Key Takeaways
- • Cornell University's Office of University Investments has appointed Jeff Smith as senior investment officer, according to the university's publisher context and a marketsgroup.org report dated May 9, 2025.
- • In the role, Smith will oversee the $10.7B endowment's private equity and venture capital investments.
- • Smith joins from the Smithsonian Institution's office of investments, where he served as managing director for more than 14 years and was one of four internal investment committee members covering venture capital, private equity and real assets at the $2B endowment.
- • Earlier roles include managing director at Verdis Investment Management, where he helped establish a 10th-generation single family office.
Summary
Cornell University's Office of University Investments has appointed Jeff Smith as senior investment officer, according to a report from marketsgroup.org. In the new role, Smith will oversee the university's $10.7 billion endowment's private equity and venture capital investments.
Smith joins Cornell after more than 14 years as managing director of the Smithsonian Institution's office of investments. At the Smithsonian's $2 billion endowment, he was one of four internal investment committee members responsible for asset allocation recommendations and risk management across venture capital, private equity and real assets.
Before the Smithsonian, Smith was a managing director at Verdis Investment Management, where he helped establish a 10th-generation single family office. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
The Cornell investment office's public staff listings show Smith alongside other senior investment officers, including Mihir Meswani, who heads credit, and Anthony Thai, CFA. The office implements policies set by the University Board of Trustees and its Investment Committee. Additional publisher and search results reference prior leadership changes at the office, but the available material does not provide details on those transitions as they relate to this appointment.
Smith joins Cornell after more than 14 years as managing director of the Smithsonian Institution's office of investments. At the Smithsonian's $2 billion endowment, he was one of four internal investment committee members responsible for asset allocation recommendations and risk management across venture capital, private equity and real assets.
Before the Smithsonian, Smith was a managing director at Verdis Investment Management, where he helped establish a 10th-generation single family office. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
The Cornell investment office's public staff listings show Smith alongside other senior investment officers, including Mihir Meswani, who heads credit, and Anthony Thai, CFA. The office implements policies set by the University Board of Trustees and its Investment Committee. Additional publisher and search results reference prior leadership changes at the office, but the available material does not provide details on those transitions as they relate to this appointment.
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