, administrators, and staff participating in the Governing Board Equity in Student Success Project, led by the John Gardner Institute, AGB, and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, and funded by Ascendium Education Group. Increasing equitable student success is a priority in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and takes leadership, resources, and the commitment of stakeholders. Take away ideas for using data, incentives, leadership, and training to promote and achieve better outcomes for students.

Speakers:
Joseph Chillo, president, Thomas More University
Drew Koch, president, John Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education
Kemal Atkins, adjunct associate professor of educational leadership, Delaware State University; senior consultant, AGB
Larry Benz, trustee, University of Louisville
Aaron Thompson, president, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

It is hard to imagine a time when boards of higher education institutions have needed more effective leadership. Board chairs must lead the charge. This session provides practical, actionable insights for enhancing board engagement, productivity, and cohesiveness, all in the context of key issues today’s board leaders are likely to confront. This session is offered for current board chairs and vice chairs, exclusively; a second session, to follow immediately, is offered exclusively for board chairs, vice chairs, and chief executives.

Speakers:
David Maxwell, trustee and past chair, Grinnell College; president emeritus, Drake University; senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB
Shannon McCambridge, trustee emerita, Gonzaga University; senior executive consultant, AGB Search

It is hard to imagine a time when boards of higher education institutions have needed more effective leadership. Board chairs must lead the charge. This session provides practical, actionable insights for enhancing board engagement, productivity, and cohesiveness, all in the context of key issues today’s board leaders are likely to confront. This session is offered for current board chairs and vice chairs, exclusively; a second session, to follow immediately, is offered exclusively for board chairs, vice chairs, and chief executives.

Speakers:
Anthony Barbar, chair, Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees; president and CEO, Barbar & Associates
Ellen Chaffee, past president, Valley City State University and Mayville State University; past president in residence, Harvard University; senior fellow, AGB

Many trustees find it provocative, if not counterintuitive, that presidents and chancellors substantially influence board effectiveness. The fact remains. Acceptance of this fact begs the question: how can presidents intentionally and methodically help build high-performing boards? Drawing upon insights from a new AGB publication, A President’s Guide to Effective Board Leadership, participants in this session will take away practical steps presidents should (and should be expected to) undertake to get the most out of board meetings. This session is offered for college, university, and multi-campus system chief executives exclusively.

Speakers:
Jill Derby, chair, American University of Iraq Sulaimani Board of Trustees; past chair, Nevada Board of Regents; senior fellow, AGB; ambassador, AGB Council of Board Chairs
William E. Troutt, president emeritus, Rhodes College; former president, Belmont University; trustee, St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; specialist, AGB Consulting

Offering market-responsive academic programs such as cybersecurity, digital marketing, and data analytics is necessary to remain competitive and grow enrollment. Unfortunately, many colleges are stuck with stale, aging catalogs because launching new degree programs entails significant cost, time, and risk. As a result, these schools lose significant numbers of students every year.

While investing in growth can be impossible in isolation, 85 campuses have begun collaborating to offer new, high-skill majors that grow enrollment without significant upfront investment. This session will present case studies of a model pioneered by Rize Education and the Lower Cost Models Consortium that is generating millions of dollars for partner institutions. It will also explore the core elements of structural change all institutions must consider.

Speakers:
Patrick Farver, chair, Adrian College Board of Trustees
Jeffrey Docking, president, Adrian College
Charlie Anastasi, head of academic partnerships, Rize Education

Protecting and enhancing institutional reputation is a core fiduciary concern, and few levers can convey a sense of institutional quality or prestige as forcefully as rankings, especially those produced annually by US News. What is a responsible board to do when it comes to rankings-aware and rankings-related strategies? And how can boards avoid common pitfalls associated with rankings gamesmanship? Come to this session to learn from the experience of Northeastern University and its storied reputational rise.

Speakers:
Neal Finnegan, past chair, Northeastern University Board of Trustees
Richard Freeland, president emeritus and distinguished professor, Northeastern University

After a challenging 2022, investors are bracing for more volatility in 2023. But while the economic outlook remains uncertain and highly dependent on policy changes, some markets are offering investors their best opportunities to earn income and total returns in well over a decade. This panel will discuss the overall outlook for 2023 and how it’s influencing their asset allocation decisions.

Rampant inflation, aggressive central bank policy moves, and a slowing global economy hurt asset classes across the board in 2022, prompting endowment managers to question diversification tactics that provided minimal downside protection. Looking ahead, what can investors glean from last year’s volatility? What do current macroeconomic trends imply? And where are the best opportunities to earn income and total returns? This session will cover these questions and more, taking a fresh look at asset allocation strategies. While a sweeping economic downturn may offer investors nowhere to hide, there are plenty of ways to prepare now for future growth possibilities.

Speaker:
Sharon Lolk, Sr. Director Enterprise Higher-Ed, TIAA
Brian Griggs, chief financial officer, CMT, former managing director, and portfolio strategist, Nuveen

Every board trustee knows they are responsible for setting the direction of their organization and have a responsibility to protect their organization’s best interests through exercising their three primary legal duties of the “duty of care,” “duty of loyalty,” and “duty of obedience.” Thus, the question becomes, How does this knowledge of their responsibilities and duties translate to successful board governance? The answer is for boards to engage in intentional board governance that is strategic. Intentional board governance involves being strategic in the planning and implementation of the seven essential elements of governance: board recruitment, board structure, board culture, education and development, evaluation and performance, continuous governance improvement, and leadership succession planning. Intentional board governance also includes developing and implementing internal accountability mechanisms, aligning board capability with desired board value-add. Boards set performance measures for their organizations’ management. Boards that are effective in engaging in intentional board governance also hold themselves accountable by establishing board performance metrics. This session on intentional board governance will cover how and where to begin this work. What does success look like in practice? The session will also provide experiential tips and tricks, sample documents/templates, and related tools.

Speaker:
Michael Rambert, senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, Morehouse School of Medicine

Higher education trustees and senior leaders are responsible for the cost-value proposition of the institutions in their care. Employment outcomes, prospects for graduate study, and student debt are kitchen table topics for any family considering college, and student loan forgiveness is dramatically reshaping the national discourse on college value. What do boards need to know, and what should they affect, if they are to have a positive impact on an institution’s cost-value proposition? Come to this session for veritable facts, data in context, and forward-looking insights rooted in national expertise.

Speakers:
Justin Draeger, president and CEO, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Lisa Helmin Foss, former vice president for planning & engagement and chief strategy officer, St. Cloud State University; ambassador, AGB Council for Student Success

What constitutes a forward-looking campus mental health strategy in 2023? Moreover, what kinds of investments does such a thing require, and what should boards expect returns on those investments to look like? If robust mental health services were ever a competitive advantage in the past, they are now a core expectation of students and others. And expenses have only grown in recent years. Come to this session to learn how boards can help set institutions on wise paths through hard, high-stakes decisions.

Speakers:
Bassam M. Deeb, president, Trocaire College
Keith Whitfield, president, University of Nevada Las Vegas
David Rowe, former president, Centenary College of Louisiana; former interim president, Lancaster Theological Seminary; private higher education practice leader, AGB

One university made significant changes to its committees’ composition to reflect alignment with and the outcomes of the strategic plan. Another restructured their committees to create better strategic alignment. Our speakers, representing public and private institutions, will share how they have aligned the work of their boards to the strategic planning process to ensure that trustees are supported and have the necessary information to make decisions. Topics covered will include:

• the importance of aligning Board Committees to the outcomes of the University’s strategic plan;
• how to ensure that Board governance is improved through best practices;
• improving communication between Board Committees; and
• ensuring that you have the right talent on specific Board Committees to support the work.

This session will use a before and after methodology to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Board in its performance and Committee structure when best practices are applied. The audience is encouraged to actively participate through an engaged conversation.

Speakers:
Joseph L. Chillo, president, Thomas More University; former president, Newbury College
Judith A. Marlowe, chair, Thomas More University Board of Trustees
Heather Fehn, chief of staff and secretary to the board of trustees, The College of New Jersey

It is hard to imagine a time when boards of higher education institutions have needed more effective leadership. Board chairs must lead the charge, in close partnership with chief executives. This session will provide essential principles and techniques for collaboration between board chairs and chief executives to maximize board effectiveness in the context of today’s looming challenges. This session is offered for current board chairs, vice chairs, and chief executives exclusively.

Speaker:
David Maxwell, trustee and past chair, Grinnell College; president emeritus, Drake University; senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB
Shannon McCambridge, trustee emerita, Gonzaga University; senior executive consultant, AGB Search

It is hard to imagine a time when boards of higher education institutions have needed more effective leadership. Board chairs must lead the charge, in close partnership with chief executives. This session will provide essential principles and techniques for collaboration between board chairs and chief executives to maximize board effectiveness in the context of today’s looming challenges. This session is offered for current board chairs, vice chairs, and chief executives exclusively.

Speakers:
Anthony Barbar, chair, Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees; president and CEO, Barbar & Associates
Ellen Chaffee, past president, Valley City State University  and Mayville State University; past president in residence, Harvard University; senior fellow, AGB

Bring a vision of a cliff to your mind’s eye. See its jagged, rocky face as it plunges sharply downward. Feel the lurch in your stomach as you consider inching your way to the edge.

Many of us are all too aware of what everyone’s calling “the enrollment cliff” and we’re creeping closer to it day by day. The edge is approaching, and the drop is expected to be precipitous.

Or will it? What if—with predictive modeling, strategic funnel conversion tactics, personalized digital communications, and an optimized CRM—you could scale the cliff and lift your institution’s enrollment?

As it happens, Point Loma Nazarene University is literally located on the edge of a beautiful cliff overlooking the Southern California coastline near San Diego. RNL has been honored to partner with Point Loma for ten years and because of the strategies they put in place, they are thriving today.

Speaker:
Eric Groves, senior vice president, Campus Partnership, RNL
Scott Shoemaker, associate vice president for enrollment and retention, Point Loma Nazarene University

Today’s colleges and universities face unprecedented risks. How do trustees know where to focus attention to best understand and oversee the risks that are most critical to their institution’s strategic success? In this timely conversation on risk oversight, we will walk through success stories, lessons learned, and leading practices in board diligence for several key risks, including cybersecurity, fiscal resiliency, infrastructure, workforce/talent management, and student success. Successful practices discussed will include board structures and roles, board reporting, board education, leveraging enterprise risk management (ERM), and internal audit functions.

Speakers:
Cynthia Shapira, chair, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors; vice chair, Brandeis University Board of Trustees; member, AGB Board of Directors
Brian Steeves, executive director and corporate secretary, University of Minnesota Board of Regents
Dave Capitano, higher education practice leader, Baker Tilly
Christine Smith, managing director—higher education, Baker Tilly

Each year, AGB recognizes a handful of governing boards for exemplary leadership, with the John W. Nason Award. Their stories are, by definition, inspirational and instructive. In this session, you will hear from key leaders in those boardrooms about the way they and their boards went about the work being recognized. Takeaways feature relatable insights about governing for impact and achievement. 2023 award recipients will be announced in early 2023 and recognized during the conference.

Speakers:
Justin Augustine III, chair, Xavier University of Louisiana Board of Trustees
Carrie Besnette Hauser, president, Colorado Mountain College
Victor J. Boschini, chancellor, Texas Christian University

Moderator:
Maria Khader, managing director, TIAA

The most valuable board and presidential assessments create opportunities for leadership. While assessment can be a distraction (or worse) if done poorly, successful assessments build a common understanding of shared goals, offer insights into problems and obstacles, and establish clear steps to achieve better performance. Learn how you can use board and presidential assessments to promote alignment between presidents and boards and advance institutional goals. Bring your questions, challenges, and concerns for discussion.

Speakers:
Mark Heckler, president emeritus, Valparaiso University; trustee, Elizabethtown College; senior consultant, AGB
Merrill Schwartz, senior vice president for content and program strategy, AGB

According to the AGB Board of Directors’ Statement on Shared Governance, shared governance should be a “vehicle for necessary change,” but circumstances have conspired to make it a stressor for many institutions. This session will offer practical guidance for boards to navigate, facilitate, and ultimately capitalize upon robust engagement by constituencies and authorities beyond themselves. At a time when leadership is an essential resource, discourse, buy-in, and a prevailing sense of shared responsibility can be viewed as key enablers. Learn how you and your board can help set the table for success.

Speakers:
Peg Portscheller, District 3, West Garfield County trustee board president, Colorado Mountain College Board of Trustees
David Maxwell, trustee and past chair, Grinnell College; president emeritus, Drake University; senior fellow and senior consultant, AGB
Gary D. Rhoades, professor, educational policy studies and practice, University of Arizona

Time and attention spent on the board can easily compound the day-to-day challenges of being chief executive. Experienced presidents and chancellors commonly report spending 20-25 percent of their time on board-related work, and they often lack confidence that this is enough. What does a modern board office look like in action and in effect, and what does it take to get one? Come to this session to hear from two board professionals who have helped shape the revolution in board staffing to get up to speed. This session is offered for college, university, and multi-campus system chief executives exclusively.

Speakers:
Char Reed, vice president and university secretary, Kent State University
Katie Herschede, vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff, Widener University

This session introduces a new framework to help you, as board members, to soundly answer the question: Has our institution done everything necessary to prevent, mitigate, and if required, respond to an issue or crisis that poses a significant risk to our reputation?

As with every other area of your institution’s strategy; understanding and measuring against clear goals and objectives is the only way to evaluate capability and success. This session will help you:

• Learn the right questions to ask;
• Understand how to evaluate the administration’s responses, as well as the plans and programs your college or university currently has in place; and
• Know what it takes from the board and from the leadership team to mature your program and approach.

Speakers:
Kelli R. Brown, chancellor, Western Carolina University
Simon Barker, managing partner, BMCG

Between 2020 and 2021, the University of Michigan Board of Regents learned about sexual misconduct by its president, provost, and a prominent team doctor from the university’s past. How did the board work through it all? What would these leaders do differently, given the opportunity? Come to this session to hear insights directly from the chair who led the board throughout this extraordinary moment in the history of a storied institution.

Speakers:
Jordan B. Acker, member and immediate past chair, University of Michigan Board of Regents
Sarah Hubbard, vice chair, University of Michigan Board of Regents

The past year has seen an evolving environment for presidential searches due to the continuing effects of the global pandemic, budget challenges, external influences, and other factors. Despite the challenges, leadership searches must go on. In this session, AGB Search’s Managing Principal and Associate Managing Principal will share their insights on best practices for engaging in and successfully closing a presidential search. They will also share some of the key elements of an effective presidential transition. Ample time for discussion will be included.

Presenters:
Rod McDavis, president emeritus, Ohio University; managing principal, AGB Search
Melissa K. Trotta, associate managing principal, AGB Search

American government, and society, has seldom been more polarized. What responsibility do higher education governing boards have when it comes to preparing leading citizens for a healthy democracy? What are the major elements of civic education strategies at the collegiate level, and how might boards ascertain the effectiveness of theirs? Come to this session for a fresh look at educational quality through the lens of citizen trusteeship, and learn what boards—you—can do for your country.

Speaker:
Carol Geary Schneider, senior advisor, Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition; president emerita, Association of American Colleges and Universities
Mary Davenport, regent, University of Minnesota; former president, Rochester Community and Technical College
Tom Hyatt, counsel, specialist consultant and senior fellow, AGB

Success for all students is a transformational concept and an ambitious goal that is more attainable and sustainable with board support and engagement. With the help of an expert advisory group and support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, AGB has developed principles for board leadership in this area, including essential board roles and responsibilities. This new guidance provides a pathway for boards to improve institutional performance. Session participants will take away tools, resources, and new ideas to share with their institution’s board and administration.

Speakers:
Carlton Brown, former president, Clark Atlanta University and Savannah State University; senior consultant and senior fellow, AGB Consulting
Raquel Rall, associate professor, University of California Riverside
Demetri Morgan, associate professor, Loyola University Chicago
Merrill Schwartz, senior vice president, content and program strategy, AGB

The Higher Education market has changed dramatically, and some institutions need to look externally to find a strategic partner, an affiliation opportunity, or a merger transaction. The consolidation era is impacting institutions across the spectrum of size and relative financial strength. The challenge for board members is to explore and implement alternate strategies before the clock runs out on their financial resources or as a strategic pathway to increase their competitive position.

Speakers:
Richard J. Joseph, former president of Babson Global, Inc.; senior consultant, AGB
Paul N. Friga, former trustee, Saint Francis University; public higher education practice area leader, AGB Consulting

Many institutions have emerged from pandemic governance to discover the shape of philanthropy has changed dramatically. Governing boards must ensure their institutions are prepared to adapt to new realities in the interest of essential resources to match dynamic strategies—and quickly. Come to this session to gain valuable awareness about contemporary sources of wealth, forward-looking strategic investments peers and competitors are making in their fundraising enterprises, and key questions boards must ask to ensure philanthropic dollars enable, rather than constrain, institutional vitality.

Speakers:
Teresa M. Flannery, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Council for Advancement and Support of Education
William Jarvis, managing director, philanthropic executive, Bank of America Private Bank
David Bass, executive director for philanthropic governance, AGB

As U.S. leaders debate the role and value of higher education to our economy, democracy, and society, come to this session for an up-to-the-minute briefing on federal policy changes that affect your board’s work, and a look ahead to what may be coming. Issues of student affordability, debt, and equitable student outcomes remain areas of active focus for the Biden administration. In a variety of ways, 2023 promises to impact the work of colleges and universities for years to come. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear insights directly from the Assistant Secretary of Education for Postsecondary Education and think freshly about where your board’s time and attention might be well-spent.

Speakers:
Nasser Paydar, PhD, assistant secretary for postsecondary education, US Department of Education
Cristin Toutsi Grigos, vice president for content and program strategy, AGB

Few higher education chief executives arrive on the job with savvy, sophisticated social media strategies. Far from your typical crash course in social media minefield navigation, come to this session for expert insights on how to craft a social media presence that systematically enhances your position with key stakeholders, including the board, and positions the institution for achievement. Participants will come away with a framework for strategy development and practical steps for getting started. This session is offered for college, university, and multi-campus system chief executives exclusively.

Speaker:
Jessica Pucci, senior associate dean, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University

Major revenue streams to intercollegiate athletic departments – from ticket sales to corporate sponsorships – have been under pressure for years. This reality, combined with intense competitive spending on coaching salaries, facilities, and student-athlete support services, have placed increasing financial pressure on colleges and universities across and beyond Division 1. The pandemic only exacerbated this financial pressure, and not just for athletic departments, but for their colleges and universities as well.
It is essential, now more than ever, for higher education leaders to understand the many benefits and risks that athletic programs provide in terms of enrollment, student experience, campus culture, alumni engagement, and fundraising. It has also become clear that, in many cases, athletic departments may benefit from the same degree of institutional oversight afforded to core mission activities of education and research.

In this session, Dr. Kevin White, former Vice President and Athletics Director at Duke University and Jim Roth, Vice Chair of the Board at Huron, will discuss considerations crucial to establishing and maintaining a successful athletic enterprise in the current environment, such as:

• How to leverage on-the-field success and related benefits to the institutional brand
• Maintaining or improving competitive positioning
• Optimally balancing resources across athletic programs
• The sustainability of the intercollegiate athletics business model and related threats
• An evolving definition of success for intercollegiate athletics programs

Speakers:
Kevin White, vice president and athletics director, emeritus, Duke University
Jim Roth, vice chair of the board, Huron

Are you concerned about the current and future financial vitality of your small college? Do your board and leadership talk meaningfully about their concerns? Board members and key administrators can learn how to approach these conversations strategically in order to assess the strength of their institution’s business model, recognize whether they are approaching an inflection point, and consider timely alternatives. Learn about resources and tools developed by AGB, Baker Tilly, the Council of Independent Colleges, and the National Association of College and University Business Officers to engage the board and administration in productive conversations and planning.

Co-facilitators:
Stephen Golding, board chair, Washington College; senior consultant, AGB
Dave Capitano, higher education practice leader, Baker Tilly

Panelists:
William Guerrero, vice president of finance and CFO, University of Bridgeport
Sharon Reishus, board chair, Unity College
Michael Frandsen, president, Wittenberg University

Too often, the only constant is change. That reality does not comport with an objective of institutional transformation. The duration of a presidency is often determined within the first nine months on the job, which begs the question of how the board can ensure an impeccable transition. Does your transition plan include all parts of the campus community? How will the president become sensitive to the interests and idiosyncrasies of key influencers? In which ways might a new president enjoy an early mulligan from the board, and which paths are more fraught? Come to this session for straight talk and clear guidance for ensuring the presidential transition provides essential leadership momentum.

Speakers:
Carlton Brown, former president, Clark Atlanta University and Savannah State University; senior consultant and senior fellow, AGB Consulting
Aristide J. Collins Jr., vice president, chief of staff and secretary of the university, George Washington University

A successful working relationship between the president and the board chair is often determinative of presidential longevity, board impact, and of course institutional vitality. This session will go beyond platitudes and metaphors and deliver experiential wisdom and leading practices in the interest of a solid working partnership. Facilitated peer learning will be an important element of the session, in addition to the panel discussion. This session is offered for college, university, and multi-campus system chief executives exclusively.

Speakers:
Linda Gooden, chair, University System of Maryland Board of Regents
Grace Speights, chair, George Washington University Board of Trustees

The reality is more colleges and universities are going to shutter in the coming years. Some will live on, after a fashion, and some will close outright. As one who holds a failing institution in trust, what are the key considerations, mindsets, and principles that will help you to uphold your responsibility? Come to this session for experiential wisdom from those responsible for graceful wind-downs. Insights will be valuable both to leaders of struggling institutions and those who may be seeking to partner or acquire.

Speakers:
Joseph L. Chillo, president, Thomas More University; former president, Newbury College
Dena Davis, trustee, Emerson College; former trustee, Marlboro College; endowed presidential chair in health and professor of bioethics and religion studies, Lehigh University
James E. Lyons, Sr., trustee, Columbia College Hollywood; former Trustee, Dillard University and Thomas Jefferson University; former president, California State University Dominguez Hills, Jackson State University, and Bowie State University

“Board diversification” can have multiple meanings; there is no single way to diversify a board. Building on quantitative results from the 2020 AGB Policies, Practices, and Composition survey, AGB is conducting qualitative research to assist members in composing boards that both provide diverse perspectives on meeting the challenges higher education faces and better reflect the variety of their student populations. This session will present initial results from that research and provide suggestions to assist in the task.

Speaker:
Raquel Rall, associate professor of higher education, University of California Riverside
Valeria Dominguez, Ph.D. candidate (higher education administration and policy), University of California, Riverside
Lesley McBain, director of research, AGB

The integration of graduate education and research missions with undergraduate study is often among the least intuitive elements of university business for governing board members. Further, the opportunities for growth in these areas are dynamic, rather than static. Come to this session for an update and level-setting that will benefit any board member, and hear from top experts on where graduate study and university research is headed, as well as what it will mean to be out front.

Speakers:
Jane Close Conoley, president, California State University Long Beach
Scott L. Thomas, John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean, University of Wyoming – College of Education; past president, Association for the Study of Higher Education

Endowment fiduciaries historically had a simple—not easy—objective of generating competitive investment returns to support academic programs, scholarships and campus operations. In today’s shifting landscape, donors, students, faculty and other stakeholders have increasingly come to expect that the portfolio also be invested in a manner that reflects (or at the very least, does not contradict) institutional values and strategic priorities including environmental sustainability and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion).

While some boards and investment committees fret over perceived tradeoffs, others have embraced the more multifaceted investment mandate as an opportunity to actually enhance risk-adjusted returns by tilting the portfolio toward financially material economic themes and demographic trends – while also targeting improved enterprise-level outcomes such as school reputation, student/faculty recruitment, and advancement. This discussion will explore board and committee roles, stakeholder engagement, building consensus around organizational priorities, investment policy development, and ongoing portfolio implementation.

Speakers:
Jeff Jackanicz, president, San Francisco State University Foundation
Jouni Korhonen, investment committee chair, Lewis & Clark College
Wendy Walker, managing director, Cambridge Associates