Kristin Agatone, a higher education finance leader, will become Georgetown University’s chief investment officer (CIO), the university announced July 1.
Agatone, who served for nine years as Lehigh University’s CIO, will manage Georgetown’s investment office, including the endowment, investment policy, assets and financial reporting. Her appointment, which takes effect Sept. 15, comes after former CIO Michael Barry stepped down to become the CIO of Johns Hopkins University after working at Georgetown for over a decade.
Agatone said she hopes to expand Georgetown’s endowment to support its academic and social missions.
“The endowment enhances every part of the university,” Agatone said in a university statement. “My goal is to help it expand and flourish, allowing Georgetown to attract talented faculty, provide financial support to students and further the university’s mission to develop the whole person.”
Agatone will join Georgetown as the university grapples with financial loss amid federal cuts to higher education. President Donald Trump has threatened to increase the tax on university endowments, which interim university President Robert M. Groves cited as one of the reasons for Georgetown’s recent budget reduction measures.
During Agatone’s tenure at Lehigh, the university saw its endowment nearly double, according to the Georgetown announcement. In moving to Georgetown, Agatone will manage its larger $3.7 billion endowment, taking over from interim CIO Chris Gill.
David Green, Georgetown’s chief operating officer, said Agatone will help advance the university.
“We welcome the addition of Kristin to our leadership team at Georgetown,” Green said in the university’s statement. “Her years of experience in finance in both higher education and the private sector will be invaluable as Georgetown grows and pushes forward in its mission.”
Agatone said she is excited to engage with Jesuit values and social justice at Georgetown.
“It’s such a dynamic institution with a strong mission to holistically improve its students’ lives through education,” Agatone said in the announcement. “That priority is immediately apparent across the entire campus.”