Hamilton College Names Columbia’s Lauren Jacobson CIO

Lauren Jacobson, managing director and co-head of marketable asset classes at Columbia Investment Management Company, has been named chief investment officer of Hamilton College’s $1.3 billion endowment, effective November 7.

In her current role, Jacobson co-manages $8 billion of Columbia’s more than $13 billion in investments and oversees the investment process and portfolio management. She has also served as a member of Columbia’s portfolio construction committee, which oversees endowment asset allocation, risk, and strategy, and has been part of the investment advisory committee for Columbia’s $9 billion defined contribution plan.

“Lauren Jacobson is a talented leader and a skilled investor who has a successful track record managing investments across asset classes,” Bob Delaney, vice chair of Hamilton’s board of trustees and chair of the investment committee, said in a statement. “Lauren will provide her exceptional skills to the important task of managing the endowment, which is critical to the current and future success of the college.”

Before joining Columbia, where she has worked for more than five years, Jacobson was director of investments at The Rockefeller Foundation for over eight years, and prior to that was an analyst for Goldman Sachs for two years. Jacobson is a 2007 graduate of the College of William and Mary, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in finance. She was also named a Class of 2021 NextGen rising star and future CIO by Chief Investment Officer magazine.

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Jacobson succeeds Anne Dinneen, who, after seven years at Hamilton, was named CIO of New York-Presbyterian in April.

“I am honored to join the Hamilton College team and to lead the endowment in support of the College’s mission and constituents,” Jacobson said in a statement. “Hamilton’s successful investing history provides a strong foundation at this critical time. I am excited to dedicate my energy and experience, working together with Hamilton’s investment committee and team, to building upon this legacy for the college’s long-term benefit.”