TIAA Governors & Trustees

To make sure TIAA upholds its core mission of serving our clients and participants, a structure of accountability was established in the early days of the organization and remains intact to this day.

About governors

What is the TIAA Board of Governors?

For TIAA's first twenty years, its corporate stock was owned by Carnegie Corporation of New York, which provided TIAA's $500,000 endowment grant. In 1938, Carnegie Corporation turned over ownership of TIAA to the new company, named Trustees of T.I.A.A. Stock. In 1989, Trustees of T.I.A.A. Stock was renamed TIAA Board of Overseers. In 2021, the Board voted to change its name to the TIAA Board of Governors.

The Governors are responsible for defining the mission of TIAA, overseeing TIAA’s business strategies and performance in consultation with the CEO and management, reviewing policy issues affecting TIAA, overseeing matters that could threaten the general reputation of TIAA, electing the members of the TIAA Board of Trustees, filling vacancies by appointment, and approving amendments to TIAA's charter and bylaws.

The TIAA Board of Governors normally consists of seven members — including the TIAA CEO and president — and each member serves a seven-year term. By charter, the seven members of the TIAA Board of Governors are the same seven members of the CREF Board of Governors.

Who are the Governors?

Participant since 1984
TIAA Governor since 2021

Participant since 2006
TIAA Governor since 2022

Participant since 2021
TIAA Governor since 2021

Participant since 1986
TIAA Governor since 2021

Participant since 1999
TIAA Governor since 2018

Participant since 1986
TIAA Governor since 2024

About trustees

What is the TIAA Board of Trustees?

The TIAA Board of Trustees is made up of 13 individuals, plus TIAA's CEO and president, who oversee the management of TIAA. They are primarily independent trustees (i.e., individuals who are not executive officers or former employees of TIAA).

The TIAA Board of Governors elects the TIAA trustees annually. Traditionally, TIAA participants — including holders of TIAA individual life insurance policies and those with accumulations in the TIAA Real Estate Account — have been asked to express their preferences through an advisory vote. The TIAA Board of Governors then considers the results of the advisory vote and is responsible for formally electing the TIAA Board of Trustees.

Who are the Trustees

Participant since 2015
TIAA Trustee since 2015

Participant since 2022
TIAA Trustee since 2022

Participant since 2022
TIAA Trustee since 2022

Participant since 2021
TIAA Trustee since 2021

Participant since 1999
TIAA Trustee since 2009

Participant since 2021
TIAA Trustee since 2021

Participant since 2009
TIAA Trustee since 2009

Participant since 1988
TIAA Trustee since 2005

Participant since 2022
TIAA Trustee since 2022

Participant since 1979
TIAA Trustee since 2009

Participant since 2015
TIAA Trustee since 2023

Participant since 2015
TIAA Trustee since 2015

Participant since 2022
TIAA Trustee since 2022

About committees

TIAA Board Committees

Trustees work largely through committees, which meet frequently and shape TIAA policies. They oversee operations and propose actions to the full board. Memberships below are effective July 9, 2021.

Acts on behalf of the Board between meetings of the full board
Current members:

James R. Chambers

(Chair)*

Jason E. Brown
Jeffrey R. Brown
Thasunda Brown Duckett
Lisa W. Hess
Edward M. Hundert
La June Montgomery Tabron
Kim M. Sharan

* Chairman of the TIAA board

  • Assists the Board in overseeing internal audit and controls and independent auditors
  • Monitors TIAA financial and operating reporting practices
  • Oversees compliance with laws, regulations and ethics policy

Jason E. Brown

(Chair)

James R. Chambers
Lisa W. Hess
La June Montgomery Tabron
Maureen O’Hara
  • Establishes TIAA’s investment policies and oversees its investments, and the investment activity of other accounts and funds held for the benefit of TIAA
  • Oversees the investment activities of certain asset management subsidiaries of TIAA

Lisa W. Hess**

(Chair)

Samuel R. Bright**
Jeffrey R. Brown**
Gina Loften**
Maureen O’Hara**
Kim M. Sharan**

**Members of the TIAA Real Estate Account Special Subcommittee.

  • Responsible for TIAA governance policies and practices
  • Nominates trustees for election
  • Recommends the size, structure and composition of the board and its committees

Edward M. Hundert

(Chair)

Samuel R. Bright**
James R. Chambers
Gina Loften**
Ramona E. Romero
La June Montgomery Tabron
  • Responsible for TIAA’s compensation and personnel policies and practices
  • Recommends the appointment and compensation of the chief executive officer and other principal officers

Kim M. Sharan

(Chair)

Priya Abani
Jason E. Brown
Jeffrey R. Brown**
James R. Chambers
Edward M. Hundert
Ramona E. Romero
  • Recommends corporate social responsibility and corporate governance policies relating to companies other than Funds
  • Establishes policies and guidelines for the voting of proxies held by the Funds, the submission of shareholder resolutions, and communications with portfolio companies

La June Montgomery Tabron

(Chair)

Priya Abani
Samuel R. Bright
Edward M. Hundert
Maureen O'Hara
Kim M. Sharan
  • Designs and implements TIAA’s enterprise wide risk management framework including risk appetite and limits, risk governance and culture, risk policies, and risk management capabilities established by management to identify, assess, manage and mitigate risk
  • Reviews management’s assessment of TIAA’s risk profile including the major risks facing TIAA and associated mitigation plans
  • Promotes ethical behavior and compliance with applicable laws and regulations
  • Oversees the the TIAA-CREF Corporate Compliance Policy

Jeffrey R. Brown

(Chair)

Priya Abani
Jason E. Brown
James R. Chambers
Thasunda Brown Duckett
Lisa W. Hess
Gina Loften
Ramona E. Romero
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