Erik Bernhardt takes the helm of Reed's endowment management.
Erik Bernhardt takes the helm of Reed's endowment management. Photo by Tom Humphrey
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Reed hires Erik Bernhardt as its first Chief Investment Officer

Bernhardt will oversee Reed's $580 million endowment

Kevin Myers | August 16, 2019

Reed College has hired Erik Bernhardt as its first Chief Investment Officer effective August 1, 2019. Bernhardt brings more than 20 years of investment experience to the college. He started his career providing investment advisory services to endowments and foundations at Cambridge Associates in Washington, D.C. Bernhardt’s extensive investment career includes 10 years at Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company, where he researched hedge fund teams and managed multi-strategy hedge fund portfolios for global institutions. He also was a member of the firm’s investment committee. Bernhardt comes to Reed from Artisan Partners, a global investment management firm. As a director of the firm, he was tasked with building new investment teams. 

“We are very excited that Erik is joining us at Reed,” said Vice President and Treasurer Lorraine Arvin. “Reed’s endowment supports the academic mission of the college and our ability to provide significant financial aid to roughly half our students. Prudent stewardship of the endowment is paramount to Reed’s success. Erik brings valuable experience and leadership to this new position.”

Under the leadership of its investment committee, Reed College undertook a comprehensive review process that included trustees, faculty, and staff to determine the optimal endowment management model for the college. The review process concluded that Reed should hire a Chief Investment Officer to lead the college’s management of the endowment. Reed’s endowment is currently valued at $580 million and provides more than 25 percent of the college’s annual operating budget. Over the past 10 years, endowment earnings have contributed over $220 million to the operations of the college.

Bernhardt holds a BA in history and business administration from Principia College and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles. Bernhardt is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is active in the nonprofit community and currently serves as a trustee for the Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation and as head of its investment committee.