packard lab front

Investment Office Team

Kristin Agatone, Chief Investment Officer

Kristin Agatone is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Lehigh University Investment Office. As CIO, Kristin oversees the management of the Lehigh Endowment, ensuring financial support for major initiatives and the university's broader mission.

Before joining Lehigh, Kristin was a managing director at Summit Rock Advisors, where she led the investment strategy for multiple asset classes. Prior to her time with Summit Rock, she worked at Boston-based Harvard Management Company, which manages the Harvard University Endowment. She previously worked in the private equity group at TPG Capital in San Francisco and the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs.

Kristin earned a B.A. in economics magna cum laude from Harvard College and received an M.B.A from Harvard Business School.

Michael Gould, CFA, Director

Michael Gould serves as a Director in the Investment Office, providing analytical support on sourcing, evaluating and monitoring investment opportunities. Before joining Lehigh, Michael was a Vice President at Citi Private Bank, where he was responsible for investment manager sourcing and due diligence for both the discretionary portfolio business and global distribution platform. Prior to his time at Citi, he worked within Risk Assurance at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Michael graduated magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo with a B.S. in Business Administration and a concentration in Accounting. He is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of New York. Additionally, Michael is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.

Benjamin Blais, CFA, CAIA, Associate Director

Benjamin Blais serves as an Associate Director in the Investment Office, providing analytical support on sourcing, evaluating, and monitoring investment opportunities. Before joining Lehigh, Ben was an Associate at MetLife Investment Management, where he conducted due diligence and monitored private investment managers for MetLife’s General Account and affiliated entities. Prior to MetLife, Ben worked at Hirtle Callaghan, Cambridge Associates, and Morgan Creek Capital Management.

Ben graduated from Wake Forest University School of Business with a B.S. in Mathematical Business and minor in Economics. He is a CFA charterholder and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.

Lisa Schaefer, Investment Operations Director

Lisa Schaefer serves as the Investment Operations Director in the Investment Office, providing operational support on monitoring investment opportunities, data management and serving as a liaison between the Investment Office and Controller's Office. Before joining Lehigh, Lisa was an Accounting Manager at HighVista Strategies LLC, where she managed the accounting and data reporting for the firm's investment funds. Prior to her time at HighVista, Lisa worked on the Investment Operations team at MIT Investment Management Company.

Lisa earned a B.S. in biology from Carlow University and received an M.B.A from the University of Pittsburgh.