FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2019
Teacher Retirement System of Texas partners with Howard University School of Business, broadening recruiting efforts
AUSTIN, Texas - The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) is announcing a partnership with the Howard University School of Business in an effort to broaden recruiting efforts for the System’s Investment Management Division.
TRS is Howard’s first public pension fund partner and will be granted access to the university’s resources via a corporate alliance effort established in 1993 called the 21st Century Advantage Program. Previously, Howard’s School of Business – a continually-ranked U.S. finance school has formed successful collaborations with various private corporate partners such as, JPMorganChase, KPMG and other financial services firms.
“As partners, TRS will have the opportunity to provide internship opportunities and offer Howard University’s business students lectures when TRS professionals are visiting the D.C. area from Texas,” TRS CIO Jerry Albright said.
Albright added TRS will be assigned a dedicated group of Howard students to work with, as well as given access to the Business School career services internal mobile app where TRS job openings and activity notifications will be directly shared with students and faculty.
For Howard Business students, the Advantage Program with TRS is an opportunity for early career training and development exposure to a top-ranked U.S. public pension fund.
“Howard University School of Business is excited about our new and enriching partnership with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas,” said Dean Barron H. Harvey, Ph.D., CPA. “Having TRS participate in our very special 21st Century Advantage Program will further enhance an exceptional student development program. Partnering with one of the world’s largest pension fund systems will undoubtedly provide unique experiences and opportunities for our students.”
An existing TRS-HU link
“We are fortunate to have the head of TRS’ Emerging Manager Program, Kirk Sims as an alumnus of Howard University, and he is committed to ensuring the success of the partnership,” Albright said. Sims joined TRS in March 2019 from the Teacher Retirement System of Illinois.
TRS’ partnership with Howard University also aligns with TRS’ development of a formal Diversity and Inclusion plan.
About TRS - The Teacher Retirement System of Texas is the largest public retirement system in Texas, serving nearly 1.6 million people. TRS improves the retirement security of Texas public education employees through our “best in class” investment management that oversees an approximately $150 billion Trust and delivers pension and health care benefits that make a positive difference in members’ lives.
About Howard University – Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus AfricanAmerican Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) is one of the largest retirement systems in the nation. The system's core mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Texas educators by prudently investing and managing trust assets and delivering member benefits. As of August 31, 2024, TRS pension fund had a market value of $209.5 billion.