The 2006 Yale School of Management Private Equity Conference

Ms. Schwartz is a Managing Director at TIAA-CREF in charge of building a diversified portfolio of Alternative Investments for TIAA. In addition, she is responsible for investing in all direct co-investment opportunities that arise from TIAA’s relationships with fund managers. Her current responsibilities, and TIAA entry into Alternative Investments, began in 1997. To date, the portfolio consists of an array of private equity funds, including small and large capitalization domestic funds, emerging market funds, international funds, venture capital funds, distressed debt funds and LBO funds.

Immediately prior to her involvement with Alternative Investments, Sheryl invested in domestic and international asset-backed securities. Asset classes in which she made investments included mutual fund fee securitizations, future receivables in emerging market countries, franchise loan receivables, variable annuity fee securitization, time share receivables, CBO's, CLO's, credit card company receivable "C" tranches, and private label credit card receivables.

Sheryl joined TIAA in 1988 and spent three years in corporate private placements, two years trading secondary private placements and four years in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities prior to her current position.

Prior to joining TIAA, Sheryl worked at Irving Trust Company. She holds a BS in Finance (1985) and an MBA in Finance (1988) from New York University.