Investing in NC State

“Have you learned anything?”

Libby George finds herself frequently repeating this phrase as she works with students across campus, particularly in the Poole College of Management. Although they may be grappling with a tough concept or facing obstacles in their work, she loves to see how students grow in the midst of opposition.

As director of investments in the department of Foundations Accounting and Investments, George has dedicated a large portion of her professional career to the university and excelled in not only overseeing the investment practices for the endowment funds but also in helping students achieve their goals and become well-rounded individuals.

George works alongside the Poole College of Management, hiring student interns for her office and working with MBA students as part of a case studies elective class in order to provide hands-on experiences for students. She also advises an on-campus investment club how to best structure and run their organization. To say the least, George is very active and engaging when it comes to the student body.

George realized early on that many universities do not offer opportunities for students to learn about investment which prompted her to get involved with Poole. She and her colleagues have given students an outlet for learning through the MBA class specifically, and George has played an integral role in guiding this program.

“She is obviously smart and dedicated to her work, but, what I consider her biggest plus is her ability to understand the ‘big picture’ very quickly and get to the heart of the problem. I have observed this numerous times when the students make their practice presentation to the Endowment staff… and during the board presentation,” said Srinivasan Krishnamurthy, associate professor of finance. Krishnamurthy has worked alongside George in the context of the MBA class. He attests to how George is “passionate about her job, easy going, and easy to get along with” which is a “rare combination” in the finance world.

George’s role as director of investments is important, as she and her colleagues are responsible for investing NC State’s money in a way that not only reflects the university’s values, but one that will also prove profitable. Investments help fund professorships, scholarships, and research among other things, so by doing her job well, George supports the expansion and growth of the university. From the 2019-2020 fiscal year alone, she and her team have been able to increase the total generated spending money by about $9 million, giving the university more money to spend on projects on an as-needed basis.

Due to her outstanding work the university’s endowment, expertise in the field of finance, and her desire to give back to students, George recently received the Rodney H. Adams Endowment Management Award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Each year, NACUBO bestows the award upon one recipient, making George one of the best in her field.

Although offered different jobs over the years, George says that she has never wanted to leave her position at NC State because of how much she has enjoyed being here. With 27 years and counting at NC State, George is a deeply committed member of the Wolfpack, caring for students and the school as a whole, and not even her time as a collegiate swimmer at Auburn could change that.

“Libby is devoted to both the financial wellbeing of NC State and the University’s endowment, but also to helping us achieve our goals of developing the next generation of leaders in the investment industry,” said Richard Warr, a finance professor and one of George’s colleagues in Poole.

It is evident that George’s knowledge about investment reaches far beyond her career, as she understands the value of personal investment and giving back to the larger community around her. In both volunteering with many campus organizations and by working hard as director of investments, George’s efforts enable students and faculty alike to “think and do” more.