Travis Shore Named University of Illinois Foundation Chief Investment Officer

As CIO, Shore will lead the investment team responsible for the Foundation’s $2.7 billion investment portfolio.

The University of Illinois Foundation (“UIF” or “Foundation”) Board of Directors and Foundation President/CEO James H. Moore, Jr. today announced the appointment of Travis Shore as the new chief investment officer (CIO). Shore has been at Vanderbilt University for the past eight years leading the private and public investment teams as the deputy chief investment officer. Shore was selected after an extensive and competitive national search. He will begin his new role this spring.

“Over the last decade I thought deliberately about culture, vision, and investment leadership. From my initial conversation with Foundation Board Member and Search Committee Chair Shakeeb Alam there was clear alignment in our views. Further conversations with UIF President/CEO Jim Moore, Board Chair Tony DiTommaso, Board Member Karen Golz, and the rest of the search committee provided deep confirmation,” said Shore. “Vanderbilt is a special institution that will always have a place in my heart, but I could not be more excited about building for the future with the University of Illinois Foundation team.”

Shore joined Vanderbilt University in March 2014 and has played a critical role in significantly increasing their endowment. Before joining Vanderbilt, Shore was an investment director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Prior to that, he served in director of investments roles at New York University and the University of Florida. Before entering non-profit investment management, Travis held various roles at Wachovia and Merrill Lynch.

As CIO, Shore, a CFA charterholder, will lead the investment office, which is based in Chicago. He will work closely with the Board’s Investment Policy Committee and Foundation leadership providing guidance on investment-related matters, including asset allocation, portfolio management, and best practices. The combined active endowment for the University of Illinois and the Foundation is more than $2.7 billion. Income from the endowment is distributed annually to the Universities for uses in accordance with the donor’s intent.

“The CIO and investment office play an extraordinarily critical role for UIF. The financial resources generated by the investment office support our three universities in fulfilling their land-grant mission, creating transformational opportunities for our 94,700 students. The Search Committee is thrilled that Travis Shore will serve as our next CIO,” said Shakeeb Alam. “Travis is a highly respected endowment investor with a strong track record. Importantly, he is a values-driven leader centering integrity, candor, and teamwork. Travis has critical experience building and leading investment teams. I am confident that Travis will help UIF achieve excellence as we scale our endowment.”

Shore succeeds Edward “Ned” Creedon who has been serving as Interim CIO. “I am extremely grateful to Ned for his leadership and service over the past 10 months and I am excited to welcome Travis to the team,” said Jim Moore. “Management of our endowment is among our greatest responsibilities. Outperformance and increased returns translate into more resources for our three universities and our talented students and distinguished faculty.”

Shore earned his BBA in banking and finance at the University of North Florida. Travis and his wife, Deidra, have a daughter Halie, a sophomore at Florida State University.