Barbara Wells
SU Treasurer Barbara Wells has announced her retirement from Syracuse University, effective Sept. 15, after 38 years of service. Wells has been responsible for overseeing the management of the University’s $1.3 billion of cash and long-term investments and $378 million debt portfolio.
In 1975, Wells began her career in the Comptroller’s Office while completing an M.B.A. part time at SU. During her career at the University, Wells held positions in the Comptroller’s Office and the Office of Budget and Planning, prior to being named University Treasurer in 1990. Wells also served as a member of the Drumlins Board since 1990.
“I would like to thank Lou Marcoccia for the support he has provided me over the course of my entire career. I was given many opportunities to learn and advance, and I was very fortunate to serve for so many years within Business, Finance and Administrative Services,” Wells says. “I will miss many of my colleagues, both within and outside of the University, but I look forward with much excitement to the next stage of my life.”
“Barbara has provided many decades of excellent leadership and management in achieving continuous substantial and significant improvements in her areas of responsibility,” says Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Louis Marcoccia. “Her many accomplishments have greatly benefited the University, especially in terms of continuous improvement and best practices in the management of cash, investments and debt. She leaves the Treasurer’s Office well positioned to continue its high-quality service in support of the University’s financial adaptability to fund evolving operations and initiatives. I most sincerely wish Barbara the very best in her retirement and I thank her for collaboratively working with me to accomplish the transition of leadership of the University’s Treasurer’s Office.”
David Smith has been named University Treasurer, effective Sept. 16. Smith is a highly accomplished investment and operations management senior executive with a background in higher education and capital markets. He possesses a strong record of success in corporate, endowment and private partnership portfolio management, as well as subject matter expertise in a broad range of investment strategies and asset classes, including fixed income, equities, derivatives, private equity and hedge fund investments.
Smith, who was previously employed by the University, is currently a partner at Bay Hills Capital Management in San Francisco, where he performs investment sourcing and due diligence, develops strategic investment partner relations and creates policies and procedures. He earned a master of business administration at SU after receiving a bachelor of business administration from Western Illinois University. Smith is a chartered financial analyst, and a member of the CFA Institute.
“I am confident that all constituencies receiving service and support from the Treasurer’s Office will be very pleased by the high quality leadership, management and service and support focus David will bring to the treasurer’s position,” says Marcoccia.
