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For Clare Molineaux ’25, a member of the Gaia Fund, attending the Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium (SMIFC) conference in Chicago was more than just a chance to learn about finance; it was a milestone in her journey toward a career in financial crime investigations.

“I gained so much perspective from the presenters and other funds in attendance,” she said. “It was amazing to see what everyone else is doing and the research going on in this field that I’m passionate about.”

The Gaia Fund, a student-managed portfolio in the University of New Haven’s Pompea College of Business, is uniquely geared toward environmental-focused investments, and its managers work to generate scholarships for the University.

Co-director Jared Sheffield, an adjunct professor in the Department of Finance and Finance Analytics, emphasized how their focus sets Gaia apart from similar funds, noting that at the conference, the team was “able to share ideas and strategies that aligned with our mission, while also learning how to market Gaia as a fund with a purpose.”

For Adam Glassman ‘26, who manages the equity portion of the Gaia Fund, this real-world experience prepared him to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow students.

“Managing a fund has given me hands-on experience with portfolio management and making informed investment decisions,” Glassman shared. “This experience allowed me to talk strategies, asset allocation, and market trends with students from other schools.”

Thomas Portnoy ’25, another Gaia Fund leader, felt similarly. “Being part of a fairly new fund, I found the most impactful part of the conference was learning how other funds operate,” he reflected. “We got valuable insights into asset allocation, decision-making processes, and ways to market ourselves to donors as we grow.”

For Molineaux, one of the most impactful aspects of SMIFC was the chance to build relationships with students from other universities. She noted, “Academic pursuits thrive when researchers and learners communicate and collaborate, rather than acting in opposition to each other.”

Traditionally, business as a field has leaned toward competition, but she believes conferences such as SMIFC are changing that dynamic. “Events like these bridge the trust gap and help us build a better business world,” she said.

Glassman also found immense value in the connections he made at the conference, recounting a conversation with students from a university in Texas. “We all had a chance to discuss our funds, share our experiences, and hear each other’s strategies,” he said.

Prof. Sheffield, who attended alongside the students, observed how these connections set Gaia up for future success. “Compared to other universities, Gaia is relatively new, and we’re just beginning to establish ourselves,” he said. “But through events such as SMIFC, we’re positioning ourselves as a unique fund that’s aligned with a purpose.”

Ultimately, the collaboration fostered at SMIFC strengthened the students’ passion for their field. “Networking with students and professors from across the country helped me understand how we can continue improving Gaia,” said Glassman, who looks forward to implementing new ideas inspired by SMIFC.

For Portnoy, one of the highlights of the conference was attending sessions such as “Pillars of Wealth Management” and “Personal Branding in Wealth Management” led by representatives of Charles Schwab. These sessions underscored the importance of personal relationships and client trust, a message that Portnoy found particularly meaningful. “They emphasized that AI will complement, not replace, human advisors,” he recalled. “The human element remains essential.”

This focus on personal relationships resonated deeply with Portnoy, who believes the Gaia Fund can thrive by maintaining a commitment to client trust and purpose-driven investing. “It was incredibly beneficial to see how other funds market themselves to prospective donors, and I’m excited to take these lessons back to Gaia,” he said.

Brian T. Kench, Ph.D., Dean of the Pompea College of Business, celebrated the Gaia Fund’s achievements. “The Gaia Fund is one of the crown jewels of the Pompea College,” he shared, highlighting the opportunity it provides for students to build real-world investment skills. “The SMIFC conference confirms what an extraordinary job University of New Haven students are doing.”

Reflecting on the impact of the conference, Portnoy put it simply: “We’re ready to position ourselves as a leading student fund.”