CU endowment manager named 'Rising Star'

Sevian

Caleb Sevian, a University of Colorado Foundation endowment portfolio manager, was named a Rising Star of Foundations and Endowments by the Euromoney Institutional Investor online network, which publishes trade magazines and newsletters aimed at money managers.

Sevian was honored for spearheading several initiatives to safeguard the University of Colorado Endowment from market turmoil, such as improving data tracking and bolstering the risk-management system. Partly because of Sevian's work, the CU Endowment outperformed market and targeted asset-allocation benchmarks this past fiscal year, declining just 17.7 percent while many major universities, including Harvard and Yale, saw 25 to 30 percent declines.

"The things I do for my work really matter to helping kids get scholarships," said Sevian, a CU alum. "As someone who had to work their way through school, I have a special place in my heart for that."

After joining the CU Foundation in May 2008, Sevian left the staff in July 2009 to become a principal at asset management firm Perella Weinberg Partners, where he continues to manage the CU Foundation's investment portfolio under the leadership of Chris Bittman.

"Caleb has a deep intellectual curiosity, a rigorous analytical process and a significant commitment to the foundation and endowment world," Bittman said. "I expect he will continue to make headlines for his investment performance."

Sevian is one of just 15 money managers chosen from more than 100 nominees for the honor. Another manager named a Rising Star is Kent Muckel, who also worked on the CU portfolio at the CU Foundation during the 2008-09 fiscal year, the period recognized by the award. He is now chief investment officer at Baylor University.